Omnisend vs Mailchimp for Shopify Stores (2026)
An e-commerce specialist versus the best-known email brand: free plans, pricing, automations, SMS and support compared for online stores.
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Short answer: For an online store, Omnisend is the better fit: e-commerce automations on every plan (including free), SMS and web push in the same tool, 24/7 support, and a lower price at 1,000 contacts. Mailchimp suits businesses that mainly send newsletters and want a familiar, general-purpose tool.
Prices and limits from each vendor’s pricing page, checked October 20, 2026 (USD, monthly billing).
Side-by-side
| Omnisend | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month, all core features | 250 contacts, 500 sends/month (250/day), no automation flows |
| Entry paid plan | Standard from $16/month | Essentials from $13/month |
| At 1,000 contacts | $20/month (Standard) | Plan prices scale with contacts – check Mailchimp’s calculator |
| Email sends | 12× list (Standard); unlimited (Pro) | 10× contacts (Essentials); 12× (Standard); 15× (Premium) |
| Automation flows | All plans | Essentials: up to 4 flow steps; Standard and Premium: up to 200 flows |
| SMS | Built in, pay as you go (US from $0.009 to $0.007) | Add-on in select countries; application required |
| Web push | Included | Not listed |
| Support | 24/7 chat and email on every plan | Varies by plan |
| Free trial | Free plan, no time limit | 14-day trial of Essentials and Standard |
Automations: the deciding factor for stores
For most stores, the emails that do the selling are automated flows – welcome, abandoned cart, browse abandonment, post-purchase. Omnisend includes these on every plan, even free. Mailchimp’s free plan has no flows, Essentials caps flows at 4 steps, and you need Standard (from $20/month) for full multi-step automations.
Price
Mailchimp’s entry price is lower ($13 vs $16), but that plan limits automations. Comparing like with like – full e-commerce automations – Omnisend Standard ($16+, $20 at 1,000 contacts) competes with Mailchimp Standard ($20+). Omnisend also includes SMS and web push in the same plan, while Mailchimp sells SMS as an add-on in select countries after an application.
Who should choose which
Omnisend if you run a Shopify or other online store and want automations, SMS and support without paying for a top tier.
Mailchimp if you mostly send newsletters, already know the tool, or run a non-store business alongside your shop.
Omnisend
Best for online storesBest for: Stores that want e-commerce automations and SMS at a fair price
- Flows on every plan, even free
- SMS and push built in
- 24/7 support
- Entry price slightly above Mailchimp Essentials
- Branding on free plan
Compare more options: best email marketing tools for Shopify.