How to hire an HTML email developer
Written by the studio that designs and codes these emails every week — with real examples from client programmes.
To hire well: ask for shipped work (not concepts), proof the same email renders in Outlook and dark mode, platform fluency in your ESP, and a fixed quote. Anyone who can't show tested HTML is a graphic designer, not an email specialist.
Hiring the right person for this comes down to one question: can they show you real, shipped work — and the code behind it? Anyone can show a pretty JPG. Far fewer can show the same email rendering correctly in Outlook, Gmail and Apple Mail dark mode.
What to look for
- Real portfolio pieces — full programmes (flows, campaigns), not single one-off graphics
- Both design and code skills — or you'll be hiring twice and managing the hand-off yourself
- Platform fluency — they should talk comfortably about your ESP's editor, not just Photoshop
- A testing process — ask which email clients they test in; the answer should be a list, not a shrug
- Fixed quotes — vague hourly estimates usually mean vague scope
Questions worth asking
"How do you handle Outlook?" separates specialists from generalists instantly. "Can I see the HTML of a past email?" does the same. "What happens after design sign-off?" tells you whether launch is included or your problem.
The shortcut
Or skip the vetting: our service covers design, code, testing and platform setup from £95 per email, with real case studies you can inspect first.
Your options for hire html email developer, compared.
| Template galleries | Cheap marketplaces | EmailDesign | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom design (not a reskin) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hand-coded, tested HTML | ✗ | Rarely | ✓ 60+ clients |
| Outlook & dark mode handled | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Set live in your platform | ✗ | Extra cost | ✓ Included |
| Fixed quote before work starts | n/a | Varies | ✓ Always |
| One accountable studio | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Built for the platform you already use.
Every project is designed for your platform's editor and set live in your account — see Klaviyo email design or Mailchimp templates.
What you receive with the done-for-you version.
Keep reading.
Who is EmailDesign?
A UK email design and development studio. We design custom emails, hand-code the HTML and set everything live in platforms like Klaviyo and Mailchimp — from £95 per email.
Can you do this for us?
Yes — this topic maps directly to our services. Get a fixed quote within one working day.
Ready when you are.
Tell us what you're sending and where — fixed quote within one working day.