How to Compare Litmus with Other Email Testing Platforms for B2B Teams

If you send B2B emails for a living, you know how annoying it is when your beautifully crafted message looks perfect in Gmail, then turns into a dumpster fire in Outlook. That’s why email testing platforms exist. But with all the hype, overlapping features, and sky-high promises, picking the right tool—whether Litmus or something else—can feel like an endurance test.

This guide is for B2B teams who want to cut through the noise and actually pick the right platform for their needs. I’ll walk you through what matters, what doesn’t, and how to compare Litmus to the other big names (think Email on Acid, Mailtrap, and a few others) without falling for marketing fluff.

1. Get Clear on What Your Team Actually Needs

Before you even look at platforms, nail down your real requirements. Too many teams start with a tool in mind, not the job they need to do.

  • How complex are your emails? Simple newsletters or multi-section, highly branded campaigns?
  • How big is your team? Will you need user management and approvals?
  • Which clients/devices matter? Are you mostly desktop, or do your prospects read everything on their iPhones?
  • What’s your workflow? Do you need integrations (like with Salesforce, Marketo, or Slack), or just basic testing?

Pro tip: If most of your B2B contacts open on Outlook or mobile, prioritize tools with strong support for those environments. Don’t pay extra for “all the clients” if you only care about a handful.

2. Make a Shortlist: Who’s Worth Comparing?

There are dozens of “email testing” tools out there, but only a handful are really built for B2B teams with serious needs. Here’s the honest shortlist:

  • Litmus: The big name, well-known for its breadth of features and integrations.
  • Email on Acid: A strong competitor, often cheaper for similar features, with a focus on collaboration.
  • Mailtrap: More developer-focused, great for teams that want pre-send testing and staging.
  • Inbox Inspector (MailChimp): Okay if you’re all-in on MailChimp, but not as robust if you live elsewhere.
  • Testi@: Lightweight, good for freelancers or very small teams, but limited for B2B orgs.

Ignore the rest unless you have a very niche need or a shoestring budget.

3. Compare the Features That Actually Matter for B2B

Most platforms love to tout endless features. Here’s what’s worth focusing on—and what’s mostly fluff.

The Must-Haves

  • Email Previews Across Clients and Devices
  • Can you see how your email looks in major clients (Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, etc.) and on both desktop and mobile?

  • Litmus and Email on Acid both cover a wide range; Mailtrap is improving but more basic here.

  • Spam Testing

  • Does the tool check your email against common spam filters? Useful if your B2B emails sometimes get stuck in junk folders.

  • Link & Image Validation

  • Broken links or missing images tank credibility. Do they catch these before you hit send?

  • Team Collaboration

  • Can multiple people review, comment, and approve campaigns? Litmus shines here, as does Email on Acid. Testi@ and Mailtrap are more solo-focused.

  • Analytics & Reporting

  • Real-time data about opens, clicks, and (sometimes) device/client breakdowns.

Nice-to-Haves (But Not Dealbreakers)

  • Branding Controls

  • Custom review links, branded portals, etc. Nice, but rarely essential.

  • Integrations

  • Direct connections to your ESP, Slack, or project management tools. Handy, not mandatory if your workflow is simple.

  • Automated Testing/Checks

  • Litmus and Email on Acid can auto-flag common issues. Useful, but don’t let this alone sway your choice.

Fluff (You Can Skip)

  • AI Subject Line Scoring
  • Fun for a demo, rarely useful in real life.
  • Emoji Support
  • If your B2B emails need emojis to land, you probably have bigger problems.

4. Evaluate How Well Each Platform Fits Your Workflow

The best tool is the one your team will actually use. Here’s how to judge that:

Litmus

  • Strengths: Deep integrations with big ESPs (Salesforce, Marketo, HubSpot), powerful collaboration (comments, approvals, checklists), good for large teams.
  • Drawbacks: Expensive. Can feel bloated if all you want is basic testing. Some features (like analytics) only really shine if you send via their platform.

Email on Acid

  • Strengths: Cheaper than Litmus, nearly as many previews, strong collaboration tools, good support.
  • Drawbacks: Interface can be clunky. Fewer integrations with niche ESPs.

Mailtrap

  • Strengths: Best for dev-heavy teams who want to test on staging. API is solid.
  • Drawbacks: Visual previews are less comprehensive; collaboration is basic.

Testi@

  • Strengths: Cheap, simple, fast for single users.
  • Drawbacks: Not built for teams. Limited analytics and collaboration.

What to Ignore

  • Don’t get seduced by dashboards filled with pie charts. If your team isn’t going to use them, they’re just clutter.
  • Don’t overpay for “unlimited” plans unless you’re sending dozens of campaigns a week.

5. Hands-On Testing: Don’t Trust the Demos

No amount of sales copy beats actually using the tool. Treat free trials like a dress rehearsal:

  • Send a test campaign that matches your most complex real-world email.
  • Invite your full team: See if designers, marketers, and managers can all jump in easily.
  • Check client/device coverage: Compare how each tool renders your email in Outlook, Gmail, and whatever else matters to you.
  • Test the “gotchas”: Try a weird font, a big image, or a complicated table layout. See which platform catches the breakage.
  • Evaluate speed and ease: If you find yourself getting lost or frustrated, that’s a red flag.

Pro tip: Screenshot the same email in each tool and compare side-by-side. Differences can be subtle—and that’s where issues hide.

6. Add Up the Real Costs—Not Just the Subscription

Vendors love to bury costs in “nice to have” features, extra users, or add-ons. Watch out for:

  • User limits: B2B teams grow; some tools charge per seat.
  • Preview limits: Some “unlimited” plans throttle if you go wild.
  • Integration fees: Connecting to your CRM or ESP may cost extra.
  • Training/support: Will you need to pay for onboarding or priority support?

And don’t forget the cost of confusion. If your team wastes hours fighting with a tool, that’s real money.

7. Don’t Forget Security and Compliance

It’s boring, but if you’re in a regulated industry, you need to check:

  • Data residency: Where are your test emails stored?
  • GDPR/CCPA compliance: Especially if you deal with personal info.
  • Access controls: Can you restrict who sees what?

Litmus and Email on Acid both tick most compliance boxes, but always double-check for your situation.

8. Make the Call (and Don’t Stress About “Perfect”)

After all this, you’ll probably find that two or three platforms could work. That’s normal. Here’s how to move fast:

  • Pick the one that fits your workflow and budget.
  • Prioritize ease of use and actual coverage over shiny features.
  • Be ready to switch if it’s not working out. No tool is forever.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Overthink It

Comparing email testing platforms shouldn’t be a months-long quest. Get clear on your needs, test drive the real contenders, and pick what works best for your team right now. You can always upgrade or switch later. Simple is good. The goal is to send emails that look right—and get on with your day.