Best Email Marketing for Shopify in 2026: Simple Guide for Store Owners to Start, Grow & Scale

By /

If you run a Shopify store and want email to actually drive revenue, not just send newsletters
This is for you.

Why Email Marketing Is Non-Negotiable ?

Email is still one of the highest ROI channels in ecommerce.

While ad costs rise and algorithms change, your email list is:

  • Owned
  • Direct
  • Predictable
  • Measurable

When properly connected to Shopify, email does more than broadcast offers. It:

  • Recovers abandoned carts
  • Turns first-time buyers into repeat customers
  • Drives product launches
  • Reactivates old customers
  • Increases lifetime value

Modern Shopify-ready tools automatically sync:

  • Products
  • Orders
  • Customer behavior
  • Discounts
  • Purchase history

That means most of your email revenue comes from automated flows running quietly in the background once set up.

Not newsletters.
Automations.

How to Choose the Right Email Tool

Shopify Email tool checklist

Instead of comparing 20 apps, use this checklist.

A good Shopify email marketing tool must have:

1. Native Shopify Integration

It should sync:

  • Products
  • Orders
  • Customers
  • Tags
  • Discount codes

Without manual CSV exports.

2. Automation (Not Just Campaigns)

Minimum flows required:

  • Welcome series
  • Abandoned cart
  • Post-purchase
  • Win-back
  • Basic newsletters

3. Segmentation

You should be able to filter customers by:

  • Purchase history
  • Total spend
  • Last order date
  • Product category bought
  • Location

4. Revenue Reporting

It must show:

  • Revenue per campaign
  • Revenue per flow
  • Conversion rate
  • Not just opens and clicks

5. Ease of Use

You should be able to:

  • Drag and drop products
  • Use prebuilt templates
  • Launch core flows in one weekend

If a tool fails 2–3 of these, skip it.

Best Email Marketing Tools for Shopify

Instead of 15 options, here are 5 strong tools – each good for different stages.

1. Omnisend – Built for Ecommerce

Best for: Ecommerce-focused stores at any size
Free plan: Up to ~250 contacts, 500 emails/month

Why it stands out:

  • Deep Shopify integration
  • Email + SMS in one platform
  • Strong prebuilt ecommerce flows
  • Drag-and-drop product blocks
  • Multi-channel automation

Omnisend was designed specifically for ecommerce.

It includes ready-to-use flows like:

  • Welcome
  • Abandoned cart
  • Browse abandonment
  • Post-purchase
  • Win-back

For Shopify merchants, this means:

You install → connect → customize copy → launch.

No technical complexity.

If you want strong ecommerce features without enterprise complexity, Omnisend is often the most balanced choice.

2. Klaviyo – Advanced Segmentation & Analytics

Best for: Data-driven, scaling stores
Free plan: ~250 contacts

Why it’s powerful:

  • Advanced segmentation
  • Predictive analytics
  • Deep behavioral tracking
  • Complex automation logic

Klaviyo is strong when you:

  • Have meaningful traffic
  • Run BFCM campaigns
  • Operate across countries
  • Need detailed reporting

You can segment by:

  • Predicted next purchase
  • Customer lifetime value
  • Specific categories viewed
  • Repeat purchase behavior

Downside:

It can become expensive as your list grows.
It may be overkill for brand-new stores.

Best for scaling brands, not beginners.

3. MailerLite – Simple & Cost-Effective

Best for: Budget-conscious stores
Free plan: Up to ~500–1,000 contacts (plan dependent)

Strengths:

  • Clean interface
  • Easy automation
  • Good value pricing
  • Auto segments for Shopify customers

Once connected to Shopify, it creates segments like:

  • First-time buyers
  • Repeat customers
  • High spend customers

It’s less advanced than Klaviyo or Omnisend.
But for simple flows on a budget, it works very well.

4. Shopify Email – Inside Shopify

Best for: Very small or brand-new stores
Included: 10,000 emails/month (then low per-email cost)

Why people use it:

  • Built directly inside Shopify admin
  • No extra login
  • Simple templates
  • Low cost

If you want:

The simplest setup possible
Zero additional apps

This is enough to start.

When you outgrow it, you can migrate to Omnisend or Klaviyo.

5. SmartrMail – Beginner-Friendly Ecommerce Tool

Best for: Small stores wanting automation without complexity

Strengths:

  • Ecommerce-only focus
  • Auto-generated email designs
  • Smart prebuilt segments
  • Minimal setup required

If you want something that “just works” with Shopify, this is a good beginner option.

Which Tool Should You Pick?

Don’t overthink it.

Pick based on where your store is right now.

Just Starting

  • Use Shopify Email if you want zero complexity.
  • Or use MailerLite / SmartrMail if you want better templates and automation on a budget.

Goal:
Keep costs low.
Set up basics.

Growing

  • Move to Omnisend for better ecommerce automation and SMS.
  • Choose MailerLite if budget is tight.

Goal:
Turn email into a revenue channel, not just updates.

Scaling

  • Use Klaviyo for advanced segmentation and analytics.
  • Or Omnisend if you want strong features with simpler pricing.

Goal:
Personalized flows.
Revenue tracking by segment.
Multi-step customer journeys.

Email Flows Every Shopify Store Must Have

Regardless of tool, set these up.

1. Welcome Series (2–3 Emails)

Trigger: Subscriber joins list
Goal: Introduce brand + bestseller + first purchase offer

2. Abandoned Cart (2–3 Emails)

Trigger: Added to cart, didn’t buy
Goal: Recover revenue

This alone can generate serious returns.

3. Browse Abandonment (1–2 Emails)

Trigger: Viewed product, didn’t add to cart
Goal: Bring them back before they forget

4. Post Purchase Series

Trigger: Order placed
Goal:

  • Set expectations
  • Cross-sell
  • Upsell
  • Build loyalty

5. Review Request

Trigger: Delivered + X days
Goal: Collect reviews and UGC

This improves both conversion and future email performance.

6. Win-Back Flow

Trigger: No purchase in 60–90 days
Goal: Reactivate lapsed customers

Often cheaper than acquiring new ones.

7. VIP / High-Value Flow

Trigger: High spend or multiple purchases
Goal:

  • Early access
  • Exclusive offers
  • Loyalty perks

High LTV customers deserve special treatment.

Quick Setup Checklist (Take Action Today)

You can screenshot this.

  1. Pick your tool based on your stage.
  2. Install and connect Shopify.
  3. Turn on:
    • Welcome flow
    • Abandoned cart
    • Post-purchase
    • Review request
  4. Create one simple weekly campaign:
    • Bestsellers
    • New arrivals
    • Educational tip tied to product
  5. After 30 days:
    • Check which flow generated the most revenue.
    • Double down on that one.

Final Verdict: What Is the Best Shopify Email Marketing Tool?

There is no single “best” tool for everyone.

But in 2026:

  • Best overall for most Shopify stores: Omnisend
  • Best for advanced segmentation & scaling: Klaviyo
  • Best budget option: MailerLite
  • Best built-in starter option: Shopify Email
  • Best beginner ecommerce automation: SmartrMail

The real winner?

The store that actually sets up its flows. Because email revenue does not come from the tool.
It comes from the automations you launch and optimize.

If you do nothing else this week: Set up abandoned cart. That one flow alone can pay for your email platform many times over.

Scroll to Top