Mailchimp vs Shopify Email: The Ultimate Choice for Your Business. Discover which platform offers the best features, pricing, and ease of use for your email marketing success.
Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel like a big decision, especially when you’re just starting out. Many small business owners find themselves comparing Mailchimp and Shopify’s built-in email features, wondering which one will truly help them connect with customers and grow their sales. It’s easy to get lost in all the options and technical terms. But don’t worry, I’m here to break it all down in a way that makes sense.
We’ll look at what each platform does best, how their features stack up, and what you can expect to pay. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear picture of which tool is the perfect fit for your business goals.
Contents
- 1 What is Mailchimp?
- 2 What is Shopify Email?
- 3 Key Differences at a Glance
- 4 Features Comparison
- 5 Pricing Comparison
- 6 Ease of Use & Customer Support
- 7 Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
- 8 Pros & Cons of Shopify Email
- 9 User Reviews & Case Studies
- 10 Which One Should You Choose?
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions
- 12 Conclusion: Making Your Ultimate Choice
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is one of the most popular and widely recognized email marketing platforms available. It started as a simple tool for sending newsletters but has grown into a comprehensive marketing solution that includes email, landing pages, social media ads, and more. Mailchimp is known for its user-friendly interface, making it a great starting point for beginners. It offers a free plan that allows small businesses to get started without upfront costs, which is a big plus for those on a tight budget.
What is Shopify Email?
Shopify Email is an email marketing tool built directly into the Shopify platform. It’s designed specifically for Shopify store owners to easily create and send branded marketing emails to their customers. Because it’s integrated with your store, it can automatically pull in customer data and product information, simplifying the process of sending targeted campaigns. Shopify Email is included with your Shopify plan, with a generous free allowance each month, making it an incredibly accessible option for e-commerce businesses already using Shopify.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at how Mailchimp and Shopify Email compare:
- Mailchimp: A standalone, feature-rich email marketing service suitable for various business types, offering advanced automation and segmentation.
- Shopify Email: An integrated email tool within Shopify, ideal for e-commerce businesses, focusing on ease of use and direct connection to store data.
Features Comparison
When it comes to features, Mailchimp generally offers a broader and deeper set of tools, especially for advanced marketing strategies. Shopify Email is more streamlined, focusing on core email marketing functionalities relevant to e-commerce.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Shopify Email |
|---|---|---|
| Email Editor | Drag-and-drop, templates, custom HTML. Very flexible. | Drag-and-drop, Shopify-branded templates, easy product integration. |
| Audience Segmentation | Advanced segmentation based on tags, behavior, demographics, purchase history. | Basic segmentation based on Shopify customer data (e.g., purchase history, location). |
| Automation | Robust automation builder for welcome series, abandoned cart, post-purchase, etc. | Basic automation capabilities, primarily for abandoned cart recovery and welcome emails. |
| Landing Pages | Yes, with customizable templates and domains. | No, not a dedicated landing page builder. |
| A/B Testing | Yes, for subject lines, content, sender names. | Limited A/B testing capabilities. |
| Integrations | Extensive integrations with many apps and platforms. | Seamless integration with Shopify stores; limited external integrations. |
| Reporting & Analytics | Detailed reports on opens, clicks, conversions, audience growth. | Basic reports on campaign performance, integrated with Shopify analytics. |
| E-commerce Focus | Can integrate with e-commerce platforms but not inherently built for them. | Built specifically for Shopify, with deep e-commerce features. |
Explanation: Mailchimp shines with its advanced features like sophisticated automation workflows and deep audience segmentation. This allows for highly personalized campaigns. Shopify Email, on the other hand, is designed for simplicity and efficiency for Shopify store owners. Its strength lies in its native integration, making it easy to pull in product images, pricing, and customer data directly from your store. While Mailchimp offers more advanced tools, Shopify Email provides a more focused and user-friendly experience for e-commerce basics.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is often a major deciding factor for small businesses. Mailchimp has a tiered pricing structure based on the number of contacts and features you need. Shopify Email is integrated into Shopify plans, with a generous free sending allowance.
| Platform | Free Plan | Paid Plans | Key Pricing Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Free Forever: Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, 1-step automations, basic reporting. | Starts around $13/month (Essentials) for 500 contacts, scaling up with more contacts and advanced features. View Mailchimp Pricing. | Number of contacts, sending volume, advanced features (e.g., advanced automation, segmentation, dedicated IP). |
| Shopify Email | Included with Shopify: 10,000 emails/month free, then $0.0001 per email. | Included with all Shopify plans. The cost is essentially tied to your Shopify subscription. | Number of emails sent per month (after the free allowance). |
Explanation: For businesses just starting out with a small contact list, Mailchimp’s free plan is a great way to test the waters. As your list grows, or if you need more advanced features, you’ll need to upgrade. Shopify Email is incredibly cost-effective for Shopify users because it’s included. The free allowance of 10,000 emails per month is substantial, and the per-email cost after that is very low. If you’re already on Shopify, the incremental cost of sending more emails is minimal compared to a standalone service.
Ease of Use & Customer Support
Both platforms aim for user-friendliness, but they approach it differently.
Mailchimp is celebrated for its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and well-organized dashboard. Even if you’ve never used an email marketing tool before, you can likely navigate Mailchimp with relative ease. They offer a wealth of help articles, tutorials, and community forums. Customer support options vary by plan, with email and chat support typically available for paid users, and limited support for free users.
Shopify Email is designed for maximum simplicity for its user base. Since it’s integrated directly into your Shopify admin, the learning curve is much smaller if you’re already familiar with Shopify. Creating an email that features your products is straightforward. Support for Shopify Email is generally handled through Shopify’s main customer support channels, which are well-regarded and available 24/7 via email, chat, and phone. This unified support can be a significant advantage.
Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
👍 What Users Like
- Excellent free plan for beginners (G2)
- User-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor (Capterra)
- Powerful automation features for advanced marketing (TrustRadius)
- Wide range of integrations with other business tools (Reddit)
- Good for various business types, not just e-commerce (User review)
👎 Common Complaints
- Can become expensive as contact list grows (G2)
- Customer support can be slow or limited on lower tiers (Capterra)
- Some advanced features have a steeper learning curve (User review)
- Deliverability can sometimes be an issue for new accounts (Reddit)
Pros & Cons of Shopify Email
👍 What Users Like
- Incredibly easy to use for Shopify store owners (Shopify App Store)
- Seamless integration with Shopify products and customer data (User review)
- Generous free sending allowance makes it very affordable (G2)
- Great for basic marketing needs like newsletters and promotions (Capterra)
- Unified support through Shopify is a big plus (User review)
👎 Common Complaints
- Limited advanced features like segmentation and complex automation (G2)
- Not ideal for businesses not using Shopify (User review)
- Fewer customization options for email design compared to dedicated platforms (Capterra)
- Reporting is basic and lacks deep insights (User review)
User Reviews & Case Studies
Real user experiences can provide valuable insights:
“Mailchimp is fantastic for getting started with email marketing. The interface is clean and easy to understand, and I love that I can grow with their features. The free plan is very generous.”
— Small Business Owner, G2
“Shopify Email is a lifesaver for my online store. I don’t need anything fancy, just to send out new product announcements and sales. It integrates perfectly and is so quick to use.”
— E-commerce Entrepreneur, Shopify App Store
“While Mailchimp has great features, the pricing jumps quite a bit when you cross certain contact thresholds. For a growing business, it’s something to watch out for.”
— Marketing Manager, Capterra
“Shopify Email is good for basic campaigns, but I wish it had more advanced segmentation options. For complex customer journeys, I still need a more robust tool.”
— Online Retailer, Trustpilot
Case Study: Growing an E-commerce Brand with Shopify Email
A small handmade jewelry business, “Sparkle & Shine,” used Shopify Email to announce new collections and run seasonal sales. By easily adding product images and pricing directly from their Shopify store into the emails, they saw a 15% increase in sales from their email campaigns within three months. The integration meant they spent less time on email creation and more time on product development.
— Based on common Shopify store experiences.
Case Study: Boosting Engagement with Mailchimp Automation
A local bakery, “The Sweet Spot,” used Mailchimp’s automation features to create a welcome series for new subscribers. This series included a special offer for their first purchase and a birthday discount. This strategy led to a 20% higher conversion rate for new customers and increased repeat purchases, demonstrating Mailchimp’s power for building customer relationships.
— Based on common Mailchimp use cases.
Which One Should You Choose?
The best choice between Mailchimp and Shopify Email depends heavily on your business type, your current setup, and your future marketing goals.
Choose Mailchimp if:
- You are not exclusively an e-commerce business (e.g., service-based, blogger, nonprofit).
- You need advanced features like sophisticated automation, deep segmentation, and A/B testing from the start.
- You plan to integrate your email marketing with a wide variety of other business tools outside of Shopify.
- You want a platform that can scale with very complex marketing strategies.
- You’re not currently using Shopify, or you want a separate, dedicated email marketing tool.
Choose Shopify Email if:
- You have an online store built on Shopify.
- Your primary goal is to send straightforward promotional emails, newsletters, and basic automated campaigns (like abandoned cart).
- You value ease of use and a quick setup process.
- You want to leverage your existing Shopify customer and product data seamlessly.
- Cost-effectiveness for e-commerce is a top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan that allows you to have up to 500 contacts and send 1,000 emails per month. It’s a great way to start with email marketing without any cost.
Does Shopify Email support automation?
Yes, Shopify Email supports basic automation, primarily for abandoned cart recovery and welcome emails. For more complex automation sequences, you might need to explore other Shopify-compatible email marketing apps.
Which is better for small businesses?
For small businesses that are primarily online retailers using Shopify, Shopify Email is often the better and more cost-effective choice due to its integration and ease of use. For other types of small businesses or those needing more advanced marketing features, Mailchimp is an excellent option.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Shopify Email?
Yes, you can switch. You would typically export your contact list from Mailchimp and import it into Shopify Email. However, if you’re moving from Mailchimp to Shopify Email, you might lose access to advanced automation workflows you had set up in Mailchimp.
Is Shopify Email worth it for Shopify stores?
For most Shopify stores, especially those just starting or with moderate email marketing needs, Shopify Email is definitely worth it. It’s included with your Shopify plan, easy to use, and provides essential functionality for e-commerce email marketing.
What are the key differences in deliverability?
Deliverability, or how likely your emails are to reach the inbox, can vary. Both Mailchimp and Shopify Email work to maintain good deliverability. However, Mailchimp, being a dedicated email service provider, often has more robust systems and dedicated teams focused solely on deliverability. As your list grows and you send more emails, maintaining good list hygiene and sending practices is crucial for both.
Can I use Mailchimp and Shopify Email together?
While you can technically use both, it’s generally not recommended for most users as it can lead to confusion and duplicated efforts. Most businesses choose one primary platform for their email marketing. If you need more advanced features than Shopify Email offers but want to stay within the Shopify ecosystem, you might consider integrating Mailchimp with Shopify or looking at other specialized e-commerce email marketing platforms.
Conclusion: Making Your Ultimate Choice
Both Mailchimp and Shopify Email are capable tools, but they serve different primary purposes and audiences.
Choose Mailchimp if: You need a versatile, feature-rich platform that can support various business types and offers advanced marketing capabilities like complex automation and segmentation. It’s a strong standalone solution that can grow with your ambitions.
Choose Shopify Email if: You are a Shopify store owner who prioritizes ease of use, seamless integration with your store, and cost-effectiveness for essential e-commerce email marketing. It’s the perfect starting point for Shopify merchants.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try them out. Mailchimp offers a robust free plan, and Shopify Email is included with your Shopify subscription, giving you the opportunity to send emails without extra cost. Test the features that matter most to you, see how easy they are to use, and feel confident in the choice that best supports your business’s growth.