Best Email Marketing for Shopify 2025: Top Platforms Compared
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Quick Verdict
🏆 Best Overall: Klaviyo - Purpose-built for ecommerce, SMS included, advanced segmentation
💰 Best Value: Mailchimp - Free plan available, good Shopify integration, lower cost
🚀 Best for Growth: Klaviyo - Revenue-based pricing rewards success, best ROI
📱 Best Mobile-First: Klaviyo - SMS + Email, mobile optimization built-in
Top Email Platforms for Shopify
1. Klaviyo - Best for Shopify
Klaviyo is purpose-built for ecommerce. Deep Shopify integration, SMS capabilities, advanced segmentation, and revenue-based pricing that rewards growth. 30,000+ ecommerce brands use Klaviyo.
Key Features:
- ✅ Native Shopify integration (revenue sync)
- ✅ SMS marketing included
- ✅ Product recommendations engine
- ✅ Advanced segmentation by behavior
- ✅ Mobile-first templates
Pricing: Free (250 contacts) → Revenue-based ($25-1200+/month)
Best For: Shopify stores serious about growth
2. Mailchimp - Best Budget Option
Mailchimp integrates with Shopify and offers free plan up to 500 contacts. Good for small stores just starting email marketing. Less ecommerce-specific than Klaviyo but lower cost.
Key Features:
- ✅ Free plan available
- ✅ Shopify integration (not as deep as Klaviyo)
- ✅ Email marketing and automation
- ✅ Landing pages included
- ✅ CRM features
Pricing: Free → $350+/month
Best For: Budget-conscious small stores
3. Shopify Email - Free Built-In Option
Shopify's native email tool is free and built into your Shopify admin. Good for basic email campaigns but lacks advanced automation and segmentation.
Key Features:
- ✅ Completely free
- ✅ Built into Shopify admin
- ✅ Basic email templates
- ✅ Customer segmentation
- ❌ Limited automation
Pricing: Free
Best For: Testing email marketing with zero cost
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp for Shopify
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Integration | Deep (revenue sync) | Basic |
| SMS Marketing | ✅ Included | ❌ Not included |
| Product Recommendations | ✅ Advanced AI | ⭕ Basic |
| Free Plan | 250 contacts | 500 contacts |
| Best For Revenue | $50k+/year stores | Under $50k/year |
How to Choose Email Marketing for Shopify
Step 1: Assess Your Store Size
Under 1,000 email contacts: Shopify Email (free) or Mailchimp free1,000-10,000: Mailchimp ($20-50/month)10,000+: Klaviyo (revenue-based pricing)
Step 2: Define Your Email Goals
Want SMS too? → Klaviyo Want basic emails? → Shopify Email or Mailchimp Want advanced automation? → Klaviyo Want lowest cost? → Mailchimp
Step 3: Calculate ROI
Email marketing typically generates 20-35% of ecommerce revenue. A $50,000/year store should invest $100-300/month in email marketing software. Klaviyo ROI is typically 30-50x investment.
Step 4: Test Before Committing
Start with Shopify Email (free) or Mailchimp (free plan). Test campaigns for 2-3 months. Move to Klaviyo when ready to scale or if SMS is needed.
Email Marketing Best Practices for Shopify
Build Email List
Use popup forms, checkout discount offers, and landing pages. Aim for 5-10% of customers on email list. Quality over quantity.
Segment Your Audience
Send different emails to first-time buyers, repeat customers, and inactive subscribers. Segmented emails generate 14-100% higher open rates.
Use Automation
Set up welcome series, abandoned cart recovery, and post-purchase follow-ups. Automation generates 50% of email revenue for most stores.
Test and Optimize
A/B test subject lines, send times, and content. Small improvements compound to significant revenue increases over time.
Final Recommendation
Best Overall: Klaviyo
Klaviyo is purpose-built for Shopify and ecommerce. Revenue-based pricing aligns incentives with your growth. SMS marketing, product recommendations, and advanced segmentation drive revenue increases of 20-50%.
Start Klaviyo Free (250 contacts) →Start Here Based on Stage:
- Testing Stage: Use Shopify Email (free)
- Growth Stage: Use Mailchimp free plan
- Scale Stage: Upgrade to Klaviyo for SMS + advanced features