How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Growth-stage DTC brands: Klaviyo (from $20/month) is the deepest platform, but bills on active profiles, so list hygiene directly controls cost.
- Best value for SMB stores: Omnisend (free to 250 contacts, Standard from $16/month) includes email, SMS and push with all features on every plan.
- Behavioral automation fans: Drip (from $39/month, unlimited sends) is built for ecommerce segmentation and revenue attribution.
- Big lists that mail lightly: Brevo's send-volume billing with unlimited contacts keeps bills predictable; MailerLite is the simplest cheap option.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Klaviyo | Growth-stage and large DTC brands doing serious revenue | From $20/month (Email plan, 251-500 active profiles); Email + SMS from $35/month | Yes (up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/month) |
 Omnisend | SMB to mid-market stores wanting email plus SMS plus push | Free (250 contacts); Standard from $16/month (500 contacts); Pro from $59/month | Yes (250 contacts, 500 emails/month, all features) |
 Drip | Established DTC brands investing in behavioral automation and retention | From $39/month (up to 2,500 contacts, unlimited email sends) | Free trial (14 days) |
 Mailchimp | Small businesses and general marketers wanting an all-in-one suite | Free (250 contacts); Essentials from $13/month (500 contacts); Standard from $20/month | Yes (250 contacts, 500 sends/month) |
 Brevo | Stores with large contact lists and modest send volumes | See website | Yes (limited daily sends, unlimited contacts) |
 ActiveCampaign | Teams needing sophisticated automation and a light CRM in one tool | See website | Free trial (14 days) |
 GetResponse | Small marketers wanting funnels, webinars and email without three tools | See website | Yes (limited: 500 contacts) |
 MailerLite | Small stores and content-led businesses needing simple, cheap email | See website | Yes (up to 1,000 subscribers) |
 Privy | Shopify stores whose priority is list growth plus solid email and SMS | See website | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Everyone says email is dead. Every ecommerce store owner knows better: the welcome series, the abandoned cart flow and the post-purchase sequence quietly drive a third of revenue while social algorithms change the rules quarterly. The difference between a generic email tool and an ecommerce-native one is the data model underneath. The nine platforms below are ranked for stores, not newsletters.
#1
Klaviyo
Best for: Growth-stage and large DTC brands doing serious revenue
Visit klaviyo.com
Starting priceFrom $20/month (Email plan, 251-500 active profiles); Email + SMS from $35/month
Free planYes (up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/month)
Klaviyo is the default for serious DTC. The data model goes deeper than anyone else: predictive analytics, lifetime value and churn scoring feed segmentation, and per-flow revenue attribution shows exactly what each automation earns. The Shopify sync is the best in the business.
The honest catch is cost structure. Billing on active profiles means a dirty list costs real money, and every channel (SMS, WhatsApp, reviews) is metered separately, so model the total cost, not just the email tier. Enterprise adds a mandatory surcharge past $10K monthly spend. Setup takes days. If your store does real revenue and you will use the segmentation depth, nothing beats it. If you send a monthly newsletter, it is overkill.
What we like- Deepest ecommerce data model with predictive analytics, CLV and churn scoring
- Benchmarks from billions of sends inform targeting
- 350-plus integrations with best-in-class Shopify sync
Watch out for- Bills on active profiles, so list hygiene directly controls cost
- SMS, WhatsApp, reviews and analytics are each billed separately
#2
Omnisend
Best for: SMB to mid-market stores wanting email plus SMS plus push
Visit omnisend.com
Starting priceFree (250 contacts); Standard from $16/month (500 contacts); Pro from $59/month
Free planYes (250 contacts, 500 emails/month, all features)
Omnisend is the value pick that does not feel cheap. Pre-built ecommerce automations, product recommendations and AI tools come on every tier, including the free one, with no feature gating. Email, SMS and push run in unified flows, and support answers around the clock on all plans.
The catch is list-size scaling. Moving from 500 to 10,000 contacts multiplies the Standard bill several times over, and non-subscribed checkout contacts count toward billing, so hygiene matters. SMS needs Pro plus separate credit packs. Setup takes minutes on Shopify with automatic tier upgrades. For a growing store that wants omnichannel without enterprise complexity, it is the sweet spot.
What we like- Email, SMS and web push in unified omnichannel flows
- All features included on every plan including free, no feature gating
- 24/7 live chat and email support on all plans
Watch out for- Contact-based pricing scales steeply as the list grows
- SMS is Pro-only and billed separately as credit packs
#3
Drip
Best for: Established DTC brands investing in behavioral automation and retention
Visit drip.com
Starting priceFrom $39/month (up to 2,500 contacts, unlimited email sends)
Free planFree trial (14 days)
Drip is built for marketers who think in behaviors, not blasts. The segmentation captures micro-interactions (what someone viewed, how often, what they almost bought), and revenue attribution ties every campaign to purchases. Unlimited sends on every tier means you never ration campaigns.
The honest catch is the price curve. It is premium from the first dollar at $39 per month, and it scales aggressively with list size past 2,500 contacts. There is no free plan. All features are included at every level, which simplifies the decision. Stores without meaningful revenue will find it expensive; stores doing seven figures in email-attributed revenue will find it cheap.
What we like- Ecommerce-specific segmentation capturing behavioral micro-interactions
- Revenue attribution connects campaigns directly to purchases
- Unlimited email sends on every tier
Watch out for- No free plan, the trial is the only free evaluation
- Pricing escalates steeply as the list grows past 2,500 contacts
#4
Mailchimp
Best for: Small businesses and general marketers wanting an all-in-one suite
Visit mailchimp.com
Starting priceFree (250 contacts); Essentials from $13/month (500 contacts); Standard from $20/month
Free planYes (250 contacts, 500 sends/month)
Mailchimp is the familiar face. Email, landing pages, social posting and surveys in one account, with the template library and integration ecosystem that comes from being the category's household name. For newsletters and basic automation, it is straightforward.
The catch is contact billing. Unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts count toward your tier unless archived, so list hygiene is a direct cost lever. Real ecommerce depth (dynamic content, advanced journeys) needs Standard at $20 per month and up. SMS and transactional email are paid add-ons. If you want one suite for the whole marketing basics, it works. If you want ecommerce-native automation, Omnisend or Drip go deeper.
What we like- Brand recognition and a huge template and integration ecosystem
- Personalized product recommendations on paid plans
- Straightforward for newsletters and basic automation
Watch out for- Bills on all contacts including unsubscribed, so dead lists cost money
- Ecommerce depth needs Standard or higher
#5
Brevo
Best for: Stores with large contact lists and modest send volumes
Visit brevo.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes (limited daily sends, unlimited contacts)
Brevo's pricing model is the attraction. Unlimited contacts with billing by email volume flips the usual math: a store with 50,000 contacts that mails twice a month pays far less than on contact-based rivals. SMS, WhatsApp and chat live in the same account, and transactional deliverability is strong.
The honest catch is ecommerce specialization. Abandoned-cart depth and product-recommendation sophistication trail the purpose-built rivals, and automation on the cheapest tiers is limited. The free plan caps daily sends. If your list is big and your calendar is light, the billing model wins. If behavioral automation drives your revenue, look at Drip.
What we like- Send-volume billing with unlimited contacts suits large lists that mail lightly
- Built-in CRM, SMS, WhatsApp and chat beyond email
- Strong transactional email deliverability
Watch out for- Ecommerce-specific depth trails Klaviyo and Omnisend
- Automation features on the cheapest tiers are limited
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial (14 days)
ActiveCampaign is the automation nerd's pick. The visual builder expresses multi-branch journeys with conditional logic and predictive actions that simpler tools cannot, and the built-in CRM keeps sales and marketing data together. For a team that lives in automation, the ceiling is high.
The catch is complexity and ecommerce fit. Casual users pay for power they will not touch, and the ecommerce features ride on integrations rather than a native data model like Klaviyo's. No free plan; the trial is the evaluation. SMS is a separate add-on. If marketing automation is your craft, this is the workshop. If you want ecommerce-native simplicity, it is the wrong shape.
What we like- Deepest visual automation builder in the category with conditional logic
- Built-in CRM keeps sales and marketing data together
- Predictive sending and split testing on higher tiers
Watch out for- No free plan and a real learning curve for advanced automations
- Ecommerce features are an integration layer, not a native data model like Klaviyo
#7
GetResponse
Best for: Small marketers wanting funnels, webinars and email without three tools
Visit getresponse.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes (limited: 500 contacts)
GetResponse bundles what others sell separately. Landing pages, signup funnels and webinar hosting sit alongside email in one account, which suits small marketers running launches and list-building campaigns. Ecommerce tracking with abandoned-cart automation covers the basics.
The honest catch is the free plan's limits; real automation needs a paid tier, and ecommerce segmentation depth trails the specialists. Setup takes hours. If webinars and funnels are part of your motion, the bundle saves real money. If pure ecommerce email is the job, the specialists do it better.
What we like- All-in-one with email, funnels, webinars and landing pages in one account
- Ecommerce tracking with abandoned-cart automation
- Generous free tier for testing
Watch out for- Free plan strips automations after the initial period
- Ecommerce segmentation depth trails Klaviyo and Drip
#8
MailerLite
Best for: Small stores and content-led businesses needing simple, cheap email
Visit mailerlite.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes (up to 1,000 subscribers)
MailerLite is the simplicity pick. The drag-and-drop builder and automation are approachable without training, the free tier covers up to 1,000 subscribers with real sending, and paid plans stay cheap. Deliverability is clean.
The catch is ecommerce depth. Advanced segmentation, product feeds and predictive features are thin, and the integration bench is narrower. SMS is an add-on, not a native strength. For a small store sending campaigns and a welcome series, it is all you need at a fraction of Klaviyo's price. For a brand living on behavioral automation, it will feel basic within months.
What we like- Simplest editor in the category, beginners send good emails fast
- Low prices with a genuinely useful free tier
- Clean deliverability and straightforward automation
Watch out for- Ecommerce-specific features are basic versus purpose-built rivals
- Template and integration depth is narrower
#9
Privy
Best for: Shopify stores whose priority is list growth plus solid email and SMS
Visit privy.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Privy (now part of Attentive) starts where the customer journey starts: the popup. Spin-to-win, gamified forms and cart savers grow the list fast, with email and SMS in the same account on ecommerce templates. Setup on Shopify takes minutes.
The honest catch is the acquisition. Plans and pricing have evolved under Attentive, so confirm the current lineup before budgeting. Email depth trails the full ESPs; this is a list-growth tool with solid sending, not a Klaviyo replacement. If your bottleneck is list size, Privy plus a simple sender beats an advanced platform with nobody to email.
What we like- Best-in-class popups, spin-to-win and list-growth tools for Shopify
- Email and SMS in one account with ecommerce templates
- Fast setup purpose-built for Shopify stores
Watch out for- List growth is the strength, email depth trails full ESPs
- Pricing and packaging have shifted under Attentive ownership, verify current plans
The SMS question every store faces
Every platform here now sells SMS, and every one bills it separately. The strategic question is whether your customers want texts from you. SMS shines for flash sales, back-in-stock alerts and VIP offers; it annoys for newsletters and content. Klaviyo and Attentive/Privy have the deepest SMS tooling; Omnisend bundles it most cleanly for SMBs. Before you enable it, check the unit economics: SMS credits cost real money per message, so a 10,000-subscriber list texted weekly is a serious line item. Start with your highest-intent segment, measure revenue per message, and expand only if the math works.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ecommerce email marketing cost?
From free (Omnisend to 250 contacts, MailerLite to 1,000 subscribers, Klaviyo to 250 profiles) to $16-$39 per month for starter paid tiers, scaling with list size. A 10,000-contact list runs roughly $100-$300 per month depending on the platform. SMS is always extra. The expensive mistake is paying for contacts you never mail; clean the list quarterly.
Klaviyo vs. Omnisend: which should I choose?
Klaviyo for depth: predictive analytics, advanced segmentation and revenue attribution at higher prices and steeper learning curve. Omnisend for value: all features on every plan, email plus SMS plus push, simpler to run. Stores doing serious revenue with a marketer on staff lean Klaviyo; everyone else starts with Omnisend.
What is the difference between contact-based and send-based pricing?
Contact-based (Klaviyo, Omnisend, Drip) charges by list size regardless of send volume. Send-based (Brevo) charges by email volume with unlimited contacts. Big list, light calendar: send-based wins. Small list, heavy automation: contact-based is fine. Model both against your actual sending before choosing.
Do I need SMS marketing?
Maybe. SMS drives urgency for flash sales and back-in-stock, but each message costs credits and customers tolerate far fewer texts than emails. Start with your VIP segment, measure revenue per send, and expand if it pays. Do not enable SMS just because the platform bundles it.
How do I switch email platforms without losing my list?
Export everything (contacts, segments, suppression lists, templates), warm up the new platform's sending domain gradually, and migrate automations one flow at a time starting with the welcome series. Keep the old platform running for 30 days to catch stragglers. Most migrations take two to four weeks; the deliverability ramp is the part people underestimate.
What to look for before you buy
Start with your platform: Shopify stores get the deepest integrations everywhere, while WooCommerce and BigCommerce narrow the field slightly. Second, count your active profiles honestly; Klaviyo-style billing punishes vanity list size. Third, list the automations you will actually run in the first 90 days (welcome, abandoned cart, post-purchase, winback); if the platform's templates cover them, you will launch in days. Fourth, check the SMS math separately from the email price. Fifth, ask about deliverability support: dedicated IPs, domain warmup guidance and spam-complaint handling vary enormously and matter more than any template gallery.
How we chose
We started with the categories buyers search: email marketing platforms for ecommerce, best email tools for ecommerce and ecommerce email software. For each candidate we opened the vendor's own pricing page, checked plan names and prices against public reviews on G2 and Capterra and practitioner discussion on Reddit, and compared ecommerce data depth, automation builders, pricing models and company-size fit. Where a price could not be verified on the vendor's page we wrote "See website" rather than guessing.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://klaviyo.com/pricing
- https://www.omnisend.com/pricing
- https://www.drip.com/pricing
- https://www.mailchimp.com/pricing
- https://www.brevo.com/pricing
- https://www.activecampaign.com/pricing
- https://www.getresponse.com/pricing
- https://www.mailerlite.com/pricing
- https://www.privy.com/pricing
- https://www.g2.com/categories/email-marketing
- https://www.capterra.com/email-marketing-software/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.