AWeber vs Sender
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
AWeber
SenderWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetSenderSender can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. AWeber cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on Sender
- A list already in the thousandsSenderSender stays free to 2,500 subscribers against AWeber's nothing.
- Worried about being locked inSenderAWeber's terms cut off access to your contact data when you cancel. Sender does not do that.
- Selling the course from the same toolAWeberAWeber can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.See AWeber pricing
Side by side
| AWeber | Sender | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 2,500 subscribers |
| Free sends | 14-day trial only | 15,000 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Podia | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Direct | Not listed |
| Paid from | $12.49/mo | $9/mo |
| At 5,000 subscribers | $60 | Not published |
| At 25,000 subscribers | $210 | Not published |
| The catch | The paid Lite plan allows one email list and three automations, so the second funnel you build is what pushes you up to Plus, not the size of your list. | A smaller name with a smaller integration list. Check it connects to your course platform before you commit. |
| G2 score | 4.2 out of 5, from 650 reviews | 4.7 out of 5, from 278 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.3 out of 5, from 176 reviews | 4.9 out of 5, from 1,421 reviews |
Figures read off each vendor's own pricing page on 9 September 2026. Where a row says not published, that vendor does not state a price at that list size and we will not invent one.
The last two rows are other people's scores, not ours, read on 6 September 2026. Check them yourself:AWeber on G2, AWeber on Trustpilot, Sender on G2, Sender on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
AWeberHard to leave
Read this before you sign up. Their service agreement says AWeber has "the right to delete all data, files or other information that is stored in the subscriber's account" if the account is terminated, for any reason, by either side. Export your list before you cancel, not after. Source
SenderEasy to leave
The friendliest exit terms we found. Cancelling drops you to the free plan instead of deleting anything: their help page says subscribers, campaigns, automations, forms and reports are all retained. Source
AWeber vs Sender, answered
- Is AWeber or Sender better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. Sender if you are starting out with no budget. Sender if you are a list already in the thousands. Sender if you are worried about being locked in. AWeber if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of AWeber and Sender has the better free plan?
- Sender allows more free subscribers (2,500 against none). A bigger allowance is not automatically the better plan: check the welcome sequence row above, because that is where the two usually part company.
- Can I move from AWeber to Sender later?
- Yes, and you should assume you will. Export your list before you cancel anything, and keep whatever marks who bought from you. We wrote the whole running order up separately.
Try either one
AWeberAutomation from day one of the trial, no free plan behind it
$12.49/mopaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See AWeber pricingRead the full AWeber breakdownSenderThe most generous free plan we found
$9/mopaid plans start here. Free up to 2,500. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on SenderRead the full Sender breakdownMoving between them? Read the switching guide first, or answer 5 questions to check neither of these is the wrong shortlist.
Neither of these? See all 14, including which ones connect straight to Teachable, Kajabi, Podia or Thinkific, or compare what they cost as your list grows.