10 Best Drip Alternatives That Outperform It in 2026

Drip has established itself as a solid email marketing platform, but many businesses find its pricing structure prohibitive, especially as their contact lists grow. The platform's heavy ecommerce focus and steep learning curve also push users to explore other options.

According to the latest email marketing statistics, nearly three-quarters of marketers rely on email as their top ROI channel. Many also report up to a 2x year-over-year improvement after switching to more efficient tools.

Whether you're a startup looking for affordable email automation tools, a marketer seeking better customer journey automation software, or a SaaS company needing more flexible features, this guide covers the top Drip competitors that might better suit your needs.

Why Consider Drip Alternatives?

Before we dive into the best alternatives to Drip, let's understand why businesses are actively searching for other email marketing tools like Drip:

• Pricing Concerns: Drip's costs escalate quickly as your subscriber count grows. Many businesses find themselves paying significantly more than expected, with custom pricing kicking in beyond 140,000 contacts.

• E-commerce-Only Focus: While Drip excels at ecommerce email automation, businesses outside this sector often find the platform limiting. If you're in B2B, SaaS, or content creation, you might need software similar to Drip but with broader applications.

• No Free Plan: Unlike many Drip competitors, the platform doesn't offer a free tier for testing. This makes it harder for startups and small businesses to evaluate whether it's the right fit.

• Learning Curve: New users report that Drip's interface requires significant time investment to master, especially when setting up complex automation workflows.

What to Look for in Email Marketing Automation Software

When comparing the best email marketing automation software, consider these essential features:

• Affordable Pricing: Look for free Drip alternatives or cheap Drip alternatives that offer transparent pricing structures

• Advanced Automation: Behavioral email marketing platforms with visual workflow builders

• AI Capabilities: AI email personalization software and predictive email marketing platforms are becoming standard

• Ecommerce Features: For online stores, abandoned cart email tools and ecommerce email automation software are crucial

• Segmentation: Email segmentation software for targeted messaging

• CRM Integration: CRM email automation tools that connect your sales and marketing data

• Scalability: Solutions that grow with your business without pricing surprises

Drip vs Alternatives: Quick Comparison Table

The 10 Best Drip Alternatives Compared

1. Mailmodo

Mailmodo is an AI-powered email marketing software that helps you create, automate, and optimize campaigns effortlessly. From planning strategy to writing copy and building journeys, Mailmodo’s AI Agents handle it all, with no technical expertise needed. It’s the fastest way to send smart, interactive, and high-performing emails.

Key Features

• Interactive AMP emails with forms, polls, surveys, and games built into emails

• AI-powered email automation builder that creates entire campaigns from simple prompts

• AI segment generator for precise audience targeting

• 50+ pre-built automation journey templates

• Advanced email personalization with behavioral triggers

• No-code drag-and-drop editor with 200+ templates

• Smart segmentation based on user behavior and engagement

• Comprehensive analytics and campaign analyzer

Why Choose Mailmodo Over Drip

Mailmodo offers significantly more innovation in email interactivity. While Drip focuses on traditional email marketing for ecommerce, Mailmodo's AMP technology enables forms, bookings, surveys, and purchases directly in emails. This reduces friction and can boost conversions by up to 3x.

The platform's AI capabilities are particularly impressive. The AI automation builder can plan, design, and execute complete email journeys from a single prompt, something Drip doesn't offer. This makes it an excellent choice for teams that want AI-powered email automation tools.

Pricing

Best For

Growing startups, SaaS companies, B2B businesses, and anyone looking for the best email marketing software for startups that combines affordability with cutting-edge features.

2. Klaviyo 

Klaviyo is an email marketing platform for e-commerce that provides progressive segmentation based on buying behavior, visiting history, and uses predictive analytics. It is perfect for online retailers who desire to increase their income by providing personalized customer experiences and running data-driven campaigns.

Key Features

• Predictive analytics for customer behavior

• Advanced segmentation based on purchase history and browsing behavior

• SMS marketing integration

• Robust abandoned cart recovery

• Product recommendation engine

• Real-time data sync with ecommerce platforms

• A/B testing for campaigns and flows

Why Choose Klaviyo Over Drip

Klaviyo offers more sophisticated ecommerce analytics and predictive features. The platform's ability to predict customer lifetime value, churn risk, and next purchase date gives you actionable insights that Drip doesn't provide to the same degree.

Pricing

Best For

Best email marketing tool for ecommerce stores, particularly those on Shopify. Ideal for businesses seeking email marketing for Shopify stores with advanced analytics.

3. ActiveCampaign 

ActiveCampaign is mainly known for its automation features and customer segmentation. It also mixes email marketing, CRM, and automation in one platform, which is perfect for companies that require complex workflows and deep integration between marketing and sales teams.

Key Features

• 900+ automation workflow templates

• Visual automation builder with conditional logic

• Built-in CRM with lead scoring

• Predictive sending powered by machine learning

• Site tracking and event tracking

• Split testing for automation workflows

• Win probability scoring for sales

Why Choose ActiveCampaign Over Drip

ActiveCampaign offers significantly more automation possibilities with its extensive template library and advanced conditional logic. The integrated CRM means you don't need separate tools for sales and marketing alignment, making it excellent for B2B email marketing automation software.

Pricing

Best For

Best email marketing software for agencies, B2B companies, and businesses needing the best email marketing tool for SaaS with complex automation requirements.

4. Omnisend 

Omnisend is a platform that helps clients smoothly communicate their marketing message via the use of email, SMS, web push notifications, and other means, all coming from one center. The idea behind it is to be the tool for the e-commerce sector that reaches consumers no matter where they are, to deliver an uninterrupted shoppers' journey through various contact points.

Key Features

• Pre-built automation workflows for ecommerce

• SMS and email marketing in one platform

• Advanced segmentation and targeting

• Product picker for personalized recommendations

• Landing pages and signup forms

• Popups and wheel-of-fortune gamification

• Split automation paths

Why Choose Omnisend Over Drip

Omnisend offers better multichannel integration at a more affordable price point. If you want to combine SMS and email marketing for ecommerce, Omnisend makes it easier and more cost-effective than managing separate tools.

Pricing

Best For

What is the best Drip alternative for ecommerce stores wanting multichannel marketing capabilities?

5. Sender 

Sender positions itself as one of the most affordable Drip alternatives without sacrificing essential features. It's perfect for small businesses and startups watching their budgets.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop email builder

• Marketing automation workflows

• SMS marketing capabilities

• Popup builder with gamification

• Email and SMS analytics

• Integrations with major ecommerce platforms

• Segmentation and personalization

Why Choose Sender Over Drip

Sender offers a forever-free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers, making it one of the best free Drip alternatives. Even paid plans are significantly cheaper than Drip, starting at just $10/month. This makes it ideal for businesses asking, "Is there a cheaper alternative to Drip?"

Pricing

Best For

Best email marketing for small businesses and startups needing affordable email automation tools.

6. Moosend 

Moosend enables businesses to take advantage of various feature sets at a price less than half that of competitors, making it an excellent, cheap email marketing platform for companies looking to save money. What’s more, the pricing is approachable, and the platform is not lacking in ambition. It offers sophisticated automation and analytics with only a few limitations.

Key Features

• Visual automation workflow builder

• Advanced segmentation capabilities

• Landing page builder

• Subscription forms and popups

• Website tracking

• Product recommendations

• Real-time reporting and analytics

Why Choose Moosend Over Drip

Moosend offers a much gentler learning curve while still providing robust automation features. The platform is easier to navigate for non-technical users, and pricing is more transparent and affordable.

Pricing

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses and the best email marketing software for startups seeking simplicity without sacrificing features.

7. Brevo

Brevo combines email, SMS, chat, CRM, and marketing automation in one platform, making it a comprehensive alternative for businesses seeking an all-in-one solution.

Key Features

• Email marketing with a drag-and-drop editor

• SMS marketing campaigns

• Marketing automation workflows

• Built-in CRM

• Transactional email service

• Live chat and chatbot

• Landing pages and signup forms

Why Choose Brevo Over Drip

Brevo offers more channels beyond email at competitive prices. The inclusion of SMS, chat, and CRM features means you can manage more customer touchpoints from one platform. It's also one of the better options when searching for cheap Drip alternatives.

Pricing

Best For

Small businesses need multichannel capabilities and customer journey automation software.

8. GetResponse

GetResponse is a combination of email marketing and the tools for course creation and webinar hosting, which makes it the number one choice for digital product creators. This amazing combination eliminates the need for multiple platforms and, therefore, allows creators to have their entire digital product ecosystem in one place.

Key Features

• Advanced email marketing automation

• Webinar hosting platform

• Landing page and funnel builder

• Ecommerce features

• Live chat functionality

• Conversion funnels

• AI-powered email generator

Why Choose GetResponse Over Drip

If you regularly host webinars as part of your marketing strategy, GetResponse eliminates the need for separate tools. The platform combines email automation with webinar hosting, creating seamless registration and follow-up workflows.

Pricing

Best For

Businesses and coaches are using webinars for lead generation and are looking for AI email marketing automation tools.

9. HubSpot 

HubSpot offers a comprehensive marketing platform with a powerful free CRM that integrates seamlessly with email marketing. It provides an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to align their marketing and sales efforts.

Key Features

• Free CRM with unlimited contacts

• Email marketing automation

• Lead scoring and nurturing

• Social media management

• Content management system

• Analytics and reporting dashboards

• AI-powered content creation

Why Choose HubSpot Over Drip

HubSpot provides a complete ecosystem for marketing, sales, and customer service. While it's pricier than Drip at scale, the free CRM and Marketing Hub starter tools make it accessible for businesses wanting the best email marketing software for agencies' functionality.

Pricing

Best For

Growing businesses and enterprises need CRM email automation tools and integrated marketing platforms.

10. Mailchimp 

Mailchimp has a very user-friendly interface with gorgeous templates, which makes it perfect for email marketing for startups. Thanks to its user-friendly design and vast template library, businesses can easily create professional-looking campaigns even if they have no technical or design skills.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop email builder

• Marketing automation (on paid plans)

• Pre-built automation templates

• Audience segmentation

• Landing pages and forms

• Creative Assistant for design

• Integrations with 300+ apps

Why Choose Mailchimp Over Drip

Mailchimp's brand recognition means extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support. The platform is simpler than Drip, making it ideal for businesses new to email marketing. It's also one of the best Mailchimp alternatives when compared to Drip.

Pricing

Best For

Small businesses and beginners seeking straightforward email marketing without complex features.

Best Drip Alternative for Startups

For startups with limited budgets, the best options are:

1. Mailmodo – Offers cutting-edge features with a generous free plan and AI capabilities that accelerate growth

2. Sender – Provides the most affordable pricing while maintaining essential features

3. Moosend – Balances affordability with ease of use, perfect for small teams

These platforms deliver professional features without the enterprise price tag, making them ideal for the best email marketing software for startups.

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Drip Alternative

Drip is a solid platform for ecommerce email marketing, but it's far from the only option, or even the best option for many businesses. The good news is that most of these platforms offer free trials or free plans. Test 2-3 options with real campaigns to see which interface, features, and workflows feel right for your team. The best email marketing automation software is the one you'll actually use effectively.