Email marketing is key for e-commerce businesses to drive sales, engage with customers and build brand loyalty. When it comes to choosing the right email marketing tool two options are Shopify Email and Mailchimp. This post will help you decide which one is best for your business.
Quick Summary
- Shopify Email is built into Shopify so perfect for e-commerce businesses.
- Mailchimp has more advanced email marketing features and integrations.
- It’s all about your business needs and goals.
What is Shopify Email?
Shopify Email is an email marketing tool for Shopify store owners. It lets you create, send and manage email campaigns from within the Shopify platform. It’s all built in so e-commerce businesses get a seamless experience.
Features of Shopify Email
Email Templates: Shopify Email has a range of templates to match your store’s brand.
Integration with Shopify Store Data: Pull in product data, customer info and purchase history into your email campaigns.
Analytics and Reporting: See how your email campaigns perform with detailed analytics and reporting.
Pricing: Shopify Email has competitive pricing especially for small to medium sized businesses. The first 2,500 emails per month are free and then it’s $1 per 1,000 emails sent.
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is a marketing platform that started as an email marketing service and has grown to include tools for audience engagement, marketing automation and analytics.
Features of Mailchimp
Email Templates: Mailchimp has a range of pre-designed templates to customise to your brand.
Audience Segmentation: Mailchimp has advanced audience segmentation so you can target your marketing based on behaviour and demographics.
Advanced Analytics and Reporting: See detailed analytics to measure campaign performance including open rates, click rates and conversion rates.
Multi-Channel Marketing: Mailchimp supports marketing across multiple channels including social media, landing pages and postcards.
Pricing: Mailchimp has several plans including a free one with limited features. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month and include more advanced features and higher email limits.
Shopify Email vs Mailchimp – Feature Comparison
Ease of Use
Shopify Email: Built into the Shopify platform so easy to use especially if you’re already familiar with Shopify.
Mailchimp: Has a slightly steeper learning curve due to the many features but has a comprehensive onboarding process and lots of tutorials.
Integration and Automation
Shopify Email: Integrates with Shopify stores and pulls data directly from the store for personalized email campaigns. Automation is basic but enough for small to medium sized businesses.
Mailchimp: Integrates with many platforms and tools beyond Shopify and has advanced automation features like customer journeys and behavioural triggers.
Design and Customization
Shopify Email: Basic but effective design and customization options for e-commerce.
Mailchimp: More advanced design tools and more flexibility in customization so better for more complex marketing strategies.
Analytics and Reporting
Shopify Email: Basic analytics and reporting, focused on open rates, click rates and sales from email campaigns.
Mailchimp: In-depth analytics and reporting to track many metrics and get deeper insights into campaign performance.
Pricing Comparison
Shopify Email Pricing
Shopify Email has a simple pricing model. The first 2,500 emails per month are free which is great for small businesses. After that it’s $1 per 1,000 emails sent so it’s affordable as your list grows.
Mailchimp Pricing
Mailchimp’s pricing is more complicated with multiple tiers based on features and number of contacts. The free plan includes up to 500 contacts and 2,500 emails per month. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month and include more features and higher email and contact limits.
When to Use Shopify Email
Best For:
- If you run your business on Shopify and need a simple email marketing solution.
- Small to medium sized businesses looking for an email marketing tool.
Examples of Use:
- Small boutique stores that want to send product recommendations based on purchase history.
- Seasonal campaigns promoting sales and discounts directly integrated with store inventory.
When to Use Mailchimp
Best For:
- Businesses that need advanced email marketing features and many integrations.
- Companies that want to run complex marketing campaigns across multiple channels.
Examples of Use:
- Businesses that run targeted campaigns using advanced audience segmentation.
- E-commerce stores that use automated customer journeys to nurture leads and conversions.
FAQs
What’s the main difference between Shopify Email and Mailchimp?
Answer: Shopify Email is within the Shopify platform so convenient for Shopify store owners, Mailchimp has more features and integrations for broader marketing needs.
Can I use both Shopify Email and Mailchimp?
Answer: Yes, you can use both. For example you might use Shopify Email for simple and quick campaigns and Mailchimp for more complex and segmented campaigns.
Which one for small businesses?
Answer: Shopify Email is better for small businesses because of the integration and pricing. But if a small business needs more advanced features Mailchimp might be the better option.
How does the pricing compare?
Answer: Shopify Email has a simple pricing model, free for the first 2,500 emails per month, then $1 per 1,000 emails. Mailchimp has a free tier for up to 500 contacts and paid plans start at $9.99 per month with more features and higher email limits.
Are there any limitations?
Answer: Shopify Email has fewer features and integrations than Mailchimp. Mailchimp is more complicated and expensive if you don’t need all the features.
Conclusion
It all depends on your business needs. Shopify Email is for Shopify store owners who need a simple solution. Mailchimp is for those who need advanced features and more integrations. Think about your marketing goals, budget and technical requirements before you decide.
