What Are Email Autoresponders? Advantages, Best Tools, & Set Up

Picture this: You wake up to find five new emails waiting for you. You have a new subscriber who wants to know how to get started with your product. A customer is asking about their order status. Someone left a review on your website that’s triggered an automated response. And finally, someone is looking for a job on your team. With autoresponders, you can automate replying to these emails, so you don't have to tackle them all immediately. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need about email autoresponders. You’ll learn how they work, their advantages, the best tools, and how to set them up. If that sounds good, let’s jump in. Antispace's AI-based productivity operating system can help you get started with email autoresponders quickly. Our solution best AI Email Assistant makes it easy to create, customize, and implement autoresponder emails to get your inbox under control.

What are Email Autoresponders?

Email autoresponders send automated responses to the contacts in your email list in response to a trigger event. In its most basic form, an email autoresponder is marketing automation. A marketing automation workflow has many variables, and if/then/else conditions govern the result. The workings and setting up of email autoresponders are quite simple. The number of emails you would like to send depends on your marketing objective.

Setting Up an Email Autoresponder Series

Generally, you create the email content for the autoresponder series. Then, if you are running an automated email series to promote a particular product or service, you set the order and frequency of the emails.

You configure the conditions that will trigger these emails. When the conditions are met, the marketing automation system delivers the emails.

Advantages of Using Email Autoresponders

A new contact could rapidly become a paying customer, but you must first make a good first impression. A welcome email with a special offer or discount to new subscribers demonstrates that you’re on top of your game and will tempt them to return for more.

Save Time and Effort with Email Autoresponders

One significant benefit of email autoresponders is that they save you time and effort. You can build up your campaigns in advance and schedule them with an automated system. This allows you to spend less time manually sending emails and does it regularly without the need for reminders.

Keep Your Audience Interested with Email Autoresponders

Setting up automated emails is a simple and hassle-free approach to connecting with your target audience and providing necessary information promptly. Remember that your content should be educational and evoke thought, relate to the subscriber, and prompt them to take action via the CTA.

You want customers to feel like they’re a part of something valuable and worth their time and effort. Adding polls or reminders to “contribute your best story” about a specific topic in an automated email is only a good instance. These emails set the tone for how a potential buyer will perceive your brand’s approachability.

Deliver Usefulness and Practicality with Email Autoresponders

People sometimes hesitate to sign up for emails because they fear being bombarded with spam or useless junk mail. An autoresponder with legitimate links to additional information or services is a great way to demonstrate to your consumers how vital your emails are.

Capitalise on Potential Opportunities with Email Autoresponders

As soon as a new subscriber signs up, it’s a signal that they’re interested in learning more about your company.

They’ve already expressed interest; all you have to do now is act decisively and use this opportunity. Connecting with new customers right away can be a great victory, and autoresponders can help with that.

Immediately Follow Up with Email Autoresponders

A marketer can persistently follow up with customers or prospects using email autoresponders, ensuring none are missed.

Antispace: AI-Powered Productivity

Antispace transforms your daily workflow with an AI-powered, gamified productivity operating system. Our platform seamlessly integrates with your essential tools, email, Calendar, and Notes, while our AI assistant handles everything from email management to task organization.

We've built intelligence into every aspect of your workflow:

Intelligent email responses
Automated calendar management
Enhanced note-taking
Streamlined task coordination

Antispace is your virtual executive assistant, reducing context switching and automating routine tasks. It lets you focus on what matters while our AI handles the rest. Whether you're brainstorming ideas, managing communications, or coordinating projects, Antispace turns productivity from a chore into an engaging experience.

Get started for free with one click today.

Email Autoresponders vs Email Automation

At first glance, email autoresponders and automation may seem like the same thing, they both involve sending automated emails. However, they serve different purposes and function in distinct ways.

Email Autoresponders: Simple, One-Time Replies

Email autoresponders are straightforward automatic replies triggered when someone sends an email to a specific address. They don’t require complex workflows or user interactions beyond the initial email.

For example, if you’ve ever received an "Out of Office" message or a confirmation email after submitting a form, you’ve encountered an autoresponder. They are commonly used for:

Out-of-office messages
Customer service responses
Simple confirmation emails

Autoresponders are great for setting expectations and acknowledging messages, but they don’t offer much flexibility beyond that initial response.

Email Automation: A Smarter, Action-Based System

Email automation goes further by sending emails based on specific user actions. Instead of replying to an inbound email, automated emails are triggered by behaviors like:

Signing up for a newsletter
Making a purchase
Abandoning a shopping cart

Unlike autoresponders, email automation involves setting up workflows that guide users through pre-planned messages. These workflows allow businesses to nurture leads, re-engage inactive customers, and personalize communication at scale. Some common examples of email automation include:

Welcome sequences for new subscribers
Abandoned cart reminders
Post-purchase follow-ups
Re-engagement emails for inactive user
Personalized product recommendations

Which One Do You Need?

If you just need a simple response to acknowledge an email, an autoresponder is the way to go. Email automation provides far more flexibility and impact if you want to engage customers over time based on their actions.

Both play a role in effective communication—while autoresponders help with immediate responses, automation builds relationships and drives long-term engagement.

6 Best Email Autoresponders to Check Out

1. Antispace: The AI-Powered Autoresponder for Seamless Email Management

We've built intelligence into every aspect of your workflow:

Intelligent email responses
Automated calendar management
Enhanced note-taking
Streamlined task coordination

Get started for free with one click today.

2. Mailchimp: The Free Autoresponder with Tons of Email Features

Mailchimp is a popular email marketing tool that’s simple to use. It’s also one of the best free email autoresponders due to its unlimited free version for its users.

Mailchimp is an excellent option for beginners who have smaller email subscriber lists. This email autoresponder has several marketing features to help you manage your other marketing strategies.

Features

Here are some of the main features that Mailchimp has to offer:

Choose from multiple email templates, receive template designs based on your brand, or create your own
Write attention-grabbing subject lines with the Subject Line Helper feature
Send automated emails based on customer behavior and interactions
Track your sales and view what users clicked on with reports and click maps

If you’re just starting your email marketing campaign, Mailchimp could be an excellent option.

3. Moosend: The Affordable Email Autoresponder for ECommerce

Moosend is another affordable option for email automation. It makes it easy to customize your automated emails and set up workflows that can be shared across your entire team. With plenty of plans and variable prices, you’re sure to find an option that fits your marketing budget.

Features

Here are a few of Moosend’s noteworthy features that make it stand out as one of the best email autoresponders in 2025:

Segment your email list to create personalized emails based on customer behavior.
Target customers based on previous purchases and those who abandon their shopping cart.
Measure your newsletter engagement with A/B testing.
Track the success of your email marketing campaigns with in-depth analysis and reporting features.

If you’re looking for the best email autoresponder that enables you to easily send emails and create a personalized experience for your customers, look no further than Moosend.

4. MailerLite: The Free Autoresponder with Tons of Email Features

Next on our list of best free email autoresponders is MailerLite. With their free sign-up option, it’s easy to get started with email automation to boost your email marketing strategy.

MailerLite’s user-friendly and feature-packed interface allows you and your team to communicate effectively with your current and potential customers, send engaging newsletters, and drive results with your campaign.

Features

Check out some of the features that come with MailerLite below:

Drag and drop email design building feature.
Responsive newsletter editor that enables you to create beautiful newsletters without coding a single element.
Easily insert your products and services to promote new and current products.
Interactive email blocks that will allow your audience to engage and interact with your emails.

MailerLite’s features make this software an excellent email marketing tool that can help you drive serious results for your business.

5. GetResponse: The Email Autoresponder with Plenty of Resources

GetResponse is another one of the best email marketing autoresponders of 2025. It is an effective email automation tool that can help nurture leads and boost sales. It also provides several resources to help you start a successful email marketing strategy and optimize your campaign to drive serious results for your business.

Features

Here are some of the main features of GetResponse:

List and calendar views to schedule your emails with ease
Unlimited email sends
Integration features that enable you to connect your customer relationship management (CRM), customer support, and other tools with GetResponse
Perfect timing tools that help you send emails when your customers are most likely to read them
Ready-made, automated sales funnels and campaigns to help you drive results with your emails

GetResponse makes it easy to send engaging, personalized emails that will grab your audience’s attention and increase your open rate.

6. SendPulse: The Free Autoresponder for Email and Messenger Marketing

SendPulse is free autoresponder software that combines email and messenger marketing. More specifically, the autoresponder provides various tools, such as SMS and web push notifications, to engage with your audience in the best possible way.

Moreover, the software gave us opt-in autoresponders that allowed us to create automated email sequences to collect feedback, target cart abandoners, upsell products/services, and promote events.

Email & Messenger Marketing Tools

Segmentation is also part of SendPulse’s toolbox. It lets you divide your email subscribers based on their website activity and email engagement.

If you want to boost your lead generation, the service also has a great landing page builder for creating converting pages. Lastly, besides its email marketing and automation tools, SendPulse has multilingual phone and email support.

SendPulse features:

HTML email editor
SMS, and Viber marketing options
Advanced email list segmentation
eCommerce platform integration

Setting Up an Email Autoresponder in Gmail

Setting up an email autoresponder in Gmail is simple. It ensures automatic replies are sent when you’re unavailable. Whether you’re on vacation or need to manage response expectations, Gmail’s built-in “Vacation Responder” feature can help. Step 1: Open Gmail Settings:

Log in to your Gmail account.
Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
Select “See all settings.”

Digging Into the Autoresponder Features in Gmail

Step 2: Navigate to the General Tab:

In the settings menu, click on the “General” tab
Scroll down to find the “Vacation responder” section

Customizing Your Auto Reply Message

Step 3: Enable and Customize Your Auto-Reply:

Select “Vacation responder on.”
Set the start date and, if needed, the end date for the autoresponder
Enter the subject line and message that recipients will receive

If you want only my contacts to receive the response, check the box that says, “Send responses only to people in my Contacts.”

Activating Your Autoresponder

Step 4: Save Changes:

Once your message is ready, scroll down and click “Save Changes.”
Your autoresponder will automatically send replies to incoming emails during the set timeframe

Additional Tips

If you need to disable the autoresponder before the end date, simply return to the settings and selecto “Vacation responder off.” Customize your message to set clear expectations, such as alternative contact methods or when you’ll be back.

This simple setup ensures that anyone contacting you receives a prompt reply, keeping communication seamless even when you’re away.

Let Our AI-based Productivity Operating System Handle Your Boring Work

We've built intelligence into every aspect of your workflow:

Intelligent email responses
Automated calendar management
Enhanced note-taking
Streamlined task coordination

Get started for free with one click today.

Em Client vs Outlook
Outlook vs Gmail
Zoho Mail Alternatives
Canary Mail vs Spark
Gmail Alternatives
Sanebox Alternatives
Best Email Organizer App
Outlook Alternatives
Mailbird vs Thunderbird
Superhuman Alternatives

What Are Email Autoresponders? Advantages, Best Tools, & Set Up