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Search “email marketing course” and you’ll drown in a sea of options – from free and beginner-friendly to premium and advanced.
Some promise to make you an “expert email marketer” in less than 30 minutes. Others bury you under so much jargon that you eventually give up and hire an email marketing expert.
Only a few actually teach the crucial skills you need to create email campaigns that deliver, engage, and convert subscribers to customers.
To save you time and money, we’ve pulled together a list of the best free and premium email marketing courses online, including our very own Mastering Brevo Course.
Whether you’re a beginner or want to level up your email marketing skills, or a small business owner who wants to DIY, this roundup will help you pick the right email marketing course for your needs.
Ready?
Then let’s start with a top-quality email marketing course…
Best Premium Email Marketing Course
Want to go beyond the basics or avoid months of trial and error? Premium email marketing courses are the way to go. These programs are structured, in-depth, and often come with hands-on projects (and even mentorship) you won’t find in free trainings.
The Ultimate Email Marketing Certification – Digital Marketer
The Email Marketing Mastery course is a 10-module, 74-lesson program designed for intermediate learners. It’s packed with step-by-step frameworks and swipeable resources to build campaigns from strategy to conversion.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Design lead magnets that actually get people onto your list
- Apply segmentation playbooks based on behavior, not just demographics.
- Map out customer journeys to awareness, consideration, and conversion
- Write subject lines, create hooks, and craft email body copy that converts
- Use optimization tactics to test, tweak, and refine your email campaigns
Why it stands out:
Alongside the lessons, you get a workbook full of templates, checklists, and swipe files you can use to implement the lessons and plug into your campaigns right away.
Keep in mind:
The price is a sizable investment if you’re a beginner or only want a quick skills boost. And the certificate doesn’t carry the same brand recognition as HubSpot or Google.
Best for: Intermediate marketers, small business owners, or agency pros who want plug-and-play frameworks and tactics.
Price: $495 one-time.
Email Marketing Course – Udacity
If you want a course that’s more like a professional bootcamp than a series of videos, this course is for you. Udacity’s email marketing course runs for about 9 hours. And although it’s a self-paced video course, it also includes mentorship support and graded projects.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Build a subscribers list and set up the double opt-in process
- Create an email calendar and plan different types of email campaigns
- Write subject lines, pre-headers, CTAs, and email copy that convert subscribers
- Use segmentation and A/B testing to analyze and improve your campaign results
Why it stands out:
The hands-on projects and mentor feedback mean you’re not just passively learning concepts. You also practice and implement them with expert guidance, which makes the knowledge and skills stick.
Keep in mind:
While it has the “beginners” tag, it’s not exactly entry-level. The course expects you to come in with 10 prerequisites (like knowledge of user personas, customer journey maps, and acquisition funnels). So, if you’re brand new to email marketing, this could feel like jumping into the deep end.
Best for: Aspiring marketers who want portfolio-ready projects and expert guidance, and are willing to invest both time and money into a structured learning experience.
Price: $249/month
Email and SMS Marketing for Ecommerce – CXL
If you’re running an ecommerce brand, your biggest challenge isn’t just getting customers. It’s also getting them to buy again. And that’s what CXL’s Email & SMS Marketing for Ecommerce Course teaches you how to do.
It’s a 1h 30 min course with 7 lessons and 14 downloadable resources that teaches how to build a retention-focused system that turns first-time buyers into repeat customers.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Develop an email (and SMS) strategy that increases your customers' lifetime value
- Segment subscribers and personalize your messages so they feel relevant, and boost conversion
- Design automated flows that recover abandoned carts and re-engage inactive customers.
Why it stands out:
Unlike “general” email marketing courses (CXL has one of those, by the way), this one is focused on ecommerce. And it dives deep into DTC strategies that help eccomerce brands build sustainable revenue.
Keep in mind:
It’s part of CXL’s All-Access subscription, which costs about $133/month (or $1,599/year). That’s a considerable investment if you only want this one course. But if you’re after a library of high-level marketing and CRO trainings, it can be well worth it.
Best for: Ecommerce marketers, retention teams, and DTC founders who are tired of racing to the bottom with discounts and want sustainable growth and retention strategy.
Price: $133/month as part of the CXL subscription.
Email Marketing for Nonprofits (and Libraries) — Techsoup
Most email marketing courses teach you how to make more sales. And while that’s the primary goal for ecommerce stores and service businesses, it isn’t for nonprofit organizations.
So, if you’re running a non-profit, TechSoup’s Email Marketing for Nonprofits (& Libraries) is a perfect fit. It’s a 12-hour, 5-module course designed for organizations whose conversion goals are other things like donations, volunteer signups, and community engagement.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Build a mission-driven email strategy that fits nonprofit goals
- Grow a targeted list and segment them to reach the right supporters
- Stand out in inboxes without sounding salesy or relying on discounts
- Set analytics benchmarks that measure impact, not just clicks
- Evaluate your fundraising system and adjust campaigns accordingly
Why it stands out:
Instead of force-fitting regular email marketing tactics into a nonprofit context, TechSoup adapts the lessons for organizations that need to build trust and relationships more than drive sales.
Keep in mind:
The production isn’t as slick for the price, and you could probably find free non-profit resources to complement your “traditional” email marketing knowledge. But if you’re in the non-profit space and want an all-in-one course, it’s a great option.
Best for: Nonprofits, libraries, and community organizations looking to increase engagement and donations without resorting to “salesy” tactics.
Price: $200 one-time.
Mastering Brevo Course – Email Tooltester
If you’re using Brevo (or just considering it), you probably already know the platform is powerful. But it can also feel overwhelming if you’re not an email marketing expert.
Most users spend weeks clicking around the dashboard, testing random features, but are never quite confident they’re doing things right, nor get the results they want.
That’s why we created the Mastering Brevo Course to take you from “winging it” to confidently running email marketing campaigns that convert.
In just over 2 hours of step-by-step video lessons, you’ll learn how to:
- Get set up right: From account settings to email authentication (most courses don’t cover this), so your emails actually land in inboxes.
- Create campaigns that get clicks: Master Brevo’s powerful builder, segmentation, and dynamic personalization to engage and convert subscribers.
- Automate conversions: Set up smart workflows that run on autopilot to nurture leads, recover sales, and free up your time to run other parts of your business.
- Track what matters: Analytics and testing strategies that help you optimize and scale your email campaigns.
“But wait, doesn’t Brevo already have an academy?”
Yes, Brevo Academy offers an email marketing course and a library of Brevo tutorials. And they’re great for learning the basics of email marketing and the platform’s features. But, they don’t exactly show you how to use Brevo to get sales and clients.
Our Mastering Brevo Course bridges that gap.
In addition to understanding Brevo, you’ll learn how to use it to build email marketing funnels that capture, engage, and convert subscribers into customers.
This course is for you if you’re a small business owner, marketer, or creator who wants to stop guessing and start using email marketing (and Brevo) to increase your revenue.
You’ll be guided by Roberta (EmailTooltester’s marketing manager), alongside Robert and Inka – all of whom use Brevo daily to drive up to 60% open rates and capture hundreds of subscribers monthly.
Additionally, you’ll get access to our private Brevo community, where you can ask questions, get expert feedback, and join challenges and live Q&As to keep growing your skills.
Plus, 50% off your first three months on any paid Brevo subscription, so you can implement what you learn and start sending email campaigns right away.
Check out the full Mastering Brevo Course curriculum plus all the extra bonuses.
Best Free Email Marketing Course
You don't have to drop $200+ on an email marketing course right away. There are plenty of free email marketing courses that cover the essentials you need to get started. If you're just getting started, here are the best ones worth your time.
Email Marketing Certification – HubSpot Academy
HubSpot Academy’s Email Marketing Certification is probably the most popular email marketing course online. The course runs about 4 hours and is divided into 12 bite-sized lessons, each of which ends with a quiz.
Inside the program, you’ll learn how to:
- Build a strategic email marketing plan that suits your business goals
- Evaluate and create audience segments while keeping your contact list clean
- Craft emails that invite engagement from prospects, leads, and customers
- Optimize campaigns by testing, analyzing, and refining the metrics that matter
Why it stands out:
The training is of high-quality and easy to digest. Plus, the HubSpot name adds instant credibility. For beginners, it’s a solid way to build confidence and get recognized.
Keep in mind:
This is very much an introductory course. It doesn’t cover advanced tactics like deliverability fixes, complex automations, or funnel strategy.
Best for: Beginners who want a trusted and structured introduction to email marketing and a certification they can add to their LinkedIn or resumes.
Think Outside the Inbox – Google (via Coursera)
Think Outside the Inbox is hosted on Coursera as part of Google’s Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certification Program. It has 5 modules and includes practical tasks that mirror real-world scenarios.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Use email marketing tools like HubSpot and Mailchimp to set up and manage campaigns
- Entice subscribers to join your list and write engaging emails subscribers want to read
- Segment audiences based on demographics, behavior, and interests
- Use analytics to measure success and improve campaigns
Why it stands out:
At the end of the course, you’ll create, manage and track a mock email marketing campaign for a fictional business. This gives you hands-on experience to master the lessons.
But keep in mind:
It takes about 18 hours to complete, so you’ll need to invest more time and focus than many free (and even premium) courses. If you’re looking for a quick crash course, this might feel like overkill.
Best for: Learners who prefer structured, academic-style training and want a Google certificate for credibility.
Advanced Email Marketing – Simplilearn
The name might say “advanced,” but don’t let that intimidate you. This course is actually beginner-friendly, with no prior experience or qualifications needed to enroll. It runs for about 5 hours and is divided into modules that cover the essentials.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Build your email list with lead magnets, website opt-ins, and social media
- Plan, design, and send emails that engage and convert subscribers
- Use email marketing software to schedule and automate emails
Why it stands out:
Simplilearn frames itself as a skills-upgrade platform for professionals, and this course offers a strong foundation in email marketing and a final assessment that helps you “get work-ready.”
Keep in mind:
Despite the “Advanced” title, it doesn’t really go beyond the basics. If you’re looking for deep dives into deliverability, advanced segmentation, or funnel strategy, you won’t get that with this course.
Best for: Aspiring email marketers or copywriters who want a quick, structured foundation with a certificate to add to their CV or LinkedIn profile.
Getting Started with Email Marketing – Klaviyo Academy
Klaviyo is one of the leading ecommerce marketing platforms. And the “Getting Started” learning track in their academy is a solid way to learn how to run email campaigns to build and scale your ecommerce business (with Klaviyo).
The track has four mini-courses that can help you master a core part of ecommerce email marketing:
- Getting Started with Sign-Up Forms: How to use pop-up, embedded, and full-page forms to grow your list.
- Getting Started with Segments: The basics of segmentation and conditional logic so your emails feel personal, not one-size-fits-all.
- Getting Started with Campaigns: A walkthrough of campaign strategy, creation, and performance tracking.
- Getting Started with Flows: Practical intro to automated flows like welcome series and post-purchase emails that drive repeat sales.
Why it stands out:
It’s directly tied to a leading ecommerce platform, which will probably be a part of your stack if you’re thinking of running an ecommerce business. Plus, it’s free, hands-on, and practical.
Keep in mind:
The course is more about mastering ecommerce email marketing (specifically, Klaviyo). So, the lessons won’t transfer cleanly if you’re using Brevo, Mailerlite, or other regular platforms.
Best for: Ecommerce founders, ecom marketers, or retention teams who are either new to Klaviyo or evaluating whether it’s the right platform to power their email marketing.
How To Choose The Right Email Marketing Course For You
Now that you have a list of free and premium email marketing courses to choose from, the next question is, “Which one is right for you?” Here are 4 filters to help you narrow the list fast:
1. What’s your expertise?
- Beginner: If you’ve never sent an email campaign before, start simple. Free options like HubSpot Academy give you a solid foundation. Or, if you’re brand new to Brevo, our free Brevo Starter Course will get you sending campaigns in less than a week.
- Intermediate: Already sending newsletters but not seeing consistent results? You’ll benefit from courses that go deeper into segmentation, automation, and optimization – think DigitalMarketer or our Mastering Brevo Course.
- Advanced: If you’re handling large lists or working in a specialized role (like retention marketing), premium, niche courses such as CXL’s ecommerce course or Udacity’s project-driven program will match your level.
2. What’s your goal?
- Need certification: Want something to add to your LinkedIn profile or resume? Certifications from Google, HubSpot, or Klaviyo Academy give you badges that carry weight.
- Grow revenue: If you’re after sales, signups, or conversions, you’ll need courses that focus on strategy and execution, not just features. That’s where our Mastering Brevo Course fits in.
- Save time: If your main goal is efficiency, look for courses with templates, workflows, and playbooks like Digital Marketer’s. This helps you implement the lessons faster.
3. What’s your budget?
- Free: Great if you’re exploring or strapped for cash. HubSpot, Google, Simplilearn, and our Brevo Mini Course are great options.
- Affordable (<$200): Our Mastering Brevo course is a budget-friendly course for learning practical, actionable strategies without breaking the bank.
- Premium ($200–$500): These make sense for specialized programs with mentorship and plug-and-play workbooks, such as Digital Marketer, Udacity, and TechSoup’s courses.
4. What’s your business type?
- Ecommerce brands: Klaviyo Academy or CXL’s ecommerce track are tailored for DTC retention.
- Nonprofits: TechSoup’s email course bundle is built specifically for donation and community goals.
- Small businesses & creators: Our Brevo courses are designed for service providers, coaches, and creators who need campaigns that generate leads and sales (not just “send emails”).
- Agencies and freelancers: Courses like DigitalMarketer or Udacity give you frameworks and portfolio projects you can use to win clients.
The Best Email Marketing Course is The One You Use
Email is still one of the highest-ROI channels in marketing. But, it only works if you know how to set up campaigns that actually convert. So, the sooner you learn to do it right, the sooner you’ll stop leaving subscribers (and sales) on the table.
But here’s the truth about email marketing courses: the perfect course doesn’t exist. There are plenty of great ones out there.
What matters most is that you actually apply the lessons you learn. Too many people spend so long comparing courses or “learning” that they never send any campaign, let alone see result and optimize to scale.
Take one small step today. Choose a course from our list that fits your stage, sign up, and start building email campaigns that actually convert.
If Brevo is your platform (or you’re considering it), then your next step is clear.
Start with our Free Brevo Mini Course to get your first campaign out the door in a week. Then, sign up for the Mastering Brevo Course to upgrade your skills and turn your list into a conversion machine.
At the end of the day, the best email marketing course isn’t the longest, priciest, or fanciest. It’s the course you use and take action on.
Got other email marketing course suggestions not on this list? Or, have experience with any of the ones we covered? Share in the comments.
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