Free E-Mail Mailing Lists
Feature Comparison
Web Marketing Today, Issue 58, July 1, 1999
This article contains older information. Go here for newer information on e-mail marketing.
These features were current as of June 9, 1999, but since these sites compete with each other, expect constant additions of features.
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eGroups |
OneList |
Topica |
ListBot |
CoolList |
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List Types |
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Announcement, moderated, or open discussion lists |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Subscriber's Choice of Normal or Digest |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes. Owner selects digest daily or every 10 messages. |
No |
No |
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Online message archive, either public or private viewing. E-mail addresses truncated |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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Free, supported by e-mail ads. Also banner ads |
Yes, 3-line maximum |
Yes, 3-line maximum |
Not yet implemented |
Yes, 1-line ad |
Yes, 3-line maximum |
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Charge for ad-free list |
$4.95/mo payable as a annual non-refundable set-up fee |
$4.95/mo payable annually |
No charge to opt-out |
$99 annually for ListBot Gold, up to 5000 messages/month |
None offered |
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List size |
No restrictions |
No restrictions |
No restrictions |
Unlimited |
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Maximum message size |
500K |
500K |
No maximum size |
100K for free, 250K for Gold |
- |
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Friendly for Lynx, WebTV, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
Uses frames |
Yes |
Yes |
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User selects ASCII or HTML e-mail |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
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Subscribing |
eGroups |
OneList |
Topica |
ListBot |
CoolList |
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Sign-up form available for your website |
Yes, then takes you to further forms on eGroups site. |
No, but custom sign-up URL |
Yes. |
Yes |
Yes |
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Verifies e-mail address for new subscribers |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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E-mail notification to owner of subs and unsubs open lists. |
Only by checking log. |
Yes, optional |
No. |
Summary reports e-mailed to owner daily or weekly |
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Asks demographic questions |
ZIP code only, other optional |
No, other info is optional |
Yes, ZIP, birthdate, gender |
Yes, optionally in some detail.* |
No |
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Restricted sign-up available, requiring moderator approval |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Unlisted list available, list info not available to the public |
Yes, optional |
Yes, optional |
Yes, optional |
Yes |
No |
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Import existing lists |
Yes, paste in 1000+ at a time. Up to 24 yours, checked for spamming. Or send text list for upload |
Yes, paste in 250 at one time |
Yes, upload up to 500. More with permission. |
Only with ListBot Gold |
Only by typing in one at a time |
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Member Center for each member |
Yes, called "My Space" |
Yes, called "Member Center" |
Yes, called "My Lists" |
Yes |
No |
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List Management |
eGroups |
OneList |
Topica |
ListBot |
CoolList |
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Online List Center for each list |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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Manage several groups with one home page and group center |
Yes, allows "group sets" |
No |
No |
No |
No |
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Multiple moderators/managers allowed |
Yes. Level of manager privileges may be set separately |
Yes. Can set separate privileges for each moderator |
Yes. Multiple owners possible, but all privileges are equal |
No |
No |
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Modify message subject line for easy filtering |
Uses list name |
Uses list name |
Modifiable |
No |
No |
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Custom trailer at bottom of every message |
Up to 6 lines |
Up to two lines |
Also optional custom header. No line limit. |
No |
No |
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Automated bimonthly or monthly mailings by owner |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
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Customizable welcome and goodbye messages |
Only welcome |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes. Also for list page |
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Spam protection restricts posts to members |
Optionally, also offers a second alias. |
Yes, but users may have a second alias so they can post from another e-mail address |
No open posting, must be a member. |
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Subscriber list may be downloaded by owner |
Yes, prints list to screen. By request from customer service. |
Yes |
Yes |
Prints list to screen |
Prints list to screen |
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Invite potential members automatically by pasting in e-mail address. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes. Tracks who has responded |
Yes |
No |
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E-Mail Bounce Handling |
Stops sending e-mail to bounces after 3 weeks |
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Can set to disable hard or soft bounces immediately or after a period of time. |
Automatically removes certain kinds of bounces. Some must be manually removed |
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Temporary no mail for members on vacation without unsubscribing |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
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Can withdraw posting permission from selected members |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
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Banned members cannot resubscribe |
- |
Yes |
Yes. Settings for banned e-mail addresses or domains |
- |
- |
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Other Tools |
eGroups |
OneList |
Topica |
ListBot |
CoolList |
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Survey feature to determine best times for chats, etc. |
Yes. Text report. |
Yes. Shows graph and text |
No |
No |
No |
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Calendar |
Yes. Cannot be restricted to moderators |
Yes. Can be restricted to moderators |
No |
No |
No |
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Customizable database for contact lists, homework assignments, etc. |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
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Chat Room for individuals or group |
Yes. Usable across firewalls. |
No |
No |
No |
No |
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Shared file area for Web pages, documents, photos, etc. |
20 MB per list. Not currently restrictable |
5 MB per list. Can be restricted to moderators |
No |
No |
No |
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Headquarters Location |
San Francisco, California |
San Mateo, California |
San Francisco, California |
Bedford, Mass. |
Melbourne, Australia |
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Size of operation |
200,000 lists. 5.5 million users |
165,000 lists, highest Web traffic |
Not disclosed |
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46,000+ lists |
*ListBot had no privacy statement. Allows you to ask any of these demographic questions:
contact info plus Age, Gender, Occupation, Income, Company Name, Organization Type, Company Size, Web Site Type, Primary Net Connection, Home Ownership, Internet Experience, Education, Marital Status, and Children in Household.
Sample newsletter. We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber lists. Subscribing will not result in more spam! I guarantee it!