Should You Buy Email Lists in 2025?

byLucLifecoach

1.4K followers

3 weeks ago

Buying email lists might sound like a shortcut. Especially when you're just starting out and need traffic fast. Why wait for subscribers when you can buy thousands of leads instantly?

But here’s the truth: It’s not a good idea.

The Illusion of Easy Leads

On paper, it looks tempting. You’re a small fish in a big pond. You need buyers. And someone offers you a “targeted, curated, opted-in” list.

But most of these lists are outdated, irrelevant, or harvested without consent. Engagement is low. Sales are rare. And your reputation? At risk.

What the Platforms Say

Email service providers are clear:

HubSpot: “There are several sustainable ways to use email marketing to grow your business. This isn’t one of them.”

MailChimp: “Purchased lists violate our Terms of Use and don’t generally result in opens and clicks.”

GetResponse: “Please don’t! You shouldn’t ever purchase an email list.”

They don’t just discourage it. They actively block it.

Legal Risks You Can’t Ignore

While the CAN-SPAM Act doesn’t require opt-in, it warns against risky practices like buying lists. You could email people who have already opted out. Or worse, using data collected illegally.

Each violation? Up to $43,280 in penalties.

And if you’re emailing anyone in the EU, GDPR requires active consent. In Canada, CASL forbids sending commercial messages without permission.

What to Do Instead

Build trust.

Build relationships.

Build your list the right way.

Better yet, find a partner who’s willing to email their list with your offer — and you do the same for them. It’s called a list swap or joint venture, and it works.

Warm traffic. Proper engagement. No spam flags.

Final Thought

Email marketing is powerful. But only when it’s built on permission and trust.

Buying a list might feel like a shortcut. But it’s really a detour — one that leads to wasted time, lost money, and damaged reputation.

So ask yourself: Does buying an email list still sound good?