Let me be honest with you – I used to dread creating email campaigns.

There I'd be, staring at a blank screen at 2 AM, trying to remember if it was <td> or <th> that would make my text align properly. 

Sound familiar?

I'm the type who likes to do things myself – call it stubbornness. But after trying my first drag-and-drop email builder, I felt like I'd been handed magical powers.

The best part? My emails started performing better. Click-through rates increased, and I even received a few replies from subscribers expressing their appreciation for the new design.

Jon Finkel, acclaimed author, fitness enthusiast, and creator of Books & Biceps newsletter, once said during an interview, "Just like authors spend significant time making sure we get the cover of our books right, newsletter creators have the same chance to make a powerful impression with their landing page and email design."

That insight stuck with me because it perfectly summed up what I was learning: presentation matters just as much as content. A great layout sets the tone for the entire reader experience. And that’s exactly why I decided to explore tools that could help me elevate my email design without adding hours of extra work.

It was Tuesday afternoon, and I was three hours deep into Googling "why does my email look broken in Outlook AGAIN?" I was a marketer completely defeated by a rogue <div> tag, making my images disappear on phones.

That's when it hit me: there's no way brand emails are hand-coded. It’s just too much time, effort, and frustration. So, I did some digging and discovered they're all using email layout generators.

The first time I tried one, I literally laughed out loud. What used to take me an entire afternoon now takes 15 minutes. Drag a header here, drop an image there, pick some colors, and boom – professional-looking email.

No more wrestling with CSS or HTML code that had a personal vendetta against me. I could finally focus on what I'm actually good at: writing content people want to read.

As you might expect, not every layout generator is a winner. Here are my picks:

What you get: 1,550+ free templates, built-in photo editor, CSS animations

Why it rocks: Complete creative freedom without touching HTML

Perfect for: Stripo helps marketers who want pro-level customization

What you get: Beefree has 1,700+ templates, mobile optimization, and real-time collaboration

Why it rocks: So easy your least tech-savvy teammate can use it

Perfect for: Teams and beginners who value ease over complexity

What you get: beehiiv has an advanced text editor optimized for beautiful newsletters, professional templates, and a drag-and-drop website builder

Why it rocks: Free plan includes up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends - plus built-in monetization and growth tools

Perfect for: Newsletter creators who want the most flexible editor in email without looking like every other newsletter

AI tools now analyze content and automatically suggest optimal layouts based on engagement data:

Stripo's AI: Designs emails 10x faster, writes copy, maps campaign schedules

Unlayer's AI: Enterprise-grade with SOC 2 compliance, TypeScript-built platform

Linda Hwang has extensive experience in B2B marketing and previously worked at a renowned international facilities management company. There, she played a crucial role in creating effective content and social media marketing plans. Now, Hwang is a marketing consultant who helps small businesses create compelling brand stories.

Over 61.9% of emails are opened on mobile devices. But mobile optimization goes beyond shrinking desktop layouts. 

The best generators restructure content hierarchy, adjust font sizes automatically, and modify button placement for thumb navigation.

Complex layouts consistently underperformed simple designs. Winning formula: Clear visual hierarchy, scannable content sections, single prominent call-to-action, maximum two-column layouts. A responsive email layout generator handles all of this effortlessly.

beehiiv delivers on its promise of being "the only platform you'll need" with powerful editing tools requiring no code. For my money, it’s the best email layout builder out there to date.

Key advantages: 

beehiiv’s style panel also allows you to quickly adjust colors, typography, and spacing while offering custom options for detailed control. This strikes a perfect balance between efficiency and creative freedom.

Email layout generators completely changed how I approach email marketing. Instead of spending hours fighting with HTML, I'm now focused on what actually matters – creating content my subscribers love.

But here's the thing: these tools won't magically make your emails amazing. You still need to consider what your audience wants and how to deliver a great experience to them. The generator just makes it a whole lot easier to execute those ideas.

If you're tired of wrestling with code like I was, it's time to make the switch.

Ready to transform your email game? 

Sign up for beehiiv today and see what you've been missing. Trust me – once you experience their drag-and-drop editor and professional templates, you'll wonder why you waited so long.