Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our verdict. How we review
Omnisend is the best email marketing platform for most Shopify stores, combining easy ecommerce automations, SMS and 24/7 support at a lower price than Klaviyo. Choose Klaviyo for advanced data and segmentation, Shopify Email for simple newsletters without another app, and MailerLite if you mainly send newsletters on a budget.
Email is usually the highest-return marketing channel for an online store. Automated emails such as abandoned cart reminders, welcome series and post-purchase follow-ups make money while you sleep. The right tool makes these easy to set up and connects tightly to your Shopify data.
Best email marketing for Shopify compared
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Channels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omnisend | 250 contacts, 500 emails | Standard from $16/mo (500 contacts) | Email, SMS, web push | Best value for Shopify |
| Klaviyo | 250 profiles, 500 emails | Email plan from $20/mo (500 profiles) | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, mobile push | Most powerful |
| Shopify Email | Free monthly allowance | Free monthly email allowance, then low usage-based pricing | Best built-in option | |
| MailerLite | 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails | Up to 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month | Best budget newsletter tool | |
| Mailchimp | 250 contacts, 500 emails | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month | Email, SMS (paid) | Most familiar name |
| Brevo | 100,000 contacts, 300 emails/day | 100,000 contacts, 300 emails/day | Email, SMS, WhatsApp | Best for large lists on a budget |
Prices in US dollars, as of 2026. Paid prices rise with list size.
The best email marketing tools for Shopify
1. Omnisend: Best value for Shopify
- Built for ecommerce
- Easy prebuilt automations
- 24/7 support even on free
- Lower cost than Klaviyo
- Small free plan
- SMS only on Pro
- Less advanced data than Klaviyo
Omnisend is built specifically for online stores and connects to Shopify in a few clicks, syncing customers, products and orders. Its prebuilt workflows for welcome emails, abandoned carts and post-purchase follow-ups can be switched on in minutes, and can mix email, SMS and push notifications.
It is cheaper than Klaviyo at most list sizes and includes 24/7 chat support on every plan. See our Klaviyo vs Omnisend comparison.
Best for: Most small and growing Shopify stores.
2. Klaviyo: Most powerful
- Deepest segmentation and data
- Wide range of channels
- Powerful flow builder
- Large add-on ecosystem
- Pricier than Omnisend
- Steeper learning curve
- Limited support on free plan
Klaviyo is the platform of choice for many fast-growing Shopify brands. It uses detailed customer and order data for precise segmentation and predictive insights, such as when a customer is likely to order again, and supports email, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile push.
It costs more than Omnisend and takes longer to master, but it rewards stores with a marketer ready to dig into the data.
Best for: Data-driven brands with someone to run their marketing.
3. Shopify Email: Best built-in option
- Already inside your Shopify admin
- Templates pull in your products and branding
- Free monthly allowance
- Simple to use
- Fewer advanced features
- Email only
- Less detailed reporting
Shopify Email is Shopify’s own email tool, built right into your admin. Templates automatically use your store’s branding and products, and basic automations such as welcome emails and abandoned checkout reminders are easy to set up.
It includes a free monthly sending allowance, which covers many small stores. As your list and ambitions grow, you can move to Omnisend or Klaviyo for advanced segmentation and SMS.
Best for: New stores that want simple email without another app.
4. MailerLite: Best budget newsletter tool
- Generous free plan
- Clean, easy editor
- Automation on free plan
- Low paid prices
- Less ecommerce depth than Omnisend or Klaviyo
- No SMS
- Free plan lacks premium templates
MailerLite is a simple, affordable email platform with one of the most generous free plans: up to 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month, with automation and segmentation included.
It integrates with Shopify and suits stores whose email is more about newsletters and content than advanced ecommerce automation.
Best for: Stores focused on newsletters and content on a budget.
5. Mailchimp: Most familiar name
- Very well known and documented
- Large template library
- Lots of integrations
- Good reporting
- Small free plan
- Gets expensive as your list grows
- Less ecommerce-focused than Omnisend or Klaviyo
Mailchimp is the best-known name in email marketing, with a large template library, solid reporting and hundreds of integrations. It works for stores, but it is a general marketing tool rather than one built around ecommerce.
Its free plan has shrunk over the years to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, and paid plans rise quickly with list size. Most Shopify stores get more ecommerce value from Omnisend or Klaviyo.
Best for: Businesses that already use Mailchimp elsewhere.
6. Brevo: Best for large lists on a budget
- Huge contact allowance
- Priced by emails sent, not contacts
- SMS and WhatsApp available
- Built-in CRM
- 300 emails a day on free plan
- Less ecommerce-specific than Omnisend
- Interface has many features to learn
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) prices by the number of emails you send rather than the size of your list, which makes it attractive if you have a large list but email it occasionally. The free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts but sends only 300 emails a day.
It also offers SMS, WhatsApp, a simple CRM and transactional email for order notifications.
Best for: Stores with large lists that send infrequently.
The emails every Shopify store should automate
| Automation | When it sends | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome series | When someone subscribes | Introduces your brand and turns subscribers into first-time buyers |
| Abandoned cart / checkout | A few hours after someone leaves items behind | Recovers sales that would otherwise be lost |
| Browse abandonment | After someone views products but does not add to cart | Brings interested shoppers back |
| Post-purchase | After an order is delivered | Builds loyalty and asks for reviews |
| Win-back | When a customer has not ordered in a while | Re-engages lapsed customers |
Set these up first, before regular newsletters. Every tool on this list supports them.
How to choose an email tool for Shopify
- Ecommerce data: choose a tool that syncs products, orders and customer behavior from Shopify.
- Cost at your list size: compare prices at the list size you expect in a year, not just today.
- Channels: decide whether you need SMS, push or WhatsApp now or later.
- Ease of use: prebuilt automations save hours.
- Support: 24/7 help matters when a campaign goes wrong.
Omnisend is the best email marketing tool for most Shopify stores. Upgrade to Klaviyo when you are ready for advanced segmentation, or start with Shopify Email if you just need simple newsletters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best email marketing app for Shopify?
Omnisend offers the best mix of ecommerce features, price and support for most stores. Klaviyo is the most powerful option for data-driven brands.
Is Shopify Email free?
Shopify Email includes a free monthly sending allowance, then charges based on usage. It is a good starting point for simple newsletters.
Klaviyo or Omnisend for Shopify?
Omnisend is cheaper and easier; Klaviyo has deeper segmentation and more channels. See our full comparison.
How much does email marketing cost for a Shopify store?
Many stores start free. At around 5,000 contacts, expect roughly $80 to $100 a month with an ecommerce-focused tool.
Which emails make the most money?
Automated emails, especially abandoned cart, welcome and post-purchase flows, typically outperform one-off campaigns.
Leave A Comment