Your Shopify store sends a welcome email and an abandoned-cart reminder, and maybe splits customers into buyers and browsers. That is most of what a small store needs, and it does not require a bill that climbs every time your list grows or an AI feature you will never open.
The best Klaviyo alternatives basic segmentation shoppers actually use tend to cost far less than Klaviyo while still running the core flows that make ecommerce email work. If you sell on Shopify and want a welcome series, an abandoned-cart reminder, and a couple of simple segments without paying for advanced AI you do not need, these eight are worth a look. Pricing and features shift often, so confirm the current details before you switch.
Quick Take
- For a Shopify-native ecommerce fit, Omnisend is the closest Klaviyo alternative with core flows and segmentation at a lower price.
- MailerLite and Brevo win on simple, predictable pricing, and Shopify Email is the cheapest way to stay inside your admin.
- Match the tool to your list size and flows, not to whichever has the flashiest AI add-on.
Table of Contents
How We Chose These
We looked for tools that handle the flows a small Shopify store actually runs, a welcome series, an abandoned-cart reminder, and a few straightforward segments, at a price that stays predictable as your list grows. We favored clear pricing and solid Shopify integration over long feature lists, and we noted where a free tier lets you test before paying. The list runs from the closest ecommerce fit to the simplest and cheapest options.
This article is general information, not business or financial advice. Pricing, features, and free-tier limits change often, so confirm the current terms on each provider’s own site before committing, and choose based on your store’s real needs.
1. Omnisend
Omnisend is built for ecommerce and integrates tightly with Shopify, which makes it the closest like-for-like Klaviyo alternative for a small store. It ships the core flows, welcome, abandoned cart, and browse abandonment, plus segmentation by behavior and purchase history, at contact-based pricing that starts well below Klaviyo. A free tier lets you test it on a small list first. For most Shopify shops leaving Klaviyo on cost, it is the natural landing spot. See Omnisend.
2. MailerLite
MailerLite is the pick for simple and affordable, with clean drag-and-drop automations, basic segmentation, and subscriber-based pricing that starts around ten dollars a month. It is less ecommerce-specialized than Omnisend, but for a store that mainly wants a tidy welcome flow and a cart reminder, it does the job without clutter. A generous free tier makes it easy to try. See MailerLite.
3. Brevo
Brevo prices by emails sent rather than by contacts stored, which can be much cheaper if you keep a large list but email it only now and then. It bundles a light CRM, core automations, and segmentation, and its free plan is genuinely usable for a small store. If your costs on Klaviyo climbed because your list grew faster than your sends, Brevo’s model is worth a hard look. See Brevo.
4. Shopify Email
Shopify Email is the cheapest option because it lives inside the admin you already pay for. You can build a welcome message and an abandoned-cart reminder with Shopify’s built-in automations and segment customers on the data your store already holds, with a free monthly email allowance before low per-email pricing kicks in. It will not match a dedicated tool’s depth, but for a new or small store it covers the basics for almost nothing. See Shopify Email.
5. Drip
Drip is ecommerce-focused with strong segmentation and personalization, aimed at stores that want to slice their audience finely without Klaviyo’s price at scale. Its pricing starts higher than the simplest tools but includes unlimited sends, so it suits a growing store where segmentation is the priority. If your reason for leaving Klaviyo is cost rather than capability, Drip keeps most of the power for less.
6. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is the familiar name, with a free tier, a Shopify integration, and enough automation for basic flows. Its ecommerce depth is lighter than Omnisend’s, and pricing can climb as your list grows, so it fits a store that values a well-known, easy-to-learn tool over ecommerce specialization. For simple newsletters plus a welcome and cart flow, it is a comfortable starting point.
7. Kit
Kit, formerly ConvertKit, is built around creators and content-led stores, using tags rather than heavy segments to organize subscribers. Its automations are clean and easy to reason about, and a free tier covers early lists. If your Shopify store is really an audience business, selling to people who follow your content, Kit’s tag-based approach can feel more natural than an ecommerce-first tool.
8. Sender
Sender is the budget standout, offering a notably generous free tier with ecommerce automations and basic segmentation included, which suits a small store watching every cost. It covers the welcome and cart flows and lets you segment on the essentials without a subscription until your list grows. For a bootstrapped shop that wants the core features free for as long as possible, it is hard to beat on price.
The Takeaways
- Omnisend is the closest Shopify-native Klaviyo alternative, with core flows and segmentation for less.
- MailerLite and Brevo keep pricing simple and predictable, with Brevo’s per-send model suited to large, lightly-emailed lists.
- Shopify Email and Sender are the cheapest routes, one inside your admin and one on a generous free tier.
- Choose on your flows, list size, and pricing model, not on advanced AI features a small store rarely uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Klaviyo alternative for a small Shopify store?
For most small stores it is Omnisend, since it is built for ecommerce, integrates closely with Shopify, and runs the core welcome and abandoned-cart flows with segmentation at a lower price than Klaviyo. If you want the simplest and cheapest option, MailerLite or Shopify Email cover the basics. The right pick depends on your list size and how specialized you need the ecommerce features to be.
Do I need Klaviyo’s advanced AI features for a small store?
Usually not. Most small stores get the bulk of their email revenue from a few core flows, a welcome series and an abandoned-cart reminder, plus a couple of simple segments. Advanced AI predictions and complex modeling add cost and complexity that a smaller list rarely justifies. Paying for basic segmentation and reliable flows is often the better value until your store outgrows it.
Can I run abandoned-cart emails without Klaviyo?
Yes. Omnisend, MailerLite, Brevo, Drip, and even Shopify’s own email tool all support abandoned-cart automations, which are among the highest-earning flows in ecommerce. The setup differs slightly by tool, but each can detect an abandoned checkout and trigger a reminder sequence. This is a standard feature now, not something you need Klaviyo specifically to do.
Is Shopify Email good enough instead of Klaviyo?
For a new or small store, often yes. Shopify Email lives in your admin, uses the customer data you already have, and handles a welcome message and cart reminder cheaply, with a free monthly allowance. It lacks the depth of a dedicated ecommerce platform, so a fast-growing store may outgrow it. As a low-cost starting point, though, it covers the essentials well.
How much cheaper are Klaviyo alternatives?
It varies by tool and list size, but many stores cut their email cost significantly by switching. Options like MailerLite start around ten dollars a month, Shopify Email and generous free tiers cost little to nothing at small volumes, and Brevo’s per-send pricing helps large lists. Compare each tool’s cost at your actual contact count and send volume, since that is where the real difference shows.
Pick the Flows You Need, Skip the Rest
Leaving Klaviyo does not mean leaving good email behind. Omnisend keeps the ecommerce depth for less, MailerLite and Brevo keep pricing simple, and Shopify Email or Sender keep it nearly free while you are small. Decide which flows actually earn you money, choose the tool that runs them well at your list size, and let the advanced AI features stay on someone else’s bill. For more on growing a store, browse Wayodd’s Marketing section.