8 Drip Alternatives for Smarter Email Campaigns

Finding the right email marketing tool can be a headache. If you’ve started with Drip and it no longer meets your needs because of the steep pricing or the lack of non-ecommerce features and looking for alternatives you’ve landed on the right place. 

We’ve worked with countless tools (and users!) over the years at Sender, and we know one thing for sure—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best Drip alternatives—tools with smarter pricing, unique features, and the flexibility to align with your email marketing strategy. 

Ready to find your perfect fit? Let’s dive in!

Why Look for Drip Alternatives?

Drip is popular with ecommerce store owners but comes with challenges. Here’s why many switch to alternatives:

• High costs. Pricing jumps as your contact list grows, with restrictive send limits and custom pricing beyond 140,000 contacts—not great for scaling; 
• Ecommerce focus. Great ecommerce marketing software but not flexible for other businesses, especially with templates or automation; 
• No landing page builder. It lacks a built-in landing page builder, forcing you to use extra tools;
• Tough for beginners. Its interface can overwhelm new users even when it promises drag-and-drop workflows; 
• No free plan. Unlike competitors, Drip lacks a free plan, making it harder for businesses to test the waters before going all-in. 

If these issues sound familiar, alternatives like Sender, Klaviyo, or Omnisend might be a better fit. Let’s explore different drip competitors for ecommerce business and other online businesses! 

Key Features to Look for in a Drip Alternative

Picking the right email marketing tool isn’t just about saving money—it’s about getting features that work for you. Here’s what to look for in the best email automation software:

• Affordable plans. Look for tools that provide flexible pricing plans, including a free tier, so you can scale without breaking the bank; 
• User-friendly interface. Opt for platforms with drag-and-drop builders and simple interface to save time on learning;
• Versatility. Choose a platform that caters to your industry or different niches, not just ecommerce, to suit your requirements;
• Automation and personalization. Ensure the platform offers pre-built workflows, advanced segmentation and targeting tools for tailored campaigns;
• Comprehensive analytics. You’ll need robust tracking tools to measure email performance metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates;
• Multi-channel marketing. Tools that integrate SMS, web push notifications, and social media channels provide an added edge;
• Mobile optimization. Platforms offering responsive designs and testing options for mobile are essential for mobile marketing efforts. 

Drip Alternatives – A Quick Roundup

If you’re looking for the best Drip alternatives but don’t have time to read through this post, here’s a table of all leading ecommerce-focused marketing platforms for a quick glance. 

Get an overview of what to use instead of Drip in a minute. 

Leading Drip Alternatives Compared

If Drip feels like an imperfect fit for your needs, don’t worry—you’ve got plenty of options. Let’s take a closer look at each tool to see which one’s best for business growth. 

Sender – Best Alternative for Marketing Automation 

Sender is the ultimate email marketing automation tool that blends simplicity with versatility. Whether you’re running a startup or a big brand, it’s got your back with automation workflows, sleek templates, and even SMS marketing—all without frequent headaches.

And unlike Drip, it’s not exclusively for ecommerce businesses. Whether you’re in real estate, SaaS, hospitality, or on lookout for small business email tools, Sender adapts to your needs.

But what really sets it apart? Thoughtful features like product and review blocks, countdown timers, and real human support. It’s made for anyone, from first-timers to marketing pros. If you want affordable, flexible, and user-friendly, Sender isn’t just an option—it’s the option.

Features

Sender is an affordable marketing automation with many advanced features, making it a top alternative to Drip. You’ll get:

• Customizable email templates for all devices; 
• Drag-and-drop builder with product and review blocks; 
• Pre-built automation templates for different industries;
• SMS marketing capabilities for multi-channel outreach; 
• Popup builder with options like spin-to-win popups. 

Pricing

Sender’s pricing won’t leave you broke as you grow. With a forever free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers and premium plans starting at just $10/month for sending up to 12,000 emails/month, it’s a dream for businesses and startups looking for affordable alternatives to Drip. 

Sender vs Drip

Klaviyo — Trusted Marketing Automation for Ecommerce

If you’re into ecommerce strictly, Klaviyo must’ve caught your eye as an alternative. Its smooth integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other ecommerce platforms make creating personalized customer experiences a breeze.

Klaviyo does a great job of segmenting customers by purchase behavior, giving you the power of precise targeting to boost sales and loyalty. But there’s a catch—its pricing can be steep, especially for businesses on a budget or outside the ecommerce world.

Compared to Drip, Klaviyo’s data analysis and campaign personalization are next level. Just keep in mind, it’s powerful but not exactly plug-and-play — be ready for a bit of a learning curve.

Features

Klaviyo is good for businesses looking for data-driven marketing. Here’s what it offers:

• Dynamic customer segmentation for targeted campaigns;
• Pre-built email automation templates for cart abandonment and more;
• Seamless integrations with major ecommerce platforms;
• Advanced analytics and reporting tools for actionable insights.

Pricing

Klaviyo’s pricing starts at $20/month for up to 5,000 emails, 150 SMS sends, and 500 contacts. 

Klaviyo vs Drip

Omnisend — A Smart Alternative for Multichannel Marketing

Omnisend is a powerhouse if you’re ready to grow your multichannel marketing operations. It uses email, SMS, push notifications, and more to promise engaging customer experiences. 

Built for ecommerce, its automation workflows are easy to set up. The standout? Omnisend’s integration of email and SMS, making it a top pick for online stores. 

But if you’re outside the ecommerce space, its focus might feel a bit limiting. Plus, like Drip, costs can climb quickly as your contact list grows. Omnisend is worth a look—just keep its ecommerce-heavy approach in mind.

Features

Omnisend stands out for its multichannel marketing features, including:

• Pre-built automation workflows for email, SMS, and web push notifications;
• Advanced segmentation for personalized campaigns;
• Built-in templates optimized for ecommerce needs;
• Detailed performance reporting across all channels.

Pricing

Omnisend offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 emails per month. Paid plans start at $16/month for up to 500 contacts and 6,000 emails/month. 

Omnisend vs Drip

ActiveCampaign — Email Marketing with CRM Features

ActiveCampaign is the go-to platform for businesses that want powerful email automation paired with built-in CRM tools. It’s good for running advanced campaigns with features like deep segmentation and predictive actions for account-based marketing.

Designed for businesses that prioritize sales processes and customer relationships, it has excellent lead nurturing tools and automation workflows. 

But here’s the catch: its complexity can overwhelm beginners, and costs rise fast as your subscriber list grows. While it’s versatile enough to work across industries (not just ecommerce), smaller businesses might find it overly complex for their needs.

Features 

ActiveCampaign stands out with these key capabilities:

• Built-in sales CRM to manage customer relationships and sales pipelines;
• Advanced automation workflows with predictive sending;
• Robust segmentation and tagging for hyper-targeted campaigns;
• Email, SMS, and site messaging capabilities for multichannel communication.

Pricing 

ActiveCampaign’s pricing starts at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts, with more advanced plans scaling upwards based on features and contact list size. Additional CRM tools and automation add-ons may increase costs.

Drip vs ActiveCampaign 

Brevo — A Practical Alternative for SMS and Email Campaigns

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a versatile platform for businesses looking to merge email and SMS marketing. 

With an intuitive interface and scalable plans, it’s a great fit for companies of all sizes, especially those diving into multichannel engagement. Its standout feature? Flexible pricing and pay-as-you-go SMS credits give you control over your campaigns.

Brevo excels in customization and automation but falls short with less visually advanced email templates and basic reporting tools. Compared to Drip, it’s more adaptable, catering to both ecommerce and general business needs, making it a solid all-around alternative.

Features 

Brevo provides a comprehensive suite of tools, including:

• Email and SMS marketing with pay-as-you-go SMS credits;
• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor;
• Transactional email capabilities for receipts and notifications;
• Advanced email marketing automation with lead scoring and workflows;
• CRM functionality for customer relationship management.

Pricing 

Brevo’s pricing starts with a free plan that includes 300 emails/day and unlimited contacts. Paid plans start at $25/month for 20,000 emails, with flexible SMS credit options. Its pay-as-you-go model makes it ideal for businesses with unpredictable email and SMS needs.

Brevo vs Drip

Mailchimp — Simple Email Marketing for Small Teams

Mailchimp is the classic choice for businesses starting out with email marketing due to its popularity and simple UI. 

With its user-friendly interface and easy integrations, it’s a favorite among small teams and beginners. Plus, its variety of premade email templates and simple automation tools make it a no-brainer for those without much technical know-how.

But here’s the rub: Mailchimp’s pricing can spike as your subscriber list grows, and its advanced features don’t quite stack up to tools like Drip. 

Features

Mailchimp has all the basic features you expect from email marketing tools, including: 

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor;
• Responsive templates and automation workflows;
• Basic audience segmentation tools;
• Integrations with ecommerce platforms; 
• Analytics dashboard for campaign insights.

Pricing 

Mailchimp offers a free plan for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month. Paid plans start at $13/month for 500 contacts and scale based on additional features and contact limits.

Mailchimp vs Drip

GetResponse — Flexible Marketing Platform with AI Features

GetResponse is designed for businesses seeking several useful features for marketing their businesses. 

From automation workflows to landing pages, social media management, and even webinar hosting, it’s a flexible tool for marketers aiming to diversify their campaigns. Plus, its AI tools simplify personalization and optimization, boosting engagement rates with ease.

The downside? Pricing can climb as you scale, and advanced features are reserved for higher-tier plans. Still, GetResponse remains a reliable tool for businesses that need an all-in-one platform with flexible, integrated marketing tools.

Features

Like every other alternative on this list, GetResponse gives you access to all essential features: 

• Drag-and-drop email editor with automation workflows;
• Webinar hosting and landing page creation;
• AI tools for predictive analytics and personalization;
• Advanced segmentation and contact scoring;
• Integrations with social media accounts and ecommerce platforms. 

Pricing 

GetResponse offers a free plan for up to 500 contacts. Paid plans start at $19/month for 1,000 contacts and. AI-driven marketing and advanced features are part of higher-tier plans.

GetResponse vs Drip

EngageBay — A Compact Alternative for CRM and Marketing

EngageBay is a budget-friendly, all-in-one platform that combines email marketing, CRM, and automation into a single solution. 

Perfect for small and medium businesses, it offers powerful tools to engage customers, track leads, and streamline workflows—all without breaking the bank. Its all-in-one approach means you can manage email campaigns, track leads, and optimize workflows from a single dashboard.

While its feature set is impressive, the interface can feel less intuitive compared to others on this list. 

Features

Look at EngageBay as an integrated solution that gives you lots of useful features, like: 

• Comprehensive CRM with lead tracking and sales automation; 
• Email marketing with automation and segmentation;
• Drag-and-drop landing page builder;
• SMS marketing for multichannel campaigns;
• Free live chat and helpdesk features.

Pricing 

EngageBay offers a free plan with basic CRM and email tools. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for the Basic plan for up to 500 contacts. 

EngageBay vs Drip

How to Choose the Right Alternative for Your Business

Picking the right email marketing platform isn’t a one day job, especially when you’re searching for Drip replacement options. It takes time to explore all alternatives and can feel pretty overwhelming. 

Here are some tips on picking the right marketing tools for small businesses that suit your goals and expectations. 

Understand Your Needs

Before diving into alternatives, evaluate your problems with existing solutions and expectations for an alternative platform. Do you need advanced automation, CRM integration, or multichannel support? 

Knowing your specific requirements will help narrow down the options and save time.

• Identify your primary goal: email campaigns, SMS, or CRM integration;
• Consider your budget and long-term scalability;
• List must-have features like segmentation, templates, or analytics;
• Evaluate if the platform caters to your industry needs.

Read Customer Reviews

Learn from others’ experiences by checking out real customer reviews. Reviews offer a realistic picture of what works and what doesn’t with each tool. 

• Check verified platforms like G2, Trustpilot, and Capterra;
• Pay more attention to reviews from businesses in your industry;
• Look for recurring issues and persistent complaints, if any;
• Don’t overlook ratings about customer service.

Take It for a Test Drive

Most marketing automation platforms, unlike Drip, offer free accounts, which is the best way to see if they suit your workflow. Test critical features and assess how intuitive the platform feels for you and your team.

• Sign up for free accounts to explore features hands-on;
• Test workflows, from creating a campaign to automating tasks;
• Check compatibility with your existing tools and integrations;
• Observe how well the interface works for your daily needs.

These alternatives are not your only options! Check out more comparison articles:

• 10 Brevo Alternatives: Identifying Best Options
• 11 Best Mailerlite Alternatives for 2024 (Free & Paid Options)
• 9 Top Kit (formerly ConvertKit) Alternatives for Entrepreneurs

About author

Emily Austin

Author

Sender

Emily is a content manager who has dipped her toes in almost all fields of marketing, including PR, social media, email, and ecommerce. She loves perfecting digital content, ensuring everything is polished and ready to go live.

Writer - Anmol Ratan Sachdeva