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What are templates?

Templates are reusable email designs that you use in campaigns, automations, and test sends. Instead of writing HTML from scratch every time, you build a template once and reuse it wherever you need it. Each template stores the subject line, sender, HTML body, and plain text version — along with any personalization variables.

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Creating a template

Go to Templates and click Create Template. A new draft template is created with a default name, and you’re taken straight to the editor.

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The editor

SendKit uses a visual editor where you type and format content directly — no HTML knowledge needed. Type / to open the command menu and insert any block.

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Available blocks

Text

Paragraph, Heading 1–3, Bullet list, Numbered list, Quote, Code block, Link

Media

Image (upload), YouTube embed, X/Twitter embed

Layout

Button (CTA), Divider, Section, Social links

Utility

Raw HTML, Variable

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Auto-save

The editor saves automatically as you type. You’ll see a save indicator in the header — no need to manually save.

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Template settings

In the editor sidebar, you can configure:
FieldDescription
NameInternal name for organizing templates (recipients don’t see this)
SubjectEmail subject line. Supports variables like {{FIRST_NAME}}
FromSelect a sender to use as the “from” address
Reply-ToOptional reply-to email address

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Personalization variables

Templates support dynamic variables that are replaced with each recipient’s data when the email is sent.

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Built-in variables

VariableReplaced with
{{EMAIL}}Contact’s email address
{{FIRST_NAME}}Contact’s first name
{{LAST_NAME}}Contact’s last name
{{FULL_NAME}}First and last name combined
{{USER_ID}}Contact’s user ID

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Custom variables

Any property you create is automatically available as a variable. For example, a property with key company_name becomes {{COMPANY_NAME}}.

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Fallback values

Each variable can have a fallback value — used when the contact doesn’t have that data set. For example, {{FIRST_NAME}} with fallback "there" renders as “Hello, there” for contacts without a first name.
Variables work in both the subject line and the template body. You can add up to 50 variables per template.

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Publishing

Templates have two statuses:
StatusDescription
DraftWork in progress. Can be edited freely but cannot be used in campaigns
PublishedReady to use. Can be selected when creating campaigns and automations
Click Publish in the editor header to change a draft to published. You can unpublish at any time.

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Preview and test

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Preview

The template detail page has three tabs:
  • Preview — Rendered HTML as recipients will see it
  • HTML — Raw HTML source code with copy button
  • Plain Text — Auto-generated plain text version

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Send a test email

Click Send test email from the template detail page or editor. Enter a recipient email (defaults to your own) and optionally fill in variable values to see how personalization looks.
Test emails have “[Test]” prefixed to the subject line so you can easily identify them in your inbox.

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Folders

Folders let you organize templates into groups. For example, you might create folders for “Onboarding”, “Newsletter”, or “Transactional”.

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Creating a folder

Click the folder icon button next to Create Template in the top right. Enter a name and click Create folder. The folder appears as a tab in the template list.

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Browsing folders

The template list shows horizontal tabs for filtering:
  • All templates shows every template regardless of folder
  • Each folder tab shows only templates in that folder, with a count
  • Unassigned shows templates that aren’t in any folder

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Moving templates to a folder

Open the template’s dropdown menu (three dots) and select Move to folder, then choose the destination. To remove a template from a folder, select Remove from folder from the same menu.

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Renaming and deleting folders

Hover over a folder tab to reveal the options button. Click it to rename or delete the folder. Deleting a folder does not delete the templates inside it — they become unassigned.
Folder names must be unique within your team. Duplicating a template preserves its folder assignment.

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Duplicating a template

Click Duplicate from the template dropdown menu. A copy is created with “(Copy)” appended to the name. The duplicate starts as a Draft regardless of the original’s status. All content, variables, sender, and settings are copied — except images.

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Deleting a template

A template can be deleted if it’s not used by any unsent campaign (draft, scheduled, or sending) or active/paused automation. Templates used only by already-sent campaigns can be deleted.
Deleted templates are soft-deleted — the data is preserved for email history. Sent campaigns and emails still reference the original template.

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Images

You can upload images directly in the editor. Images are stored and served by SendKit — no need for external hosting. Maximum file size is 5 MB per image.

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Using templates in campaigns and automations

When creating a campaign or an automation email step, you select a published template. The template’s subject, sender, and body are used, with variables replaced per contact at send time.

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FAQ

No. The visual editor lets you build emails by typing and using the slash command menu. For advanced users, you can insert raw HTML blocks if needed.
Yes, but changes won’t affect emails that were already sent. Sent emails store a snapshot of the template at the time of sending.
Yes. SendKit automatically generates a plain text version from your HTML content. You don’t need to create it manually.
There’s no limit. Create as many templates as you need.
Yes. Templates are reusable — you can select the same template for any number of campaigns and automations.
The templates become unassigned — they’re not deleted. You can find them in the “Unassigned” tab and move them to another folder.
No. Folders are a single level. There are no subfolders.