Flodesk is different from most email platforms in one important way: flat-rate pricing with no contact limits. The more your list grows, the better the value. It is also one of the most design-forward tools out there. This guide walks you through getting set up.
Total setup time: 1-2 hours. Difficulty: Easy. You do not need any technical background to follow this guide.
Flodesk at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $38/mo (flat rate, unlimited subscribers) |
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial |
| Setup time | 1-2 hours |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best for | Creators, photographers, and small businesses who prioritize email design |
How to set up Flodesk in 6 steps
Go to flodesk.com and start your 30-day free trial. No credit card is needed. Enter your name, email, and details about your business. Flodesk will ask a few questions about how you plan to use the platform to customize your onboarding experience.
Go to Account > Sending Domain and enter your domain. Flodesk will provide DKIM records (a set of TXT records) to add to your DNS at your domain registrar. Add them, then return to Flodesk and click Verify. Domain authentication is required before you can send emails at scale -- without it, your sending is limited.
Go to Audience > Import. Upload your CSV and map the columns to Flodesk fields (first name, last name, email). You can add subscribers to a segment during import. Flodesk uses segments rather than lists -- think of a segment as a tag or group you can use to organize and target contacts.
Go to Forms and create a new form. Flodesk's form builder is visually strong -- you can create inline forms, popup forms, or full-page link-in-bio forms. Customize the design to match your brand, then embed it on your site or share the hosted URL. Flodesk also has a Checkout feature for selling digital products directly from the platform.
Go to Workflows > New Workflow. Start with the trigger 'Subscriber joins a segment'. Add an email step, then a time delay, then another email. Flodesk's workflow builder is visual and clean. You can also add condition steps to branch the workflow based on whether a subscriber opened an email or clicked a link.
Go to Emails > New Email. Flodesk's email editor is one of the best-looking in the industry -- it focuses heavily on layout and typography. Choose a template, customize the content and design, then set your subject line and preview text. Select the segment to send to, preview the email, and schedule or send.
Tips before you start
- Flodesk's flat-rate pricing becomes more valuable as your list grows -- it is especially good once you pass 5,000 subscribers.
- Segments are Flodesk's way of organizing contacts. Create segments for different interest areas or lead sources.
- Flodesk Checkout lets you sell products and automatically add buyers to a workflow -- useful for digital product creators.
Next steps
Once your account is set up, focus on building your first automation before sending any broadcast campaigns. A working welcome sequence ensures every new subscriber gets a consistent first experience. After that, review your migration guide if you are moving contacts from another platform, and use the recommendations quiz to confirm Flodesk is the right long-term fit.