The Text-only Email Builder lets you write personal, design-free emails – no templates, image blocks, or drag-and-drop layouts. Just your words, delivered straight to the inbox.
It's available for both Email Campaigns and Automation.
Before You Begin
Text-only Email Builder is available on all Omnisend plans and works for both Email Campaigns and Automation.
On the Free plan, a Powered by Omnisend badge is automatically appended below the unsubscribe line. Upgrading to a paid plan removes it.
Font style and size are fixed.
The text-only template uses a sans-serif font stack (Roboto → Helvetica → Arial). Since Roboto isn't pre-installed on most devices, most recipients see the email in Helvetica (Mac/iOS) or Arial (Windows).
Body text is set to 14px and footer text (Update preferences / Unsubscribe) to 12px.
When to Use Text-Only Emails
Not every email needs a header image and a CTA button. Text-only emails feel more personal and direct, which makes them the right choice when tone matters more than design.
Common uses in e-commerce:
Founder or CEO thank you – A personal note after a milestone, a big sale, or a customer appreciation moment. Feels more genuine without a branded template around it.
Team message – Introduce your team, share a behind-the-scenes update, or acknowledge loyal customers with a human touch.
Win-back outreach – Re-engage lapsed customers with a direct, honest message that doesn't look like a promotional email.
Transparency or apology email – When something goes wrong, a plain email reads as more sincere than a polished design.
VIP or personal follow-up – Reach out to high-value customers with a message that feels one-to-one, not automated.
Set Up Your Email
Step 1. Choose the Text-Only Template
In Email Campaigns
Go to Campaigns → Create campaign → Email.
Complete the Email Settings step and click Choose email template.
On the Email template screen, go to Theme in the left sidebar.
Select Text-only.
Click Use template on the text-only campaign template.
In Automation Workflows
Go to Automation → open an existing workflow or create a new one.
Add an Email block and fill in the required fields (subject line, sender name, sender email).
Click Edit Email to open the editor.
Click the arrow next to Preview & test in the top-right corner → Change template.
On the template screen, go to Theme → select Text-only → click Use template.
Step 2. Write Your Email
The editor opens a plain text area with a small toolbar. You have three toolbar options:
Personalization (
{-}icon) – Insert contact properties like first name, order details, or custom fields. Learn more about personalization.Link (link icon) – Add a hyperlink to any text.
Emoji (smiley icon) – Open the emoji picker and insert inline.
For basic formatting, use keyboard shortcuts:
Bold – Ctrl + B (Windows) / Cmd + B (Mac)
Italic – Ctrl + I (Windows) / Cmd + I (Mac)
Underline – Ctrl + U (Windows) / Cmd + U (Mac)
💡 Font style and size are set by the template and cannot be changed from the editor.
Step 3. Preview and Test Before Sending
Before sending, check how your email looks and that personalization resolves correctly.
Click Preview & test in the top-right corner.
Toggle Preview in dark mode to check how your email renders in dark mode.
Click Send test email to receive a copy in your inbox.
💬 Learn more: Preview and Test Campaigns & Automations.
Step 4. Send Your Campaign or Activate Your Workflow
In Email Campaigns
Click Save & choose recipients in the top-right corner, then follow the standard steps:
Select your audience.
Review your campaign settings.
Click Send now or Schedule to send.
💬 Learn more: Create and Send Email Campaigns.
In Automation Workflows
Click Finish editing to return to the workflow builder. Then publish your changes and activate the workflow to start sending.
💬 Learn more: Set Up Automation Workflow Settings.
How Text-Only Emails Render
Text-only emails arrive as a plain message – no visual blocks, no images, no background color. Recipients see your text content followed by the unsubscribe link at the bottom.
FAQ
Does my Brand Assets font apply to text-only emails?
No. Brand Assets fonts only apply to the drag-and-drop Email Builder. Text-only emails use a fixed font stack – most recipients see Helvetica or Arial.
Can I switch between the text-only editor and the drag-and-drop Email Builder?
Yes, you can switch by: click the arrow next to Preview & test in the top-right corner → Change template → select a text-only template. However, your existing content won't carry over. You'll start fresh with the template's placeholder text in the text-only editor.
Can I save a text-only email as a reusable template?
Not yet. Saved templates are not available for the text-only editor at this time.
Can I add images or discount codes?
Not yet. The text-only editor currently supports personalization tags, links, and emojis only.
Why does my email show a "Powered by Omnisend" badge?
This badge appears on the Free plan and is automatically added below the unsubscribe line. Upgrading to a paid plan removes it.
For further help, contact our Support Team via the in-app chat or at [email protected].