If you’re running an online store, you know how important email marketing is. While Shopify has its own email tool, it’s pretty basic. Many store owners look for something with more power. We’ve put together a list of 5 Shopify competitors that come with their own built-in email marketing features, so you can connect with your customers more effectively.
Key Takeaways
- Omnisend offers robust email and SMS marketing, plus push notifications, making it great for e-commerce businesses.
- Klaviyo stands out with advanced data science and machine learning for customer segmentation and personalized emails.
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) provides CRM features alongside email and SMS marketing, with competitive pricing.
- Constant Contact is known for its user-friendly interface and includes social posting and survey tools.
- Mailchimp is a good option for beginners, offering email marketing, landing pages, and social media posting.
1. Omnisend
Omnisend is a pretty solid choice if you’re looking for a platform that bundles email marketing with other communication tools. It’s not just about sending out newsletters; they really push the omnichannel angle, meaning you can hit up your customers through email, SMS, and even web push notifications all from one spot. This makes it easier to keep your brand message consistent across different channels. They’ve got a bunch of pre-built automations, which is handy if you don’t want to build everything from scratch. Think welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups. It’s built with e-commerce in mind, so it connects well with platforms like Shopify.
Key Features
- List Building Tools: They offer pop-ups, signup forms, and landing pages to help you grow your email and SMS lists.
- Automation Workflows: You can set up automated customer journeys based on specific triggers and customer behavior.
- Segmentation: This lets you divide your audience into smaller groups based on various criteria, so you can send more targeted messages.
- Reporting: Get a look at how your campaigns are performing.
- Omnisend AI: This feature helps with things like subject line generation and content creation.
They also have a focus on helping you migrate your existing customer data and workflows from other platforms, which can be a big deal when you’re switching providers. It seems like they’ve thought about making that transition smoother.
Pricing Tiers
Omnisend offers a few different plans, including a free tier that’s pretty generous for getting started. The paid plans scale up based on your contact list size and the features you need, like advanced automation or SMS credits. It’s worth checking out their specific pricing page to see what fits your budget and needs best. They also have a comparison page if you’re looking at Omnisend vs Klaviyo or other similar tools.
2. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a really popular choice for businesses that want to do more with their email marketing than just send out newsletters. It integrates super smoothly with Shopify, which is a big plus if that’s your platform. What sets Klaviyo apart is its focus on data. It lets you get really specific with who you’re sending emails to, based on things like what people buy, what they look at on your site, and how they interact with your emails. This means you can send much more targeted messages, which usually leads to better results.
Free Plans Comparison
Klaviyo has a free plan that’s pretty decent to get started with. You get 500 emails per month and 150 SMS/MMS credits. For the first 60 days, you also get email support, which is helpful when you’re just figuring things out.
Features Comparison
When you look at the features, Klaviyo really shines. It offers more advanced marketing automation than what you might find in simpler tools. Think detailed segmentation, personalized content that actually feels relevant to the customer, and analytics that give you a good look at what’s working. They even use data science to help you make your emails better. The email builder itself is pretty straightforward, with lots of templates that make designing emails feel less like a chore. It’s a tool that’s built for growing businesses that need to manage customer relationships effectively.
Klaviyo’s strength lies in its ability to use customer data to create highly personalized and automated marketing campaigns. This level of detail helps businesses connect with their audience more effectively and drive sales.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Klaviyo | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 500 emails/month, 150 SMS/MMS credits | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Email Starts | $20/month (5k emails, 150 SMS/MMS credits) | $1 per 1,000 additional emails |
| Email & SMS | $35/month (5k emails, 1250 SMS/MMS) | N/A |
Customer Support
Klaviyo provides email and chat support. If you’re spending a significant amount, like $3,000 a month, you even get a dedicated customer success manager to help you out. This kind of support can be really useful for optimizing your campaigns.
3. Brevo
Brevo, which used to be known as Sendinblue, is a solid option if you’re looking for an email marketing tool that integrates well with Shopify. It’s got a lot of features that make it stand out, especially for businesses that want to do more than just send out newsletters.
One of the really good things about Brevo is its automation. You can set up these complex email sequences that trigger based on what your customers do, like abandoning a cart or making a purchase. It also has a built-in CRM, which is handy for keeping track of customer interactions, and you can even add SMS messages to your campaigns.
Free Plan Comparison
Brevo offers a free plan that’s pretty generous, especially when you compare it to what some other platforms offer. It includes:
- 300 emails per day
- A drag-and-drop editor for easy email creation
- Templates you can customize
- The ability to send SMS and WhatsApp messages
Features Comparison
When you look at the features, Brevo really shows why it’s a strong contender against Shopify Email:
- Marketing Automation: Brevo lets you build detailed automation workflows. You can set up rules based on triggers, conditions, and actions, which is great for personalized customer journeys. They also provide transactional emails, which are super useful for e-commerce, especially when you’re just starting out. Plus, there’s a ‘Best Time’ feature that uses past data to send emails when they’re most likely to be opened.
- Email Builder: The email builder in Brevo gives you more control over how your emails look. It has that drag-and-drop functionality and a good selection of templates you can tweak.
- Segmentation and Targeting: Compared to Shopify Email, Brevo offers more advanced ways to segment your audience. You can create really specific customer groups based on all sorts of criteria, which helps make your campaigns more effective.
Brevo’s ability to handle both email and SMS marketing in one place, along with its robust automation, makes it a powerful tool for growing businesses. It’s a platform that can adapt as your needs change.
Brevo is a great choice for businesses looking for more advanced features without a huge price tag. It’s a platform that can really help you connect with your customers on a deeper level. If you’re looking to improve your email marketing strategy, checking out Brevo’s features is a good idea.
4. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a solid choice if you’re looking for an email marketing tool that’s pretty easy to get started with. It’s got features for managing your contacts and looking at how your emails are doing, which is always helpful. Plus, they have tools that can help with events and even reaching out to people on social media, something Shopify Email doesn’t really do on its own.
Key Features
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed to be simple for beginners.
- Contact Management: Tools to organize and manage your email lists.
- Reporting and Analytics: Track email performance and understand your audience.
- Social Media Integration: Engage with customers across social platforms.
Pricing Comparison
Constant Contact doesn’t offer a free plan like some others, but they do have different paid tiers to choose from. The exact costs can change, so it’s always a good idea to check their site for the most up-to-date information.
It’s important to understand how different email marketing services stack up against each other, especially when you’re running an online store. Looking at features and pricing side-by-side can really help you make the right decision for your business needs.
Constant Contact’s integration with Shopify is designed to make things smoother for store owners. You can use features like segmented lists to send targeted messages, a drag-and-drop editor to create emails easily, and you get sales reports to see what’s working. They even have automated reminders to help keep customers engaged. If you need a hand getting it set up, there’s a PDF guide available to help with the process, which can really help with your digital marketing efforts.
5. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a name many people recognize, and for good reason. It’s been around for a while and offers a pretty straightforward way to get started with email marketing, especially if you’re just dipping your toes in. They finally made peace with Shopify, so you can connect your store and start sending emails to your customers. It’s got a drag-and-drop builder that’s generally easy to use, and they offer a decent selection of templates, though some might find them a bit dated. You can segment your audience based on things like past purchases or how they interact with your emails, which is helpful for sending more targeted messages. The free plan is quite generous, making it accessible for small businesses or those just starting out. However, as your list grows or you want to use more advanced features like multi-step automations or detailed reporting, the costs can add up pretty fast. Some users have noted that the really powerful ecommerce-specific features are locked behind the higher-tier plans, which can be a bit of a bummer if you’re looking for deep integration right away.
Pricing
Mailchimp’s pricing can be a bit confusing because it depends on how many contacts you have and how many emails you send. Here’s a general idea for their Essentials plan:
- Up to 500 contacts: Around $13/month (includes 10x emails per contact monthly)
- Up to 2,500 contacts: Around $45/month (includes 12x emails per contact monthly)
- Up to 10,000 contacts: Around $110/month (includes 15x emails per contact monthly)
There’s also a free plan that lets you send up to 1,000 emails per month, which is great for testing the waters.
Customer Support
If you run into trouble, Mailchimp provides support through phone, email, live chat, and a chatbot. This means you have a few options to get help when you need it.
While Mailchimp offers a familiar platform and a good starting point, it’s worth comparing their advanced features and pricing tiers against other options to see if it truly fits your long-term ecommerce strategy. Sometimes, what seems affordable initially can become more expensive as your business scales.
6. AWeber
Features Comparison
AWeber has been around for a while, actually, over 20 years, so they know a thing or two about email marketing. It’s used by a ton of people, like creators and small business owners. They offer a pretty standard set of automation tools, and the platform itself is easy to get the hang of if you want to start sending emails quickly. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for something beyond the basic Shopify Email.
- Email Builder: AWeber’s email builder is pretty user-friendly with its drag-and-drop setup. Plus, they’ve integrated with Canva, have a big library of photos, and even an image carousel, which makes their editor a bit more flexible than what Shopify Email offers.
- Segmentation: You can segment your audience in AWeber based on things like who they are, how they act, or custom fields you set up. They also have some pre-built segments ready to go.
- Automation: You can set up automated email sequences in AWeber for different actions or triggers. They have a bunch of pre-made workflows, like welcome emails or blog notifications, and a marketplace with templates for common e-commerce situations. This gives you more options than Shopify Email’s automation features.
Pricing Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how AWeber’s pricing stacks up:
| Plan | AWeber (Starts at) | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Up to 500 subscribers | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Lite | $15/month (unlimited subscribers, 1 list) | Pay per use ($1/1000 emails) |
| Plus | $30/month (unlimited subscribers, unlimited lists) | |
| Unlimited | $899/month (advanced features) |
Customer Support
If you ever get stuck, AWeber offers customer support 24/7 through email, phone, and live chat. This is pretty good, especially when you compare it to Shopify Email, which doesn’t have separate support channels and can be a bit slower to respond.
It’s important to get ahead in the Shopify store’s success in 2025, and choosing the right email marketing app makes a big difference. This guide looks at the top email marketing solutions for Shopify to help you create personalized campaigns and drive more sales.
7. MailerLite
MailerLite is a pretty solid option if you’re looking for an email marketing tool that integrates well with Shopify. It’s known for being user-friendly, which is always a plus when you’re trying to get things done without a huge headache. They’ve got a free plan that lets you send out a decent number of emails each month, which is great for getting started or for smaller businesses.
What I found interesting is how they stack up against Shopify’s own email tool. MailerLite seems to offer more when it comes to automation. You can set up more complex customer journeys and trigger emails based on specific actions, which is way beyond what Shopify Email typically does on its own. The drag-and-drop editor is also a big win; it makes designing emails feel less like a chore and more like playing with building blocks. Plus, they offer more ways to segment your audience, so you can send more targeted messages.
Free Plan Details
MailerLite’s free plan is quite generous. You can send up to 12,000 emails per month and keep 1,000 subscribers on your list. It also includes features like a drag-and-drop editor, an automation builder, and the ability to create up to 10 landing pages. You even get reporting tools to see how your emails are performing.
Key Features Compared to Shopify Email
- Automation: MailerLite allows for more advanced automation workflows, including multi-step campaigns and behavior-triggered emails, whereas Shopify Email is more basic.
- Email Builder: MailerLite’s builder offers greater design flexibility and more customizable templates compared to Shopify Email’s more limited options.
- Segmentation: You can segment your audience using dynamic options and custom fields in MailerLite, which helps in sending more relevant content.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | MailerLite | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Up to 1k subscribers, 12k monthly emails, one user | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Growing Business | Starts at $10/month for up to 500 subscribers, unlimited emails, three users | Pay for what you use ($1 per 1,000 additional emails) |
| Advanced | $20/month for up to 500 subscribers, unlimited emails, unlimited users | |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing for 100k+ subscribers |
Customer Support
Customer support is another area where MailerLite shines, especially for a free service. You get 24/7 email and chat support for the first 30 days even on the free plan. Paid plans offer ongoing 24/7 email support, with higher tiers including live chat. This is a nice step up from what you might expect, and certainly more than what Shopify Email provides on its own.
It’s good to know that MailerLite offers a free plan that includes a lot of useful features. This makes it accessible for businesses just starting out or those on a tight budget. The ability to send a good volume of emails and manage a decent number of subscribers without paying anything is a big deal.
If you’re curious about how MailerLite compares to another popular option, you might want to check out our MailerLite vs Mailchimp comparison.
8. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign has really made a name for itself in the world of marketing automation, and now Shopify store owners can get in on the action too. Thanks to its Deep Data Integration with Shopify, you get a pretty robust connection.
This platform is a powerhouse for businesses that need to send out more complex automated campaigns and really segment their customer lists. It also comes with a CRM add-on that’s quite useful, especially if you have a lot of customers who buy from you repeatedly. While it might take a little time to get the hang of everything, the payoff is usually worth the effort.
Free Plans Comparison
ActiveCampaign doesn’t actually offer a free plan. However, they do give you a 14-day free trial. This lets you test out most of the features to see if it’s a good fit for your online store before you commit.
Features Comparison
When you compare ActiveCampaign to Shopify Email, there are some noticeable differences:
- Marketing Automation: ActiveCampaign really shines here. It offers a lot of useful automation features that let you target campaigns and interact with customers across different platforms. Shopify Email’s automation capabilities are pretty basic in comparison.
- Email Builder: The email builder in ActiveCampaign is generally easier to use and has more features than Shopify Email’s. It uses a drag-and-drop interface, which is great even if you’re not super tech-savvy. Plus, there are various templates available to make your emails look more interesting.
- Segmentation and Targeting: You can segment your audience in ActiveCampaign using a wide range of criteria. What’s cool is that it automatically updates when users no longer meet certain criteria, keeping your lists accurate.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | ActiveCampaign (Starts at) | Shopify Email (Starts at) |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/month (1,000 contacts) | Free (10,000 emails/month) |
| Plus | $49/month (1,000 contacts) | Paid (pay per 1,000 emails) |
Note: ActiveCampaign pricing can vary based on the number of contacts and features. Discounts are often available for annual payments.
Customer Support
ActiveCampaign provides customer support, though the specifics can depend on your plan. It’s good to check their current offerings for the most up-to-date information on support channels and availability.
The integration process with Shopify is pretty smooth, and contacts who make a purchase or leave items in their cart are automatically added to ActiveCampaign. You can see their order history, abandoned carts, and total spending right in their contact profiles, which is a nice touch, similar to what you’d find in dedicated CRM software. The workflow-based automation editor is also a big plus, allowing you to set up campaigns for abandoned carts, upsells, repurchase reminders, and even product review requests. Adding products to email templates is easy with the drag-and-drop editor, and you can even include a discount code on your ActiveCampaign landing page to encourage purchases.
9. RetainIQ
RetainIQ is a platform that focuses on helping e-commerce businesses keep their customers coming back. It’s designed to work with Shopify and offers tools to manage customer relationships and boost sales. Think of it as a way to get more out of the customers you already have.
One of the main things RetainIQ does is help you send out marketing messages. This includes emails and text messages, which are great ways to talk to your customers. They also have web push notifications, which can grab attention right on your website. It’s all about staying in touch and reminding people about your brand.
Key Features
- Customer Retention Tools: RetainIQ provides features specifically aimed at keeping customers engaged and encouraging repeat purchases. This can involve personalized offers or loyalty programs.
- Multi-Channel Communication: You can reach your customers through various channels, including email and SMS, allowing for more flexible marketing.
- Automation: The platform allows you to set up automated marketing campaigns, so you can send the right message at the right time without manual effort.
- Data Analysis: RetainIQ helps you understand your customer data better, which can inform your marketing strategies and improve customer interactions.
How RetainIQ Helps Shopify Stores
RetainIO offers a way to manage your customer interactions more effectively. It helps you build stronger relationships by sending targeted messages. This can lead to more sales and happier customers. The platform aims to simplify the process of customer retention, making it easier for store owners to focus on other parts of their business. They also provide resources to help you learn more about marketing, like blogs and tutorials, so you can get the most out of their tools. If you’re looking to improve your customer loyalty and increase repeat business, RetainIQ is definitely worth a look.
RetainIQ is built to help e-commerce businesses improve customer loyalty and drive repeat sales through targeted communication and automation. It simplifies the process of engaging customers across multiple channels, making it easier for store owners to grow their business.
Wrapping Up Your Email Marketing Strategy
So, there you have it. While Shopify Email is a decent starting point, it’s clear there are other options out there that offer more power and flexibility for your online store. Whether you need advanced automation, better segmentation, or just more creative templates, exploring these alternatives can really make a difference in how you connect with your customers. Don’t be afraid to try out a few free plans to see which one feels right for your business. Getting your email marketing dialed in is a big step, and finding the right tool can help you grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this app have good customer support if I run into trouble?
Yes, many of these email marketing tools offer customer support. Options range from help centers with articles and FAQs to email, live chat, and even phone support for higher-tier plans. It’s always a good idea to check the specific support channels offered by each platform.
Are these email marketing tools easy to use for someone who isn’t a tech expert?
Most of these platforms are designed to be user-friendly, even for beginners. They often feature drag-and-drop editors, pre-made templates, and clear guides to help you create and send emails without needing advanced technical skills.
Will these email marketing tools work with my existing e-commerce store?
Yes, integration is a key feature. These tools are built to work with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, allowing you to sync customer data, product information, and sales history to make your email campaigns more effective.
Can I try these tools for free before I decide to pay?
Many of these services offer free plans or free trials. This lets you test out their features and see if they fit your business needs before you commit to a paid subscription. It’s a great way to compare options.
What kind of features do these email marketing tools offer to improve my sales?
These tools offer various features to help you send the right message to the right people. This includes segmenting your customer list based on buying habits or interests, automating emails for things like welcome messages or abandoned carts, and creating eye-catching email designs.
How much do these email marketing services typically cost?
The pricing varies, but many start with affordable monthly plans, often based on the number of contacts you have or emails you send. Some even offer free plans for smaller lists, making them accessible for businesses of all sizes.