Quick summary
Userlist is an email tool built for software companies. It helps product teams send onboarding messages, product updates, and lifecycle campaigns to users of an app. It focuses on user data from the product, so email can match what a user has done.
Ternloop is a newsletter and campaign tool. You write campaigns in a rich editor or block editor, import contacts from a CSV, group them, and send or schedule the message. It focuses on campaigns you write and schedule. Pricing follows the number of emails you send each month.
If your team wants email tied to product usage, Userlist is designed for that. If you want to write a newsletter or announcement and send it to a list, Ternloop is the simpler tool.
Pricing compare
The comparison page we reviewed lists Userlist at $100 a month for 10,000 users on its Basic plan and $120 a month on its Professional plan. The page also notes a startup discount. Userlist's pricing depends on user count and features, and it changes over time. Check Userlist's current pricing before you decide.
Ternloop's plans are shown below.
| Ternloop plan | Monthly price | Annual price | Emails per month | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1,000 | 500 |
| Pro 5,000 | $4 | $46 per year | 5,000 | 3,000 |
| Pro 10,000 | $8 | $92 per year | 10,000 | 6,000 |
| Pro 20,000 | $15 | $172 per year | 20,000 | 12,000 |
| Pro 50,000 | $25 | $286 per year | 50,000 | 30,000 |
| Pro 100,000 | $50 | $570 per year | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| Pro 150,000 | $70 | $810 per year | 150,000 | 80,000 |
For a list of 10,000 contacts, Ternloop's Pro 20,000 tier costs $15 a month and includes up to 12,000 contacts. Userlist's Basic plan at 10,000 users lists $100 a month in the comparison we reviewed. The gap is large, and Userlist is built around product data and user segmentation.
If you need email for product users, the extra cost may be worth it. If your list is a newsletter, a community, or a general audience, you can keep the price lower with Ternloop.
Feature compare
| Feature | Ternloop | Userlist |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter editor | Rich editor and block editor | Campaign editor |
| Open and click tracking | Included on every plan | Included |
| Contact groups and fields | Groups, custom fields, and CSV import on Pro | User segments and attributes |
| Scheduling | Included on Pro | Included |
| Custom sending domain | Included on Pro | Included |
| Bounce and unsubscribe handling | Automatic, based on SES webhooks | Included |
Userlist connects to your product so that email can reflect what users do. Product teams use it to send messages after a feature is used or a user stops using the app. That tight link to product data is its main advantage.
Ternloop is built for the newsletter workflow: a rich editor, contact groups, CSV import, scheduling, and delivery stats. Bounces, complaints, and unsubscribes are marked automatically through SES webhooks, which keeps your list clean.
When to choose Ternloop
- You send a newsletter, announcement, or community update.
- You do not need email triggered by product usage.
- You want to pay for the monthly volume you send, with a clear contact limit.
- You want CSV import, scheduling, and custom sending domains on one plan.
When to choose Userlist
- You run a SaaS product and want email based on user activity.
- You want onboarding and lifecycle messages tied to product data.
- Your team has a product or growth role that owns email.
- Your budget supports a higher monthly price for features built for users.
The choice depends on where your email data comes from. If your messages depend on what users do in the product, Userlist is built for that. If your list comes from a signup form, an import, or a newsletter audience, Ternloop keeps the process simple.
Start with Ternloop
You can start on Ternloop's free plan with 1,000 emails and 500 contacts each month. Import a small list, send a test campaign, and review the open and click data. When your list grows, the Pro tiers scale with your volume. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
Questions to ask before you switch
Start with your product. Userlist is built for product teams that send messages based on what users do inside the app. If your onboarding and lifecycle emails depend on those events, keep Userlist for that work. Ternloop is the better fit for campaigns you schedule yourself.
Next, compare costs at your contact count. The comparison we reviewed lists Userlist's Basic plan at $100 a month and its Professional plan at $120 a month for 10,000 contacts. Ternloop's 10,000 email tier is $8 a month and covers up to 6,000 contacts. Userlist also offers a startup discount, so check its current pricing and any discount you qualify for.
Then decide who will send the emails. Userlist is designed for product and growth teams. Ternloop is designed for a founder or small team that writes campaigns, picks a list, and sends from a dashboard.
Finally, plan the move. Export your contacts and tags, import the CSV into Ternloop on a Pro plan, and send a test campaign to a small group. Confirm that bounces and unsubscribes update your list before the full send.
Keep reading
- Ternloop vs Loops compares Ternloop with a platform for product email.
- Ternloop vs Customer.io covers messaging triggered by events for product teams.
- Ternloop vs Klaviyo looks at email based on customer behavior.
- About Ternloop explains the founder's pricing approach.
- Contact the founder with questions about your users.