I’m working on building an email template in HubSpot and I need it to be modular so users can add different content sections as needed. I was trying to use widget containers to let people drag and drop different modules into the email, similar to how you can build landing pages with flexible layouts.
The problem is that when I try to save the template, HubSpot throws an error saying widget containers aren’t allowed in email templates. This is really frustrating because I want to create one flexible template instead of building dozens of separate templates for every possible layout combination.
Does anyone know of a workaround for this? Is there another way to build dynamic email templates in HubSpot that allow content flexibility without having to create a separate template for each variation?
Had this exact problem six months ago - drove me nuts! HubSpot’s widget limits are honestly one of their worst features for email marketing. Here’s what finally worked: custom coded templates with repeatable sections. You build the structure in HTML/HubL and create content areas that editors can duplicate in the email builder. Not true drag-and-drop, but people can add multiple instances of modules and customize each one. The trick is making your modules look good no matter how they’re stacked. I built hero sections, text blocks, product showcases, and CTA modules that all play nice together. This got us about 80% of what we wanted while working around HubSpot’s limitations. People can still customize content without needing separate templates for every variation. Takes coding upfront but saves massive time later.
HubSpot’s email editor is pretty limited when it comes to flexible layouts. Since you can’t use widget containers, I’ve had luck with conditional modules and smart content rules. What worked for me: create multiple template versions in one email file using HubSpot’s conditional logic. Set up different content sections that show/hide based on contact properties or list membership. You’ll need to plan out all the combinations upfront, but once it’s set up, users just update contact properties to control what appears. You can also try HubSpot’s module groups. Create custom modules for each content type and group them together. Users get some flexibility when building emails. Not as smooth as drag-and-drop, but it works without external tools. The trick is treating your content blocks as conditional elements instead of moveable pieces. Takes some adjustment, but keeps everything in HubSpot.
hubspot’s email system is pretty outdated for this. i built a workaround using their email api with custom forms - users pick the sections they want, then javascript builds the template dynamically and pushes it through hubspot. takes some setup work but it’s way more flexible than dealing with their editor’s limitations.
The widget container limitation drives me crazy. I’ve tried every conditional logic workaround mentioned here, but none scale when marketing wants real flexibility.
I built a template builder outside HubSpot instead. Users drag and drop content blocks - hero images, product grids, testimonials, whatever. It generates clean HTML automatically.
When they’re done, it pushes the template into HubSpot via API and can trigger the send. No more fighting HubSpot’s editor or managing dozens of template variations.
Best part? Connect it to any data source. Pull real-time product info, customer data, or CMS content. Way more powerful than HubSpot’s native editor.
Took a weekend to build the first version. Now our marketing team builds emails faster than they ever did in HubSpot’s interface. They get actual modularity instead of hacky workarounds.
Been there with HubSpot’s email limitations. Widget containers don’t work in email templates, which is super annoying.
HubSpot pushes conditional logic with smart content, but it gets messy fast with multiple variables. Templates end up looking like spaghetti code.
I solved this by pulling email creation outside HubSpot entirely. Built a flow where users select content blocks through a simple form, then it auto-generates the HTML and pushes back via API.
Users just pick sections they want and the system builds the perfect template every time. Way cleaner than fighting HubSpot’s editor restrictions.
You can add way more customization too - dynamic product recommendations, personalized content based on contact properties, real-time data from other systems.
Saved our marketing team hours every week and gave them actual flexibility.
Skip the widget container headache and check out HubSpot’s module marketplace approach instead. I built a set of pre-made custom modules that work together - basically building blocks rather than trying to get true modularity working. The trick is making sure all your modules have consistent spacing and visual flow so they stack nicely no matter what order people use them in. I made eight core types that cover most stuff: headers, content blocks, product features, testimonials, and CTAs. Each one has multiple layout options baked in. Marketing folks can mix and match when they’re building emails. It’s not as slick as drag-and-drop builders, but it gives creators real flexibility without breaking HubSpot’s rules. Takes more work upfront, but once your module library’s dialed in, making new templates is way faster than starting from zero each time.