Drip is a popular ecommerce CRM and email marketing automation tool primarily designed for direct-to-consumer brands. It offers features like behavior-based automation, robust segmentation, and integrations especially with Shopify. However, its pricing can be a sticking point for many businesses, particularly startups and scaling brands, prompting them to explore drip alternatives that offer more flexibility, better pricing, or additional features.
This article compares some of the best alternatives to Drip for ecommerce email marketing, focusing on features, pricing, usability, integrations, support, and the customer profiles they best serve.
Drip Pricing?
Drip’s pricing starts at $39 per month for up to 2,500 contacts. The cost scales with the number of subscribers, which can get expensive as your list grows. There is no free plan but a 14-day free trial is available. Given Drip’s ecommerce focus, pricing might be justified for brands that use many of its ecommerce-specific features and automation workflows. However, brands with smaller contact lists or simpler needs may find this prohibitive.
Drip Reviews?
Drip scores well on G2 and Capterra among ecommerce marketers, praised for its easy-to-use automation workflows, deep Shopify integration, and granular segmentation. Common criticisms include the lack of a free tier, steeper pricing for growing lists, and the limited customer support options compared to competitors. Ease of setup is generally good, but some users find the reporting and analytics could be more intuitive.
Drip Competitors?
Several competitors stand out based on pricing, features, ease of use, and ecommerce-specific capabilities. Below are detailed profiles of some top drip alternatives.
Klaviyo: The Advanced Ecommerce Powerhouse
Summary
Klaviyo is arguably the strongest competitor to Drip, emphasizing data-driven email and SMS marketing for ecommerce businesses. It excels in advanced segmentation and predictive analytics.
Key Features
- Advanced customer segmentation by behavior and purchase history.
- Powerful automation workflows.
- Deep integrations with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms.
- Built-in SMS marketing.
- Predictive analytics and revenue attribution.
Pricing
- Free for up to 250 contacts.
- Paid plans start at $20/month for 500 contacts.
- Pricing ramps up quickly with list growth.
Pros
- Features designed specifically for DTC ecommerce brands.
- SMS + email in one platform.
- Excellent analytics and integration depth.
Cons
- Pricing becomes expensive as lists grow.
- Can have a learning curve for new users.
Best For
Brands that want sophisticated segmentation, SMS marketing, and have a bigger budget.
Omnisend: Multi-Channel Marketing on a Budget
Summary
Omnisend is a solid choice for smaller ecommerce businesses wanting email, SMS, and push notifications combined at an affordable price.
Key Features
- Email and SMS automation.
- Pre-built workflows for cart abandonment, welcome series, etc.
- Integration with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce.
- Drag-and-drop drag editor.
- Basic segmentation and reporting.
Pricing
- Free plan for 250 contacts and 500 monthly emails.
- Standard plan starts at about $11/month for 500 contacts.
- SMS and push notifications available on paid plans.
Pros
- Affordable pricing, especially for small businesses.
- Multi-channel marketing capabilities.
- User-friendly platform.
Cons
- Limited advanced segmentation.
- Integrations are decent but not as extensive.
Best For
Smaller ecommerce brands looking for budget-friendly multi-channel marketing.
ActiveCampaign: Marketing Automation Plus CRM
Summary
ActiveCampaign offers a comprehensive solution that blends email marketing, automation, and CRM features suitable for ecommerce and beyond.
Key Features
- Email marketing with powerful automation.
- Built-in CRM and sales automation.
- Deep ecommerce integrations.
- Segmentation and personalization.
- Goal tracking and lead scoring.
Pricing
- Starts at $15/month for 500 contacts.
- Pricing increases with contacts and features.
Pros
- Combines email marketing and CRM.
- Strong automation features.
- Good value for small to mid-size businesses.
Cons
- Might be overkill for pure email marketers.
- Some users report complexity in getting started.
Best For
Businesses wanting to align marketing with sales with a unified platform.
Mailchimp: The Easy Starter
Summary
Mailchimp is a popular, beginner-friendly email marketing tool with ecommerce features suitable for startups.
Key Features
- Email marketing and automation.
- Landing pages, forms, and basic CRM.
- Shopify and WooCommerce integrations.
- Basic segmentation and analytics.
Pricing
- Free for 250 contacts and 500 emails/month.
- Essentials plan from $13/month for 500 contacts.
Pros
- Great for beginners.
- Generous free tier.
- Easy setup.
Cons
- Limited ecommerce-specific features.
- Automation is basic compared to others.
Best For
Startups and small businesses needing simple email marketing.
Comparison Table of Drip Alternatives
| Criteria | Drip | Klaviyo | Omnisend | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Start | $39/mo | $20/mo | $11/mo | $15/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Automation | Strong | Very Strong | Moderate | Strong | Basic |
| Advanced Segmentation | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Ecommerce Integrations | Shopify + many | Shopify + many | Shopify + many | Shopify + many | Shopify + many |
| Ease of Use | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Moderate | Easy |
| Customer Support | Email/Chat | Email/Chat | Email/Chat | Email/Chat | Email/Chat |
| Best For | Growing DTC | Data-driven DTC | Small DTC | Sales + Mktg | Beginners |
When to Choose What
- If you want a tool focused solely on ecommerce with strong automation and are comfortable with pricing, Drip remains a solid choice.
- For businesses needing advanced segmentation with SMS marketing, Klaviyo is a natural alternative.
- Smaller brands or startups should consider Omnisend for a cost-effective multi-channel solution or Mailchimp for basic email needs.
- If you need marketing automation combined with sales CRM, ActiveCampaign is worth considering.
For more detailed ecommerce email marketing tool comparisons, check out Drip Alternatives: Ecommerce email marketing tools Compared and Klaviyo vs Drip vs Omnisend: Which Ecommerce email marketing tool Wins?.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're weighing your options beyond email marketing, Zigpoll is worth a glance. It is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, helping you gather valuable customer feedback to complement your marketing efforts.
