Running a successful ecommerce business, whether you sell digital products or physical, means staying connected with your customers at every stage of their journey. From that first welcome email to abandoned cart reminders and post-purchase follow-ups, email marketing remains one of the most effective channels for online retailers.
But with so many best email marketing services available, how do you choose the right email marketing platform for your online store? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best email marketing services designed for ecommerce success.
Disclaimer: This article evaluates the best marketing platforms for ecommerce, including Sender, which our company owns. Email marketing comparisons and assessments are based on research, industry standards, and user feedback. No commissions are earned from links in this article.
Key Features of Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce
Before diving into our top picks, let’s identify the key ecommerce-tailored email marketing features that separate good email marketing tools from great ones:
- Product catalog sync. A robust product catalog sync ensures your email marketing platform always has up-to-date product information. This eliminates the risk of promoting out-of-stock items or showing outdated prices.
- Ecommerce integrations. Seamless ecommerce platform integration like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce is essential for syncing customer data, order history, and other information automatically.
- Purchase behavior segmentation. Advanced customer segmentation is key to delivering highly personalized marketing. By understanding where each customer is in their buying journey, you can tailor messages that resonate and convert.
- Abandoned cart recovery. Cart abandonment emails are arguably the most profitable automated campaigns for ecommerce businesses. This feature automatically triggers a series of emails when customers leave items in their shopping cart without completing the purchase.
- Post-purchase automation. The customer journey doesn’t end at checkout—post-purchase emails are crucial for building loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases.
- Product recommendations blocks. Personalized product recommendations are a great way to boost engagement and drive sales. By analyzing customer behavior, purchase history, and preferences, you can suggest items that are highly relevant to individual shopper—without lifting a finger.
- Revenue attribution tracking. Revenue tracking lets you see exactly how much income your email campaigns are generating and how many orders come directly from them. This insight gives you a clear view of what’s working—and, more importantly, what’s not.
- Dynamic product content. With 80% of consumers more likely to buy from brands that personalize their marketing, it’s clear why this strategy is key to success. Customized product recommendations help deliver the right message to the right person at the right time.
Email Marketing Services for Ecommerce — Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick email marketing platforms comparison table with the top ecommerce email marketing software products:
| Platform | Free Plan Details | Starts At | Best For | Standout Feature |
| Sender | Free Forever Plan: 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/month, includes automation, segmentation, and landing pages. Emails carry Sender branding. | $7/month | Small to medium ecommerce businesses seeking robust features without high costs. | Generous free plan with advanced features like automation and segmentation. |
| Omnisend | Free Plan: 500 emails/month to 250 contacts, includes email campaigns, automation workflows, and SMS/web push notifications. | $16/month | Ecommerce businesses looking for omnichannel marketing capabilities. | Omnichannel automation (email, SMS, push notifications) |
| Shopify Email | Free Plan: 10,000 emails/month for Shopify store owners. After that, $1 per 1,000 emails. | $22/month | Shopify store owners seeking seamless integration with their ecommerce platform. | Native integration with Shopify |
| Drip | 14-day free trial with full feature access. | $39/month | Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands requiring advanced email automation. | Advanced automation workflows |
| Klaviyo | Free Plan: 250 contacts, 500 emails/month, includes email templates, segmentation, and automation. | $20/month | Ecommerce businesses needing advanced analytics and segmentation. | Predictive analytics |
| Brevo | Free Plan: 300 emails/day (no rollover), includes email and SMS campaigns, CRM, and transactional emails. | $9/month | Small businesses seeking an all-in-one marketing solution. | Comprehensive CRM |
| GetResponse | No free plan available. | $16/month | Small to medium businesses looking for a comprehensive marketing suite. | AI-powered email generation |
| ActiveCampaign | No free plan available. | $15/month | Businesses requiring advanced CRM and email automation. | Advanced automation |
| Mailchimp | Free Plan: 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, includes basic email templates and automation features. | $13/month | Small businesses and freelancers seeking an easy-to-use platform. | Wide range of integrations |
9 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce
After testing dozens of email marketing software for ecommerce platforms over the past few years, I’ve pulled together this comparison of the ones that consistently deliver for online businesses.
These are the platforms that help you build real relationships with customers and, more importantly, drive sales:
Sender — Best All-in-All Ecommerce Email Marketing Platform
Sender caught my attention because it doesn’t make you choose between features and affordability. I can easily call it a free email marketing software worth your attention, since their freemium plan is honestly one of the better deals out there for online stores, regardless of size.
Sender pricing: Starts at $7/month for up to 2,500 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month. Free plan available.
I’ve worked with their integrations for Shopify and WooCommerce email marketing, and the advanced marketing automation features work exactly as you’d hope. Setting up customer journeys feels straightforward rather than overwhelming.
What sold me on Sender is how they’ve built in ecommerce features without making everything complicated. You get solid segmentation based on what people buy, abandoned cart recovery that just works, and product recommendation blocks—all through a drag-and-drop editor that won’t make you pull your hair out.
The behavioral triggers are pretty neat, too. You can send emails based on what customers do—whether they browsed a category or just made their first purchase. If you need a reliable free bulk email sender, Sender’s Forever Free plan is worth checking out.
Key Features
- Landing page builder. Choose from a library of professional-looking templates and effortlessly create landing pages using an intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
- Advanced cart recovery automation. Multi-step abandoned cart sequences with customizable timing and discount triggers.
- Behavioral trigger campaigns. Set up automated emails based on specific customer actions like product views, category browsing, or purchase milestones for timely engagement.
- Drag-and-drop email builder. Intuitive visual editor with responsive email templates and customizable blocks for creating professional emails without coding knowledge.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Sender:
✅ Advanced automation tools give users the ability to build powerful workflows that streamline customer engagement and boost campaign performance;
✅ User-friendly interface makes it easy for beginners and experienced marketers alike to set up and manage email campaigns efficiently;
✅ State-of-the-art segmentation functionality allows for precise audience targeting based on behavior, preferences, and purchase history.
Cons of Sender:
❌ The free plan includes Sender branding, which may limit the sleekness of your emails if you’re just starting out or trying to maintain a polished brand image;
❌ The platform lacks built-in CRM features, which could be a drawback for businesses looking for an all-in-one marketing and customer management solution.
Pricing
- Free tier: $0 (2,500 contacts—15,000 emails/month);
- Standard: $7/month (1,000 contacts—12,000 emails/month);
- Professional: $14/month (1,000 contacts—24,000 emails/month);
- Enterprise: Custom price.
Best for
Sender is a great fit for small to medium ecommerce businesses, multi-channel retailers, and growing brands. It offers powerful, enterprise-level features without the high cost or complexity, supports unified communication across platforms, and provides scalable plans—making it ideal for businesses looking to grow without hitting restrictive limits.
See why businesses are choosing Sender:
Omnisend — Omnichannel Email Marketing Tool for Ecommerce
Omnisend was built specifically for online store email marketing, and it shows. They didn’t try to be everything to everyone—they focused on what ecommerce businesses need.
Omnisend pricing: starts at $16/month for up to 500 contacts and 6,000 emails/month. Free plan available.
The thing that sets them apart? You can combine email, SMS marketing, and web push notifications in one workflow. No coding required, which is a relief.
When I tested it out, I set up an abandoned cart series with product recommendations using their visual workflow builder. Took less than an hour from start to finish. The interface makes sense, and the drag-and-drop branching doesn’t require a manual to figure out. If you want to try it out risk-free, there’s also Omnisend’s free plan.
They’ve got some nice touches like dynamic content blocks and free templates that match buying behavior. Shopify users will like the built-in product picker—it’s one of those features you don’t know you need until you use it.
The downside? Their integration options are somewhat limited if you’re running tools outside the typical ecommerce stack. And if you need broader CRM features, you might feel restricted. But for pure ecommerce email marketing, Omnisend knows what it’s doing.
Key Features
- Omnichannel workflow builder. Combine email, SMS, and push notifications in unified automation workflows to reach customers on their preferred channels seamlessly.
- Pre-built ecommerce email automation. Ready-to-use templates for welcome series, cart recovery, and post-purchase flows that can be customized and launched in minutes.
- Dynamic discount codes. Generate unique, single-use discount codes automatically for each subscriber to prevent coupon abuse while driving conversions.
- Product picker tool. Drag products directly from your Shopify catalog into emails with automatic price and availability updates in real-time.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Omnisend:
✅ Budget-friendly pricing makes it a strong option for growing ecommerce businesses that need powerful features without the enterprise price tag;
✅ Pre-built automation workflows help users quickly launch campaigns like cart recovery, welcome series, and product follow-ups—saving time and boosting retention;
✅ Omnichannel marketing combines email, SMS, and push notifications in a single platform, creating a cohesive customer experience across multiple touchpoints;
✅ 24/7 live chat support ensures users get quick, knowledgeable help whenever they need it—ideal for fast-moving ecommerce environments.
Cons of Omnisend:
❌ Template editor can feel limiting compared to more flexible design tools—especially if you want total creative control;
❌ Limited third-party integrations may be a drawback for businesses relying on a diverse tech stack beyond ecommerce platforms;
❌ User interface could benefit from an upgrade, with certain navigation elements and layout choices feeling slightly outdated;
❌ Steep learning curve—while the platform is powerful, it can take time to master all the automation and segmentation features.
Pricing
- Free tier: $0 (250 contacts—500 emails/month);
- Standard: $16/month (500 contacts—6,000 emails/month);
- Pro: $41/month (2,500 contacts—Unlimited email sends);
Best for
Omnisend is a great fit for ecommerce-focused businesses of all kinds. Shopify stores can automate key customer touchpoints like promotional emails, cart recovery messages—making it easier to recover lost sales without manual follow-ups.
Meanwhile, subscription-based businesses can streamline renewal reminders and send recurring product newsletters, ensuring consistent engagement and retention—all from one unified platform.
Shopify Email — Native Email Marketing App for Shopify Stores
If you’re running a Shopify store and want the path of least resistance, Shopify Email makes sense. It’s the native Shopify email marketing option that just… works.
Shopify Email pricing: Shopify Email comes with any Shopify plan starting at $22/month. Then it’s $1 per 1,000 emails sent.
The platform pulls in your products, images, and contact data automatically. Creating campaigns for abandoned carts, welcoming new subscribers, or following up after purchases happens right in your Shopify dashboard. No jumping between tabs or wondering if everything synced properly.
The simplicity is the selling point here. Everything connects automatically, so you’re not dealing with third-party integrations or data transfer headaches. It’s not the most feature-rich option out there, but sometimes you don’t need all the bells and whistles.
Key Features
- Native Shopify integration. Direct access to all store data including products, customers, and orders without any setup or synchronization delays.
- Branded email templates. Pre-designed templates that automatically match your store’s branding, colors, and fonts for consistent customer experience.
- Automated campaign triggers. Set up purchase-based automations, welcome emails, and win-back campaigns directly from your Shopify admin dashboard.
- Built-in analytics. Track opens, clicks, and sales attribution within Shopify’s unified reporting dashboard for streamlined performance monitoring.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Shopify Email:
✅ Pay-as-you-go pricing offers flexibility and cost control, making it a great option for businesses that want to scale without committing to fixed monthly fees;
✅ Built-in performance tracking lets you monitor campaign effectiveness in real time, helping you make data-driven decisions with ease;
✅ Seamless Shopify integration ensures a smooth setup and synchronization of your store data, allowing for quick and efficient campaign management;
✅ Top-rated customer support provides responsive, knowledgeable assistance whenever you need help—ideal for teams with limited tech resources.
Cons of Shopify Email:
❌ Weak A/B testing support limits your ability to optimize campaigns through experimentation and performance comparisons;
❌ Limited advanced automation means fewer options for building complex workflows or behavior-triggered sequences;
❌ Basic segmentation features may not be sufficient for marketers who need detailed targeting and personalized campaigns at scale.
Pricing
- 3-day free trial: $0/month (Unlimited contacts—10,000 email sends);
- Basic plan: $22/month (Unlimited contacts—10,000 emails/month; $1 per additional 1,000 emails, up to 300,000);
- Grow plan: $66/month (Unlimited contacts — 10,000 emails/month; $1 per additional 1,000 emails, up to 300,000);
- Advanced plan: $340/month (Unlimited contacts — emails billed at $1 per additional 1,000, up to 300,000);
- Plus plan: $2,300/month (Unlimited contacts — emails billed at $1 per additional 1,000, up to 300,000).
Best for
Shopify-exclusive stores and email marketing beginners will find this platform especially useful. Its native Shopify integration ensures a smooth setup, while the simple, easy-to-use editor makes it perfect for those new to email marketing who want to get started quickly without dealing with complex features.
Drip — Email Marketing Automation Built for Ecommerce Brands
Drip targets DTC brands that have outgrown their starter tools and need something more serious. They skip the fluff and focus on what matters: turning browsers into buyers.
Drip pricing: Starts at $39/month for up to 2,500 contacts and unlimited emails. 14-day free trial available.
I tested their product launch sequence features and the real-time revenue attribution stood out immediately. You can see exactly which emails are making money—not just getting opens or clicks.
Their automation builder delivers the precision you need for sophisticated email marketing strategy as your brand grows. Yes, the setup takes more technical confidence than something like Sender, but if you’ve got the budget and you’re serious about scaling, the insights you get make it worthwhile.
Key Features
- Visual workflow builder. Create complex, branching automation paths with if/then logic based on customer behavior, purchases, and engagement patterns.
- Revenue attribution reports. Track exact revenue generated by each email, automation, and campaign with detailed conversion path analysis.
- Behavioral scoring system. Automatically score and tag customers based on engagement, purchase history, and likelihood to buy for targeted campaigns.
- Facebook custom audiences. Sync email segments directly to Facebook for retargeting campaigns and lookalike audience creation automatically.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Drip:
✅ Powerful automation tools make it easy to create behavior-based workflows tailored specifically for ecommerce journeys in just a few clicks;
✅ Dynamic email segmentation allows you to target subscribers based on detailed behavior, purchase history, and custom triggers—boosting personalization and performance;
✅ Multi-channel marketing support lets you connect with customers via email, SMS, and on-site popups, creating a cohesive brand experience;
✅ Real-time revenue attribution helps you track exactly which emails are driving sales, giving you the insights needed to optimize campaign performance.
Cons of Drip:
❌ Premium pricing may be a barrier for smaller businesses or startups with tight marketing budgets;
❌ Lack of a landing page builder means you’ll need to rely on third-party tools for capturing leads or promoting offers outside of email;
❌ No free plan available, which limits accessibility for users looking to test Drip’s features before committing.
Pricing
- Free 14-day trial: $0 (500 email sends);
- Lite: $39/month (2,500 contacts—unlimited emails);
- Standard: $89/month (5,000 contacts—unlimited emails);
- Premium: $249/month (17,500 contacts—unlimited emails).
Best for
Drip is an ideal choice for ecommerce businesses looking to take their marketing efforts to the next level. Shopify stores can set up sophisticated automations for upsells, cart recovery, and loyalty rewards with ease. While subscription box companies benefit from personalized email flows based on purchase frequency and churn risk, helping to boost retention.
For brands ready to go beyond the basics, Drip also supports advanced features like interactive quizzes and gamified sign-up forms—perfect for capturing leads in a more interactive, conversion-friendly way.
Klaviyo — Best Email Automation Platform for Ecommerce
Klaviyo has become the default choice for ecommerce businesses that want to get serious about their email marketing. And there’s a reason for that reputation.
Klaviyo pricing: Starts at $30/month for up to 1,000 contacts and up to 10,000 emails/month | Free plan available.
The segmentation and predictive analytics help you create campaigns that feel personal because they are personal. You can segment based on predicted customer lifetime value, purchase likelihood, even churn risk. This kind of targeting makes your emails relevant instead of annoying.
Where Klaviyo really shines is handling complex email marketing solutions for online stores. Flash sales, inventory-based campaigns, loyalty programs—whatever you’re trying to do, they’ve got the tools to make it happen without jumping through hoops.
Key Features
- Predictive analytics. AI-powered predictions for customer lifetime value, churn probability, and next purchase date to optimize targeting strategies.
- Advanced flow builder. Create sophisticated multi-branch automations with unlimited splits, triggers, and filters based on any data point.
- Dynamic segmentation. Real-time segment updates based on browsing behavior, purchase patterns, and engagement metrics for hyper-targeted campaigns.
- Built-in CDP. Customer Data Platform that unifies data from all touchpoints, creating comprehensive profiles for personalized marketing.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Klaviyo:
✅ Deep ecommerce integration allows Klaviyo to sync seamlessly with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling data-rich, behavior-based campaigns;
✅ Robust automation features let you create highly customized workflows that respond to customer actions in real time;
✅ Top-tier A/B testing capabilities help optimize everything from subject lines to send times for maximum performance;
✅ An intuitive visual automation builder makes it easy to map out and manage complex customer journeys without technical expertise.
Cons of Klaviyo:
❌ The platform has a steep learning curve, which may be challenging for beginners or small teams;
❌ Customer support prioritizes higher-tier accounts, meaning users on lower plans may experience slower response times;
❌ Higher pricing tiers can add up quickly as your list grows, making it less cost-effective for smaller businesses or early-stage brands.
Pricing
- Free 60-day trial: $0 (250 contacts—500 email sends);
- Starter: $20/month (500 contacts—5,000 emails/month);
- Mid-tier plan: $100/month (5,000 contacts—50,000 emails/month);
- Enterprise: Custom price.
Best for
Klaviyo is a strong fit for ecommerce brands and data-driven marketing teams. Established online stores will benefit from its advanced marketing tools, seamless ecommerce integrations, and powerful automation built to support scalable growth. It’s also ideal for ecommerce marketers focused on performance—offering predictive analytics tools and deep customer insights to optimize every campaign with precision.
Brevo — Email Marketing Software with Email Editor
Brevo takes an all-in-one approach, combining email with SMS, chat, CRM, and automation. For ecommerce businesses juggling multiple channels, having everything in one place makes life easier.
Brevo pricing: Starts at $9/month for up to 5,000 monthly emails and 500 contacts| Free plan available with usage limitations.
Their transactional email system is rock solid. Order confirmations, shipping notifications—the important emails that customers expect—all work reliably. Shopify users should note you’ll need the PushOwl integration, and it doesn’t include product review features, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
The pre-built workflows for abandoned carts, post-purchase upselling, and re-engagement campaigns save you from starting from scratch. It’s practical rather than flashy, which isn’t a bad thing.
For small businesses with basic needs, Brevo also comes as a free email marketing service.
Key Features
- Transactional email API. Reliable delivery of order confirmations, shipping updates, and receipts with high uptime and detailed tracking.
- Multi-channel campaigns. Coordinate email, SMS, and WhatsApp messages from one platform with unified reporting and automation workflows.
- Built-in CRM system. Manage customer relationships, track deals, and store interaction history without additional software or integration costs.
- Heat map analytics. Visual click tracking shows exactly where subscribers engage with your emails for data-driven design optimization.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Brevo:
✅ Multi-channel support lets you manage email, SMS, and chat communications all from one platform—ideal for unified customer engagement;
✅ A built-in CRM is included at no extra cost, helping you manage customer relationships and track interactions seamlessly;
✅ Affordable pricing structure makes it accessible for small businesses and startups no matter how many subscribers they have;
✅ Strong transactional email support ensures timely and reliable delivery of order confirmations, receipts, and other critical messages.
Cons of Brevo:
❌ Automation features are limited compared to more advanced platforms, which may restrict complex workflows;
❌ Segmentation capabilities are less robust, offering fewer options for deep personalization and targeting;
❌ The platform isn’t as beginner-friendly as some competitors, which might present a slight learning curve for new users.
Pricing
- Free plan: $0 (300 emails/day);
- Starter: $9/month (500 contacts—5,000 emails/month);
- Standard: $18/month (500 contacts—5,000 emails/month);
- Professional: $499/month (2 million contacts—150,000 emails/month);
- Enterprise: Custom price (from 1 million emails per month).
Best for
Brevo is a solid choice for small to medium businesses, especially ecommerce stores that need an easy way to manage email, SMS, and CRM all in one place. If you’re sending out order confirmations or shipping updates, Brevo’s transactional email system has your back, making sure those important messages reach your customers without a hitch.
While it might not be the best fit for those who want super advanced automation or deep personalization, it’s a great option if you’re looking for something reliable and affordable.
GetResponse — Email Marketing Tool for Ecommerce Marketing
GetResponse tries to be your complete marketing suite. Beyond email, they’ve built in landing pages, webinar hosting, and automation tools. If you hate switching between different platforms, this approach might appeal to you.
GetResponse pricing: Starts at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts and unlimited emails | 14-day free trial available.
Their ecommerce automation workflows cover the whole customer lifecycle. Welcome series, cross-selling, restock notifications—they’ve thought through what online stores need. The countdown timers and interactive elements work well for creating urgency during sales or promotions.
The templates give you a good starting point, and the AI suggestions for subject lines and content can be helpful when you’re stuck. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s comprehensive.
Key Features
- Conversion funnel builder. Create complete sales funnels with landing pages, forms, and automated email sequences all in one integrated tool.
- Webinar integration. Host webinars directly within the platform and automatically follow up with attendees through targeted email campaigns.
- AI email generator. Use artificial intelligence to create subject lines, email copy, and design suggestions based on campaign goals.
- Perfect timing technology. Machine learning determines the optimal send time for each subscriber to maximize open and click rates.
Pros and Cons
Pros of GetResponse:
✅ An extensive template library makes it easy to create polished, professional emails for any occasion or campaign.
✅ Great segmentation tools help you target the right audience with personalized messages based on behavior and preferences.
✅ Responsive 24/7 support ensures help is always available, no matter your time zone or technical skill level.
✅ Seamless integration with main ecommerce platforms allows for smooth data syncing and automated campaign triggers.
Cons of GetResponse:
❌ GetResponse’s pricing can quickly rise up, especially for users with growing contact lists or advanced feature needs. It may not be the most budget-friendly option for startups or smaller businesses;
❌ While templates are helpful, the platform’s customization capabilities can feel somewhat restricted—particularly for users who want full creative control over layouts and design elements;
❌ Some areas of the user interface haven’t kept pace with modern design standards, which can make navigation feel less intuitive and less polished compared to newer platforms.
Pricing
- Starter: $16/month (1,000 contacts—unlimited emails);
- Marketer: $54/month (1,000 contacts—unlimited emails);
- Creator: $62/month (1,000 contacts—unlimited emails).
Best for
GetResponse is a solid option for SMBs, ecommerce brands, and conversion-focused marketers. Small and mid-sized businesses will benefit from its affordable pricing, simple automation, and reliable support. Online stores can automate emails, recover carts, and personalize messaging to turn potential customers into regular buyers. For marketers focused on results, built-in personalization tools like email A/B testing and countdown timers help drive conversions.
ActiveCampaign — Advanced Email Automation Platform
ActiveCampaign combines email marketing with CRM features, which works well if you want to track customer relationships in one place instead of piecing together different tools.
ActiveCampaign Pricing: Plans start at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts and 10,000 emails/month. 14-day trial available.
The machine learning features adjust send times, subject lines, and content recommendations based on how individual customers behave. It takes the guesswork out of optimization, which is nice when you’re managing multiple campaigns.
Their website tracking triggers emails based on what people do on your site, and the trigger-based automation creates campaigns that respond to customer actions in real time. The deal tracking and sales pipeline features work particularly well for businesses with longer sales cycles or higher-ticket items.
Key Features
- Machine learning optimization. AI automatically adjusts send times, content, and subject lines for each subscriber to maximize engagement.
- Sales CRM integration. Track deals, manage pipelines, and automate sales follow-ups alongside email marketing campaigns in one platform.
- Site tracking technology. Monitor visitor behavior on your website to trigger targeted emails based on pages viewed and actions taken.
- Split action automation. Test multiple automation paths simultaneously to identify the highest-converting customer journey strategies.
Pros and Cons
Pros of ActiveCampaign:
✅ CRM integration allows users to manage contacts, track deals, and automate sales processes all in one place, streamlining both marketing and customer relationship management;
✅ Top-notch email deliverability ecommerce ensures your messages consistently reach inboxes, helping to maximize engagement and avoid spam folders;
✅ Advanced segmentation and automation features make it easy to build complex, behavior-based campaigns that drive meaningful customer interactions;
✅ Over 900 native integrations give you the flexibility to connect with popular tools across ecommerce, CRM, CMS, analytics, and more.
Cons of ActiveCampaign:
❌ ActiveCampaign’s pricing can jump significantly as your contact list grows or you unlock more advanced features—making it less ideal for budget-conscious users or small teams;
❌ Some of the email templates feel outdated, lacking the modern design and flexibility expected from a premium marketing platform;
❌ While packed with powerful features, the steep learning curve may slow down onboarding for beginners or non-technical users unfamiliar with advanced automation.
Pricing
- 14-day free trial: $0 (100 email sends);
- Starter plan: $15/month (1,000 contacts—10,000 emails/month);
- Plus plan: $49/month (1,000 contacts—10,000 emails/month);
- Pro plan: $79/month (1,000 contacts—12,000 emails/month);
- Enterprise: $145/month (1,000 contacts—15,000 emails/month).
Best for
ActiveCampaign is a strong fit for ecommerce brands, SaaS companies, and agencies. Online stores benefit from advanced automation, personalized product recommendations, and rich ecommerce integrations.
SaaS teams can nurture leads, onboard users, and reduce churn with behavior-based email flows. Meanwhile, agencies will appreciate the ability to manage multiple clients efficiently with scalable tools, detailed reporting, and streamlined collaboration features.
Mailchimp — Email Marketing Service for Small Ecommerce
Mailchimp‘s been around forever, and they’ve figured out how to balance features with usability. It’s not the most cutting-edge platform, but it’s reliable and approachable.
Mailchimp pricing: Starts at $12/month for up to 500 contacts and up to 5,000 emails/month | Free plan available.
The interface makes sense even if you’re new to email marketing. Their guided setup and pre-built automations get you running quickly without a steep learning curve. The drag-and-drop builder creates decent-looking emails without needing design skills.
They’ve added a website builder if you need one, though heads up—they charge 0.5–2% on sales made through it. Their reporting shows you what’s working and what isn’t, which helps when you’re figuring out your strategy.
The lead generation tools work well for building your list, and the platform handles the basics of customer journeys from first visit to purchase without much fuss.
Key Features
- Customer journey builder. Map and automate multi-step marketing paths based on customer behavior, purchases, and engagement patterns.
- Content optimizer. AI-powered suggestions for improving subject lines, content, and design elements to boost campaign performance.
- Audience dashboard. Comprehensive view of subscriber growth, engagement trends, and segment performance with actionable insights.
- Social commerce tools. Create shoppable posts and ads for Facebook and Instagram directly from your email campaigns.
Pros and Cons
Pros of Mailchimp:
✅ A wide range of integrations allows you to connect Mailchimp with countless third-party tools, making it easy to streamline your workflows across platforms.
✅ The platform can pull product data directly into your emails by connecting to your store, enabling personalized, data-driven campaigns.
✅ State-of-the-art AI tools assist with content generation, optimization, and automation setup, saving time and improving performance.
✅ Extensive analytics reports provide clear insights into campaign performance, helping you make smarter marketing decisions.
Cons of Mailchimp:
❌ Mailchimp charges for inactive or unsubscribed contacts, which can increase costs for users managing large or outdated lists.
❌ The platform offers limited advanced segmentation, which may restrict highly targeted campaign strategies.
❌ Some users may find the email template selection restrictive, limiting creative flexibility in design and layout.
Pricing
- Free plan: $0 (500 contacts—1,000 emails/month);
- Essentials: $12/month (500 contacts—5,000 emails/month);
- Standard: $20/month (500 contacts—6,000 emails/month);
- Premium plan: $299/month (10,000 contacts—150,000 emails/month).
Best for
Mailchimp is well-suited for ecommerce beginners, small to medium businesses, and solo creators. Its user-friendly interface and built-in ecommerce automation make it a great choice for new store owners looking to get started quickly. Freelancers and content creators will also appreciate the platform’s easy-to-use tools for building audiences, automating campaigns, and growing their personal brand without a steep learning curve.
Best Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce by Business Size
Best for Small Stores (0-1,000 customers)
Sender — With its generous free plan supporting up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails monthly, Sender delivers enterprise-level automation and segmentation features that typically cost hundreds elsewhere, making it unbeatable for small stores starting their email marketing journey.
Shopify Email — For Shopify-exclusive stores, this native solution eliminates integration hassles and syncs seamlessly with your store data, offering pay-as-you-go pricing that keeps costs predictable as you grow.
Mailchimp — The intuitive interface and extensive template library make Mailchimp perfect for beginners who need professional-looking emails without the learning curve, plus its brand recognition builds trust with subscribers.
Best for Growing Stores (1,000-10,000 customers)
Sender — As your store scales, Sender’s affordable paid plans maintain the same powerful automation and segmentation capabilities while removing branding and increasing send limits, providing the best value-to-feature ratio for growing businesses.
Omnisend — The platform’s omnichannel approach lets growing stores coordinate email, SMS, and push notifications from one dashboard, essential for maintaining consistent messaging as customer touchpoints multiply.
Drip — Built specifically for ecommerce scaling, Drip’s advanced behavioral automation and revenue attribution help growing stores optimize their marketing spend and identify their most profitable customer segments.
Best for Enterprise Stores (10,000+ customers)
Klaviyo — With predictive analytics, AI-powered segmentation, and unlimited email sends on higher tiers, Klaviyo provides the sophisticated tools enterprise stores need to personalize at scale and maximize revenue per subscriber.
ActiveCampaign — The integrated CRM and machine learning optimization make ActiveCampaign ideal for enterprise B2B ecommerce operations that require complex lead scoring, deal tracking, and multi-touch attribution.
Brevo — Enterprise stores benefit from Brevo’s robust transactional email infrastructure, multi-channel capabilities, and competitive pricing that doesn’t penalize you for having large inactive subscriber segments.
Best Budget Options (Any Size)
Sender — No other platform matches Sender’s great free plan generosity (2,500 contacts, 15,000 emails/month) while still providing advanced features like automation, segmentation, and abandoned cart recovery typically reserved for paid plans. Unlike most email marketing platforms, Sender doesn’t limit essential features in its free tier.
Brevo — The combination of email, SMS, and CRM alongside other tools in one platform at budget-friendly prices makes Brevo exceptional value for multichannel marketing without the enterprise price tag.
Shopify Email — The pay-per-email model means you only pay for what you send, making it the best free tool for seasonal businesses or stores with irregular email volumes who want to avoid fixed monthly fees.
FAQs
What is the best email marketing platform for ecommerce?
The best email marketing software really depends on where your business is at. From what I’ve seen, Sender gives you the most bang for your buck—their free plan has features that other platforms charge hundreds for. Klaviyo’s great if you need predictive analytics and have the budget for it. Omnisend works well for omnichannel marketing. But honestly? Most ecommerce businesses do just fine with Sender, especially when they’re starting out or watching costs.
How much does email marketing cost for ecommerce?
Pricing’s all over the map. You can start free with platforms like Sender (2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails monthly) or pay thousands for enterprise solutions. Most entry-level paid plans run $10-20/month for around 500-1,000 contacts. Once you hit 10,000+ contacts, you’re looking at $500+ monthly for the fancy platforms. I’ve seen most growing stores spend somewhere between $50-150/month, which seems to be the sweet spot for getting decent features without breaking the bank.
What is the ROI of email marketing for ecommerce?
Email marketing typically returns $36-42 for every dollar spent, which beats pretty much every other marketing channel. Abandoned cart emails alone can recover 10-30% of lost sales—and platforms like Sender make these dead simple to set up. I’ve seen well-segmented campaigns hit 760% ROI, though even basic email programs usually pull at least 300-400%. The trick is finding a platform that doesn’t charge enterprise prices for the automation features you need.
Which email marketing platform integrates best with Shopify?
Shopify Email has the most seamless integration since Shopify built it, but that doesn’t mean it’s your best option. Klaviyo’s integration goes deep and uses your data really well, but you’ll pay for it. Sender connects nicely with real-time product syncing and cart recovery at a fraction of Klaviyo’s price. Omnisend and Drip also play well with Shopify. It comes down to what matters more: dead-simple setup (Shopify Email), advanced features (Klaviyo), or getting good value (Sender).
