How to Check Competitors’ Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for businesses. It helps companies connect directly with their audience, promote products, and build trust. But if you’re running a business, it’s not just about sending emails — it’s also important to know what your competitors are doing.

When you understand your competitors’ email marketing strategies, you can learn from them, improve your own campaigns, and stay ahead. But how can you check their email campaigns if you’re not on their team? Don’t worry — there are smart, simple ways to do it.

We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about how to check your competitors’ email marketing campaigns — in plain and simple words.

Why Should You Check Competitors’ Email Campaigns?

Here are a few reasons of Why should you care about what your competitors are doing with their emails?

Inspiration: You can get ideas for your own emails — from subject lines to layout and content style.
Trends: You’ll spot the latest trends in your industry and see what’s working for others.
Weak Points: Sometimes, you’ll see what your competitors are doing wrong, and you can avoid making the same mistakes.
Opportunities: You might discover offers, deals, or messaging your competitors use that you can improve on.

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1. Sign Up for Their Newsletter

This is the easiest and most direct way to see what your competitors are sending to their subscribers.

How to do it:

Visit your competitors’ websites.
Look for a sign-up box that says “Subscribe to our newsletter” or “Get updates.”
Enter your email and start receiving their campaigns.

What to look for:

How often do they send emails?
What kind of subject lines do they use?
Do they offer discounts or free shipping?
How are the emails designed?

This method is 100% free and gives you a real-time look at what they are doing.

2. Use Email Monitoring Tools

There are special tools made to track email marketing campaigns. These tools collect emails from many companies and store them in one place. You can search for your competitor and see what they’ve sent in the past.

Some popular tools are:

Mailcharts
Milled
Similarweb (Email section)
SendView
Owletter

These tools often show:

Email frequency
Subject lines
Content design
Promotions or special deals
Which email providers they use (like Mailchimp or Klaviyo)

Some tools are free, and some are paid. Even the free versions give you good insights.

3. Create a Separate Email Account for Monitoring

It’s a good idea to create a special email account just for checking your competitors’ campaigns. This way, your main inbox won’t get flooded with marketing emails.

How it helps:

Keeps your research organized
Lets you subscribe to multiple competitors at once
Makes it easier to compare different strategies

Use this account to subscribe to not only your direct competitors but also others in your industry.

4. Check Their Website for Clues

Sometimes, you don’t even need to look at emails to understand their strategy. A company’s website can give many hints.

Look for:

Pop-up offers asking for email sign-ups
Landing pages promoting a free eBook, webinar, or discount
Messages like “Check your email for a coupon”

These things show what kind of lead magnets or offers they use to grow their email list.

5. Follow Them on Social Media

Many businesses share their email content on social media. They might post something like:

“Check your inbox for today’s special offer!”
“Sign up to get our exclusive guide — only available to subscribers.”

This gives you a peek into what’s happening in their email marketing, even if you missed the email itself.

6. Analyze Their Email Design and Content

Once you start receiving competitor emails, take time to study them.

Look at:

Design: Is it colorful or plain? Do they use images or text?
Tone: Are the emails fun and friendly, or formal and serious?
Calls to Action (CTAs): What are they asking readers to do? (e.g., “Buy Now,” “Learn More”)
Personalization: Do they use your name or location in the email?

This analysis will help you understand what kind of content your competitors believe will connect with their audience.

7. Track the Timing and Frequency

Timing is important in email marketing. Too many emails can annoy customers. Too few can lead them to forget about you.

Keep a record of:

How many emails your competitors send per week or month
What days and times they usually send them

You might discover patterns. For example, a brand might always send emails on Monday mornings or Friday evenings. You can test similar times and see if it works for your audience.

8. Review Subject Lines and Preview Text

Subject lines are the first thing people see in their inbox. They help decide whether to open the email or not.

Make a list of subject lines from your competitors’ emails. Look at:

Are they short or long?
Do they use emojis?
Are they offering something, like “20% Off Today Only”?
Do they ask questions like “Ready for summer?”

This will help you understand what kind of subject lines might improve your own open rates.

9. Note the Offers and Discounts

A lot of email marketing is about offering value. See what your competitors are giving away:

Discount codes
Free shipping
Buy one get one free (BOGO)
Early access to sales

These offers are usually tested and optimized. If they’re doing it, chances are it’s working for them.

10. Look at Unsubscribe and Footer Sections

The bottom of an email can also reveal helpful information. Check the footer of your competitors’ emails.

Look for:

The email platform they use (often mentioned like “Powered by Mailchimp”)
Unsubscribe links — see how easy it is to leave
Contact information — are they directing people to social media, phone support, or chat?

This tells you about their communication strategy and tools.

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Final Thoughts

Checking your competitors’ email marketing campaigns is not about copying them. It’s about learning. You’re studying their strengths and weaknesses to improve your own strategy.

It doesn’t take a big budget or expert tools to start. Just create a new email account, subscribe to your competitors, and pay close attention. Use tools when needed, take notes, and always ask: What can I learn from this?

Email marketing is always changing. New ideas, trends, and tools appear every year. By watching your competitors closely, you stay updated and ready to adjust your own campaigns.

So go ahead — sign up, observe, learn, and improve. Your next big email idea might just come from your biggest competitor!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to find competitor email campaigns?

To find your competitor’s email campaigns, start by subscribing to their newsletters. This lets you see their subject lines, layout, timing, and offers. You can also use email monitoring tools like Mailcharts, Milled, or SendView to explore emails they send out to their customers.

What tools help track email campaigns?

Several tools help track your competitor’s email marketing, such as Mailcharts, Milled, and SendView. These tools collect and display emails from many companies, helping you learn their styles, timing, and offers. This lets you stay informed and adjust your strategy wisely.

Why check email marketing of competitors?

Checking your competitors’ email marketing gives you useful ideas for your own campaigns. You can learn what works, what doesn’t, what kind of emails people engage with, and how often they send them. It helps you make better decisions and stay ahead in your industry.

Can I legally monitor email campaigns?

Yes, it is completely legal to monitor email campaigns as long as you do it ethically. You can sign up for newsletters or use tools that publicly display emails. Just don’t try to hack or steal private information—focus only on what’s publicly and legally available.

How often should I check their emails?

You should check your competitors’ emails regularly—at least once a week. This helps you stay updated with any new promotions, trends, or tactics they are using. Set up a dedicated email account to track emails from multiple competitors without mixing them into your business inbox.