A comprehensive comparison of email design tools — Stripo.email

Using the right email design tool can have a big impact on your marketing results. The best tools help teams and individuals achieve email design excellence, offer collaboration features for co-editing and approvals, integrate smoothly with your ESP, and include advanced features like built-in interactive elements and smart automation — everything today’s email designers and marketers need.

This article compares two popular platforms — Stripo and Beefree — to help you decide which one fits your workflow best. We break down their key functionalities, from mobile-responsive design and customization options to AI features, and provide insights from real user reviews collected on G2 and Capterra.

Shared foundations of email design

Both Stripo and Beefree are solid template builders for professional emails. In either editor, you can start from scratch or choose a prebuilt template and then customize it to fit your needs.

The design workspaces in both tools allow you to:

1. Drag-n-drop content blocks and structures.
2. Adjust the settings for each design element.
3. Add microcopy, such as subject lines and preheader text.
4. Collaborate in real time by coediting and leaving comments on any part of the design.
5. Switch between desktop and mobile views to preview how your email adapts to different screens, and send test emails across clients.
6. Take advantage of modular email design by saving and reusing certain email elements.
7. Export your design via integrations with email clients, CDPs, and CRMs or save it as HTML code.

These shared capabilities form the baseline of modern email design. In the following sections, we take a closer look at these core features and explore some platform-specific strengths in more detail.

Layout flexibility and customization ease

Both editors are well structured and offer an extensive range of customization options that allow users to define their email layouts with precision and flexibility.

Stripo

In Stripo, you can move, duplicate, or delete structures and save them as new modules. Each structure has settings that let you add or remove containers, adjust padding and margins, apply styles, or connect a data source to activate SMART properties, automatically importing content from your source into the email.

Stripo allows you to add custom fonts, including options from Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts. With the Brand Palette feature, you can set and manage brand colors for each project or group. In addition, Stripo’s Brand Guidelines Kit generates a PDF based on your chosen template’s styles and includes template guidelines, content modules, brand assets, and test results from the email rendering tool.

Finally, Stripo makes it easy to keep your emails consistent with the General Styles settings. In General Styles, you set the default parameters for the entire email, so any new blocks you add will automatically inherit these styles — for example, button font size or text colors.

Beefree

In Beefree, the primary structures are called rows. Within the editor, you can save rows to your library or move, duplicate, or delete them. The settings panel on the right allows you to set background colors, border styles, padding, and add or remove columns within a row.

In addition, you can set up brand styles for each workspace using the Styles settings. This feature lets you define custom values for colors, typography, headings, text, buttons, content widths, and social icons, ensuring consistency across all your emails.

Beefree also allows you to add custom fonts to your account by inserting the font CSS URL from collections such as Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts.

Code editing

This is one of the areas where the two editors differ significantly: Beefree doesn’t include a standalone code editor (though users can add a Custom HTML content block). By contrast, Stripo provides a full built-in code editor.

This means that email marketers and developers can refine their email designs in Stripo by editing the code and instantly previewing the changes in the visual editor. The code editor provides access to three tabs: HTML, Default CSS, and Custom CSS.

The following features are specific to Stripo’s code editor:

• editing HTML: Select a specific structure or block in your email template, click the Code button, and the editor will display the exact code for that element so you can edit it directly. If no element is selected, the code for the entire email will appear;

  

• Focus mode: When you need to locate particular lines of code in the template, switch to Focus mode. Selecting a snippet of code will highlight the corresponding HTML elements in the visual editor;
• styling with CSS: You can override the default CSS or add custom CSS without affecting the core CSS generated by the editor.

Template library

Both editors provide a wide variety of templates for different occasions and industries.

Stripo

Stripo offers more than 1,600 prebuilt email templates, which can be filtered by:

• type of event: Transactional emails, abandoned subscriptions, event reminders, password resets, etc.;
• industry: eCommerce, software, fashion, publications, blogging, and more;
• seasonal emails: Christmas, Black Friday, Halloween, etc.;
• features: Image rollover, smart elements, accordion menus, etc.;
• integrations: Templates designed for efficient export to the email marketing platform of your choice.

(Stripo’s collection of email templates)

In addition, the Stripo team can design custom on-brand templates aligned with your website or brand style guide. Stripo professionals can also convert designs and specs from apps like Figma, Sketch, Canva, and Zeplin into responsive HTML templates. All modules from these templates can be saved to your personal modules library for reuse, modification, or bulk updates.

Beefree

Beefree provides 1,900 prebuilt email templates, categorized by:

• industry: Beauty and personal care, fashion, food and beverage, etc.;
• seasonal events: Black Friday, back-to-school season, New Year, etc.;
• automated events: Welcome emails, password resets, abandoned cart, etc.;
• usage: Newsletters, product promotions, reengagement campaigns, etc.

Additionally, the Beefree designers can build custom email templates according to your brand style guide.

(Beefree’s collection of email templates)

Mobile responsiveness

When you create an email in either Stripo or Beefree, it is automatically responsive, meaning that the content is rearranged to display optimally on mobile devices. In addition, both editors let you fine-tune mobile-specific properties, which we’ll cover here.

Stripo

Stripo comes fully equipped with features that support a mobile-first approach to email design. The following are some of the standout options for creating mobile-friendly messages:

• mobile-specific settings: Define structure padding and margins for the entire message in the general settings;
• group-level adjustments: Apply parameters to groups of elements such as stripes, headings, and buttons (for example, you can set font size and line height for headings or adjust buttons to fit the container width);
• element visibility control: Hide specific elements on mobile so they appear only on desktop;
• responsive image control: Enable responsive settings to optimize image display;
• container inversion: If you’ve set an inverse arrangement of product cards for desktop, you can invert containers on mobile to ensure that images and text blocks display in a consistent order while scrolling.

Most importantly, Stripo lets you manage the mobile view directly within the template editor. By switching to mobile view, you can work on your design just as you would in desktop view.

(Mobile view in Stripo’s editor)

Beefree

Like Stripo, Beefree offers a Mobile Design mode that allows you to work directly on the mobile version of your email instead of constantly switching back and forth between desktop and mobile preview.

(Mobile view in Beefree’s editor)

The following are some of Beefree’s key responsive design features:

• stack order control: Adjust the order of stacked columns on mobile, reversing them when needed (similar to container inversion in Stripo);
• “Do not stack on mobile” option: Override the default stacking behavior if necessary (Beefree recommends using this with caution, as in most cases, moving the container to a new line works better);
• content visibility: Hide specific content blocks or even entire rows on mobile;
• granular mobile optimization: Apply mobile-only styles, such as alignment, padding, and text size, to individual blocks for more precise control.

Exports and integrations

Exporting templates from either Stripo or Beefree follows a straightforward process: Click the Export button, choose your ESP, and the template is delivered directly into your provider’s catalog. Setting up multiple integrations under a single account is particularly useful for agencies with clients using a variety of ESPs. Let’s examine each editor’s integrations and export capabilities.

Stripo

• integrations: Export directly to more than 80 ESPs without additional code setup (once exported to platforms like Mailchimp or HubSpot, templates can still be edited using their built-in editors);
• bulk export: Select multiple templates in your Stripo account and push them all to your ESP at once;
• direct export: Gmail and Outlook;
• Webhook & Zapier: Send templates to virtually any marketing automation platform.

Additional export options:

• download as AMP HTML or standard HTML;
• export as JPG, PNG, or PDF for approvals, documentation, or offline review.

Beefree

• integrations: Export directly to 29 ESPs without additional code setup;
• direct export: Gmail and Outlook;
• webhook URL: Export to any ESP that supports webhooks.

Additional export options:

• download a ZIP file containing HTML and images;
• export as a PDF for printing or sharing.

Modular email design

Both editors are known for being grounded in the modular email design, so this feature is a tie between Stripo and Beefree. Let’s briefly explain what modular design means for email development.

In both editors, modules (called rows in Beefree) are structures composed of content blocks such as text, images, and CTAs. You can save these modules to your personal library and reuse them in various campaigns. One difference is that Stripo lets you save both single containers with one block and multi-row structures, whereas Beefree is limited to saving rows.

Unlike prebuilt templates, which may not match your current design needs and often require additional editing, modules let you create on-brand emails quickly and consistently. Once the modules are built according to your design rules, you can reuse them in different campaigns. In Stripo, modules can also be copied or moved between projects within the same organization.

Testing

Beefree provides a Send Test button, allowing you to send your email to yourself, colleagues, or clients for review.

Stripo offers more advanced testing options. In addition to sending emails to selected addresses, it integrates Email on Acid testing, enabling previews across 102 mobile, desktop, and web clients, including dark mode checks. You can customize which email clients and devices are used for screenshots.

Once testing is complete, Stripo allows you to download all preview images as a ZIP file with a single click.

(Stripo features Email on Acid rendering tests, allowing you to see how your email appears across various devices and clients, including dark mode)

Pricing

Stripo pricing overview

Stripo offers four main pricing tiers — Free, Basic, Medium, and Pro, as well as an additional Prime plan for enterprise users. Here’s a breakdown:

• Free: Doesn’t require a credit card. This plan provides access to 2 members and offers 10 stored email templates, 4 exports per month, and 5 test emails per day;
• Basic: $20/month, tailored for solo creators. This plan provides access to 2 members and offers 50 stored templates, 50 exports per month, 50 test emails per day, and access to premium templates and sharing previews;
• Medium: $45/month, ideal for small teams. This plan provides access to 3 members and offers 300 stored templates, 300 exports per month, and 100 test emails per day, as well as unlimited premium templates, sharing features, and up to 5 projects in your workspace;
• Pro: $95/month, built for larger teams. This plan provides access to 10 members and offers unlimited template storage and exports, 300 test emails per day, and custom user roles and access levels;
• Prime: The enterprise-level plan is available upon individual request. It offers support for 100 members, unlimited projects, exports, test emails, and advanced administrative controls.

Beefree pricing overview

Beefree offers four plans — Starter, Professional, Business, and Enterprise — each designed to suit different user needs:

• Starter (Free): Ideal for occasional projects, this plan includes essential features like Mobile Design mode, up to six email exports per month, integration with sending platforms, and basic design storage. The free plan doesn’t require a credit card;
• Professional: $30/month. Built for solo creators or small teams (two to three users), this plan offers unlimited exports, robust organizational tools, customizable user roles, removal of the “Designed with Beefree” footer, expanded CDN usage, PDF export, and custom merge tags;
• Business: $160/month. Targeted at growing or multi-brand organizations, this plan includes everything in Professional plus built-in approval workflows, collaboration tools, advanced styling guidelines, multiple workspaces, and enhanced team features;
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Tailored to large organizations with complex requirements, this customizable plan offers multi-workspace environments, advanced security, and dedicated support.

Collaboration features

Stripo

Stripo includes collaboration tools such as real-time coediting, commenting, version history, and custom user roles, which enable teams to work efficiently on email designs. Beyond in-editor collaboration, Stripo also offers multiple design-sharing options, including landing page view, expanded previews, collaborative view with real-time commenting, and fully customizable views to match specific needs.

For example, Stripo’s Collaborative View sharing feature generates a dedicated webpage where clients or colleagues can see real-time updates and leave comments, even without a Stripo account. This is particularly useful for agencies working with multiple clients, eliminating the need for each client to have an account just to approve designs.

Beefree

Beefree also supports real-time coediting with synchronized changes, version history, commenting, and predefined user roles. Team members can request a review by sending the request to selected email addresses, with the option to add a personalized message. However, the editor doesn’t provide custom user roles or advanced sharing options like those available in Stripo.

AI features

AI and automation are gradually simplifying the email creation process, letting marketers focus on higher-value activities such as refining layouts, reviewing and interpreting rendering test results, and maintaining brand consistency. Let’s take a look at how Stripo and Beefree use AI to simplify everyday email-building tasks.

Stripo

Stripo comes with a dedicated AI Hub that helps marketers generate both single emails and complete sequences, such as onboarding flows or webinar campaigns. After setting brand parameters like tone of voice and logo, you provide a prompt, and the AI produces a draft structure that can be refined into a finished email design.

In addition to building sequences, Stripo’s built-in AI tools streamline everyday email tasks:

• polish text blocks with quick commands like “fix grammar” or “make shorter”;
• adjust tone of voice to fit different styles, from formal to friendly;
• generate subject lines and preheaders to make emails more engaging;
• create visuals such as banners, product images, and custom graphics directly in the editor using models like DALL-E;
• generate descriptive Alt text automatically to improve accessibility.

Stripo’s AI can also generate coherent copy for multiple elements within a smart module at once.

Beefree

Beefree includes an AI Writing Assistant that helps generate on-brand copy for text content blocks. To enhance accessibility, the AI-based Alt-Text Generator creates accurate image descriptions individually or in bulk. Finally, the AI-based Text-to-Image Generator allows users to produce custom visuals — from product shots to campaign banners — without relying on external design tools.

Building interactive emails

Stripo

Stripo provides tools for creating interactive email content through its Interactive Module Generator. This tool allows users to build modules such as surveys and mini games without coding. Each module includes three versions: AMP for supporting clients (Gmail, Yahoo), HTML5 & CSS3 for others (Apple Mail, Samsung Mail), and a fallback version for clients that don’t support interactivity. Approximately 90% of recipients see the interactive content, while the rest view a static fallback or are redirected to a web-based version.

Stripo also offers AMP-powered blocks, including carousels, accordions, and forms, which can be inserted directly into email layouts. These blocks require no coding skills but need fallback versions for non-AMP clients. Together, these features allow the creation of interactive emails that function across a wide range of email clients.

Alternatively, you can add an HTML block or use the built-in code editor to create interactive features with CSS and HTML5.

Finally, in Stripo, you can apply a button hover effect and an image rollover effect to grab the recipient’s attention as they scroll through your email.

Beefree

While Beefree doesn’t have a dedicated “interactive module” tool like Stripo, its Custom HTML block supports certain interactive features through CSS, HTML5 elements, and embedded dynamic content. This allows developers to create animations, add HTML5 videos, use anchor links, and include live or personalized content, such as product recommendations or dynamic ads.

Beefree also allows you to apply hover effects to buttons, adding style changes that activate when a mouse moves over a button on desktop devices.

Overall usability

When it comes to overall usability, we let real customers take center stage by sharing their experiences with Stripo and Beefree. Here’s how these email editors perform based on feedback collected from G2 and Capterra.

Stripo

G2

• rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (150 reviews);
• pros: Users praise Stripo’s intuitive interface, rich feature set, exceptional customer support, and extensive documentation;
• cons: Some note that building a more specific structure that isn’t already available can be time consuming.

Capterra

• rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (85 reviews);
• most popular features: Multiple export options and integrations, collaboration tools, and a wide variety of templates;
• users particularly appreciate the modular email design, the ability to translate emails into any language, and the support for custom fonts, but some criticize the free plan’s restriction of only four template exports per month.

Beefree

G2

• rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (296 reviews);
• pros: Reviewers highlight Beefree’s ready-made templates, user-friendly interface, and collaboration features;
• cons: Some mention issues with mobile layout responsiveness as well as limited design options and form functionality.

Capterra

• rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (207 reviews);
• most popular features: Mobile optimization, dynamic content, and customizable data fields;
• users value the simplified email design process, the customizable templates, and the ability to create responsive HTML templates, but some mention that pricing can be high, particularly when adding extra users or unlocking advanced features.

Stripo vs. Beefree: Feature comparison

Wrapping up

Both Stripo and Beefree are effective, well-regarded email design platforms. Stripo stands out with its advanced functionality, including code editing, testing, integrations, interactive modules, and mobile design controls. Beefree is outstanding due to its large template library, intuitive interface, and mobile design capabilities.

For a quick overview, check the comparison table to see how these tools align across key features and review their pricing plans to find the best fit for your team. As both platforms offer free plans, you can try them out firsthand because actually working with a tool often tells you more about it than any specification sheet.