When you’re running an online store, getting your marketing emails out there is a big deal. Shopify Email is an option, sure, but it’s pretty basic. If you need more power for your email campaigns, you’ll want to look at other platforms. We’ve rounded up some of the best Shopify competitors that come with their own built-in email marketing tools, so you can send out better emails and connect with your customers.
Key Takeaways
- Omnisend is great for ecommerce businesses and offers SMS marketing and push notifications.
- Mailchimp is popular for beginners and offers a free plan with 1,000 monthly email sends.
- Constant Contact is user-friendly and offers social posting and surveys, but no free plan.
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) provides advanced segmentation and a free plan for up to 300 emails per day.
- Klaviyo stands out with data science and machine learning features, plus SMS marketing and social ads.
1. Omnisend
Omnisend is a pretty solid choice if you’re running an online store and want to handle your email marketing right from your e-commerce platform. It’s designed with online sellers in mind, which is a big plus. You can send out emails, but it also does SMS and even web push notifications, so you’re not just stuck with email. This means you can reach customers on different channels, which is great for getting your message out there.
One of the cool things is how it integrates with platforms like Shopify. It makes setting things up pretty straightforward. You can build your email list using pop-ups or forms on your site, then use those contacts to send out campaigns or set up automated messages. Think abandoned cart emails or welcome series – the kind of stuff that really helps drive sales without you having to do much manually.
Key Features
- List Building Tools: Create forms and pop-ups to collect email addresses from your website visitors.
- Automation Workflows: Set up automated email sequences for things like welcome emails, birthday messages, and post-purchase follow-ups.
- Segmentation: Divide your audience into smaller groups based on their behavior or purchase history to send more targeted messages.
- Reporting: Track the performance of your campaigns to see what’s working and what’s not.
- Omnichannel Capabilities: Send messages via email, SMS, and web push notifications.
Omnisend really shines when it comes to automating those common, yet important, customer interactions. It helps you stay connected with your audience in a way that feels natural and timely, which is what good marketing is all about.
They also have features like an AI subject line generator and a drag-and-drop editor, which makes creating emails less of a chore. Plus, they offer a free plan to get you started, which is always nice when you’re testing the waters. For businesses looking to boost their sales through targeted communication, Omnisend email marketing is definitely worth a look.
2. Mailchimp
Mailchimp has been around for a while, and many people know it. It offers a free plan that’s pretty good for beginners, letting you send up to 1,000 emails a month. This can be a good starting point if you’re just getting your Shopify store off the ground.
Email Builder and Templates
Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop email builder is generally easy to use. You can pick from a bunch of templates, though some people find them a bit dated. Still, you can customize them to fit your brand. The builder itself is quite intuitive, making it simple to create professional-looking emails without needing design skills.
Segmentation and Automation
When it comes to segmenting your audience, Mailchimp gives you a lot of options. You can split your list based on things like past purchases, how people interact with your emails, or even where they live. This helps you send more targeted messages. Their automation features, like abandoned cart emails, are also pretty solid, especially on their paid plans. You can set up single-step automations even on the Essentials plan.
Pricing
Mailchimp’s pricing can get a bit complicated, and it scales up as your contact list grows. The free plan is great, but once you need more advanced features or have more than a couple thousand subscribers, you’ll likely need to upgrade. Their Essentials plan starts at around $13 a month for up to 500 contacts, with email sending limits based on your contact count. For more advanced features like multi-step automations and better reporting, you’ll need to look at their higher-tier plans, which can become quite expensive.
Here’s a quick look at their Essentials plan pricing:
| Contacts | Monthly Cost (Essentials Plan) |
|---|---|
| Up to 500 | $13/month |
| Up to 2,500 | $45/month |
| Up to 5,000 | $75/month |
| Up to 10,000 | $110/month |
Customer Support
If you run into issues, Mailchimp provides support through phone, email, and live chat. They also have a chatbot available.
While Mailchimp is a well-known name, its advanced features are locked behind pricier plans. For Shopify store owners who need robust e-commerce specific tools, it might be worth comparing it closely with other options that focus more heavily on online sales.
Mailchimp is often recommended for those with smaller lists or who really need the landing page builder and automation features. It’s a decent option if you’re just starting out and want a familiar name in the email marketing space. You can find out more about Mailchimp alternatives if you’re exploring different platforms.
3. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a solid choice if you’re looking for an email marketing tool that’s pretty straightforward to use, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s got a good mix of features that help you connect with your customers, not just through email but also on social media. You can create posts and even run surveys to get feedback, which is something Shopify Email doesn’t really do on its own.
Key Features
- User-Friendly Interface: Constant Contact is known for being easy to pick up, even if you’re not a tech whiz.
- Social Media Integration: You can post directly to social media and create polls to engage your audience.
- Event Marketing Tools: If you run events, they have specific tools to help you manage invitations and RSVPs.
- Reporting and Analytics: Keep an eye on how your emails are performing with their reporting tools.
Pricing Comparison
Constant Contact doesn’t have a free plan like some others, but they do offer different tiers to fit your needs.
| Plan | Starting Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/month | Basic email marketing, templates, list growth |
| Standard | $35/month | A/B testing, automation, more advanced features |
| Premium | $80/month | Advanced automation, segmentation, priority support |
Customer Support
They offer support through phone, email, and live chat, which is pretty good if you ever get stuck.
It’s important to remember that while Constant Contact offers a lot, it’s good to compare it with other options to see what fits your specific business needs best. Sometimes a tool that’s simpler is better, and sometimes you need more power.
4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo, which used to be known as Sendinblue, is a solid contender if you’re looking for an email marketing tool that integrates well with Shopify. It really shines with its automation capabilities. You can set up some pretty complex workflows that trigger emails based on what your customers do, like visiting a specific page or abandoning their cart. This means you can send out personalized messages without having to do it all manually.
One of the things that makes Brevo a good choice is its built-in CRM. This helps you keep track of customer interactions, which is super handy for understanding your audience better. Plus, they also let you incorporate SMS messaging into your campaigns, which can be a nice way to reach people who might not check their email as often.
Free Plan Comparison
Brevo offers a free plan that’s pretty generous, especially if you’re just starting out. It includes:
- 300 emails per day
- A drag-and-drop editor for easy email creation
- Customizable email templates
- The ability to send SMS and WhatsApp campaigns
Features Comparison
When you compare Brevo to other options, a few things stand out. Their marketing automation is quite robust, allowing for intricate workflows with triggers and actions. They also offer transactional emails, which are great for things like order confirmations. Plus, there’s a "Best Time" feature that looks at your past campaign data to send emails when your audience is most likely to open them.
The email builder itself gives you a good amount of control, with a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of templates you can tweak. For segmentation and targeting, Brevo lets you create detailed customer groups based on different criteria, which is more advanced than what some other platforms offer.
Pricing Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how Brevo’s pricing stacks up against Shopify Email:
| Feature | Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Up to 300 emails/day | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Starter | Starts at $9/month (5,000 emails) | $1 per 1,000 additional emails sent |
| Business | Starts at $18/month (5,000 emails, no daily limit, automation) | N/A |
| Brevo Plus | Custom pricing | N/A |
Customer Support
Brevo has a help center with plenty of articles to guide you. All plans come with email support. If you need live chat or phone support, you’ll need to be on one of their higher-tier plans.
While Brevo’s integration with Shopify has seen some changes, with a combined PushOwl & Brevo app now, it’s still a tool worth considering for its automation and CRM features. Just be aware that some features might still be in beta.
5. Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a powerhouse for e-commerce businesses, especially those using Shopify. It really shines when it comes to making your marketing feel personal, even when you’re sending emails to a lot of people.
Free Plan Comparison
Klaviyo’s free plan is pretty generous to get you started. You get:
- 500 emails per month
- 150 SMS/MMS credits
- Email support for the first 60 days
Features Comparison
When you compare Klaviyo to other options, its strengths really come through.
- Marketing Automation: This is where Klaviyo excels. It goes way beyond basic email blasts. You can set up complex automated flows based on customer behavior, like sending a follow-up email after someone abandons their cart or a special offer to a VIP customer. It uses data science to help you personalize these messages.
- Email Builder: The drag-and-drop email builder is straightforward to use. It offers a good selection of templates, making it easy to create professional-looking emails that match your brand, similar to what you might find with Mailchimp or Omnisend.
- Segmentation and Targeting: Klaviyo lets you slice and dice your audience in really specific ways. You can target customers based on what they’ve bought, how they’ve interacted with your site, or their demographic information. This level of detail is something Shopify Email doesn’t offer as easily. If you’re using Shopify, syncing your Shopify email subscribers to Klaviyo is a breeze.
While Klaviyo offers advanced features, it can get pricey as your contact list grows. Some users have also reported occasional glitches with campaign sending or account suspensions, which can be frustrating.
Pricing Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how Klaviyo’s pricing stacks up:
| Plan | Klaviyo | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 500 emails/month, 150 SMS/MMS credits | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Email (Paid) | Starts at $20/month for 5k emails | $1 per 1,000 emails sent |
| Email & SMS | Starts at $35/month for 5k emails, 1250 SMS | N/A |
Customer Support
Klaviyo provides email and chat support. If you’re spending a significant amount ($3,000/month), you can even get a dedicated Customer Success Manager. For businesses that are serious about growing their email list and sales, Klaviyo is a strong contender. It’s a great choice for small to medium-sized businesses that want robust email marketing tools integrated with their Shopify store. You can try Klaviyo for free for 14 days.
6. MailerLite
MailerLite is a pretty straightforward option if you’re looking for a tool that’s easy to get the hang of, especially if you’re just starting out with email marketing for your Shopify store. It’s got a good reputation for being user-friendly, which is always a plus when you’ve got a business to run. They offer a decent free plan that lets you send up to 12,000 emails a month to 1,000 subscribers, which is a solid starting point. You can also try out their Advanced plan features for 30 days for free.
When you compare it to something like Shopify Email, MailerLite really shines with its automation capabilities. While Shopify Email handles the basics like abandoned carts, MailerLite lets you build more complex customer journeys with things like multi-step campaigns and behavior-triggered emails. Their email builder is also more flexible, giving you more control over how your emails look with a drag-and-drop editor and more template options. Plus, they offer better segmentation tools, letting you group customers based on their behavior or other custom fields.
Free Plan Comparison
MakerLite’s free plan is pretty generous. You get:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Email automation builder
- One website with blogging tools
- Up to 10 landing pages
- Reporting
- Signup forms and popups
Features Comparison
MailerLite really stands out when it comes to its features compared to some other options. The automation builder is more robust, allowing for intricate workflows that can really help nurture your customer relationships. The email editor provides a lot of creative freedom, making it easier to craft visually appealing emails that match your brand. Segmentation is also a strong suit, allowing for more targeted campaigns.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | MailerLite | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Up to 1k subscribers, 12k monthly emails, and one user | Up to 10,000 emails/month |
| Growing Business | Starts at $10/month for up to 500 subscribers, unlimited monthly emails, and three users | Pay for what you use at $1 USD per 1,000 additional emails sent |
| Advanced | $20/month for up to 500 subscribers, unlimited monthly emails, and unlimited users | |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing for 100k+ subscribers, unlimited monthly emails, and unlimited users |
Customer Support
MailerLite offers 24/7 email and chat support for 30 days even on their free plan. Paid plans offer ongoing 24/7 email support, with the Advanced and Enterprise plans including 24/7 live chat as well. This level of support is a big step up from what some other platforms provide, especially for free users.
It’s good to know that MailerLite offers a solid free plan and good support, making it a strong contender for small businesses or those just getting started with email marketing.
7. AWeber
Next up on our list is AWeber, a platform that’s been around for a while and has a solid reputation in the email marketing space. It’s pretty user-friendly, which is always a plus when you’re trying to get your marketing messages out there without a huge learning curve. They’ve packed it with a bunch of features that make it a decent option if you’re looking to move beyond basic email blasts.
Free Plan Comparison
AWeber does offer a free plan, which is nice for folks just starting out or with smaller lists. It gives you access to:
- Up to 500 subscribers
- Email templates to get you going
- A drag-and-drop editor for designing emails
- Some automation tools to get started
- Signup forms to build your list
- Basic analytics to see how things are doing
It’s worth noting that some of the more advanced features might be limited or not included in the free tier. Shopify Email’s free plan, for comparison, offers up to 2,500 contacts and includes segmentation and automation features, which might be more appealing depending on your needs.
Features Comparison
When you look at what AWeber can do compared to, say, Shopify Email, there are some key differences.
- Marketing Automation: AWeber lets you set up automated email sequences based on customer actions. They have pre-built workflows for things like welcome emails or abandoned carts, and even a marketplace for more templates. This is generally more robust than what Shopify Email offers.
- Email Builder: The drag-and-drop editor in AWeber is pretty straightforward. Plus, they’ve integrated with Canva and have a big library of images, which makes designing emails a bit more flexible than with Shopify Email.
- Segmentation and Targeting: You can segment your audience in AWeber using different criteria like demographics, how people interact with your emails, or custom fields. They even have some pre-built segments ready to go.
AWeber’s editor, with its Canva integration and image library, gives you more creative control than some other platforms. It’s nice to have those extra tools right there when you’re building out your campaigns.
Pricing Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how AWeber’s pricing stacks up:
| Plan | AWeber | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Free | For up to 500 subscribers | Free |
| Lite | Starts at $15/month for unlimited subscribers | Paid |
| Plus | Starts at $30/month for unlimited subscribers | |
| Unlimited | Starts at $899/month for unlimited subscribers |
Shopify Email’s paid plan is a pay-as-you-go model, costing $1 per 1,000 additional emails sent beyond the free tier. AWeber’s paid plans start at $15 for unlimited subscribers and one email list, which could be more cost-effective if you have a larger list.
Customer Support
One of the things AWeber gets right is customer support. They offer 24/7 help through email, phone, and live chat. This is a big deal because it means you can usually get help pretty quickly if something goes wrong or you’re just stuck on a feature. Shopify Email’s support is part of the general Shopify support, which can sometimes feel less direct.
8. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign has really made a name for itself in the marketing automation space, and now Shopify store owners can get in on the action too, thanks to its Deep Data integration. This connection pulls in your Shopify data, making it easier to manage your customer relationships and marketing efforts.
Key Features
- Marketing Automation: ActiveCampaign really shines here. You can set up complex automations to target customers across different platforms, which is way more advanced than what Shopify Email offers. Think automated follow-ups, personalized campaigns based on purchase history, and more.
- Email Builder: The drag-and-drop email builder is pretty user-friendly. It’s got a good selection of templates, making it easy to create emails that look good, even if you’re not a design whiz.
- Segmentation and Targeting: You can slice and dice your customer list based on all sorts of criteria. ActiveCampaign automatically updates these segments as customer behavior changes, so your targeting stays relevant.
- CRM Add-on: For those who need it, the CRM add-on is a solid addition. It helps manage customer interactions and sales processes.
What We Liked
The integration with Shopify was straightforward. All your customers, their orders, and abandoned carts from your store automatically show up in ActiveCampaign. It’s really helpful to see all this data, like past purchases and spending totals, right there in the contact profiles. It gives you a view similar to what you’d expect from dedicated CRM software.
The workflow-based automation editor is a standout. It lets you build out campaigns for things like abandoned carts, upsells, repurchase reminders, and even product review requests. Plus, adding products to your email templates is simple with the drag-and-drop editor.
What Could Be Improved
ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool, but that power comes with a bit of a learning curve. Some of the more advanced features, like personalization and conditional content, might require a little bit of coding knowledge to get the most out of them. If you’re just starting out or looking for something simpler and more affordable, other options might be a better fit initially.
Who We Recommend ActiveCampaign For
This platform is a great choice for larger e-commerce stores that need to handle more complex automations and want to segment their audience very precisely. If you’re dealing with a lot of repeat customers and need a robust CRM for Shopify to manage those relationships, ActiveCampaign is definitely worth considering.
Pricing
ActiveCampaign doesn’t offer a free plan, but they do have a 14-day free trial. Pricing starts around $15/month for 1,000 contacts on their Starter plan, which includes 10,000 email sends. The Plus plan starts at $49/month for 1,000 contacts.
Wrapping Up Your Email Marketing Choice
So, you’ve seen a few different options out there that go beyond what Shopify Email offers. Each platform has its own strengths, whether it’s advanced automation like Omnisend, a huge template library from AWeber, or the CRM features in Brevo. Mailchimp and Constant Contact are good starting points for those new to email marketing, while MailerLite offers a solid free plan for small businesses. Klaviyo brings some serious AI power to the table, and ActiveCampaign really shines with its automation tools. When you’re picking one, think about what features matter most to your business, how easy it is to use, and of course, what fits your budget now and down the road. Checking out user reviews can also give you a real feel for how these tools perform in everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for an e-commerce platform to have built-in email marketing?
Many platforms offer email marketing tools built-in, meaning you don’t need a separate service. These tools help you send emails to your customers, like newsletters or special offers, directly from your e-commerce platform. This makes managing your customer communication much simpler.
How does Shopify Email compare to other options?
Shopify Email is a basic tool that comes with Shopify. It’s good for starting out because it’s easy to use and affordable. However, other platforms might offer more advanced features like better automation, more templates, or special tools for targeting specific customers.
What should I look for when choosing an email marketing tool?
When picking an email marketing tool, think about what you need. Do you want to send lots of emails? Do you need fancy automation? How much do you want to spend? Also, check what other users say about the platform to see if it’s reliable and easy to use.
Are there free options available for these email marketing tools?
Yes, many of these platforms have free plans. These are great for trying out the service or for small businesses that don’t send many emails. You can usually send a certain number of emails each month for free.
Why is email marketing important for an online store?
Email marketing helps you connect with your customers. You can tell them about new products, sales, or company news. It’s a way to keep them interested and encourage them to buy from you again.
Are some email marketing tools easier to use than others?
Some platforms are better for beginners because they are simpler to use. Others have more advanced features for businesses that want to do more complex marketing, like sending highly personalized emails or setting up automatic email sequences.