Shopify & WooCommerce Tools That Actually Drive Sales
Email marketing generates $42 for every $1 spent — the highest ROI of any marketing channel. But only if you use the right tool for your ecommerce platform. We tested 12 platforms to find the ones that actually increase revenue for online stores.
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Trial | Shopify | WooCommerce | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klaviyo | Shopify stores | $20/mo | Free up to 250 contacts | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Omnisend | WooCommerce | $16/mo | Free up to 250 contacts | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Drip | Automation | $39/mo | 14 days | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mailchimp | Free plan | $13/mo | Free up to 500 contacts | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Shopify store? → Klaviyo (native integration, best templates)
WooCommerce? → Omnisend (best plugin, cheapest)
Need advanced automation? → Drip (behavioral triggers)
Just starting out? → Mailchimp (free plan)
Klaviyo is the gold standard for ecommerce email marketing. Built specifically for online stores, it integrates deeper with Shopify than any competitor. The result? Higher open rates, better segmentation, and more sales.
Best for: Shopify stores doing $10K+/month who want the best deliverability and automation.
Try Klaviyo Free →Omnisend was built by former Soundest (WooCommerce email tool) founders. They understand WordPress stores better than anyone. The WooCommerce plugin is seamless, and pricing beats Klaviyo at every tier.
Best for: WooCommerce stores of any size who want powerful email marketing without the Klaviyo price tag.
Try Omnisend Free →Drip focuses on one thing: behavioral automation. If you want to send emails based on what customers do (not just what they bought), Drip is unmatched. It's the choice for stores with complex customer journeys.
Best for: Stores with complex products, multiple customer segments, or subscription models.
Start Drip Free Trial →Mailchimp is the biggest name in email marketing, but it's not the best for ecommerce. Their free plan is generous, and it's fine for basic stores. But if you're serious about revenue, upgrade to Klaviyo or Omnisend once you hit 100 sales/month.
Best for: New stores testing email marketing, or non-ecommerce businesses.
Try Mailchimp Free →Shopify? Klaviyo wins. The native integration means product data syncs instantly, abandoned carts recover automatically, and you get Shopify-specific templates.
WooCommerce? Omnisend wins. Their plugin is purpose-built for WordPress, and you'll save $50-200/month compared to Klaviyo.
| Contact Count | Klaviyo | Omnisend | Drip | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-250 | FREE | FREE | $39 | FREE |
| 1,000 | $30 | $20 | $39 | $27 |
| 5,000 | $100 | $65 | $89 | $75 |
| 10,000 | $150 | $115 | $154 | $110 |
All four tools offer free trials or free tiers. Here's what to test:
Start with the free tier of either Klaviyo (Shopify) or Omnisend (WooCommerce). Both let you send up to 500 emails/month to 250 contacts for free. That's enough to test and start making sales.
Once you hit 50+ sales from email, upgrade to paid. The ROI will be obvious.
Mailchimp has the most generous free plan (500 contacts), but Omnisend and Klaviyo offer better ecommerce features on their free tiers. For a new store, start with Omnisend or Klaviyo free — you'll outgrow Mailchimp quickly.
Most successful ecommerce stores spend 10-20% of their marketing budget on email. If you're doing $10K/month in sales, expect to pay $50-150/month for a good email tool once you have 1,000+ subscribers. The ROI is worth it: email typically drives 20-30% of total revenue.
Yes, but it's a hassle. You'll need to export your contacts, rebuild your templates, and recreate automations. That's why we recommend starting with the right tool (Klaviyo for Shopify, Omnisend for WooCommerce) even if it costs a bit more.
Yes. Even with 100 customers, email marketing will make you money. Abandoned cart emails alone recover 10-15% of lost sales. Start with a free plan and upgrade when you're making consistent sales.
Email marketing is the highest-ROI channel for ecommerce. The right tool pays for itself in the first month.
Our picks:
Start with a free trial. Set up one abandoned cart sequence. Watch the sales roll in.