Comparison matrix

Better Email vs. Salesforce Marketing Cloud

A detailed comparison of email design and production. Better Email focuses on creating emails — SFMC handles sending and automation.

Overview

CategoryBetter EmailSFMC
Email Design System / TemplateModular module library with locked brand elementsContent Blocks + Templates in Content Builder
Email Builder/EditorCustom Drag & Drop builder with your Email Design SystemContent Builder drag-and-drop
OrganizationFolder structure, versioning, cloning, sharing across organizationsFolder structure, Content Builder assets
Collaboration and WorkflowRoles, feedback, approvers, comments, real-timeLimited native collaboration, Marketing Cloud Connect
Personalization and DataMerge tags, product feeds, AI translationAMPscript, personalization strings, Data Extensions
AI and Intelligent AssistanceBetty AI for both Email Design System development and email productionEinstein (sending/personalization, not design)
1. Email Design System

Email Design System / Template

An Email Design System differs from traditional templates by being modular and module-based. Instead of rigid layouts, you build a library of reusable modules.

Feature
Better Email
SFMC
Modular module library
Designers build modules (with AI assistance), editors combine them
Content Blocks can be saved, but less flexible
AI for module development
Betty generates HTML, Liquid and settings
Manual development
Locked brand elements
Logo, colors, fonts locked by designers
Templates can be modified by anyone with access
Editable content zones
Precise control over what editors can change
Via locked regions, but requires HTML knowledge
Liquid templating
Lightweight, open source, requires no certifications, AI-friendly (AIs know Liquid)
Training, certification, proprietary (Salesforce only), limited, no live preview
Global settings
Brand switching, defining brand colors, rule hierarchy (one change updates multiple things)
Limited support via AMPscript variables, no live preview
Module reuse
Master module in the Email Design System — changes propagate to every email where the module is used
You copy a module, so updates do not propagate

Better Email features

100% control over the code

Guarantee correct rendering in every email client

Rounded buttons in Outlook

Advanced designs not possible in SFMC

ESP-agnostic

Works with any ESP, not just SFMC

Multi-instance export

Export to multiple SFMC instances from the same account

Liquid templating

Open standard, easier to learn than AMPscript

AI-assisted development

Betty builds modules, HTML and Liquid

2. Editor

Email Builder/Editor

A comparison of the editing experience in both platforms.

Feature
Better Email
SFMC
Drag-and-drop
Real-time preview
No real-time preview of AMPscript
Responsive preview
Media queries only load on preview click if the stylesheet is in a data table
Auto-save
AI assistant (Betty)
Email client testing
Only with a Litmus integration
Advanced image manipulation
Automatic image optimization
Gmail clipping prevention
Guaranteed rendering in all clients

Better Email features

Advanced image manipulation

Advanced image processing directly in the editor:

  • • Overlay images on top of each other (e.g. sale badges)
  • • Mosaic effects with overlapping images
  • • Automatic cropping and scaling
  • • Reduce the need for tedious graphic tasks

100% control over rendering

Because you have full control over the code in your Email Design System:

  • • Guarantee correct display in every email client
  • • Rounded buttons that work in Outlook
  • • Advanced designs not possible in the SFMC Builder
3. Collaboration

Collaboration and Workflow

A comparison of collaboration features and workflow support.

Feature
Better Email
SFMC
Real-time collaboration
Multiple users at the same time
-
User roles
Admin, Designer, Editor with granular permissions
Via Roles & Permissions, but complex
Feedback workspace
Comments and approvers gathered on the email
Requires purchasing third-party software
In-app comments
Comments with @mentions and resolution
Requires purchasing third-party software
Approval workflow
Required/optional approvers and revision-based approval
Via Approvals in Content Builder
Folder structure and access control
Control who sees which folders
Via Business Units and Roles
Multi-organization
Manage multiple brands from one account
Via Business Units (complex setup)

Roles & Permissions in Better Email

ActionAdminDesignerEditorReviewer
View & comment on emails
Approve email
Resolve commentsAllAllAllOwn
Delete commentsOwnOwnOwnOwn
Create & edit emails
Export emails
Create & edit folders
Create & edit templates
Create & edit recipient fields
View segments
Create segments
Edit segments
Archive segmentsAllOwnOwn
View integrations
Create & edit integrations
View & re-import feeds
Manage users
Edit organization & billing
4. AI

AI and Intelligent Assistance

Better Email includes the AI assistant Betty at two levels: Email Design System development and email production.

Feature
Better Email
SFMC
AI for email production
Builds emails from your Email Design System with your custom-designed modules via chat
No native AI for design
AI for module development
Betty builds editable modules from best-practice email design rules that work in every client
Manual development
Generate from URL
Betty pulls content from websites
-
Generate from documents
Upload Word, PDF, images
-
AI-powered translation
AI translation into any language
Requires an external service
Chat-based editing
Tell Betty what you want changed instead of doing it yourself
-
Use previous emails as reference
"Use the product module from the Black Friday campaign 2025"
-

< 2 minutes

Time to first draft with Betty AI

Workflow with Better Email and SFMC

Better Email and SFMC are complementary — use them together for the best result.

1

Produce and collaborate on emails

Better Email

Marketers create emails quickly with AI assistance inside the Email Design System, and collaborate in real-time

2

Review and feedback

Better Email

Revision-based feedback, comments and approvals

3

Export to SFMC

Better Email → SFMC

One-click export once the email is approved

4

Send via SFMC

SFMC

Use SFMC's Journey Builder, automation and segmentation for sending

Ready to see Better Email in action?

Book a demo and see how Better Email can improve your email workflow.