Countdown timers for email: Review of NiftyImages, Sendtric & MotionMail

Countdown Timers for email: NiftyImages, Sendtric & MotionMail

Including countdown timers in email is a simple but powerful way to not only enrich the user experience, but to also create purposeful urgency and drive action. Using a countdown timer in a HTML email requires embedding a special image that is dynamically generated based on viewing time.

The recent ‘Litmus state of email report 2024’ said that 25% of respondents use countdown timers if they use live content.

“Dynamic countdown timers add urgency and specificity to emails. Use them to call out the final hours of an important sale, show how much longer a subscription lasts, and build anticipation for a launch.”

To help you choose the best provider for your needs, we’ve analysed the pros and cons of countdown timers from the top three providers: NiftyImages, MotionMail and Sendtric.

MotionMail

MotionMail offers an affordable solution for countdown timers. One of its standout features is dynamic language support, which is available across all plans, making it a great choice for global campaigns.

Pricing

Its pricing is reasonable, making it accessible for businesses with limited marketing budgets. The Bootstrap Plan at $10/month covers 100K emails, while the Startup Plan at $60/month supports 700K emails. For larger needs, the Enterprise Plan at $200/month includes 2.8M emails.

Design

MotionMail does a good job at providing a countdown timer however personalising it to your brand and email design is slightly more difficult:

  • Background images, which can add to the visual appeal of your emails, aren’t supported.
  • Has a selection of 24 fonts, a lot less than other options
  • No support for dynamic options, fallbacks, or expiry images

We have found that these limitations can be a significant drawback for campaigns that require strict adherence to brand guidelines.

MotionMail: Summary

Overall, MotionMail is a cost-effective option, but its limited customisation capabilities may hinder its effectiveness in more demanding email marketing campaigns.

NiftyImages

NiftyImages provide a feature rich countdown timer alongside many other image based tools to enhance your emails. They often update their feature set making it a great option for enterprise clients

Pricing

NiftyImages extensive feature set comes at a cost. The starter plan at $25/month includes 50K emails, while the Pro plan supports 250K emails but costs $100/month. For larger enterprises, 1M emails can cost up to $450/month for the Enterprise plan costs, or even $950/month with the Enterprise Plus plan.

The price point can be prohibitive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. Moreover, many of its advanced features are only available on the most expensive plans, limiting accessibility for budget-conscious marketers.

Design

NiftyImages offers a comprehensive array of features for countdown timers, making it a versatile choice:

  • It supports background images, transparency, and open-triggered countdowns across all plans, providing ample opportunities for customisation.
  • For enterprise users, NiftyImages goes a step further by allowing dynamic end dates, which can adjust based on user interactions or other triggers.
  • Supports Photoshop templates to easily create timer backgrounds, ensuring your countdowns are visually appealing.

NiftyImages: Summary

NiftyImages is more expensive than the other option but has a significant advantage as it allows for fallback options, which detect incompatible email clients and adjust the content accordingly, ensuring a seamless experience for all recipients. The platform also supports dynamic language swapping, catering to diverse audiences without requiring separate email versions.

Sendtric

Sendtric strikes a balance between feature set and affordability. It offers a generous number of opens and impressions for its price point, making it a cost-effective choice for high-volume campaigns. Most critical features, such as dynamic options and a wide range of default fonts, are available on all plans. This makes Sendtric versatile and adaptable to different campaign needs.

Pricing

The payment plans for emails range from: Micro at $9/month for 150K emails, to Standard at $39/month for 1M emails, Power at $69/month for 5M emails and adds features like transparency and recurring timers. And the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing with additional features like dynamic language support.

Design

The platform’s support for dynamic features is progressive across plans, allowing businesses to start with basic functionalities and upgrade as needed.

Additional features like customisable labels, vertical timers, and various size options add to its versatility.

Sendtric: Summary

Sendtric’s standard plans do not include custom fonts and dynamic languages, and some basic features like transparency require more expensive plans. This means that while Sendtric offers good value, some advanced customisation options are still behind a paywall.

So which countdown timer is right for me?

When choosing a countdown timer provider, pricing is often a big consideration for clients.

NiftyImages offers a robust set of features but comes with a high price. In contrast, MotionMail is budget-friendly but lacks the broad range of features that you may need. We think Sendtric strikes a balance between these two, offering an array of essential features at a reasonable price. However, if advanced capabilities are your priority and you have the budget, NiftyImages is the best option.

At the end of the day, the best countdown timer for you ultimately depends on your specific needs.

If you’re looking for support with your email marketing programmes, or need help choosing the best countdown timers for your emails, get in touch with our team to request a free email audit.

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