Choosing an Email Editor
The first time the Template tab of an email template is opened, Outreach asks which editor to build the body with:
- Design editor: a block based editor for building emails visually without writing code
- Code editor: a full HTML editor with syntax highlighting and a live preview
Both produce email content and both support variables, preview, sender settings and attachments. The difference is in how the body is built.
Comparing the Editors
| Feature | Design editor | Code editor |
|---|---|---|
| Building approach | Add and arrange content blocks visually | Write and edit raw HTML |
| HTML knowledge required | No | Yes |
| Layout control | Block level (padding, alignment, colours) | Full control over HTML and CSS |
| Adding images | Image block with upload or URL | Toolbar button inserts an <img> tag |
| Adding variables | Click into a text field and insert from the variable menu | Toolbar button inserts a variable tag into the HTML |
| Adding an unsubscribe link | Dedicated unsubscribe block | Toolbar button inserts an <a> tag with the unsubscribe variable |
| Best for | Quick, structured layouts without code | Custom HTML, existing templates, advanced styling |
When to Choose the Design Editor
- The email needs to be built quickly from pre-built content blocks
- A visual, point and click interface suits the person building it better than writing HTML
- Granular control over the markup is not needed
See the Design Editor Guide for a full walkthrough.
When to Choose the Code Editor
- There are existing HTML email templates to work from
- The email needs precise control over structure, CSS and responsive behaviour
- Custom styling or advanced layout patterns are involved
See the Code Editor Guide for a full walkthrough.
Switching Editors
Switch Editor sits in the three dot menu of the template overlay. Selecting it opens a confirmation that sets out what survives the change:
- Kept: attachments, subject line and sender information
- Cleared: the email body content
The confirmation also offers to export the current template first, so there is a copy to import back if the switch turns out to be a mistake. Confirm and the editor changes with an empty body. Cancel and nothing changes.
Switching editors clears the email body. Export the template first if the content is worth keeping. See Importing and Exporting Templates.
When building a template inside a campaign, the same menu also offers Use a Saved Template, which replaces what is being built with a template from the library. See Adding a Template.
Related Guidance
- Design Editor Guide. Full walkthrough of the block based editor
- Code Editor Guide. Full walkthrough of the HTML editor
- Importing and Exporting Templates. File types, matching rules and workflows
- Sender Settings. Configure From, Reply-to and subject
- Variables and Default Values. Sample values and missing data
- Attachments. Attach files to an email template
- Email Templates Overview. How the email template overlay fits together