Introduction

If you are searching for the best free email app shopify to start converting visitors into repeat buyers, this guide cuts through hype and gives a practical playbook. Choosing the right free email app for your Shopify store matters because email is where most repeat revenue and customer lifetime value come from, and the wrong tool wastes time and limits growth.

This article explains which free Shopify email apps are the strongest fit for different store sizes and goals, how to set them up, example flows that drive revenue, and specific pricing notes and checklists. Expect concrete comparisons (features, integrations, limits), step-by-step implementation timelines, and performance benchmarks you can use right away. Whether you are launching an initial newsletter, automating welcome and cart recovery flows, or preparing to scale, the recommendations here map to real-world decisions and numbers so you can act fast.

Best Free Email App Shopify

Why this specific phrase matters: Shopify merchants need a short list of reliable free options that actually integrate with Shopify data (orders, customers, SKUs). The apps below are repeatedly recommended by store owners and have functional free tiers as of mid-2024. Pick based on how many contacts you have, which automations you need, and whether you will rely on advanced segmentation.

Top contenders and quick summary

Shopify Email (built by Shopify): Built-in, easy to use, deep Shopify integration, good for newsletters and simple campaigns. Best if you want minimal setup and direct access to store templates.
Klaviyo: Industry-standard for data-driven segmentation and personalization; free tier for small lists. Best for segmentation, flows, and revenue attribution.
Omnisend: Strong for on-site popups, SMS integration, and omnichannel flows; free tier offers basics with limits. Best for stores that want email plus SMS from one place.
Seguno: Shopify-first email app embedded in the Shopify admin with easy automation. Best for merchants who want email management inside Shopify.
Privy: Popup and email capture plus simple campaigns; great for converting first-time visitors. Best for lead capture with quick popups.
Mailchimp (via third-party integration): Popular and simple but requires an integration. Best if you already use Mailchimp and have a synced integration like ShopSync or third-party connectors.
Sendinblue: Email and SMS combined, free tier with daily send limits. Best for stores needing transactional email and marketing in one dashboard.

Practical decision rules

If you have fewer than 1,000 contacts and want simple campaigns, start with Shopify Email or Seguno.
If you need advanced segmentation and revenue attribution from day one, test Klaviyo free tier and plan to move to paid when revenue justifies it.
If you want unified email and SMS and plan promotional sequences, try Omnisend or Sendinblue.
If your priority is capturing first-time visitors before they leave, add Privy popups on top of any email app.

Example selection: A store with 800 contacts, 2% weekly site conversion, and a $50 average order value (AOV) that wants to boost repeat purchases should start with Shopify Email for newsletters, add Seguno for automations, and keep Klaviyo in mind once monthly email-attributed revenue crosses $3000.

How to Choose the Right Free Email App

Start with three criteria: integration, automation, and limits. These determine immediate ROI and how long you can stay on the free plan before switching.

Integration

Connect directly to Shopify order and customer data. " Avoid apps that require manual export/import each campaign.

Automation

Look for these essential flows:

Welcome series: 2-4 emails over 7-14 days.
Abandoned cart: 2 emails within 48 hours plus on-site recovery.
Browse or product abandonment: 1-2 emails targeted by viewed SKUs.
Post-purchase: 2 emails (order confirmation aside) - one for review request and one for cross-sell.

If the free app supports at least two of these automated flows with triggers tied to Shopify events, it will cover most early-stage needs.

Limits and cost triggers

Examine contact limits, email send limits, and feature limits (such as A/B testing, advanced segmentation, or revenue reporting). Typical free tiers cap contacts or monthly sends.

How many contacts does the free plan include?
Are automated flows limited or reduced on free plans?
Is transactional email included or separate?

Example thresholds that matter: when your store reaches 2,000 active subscribers you will likely hit limits on free tiers. At that point a paid plan often starts around $20 to $50 per month on many platforms and scales with contacts.

Other selection factors

Deliverability and reputation: Klaviyo and Omnisend are known for strong deliverability practices. New apps with thin sending histories may get slower inbox placement.
Ease of use: Shopify Email and Seguno integrate inside Shopify admin for quick campaigns without learning a new UI.
Multi-channel needs: If you intend to add SMS, pick Omnisend or Sendinblue to keep billing and automation centralized.

Example scenario and recommendation

Store A: 300 subscribers, sells apparel, wants immediate onboarding automation. Pick Seguno or Shopify Email for quick setup. Timeline: install and connect in 30 minutes, build a 3-email welcome series in 2-4 hours, and expect first measurable sign-ups and clicks within 7 days.

Store B: 5,000 subscribers, sells niche electronics, needs dynamic cross-sell and advanced segmentation. Pick Klaviyo or Omnisend. Timeline: migration and mapping 1-2 days, build 4 flows over one week, expect measurable revenue uplift in 30-60 days once flows have run and optimized.

Implementing Email Workflows and Campaigns

Concrete flows that convert and a pragmatic 30-60-90 day timeline for implementation.

Must-build flows (with numbers and timelines)

Welcome series (3 emails over 7 days)
Email 1: Immediate welcome with offer or brand story. Open rate target 40%+, click rate 5-10%.
Email 2: Social proof and top sellers, sent day 3. Open rate target 25-35%, CTR 3-6%.
Email 3: Last chance incentive, day 7. Expect conversion lift 2-5%.
Abandoned cart (2 emails within 48 hours)
Email 1: Send within 1 hour with cart summary and image. Recoveries typically 5-15% of abandoned carts for triggered flows.
Email 2: 24 hours later with a small incentive. Expect incremental recovery 10-20% of those contacted.
Post-purchase sequence (2 emails over 14 days)
Email 1: Thank you and shipping/tracking. Improves CS and reduces support messages.
Email 2: Product care tips and cross-sell at day 10. Drives repeat purchases; target 2-4% conversion.
Winback re-engagement (3 emails over 30 days)
Target customers with no purchases in 90 days. Aim for 1-3% reactivation.

30-60-90 day implementation timeline

Days 0-7: Choose app, install, and verify Shopify connection. Create email templates using store branding. Import or sync contacts and implement signup forms/popups.
Days 8-30: Build and activate 3 priority flows (welcome, abandoned cart, post-purchase). Run a baseline newsletter or promotional campaign to measure open/click rates.
Days 31-60: Analyze flow performance and split-test subject lines and send times. Add browse abandonment and product review flows. Segment subscribers by purchase frequency and AOV.
Days 61-90: Review attribution and ROI. If revenue from email covers the next paid tier, upgrade for advanced automation. Add SMS sequences if using Omnisend or Sendinblue.

Testing and metrics

Track these metrics weekly:

Open rate (benchmark 15-40% depending on flow)
Click-through rate (CTR) (benchmark 2-10%)
Conversion rate from email (benchmark 1-5%)
Revenue per recipient (RPR) and revenue per thousand sent (RPM)

Example test: For abandoned cart flows, test subject lines and timing. Run subject line A “You left something behind” vs B “Still want these? Save 10% now” for two weeks and compare cart recovery rates.

A meaningful uplift is +10-20% relative to baseline.

Segmentation examples with real numbers

High AOV segment: customers with average order value above $150 - target with premium cross-sell sequences. Expect conversion rates slightly lower but high revenue per conversion.
Lapsed buyers: customers with no purchase in last 90 days - send winback series; aim for 1-2% reactivation per campaign.
Frequent buyers: customers with 3+ purchases - send VIP early access; average conversion often 5-8%.

Measuring Success and Scaling From Free to Paid

Key performance indicators and trigger points for upgrading.

KPIs to watch

Monthly attributed revenue from email. When email revenue consistently exceeds the monthly cost of a paid tier, upgrade.
Subscriber growth rate. If you add 500+ subscribers per month, free plan contact limits may be hit within 2-4 months.
Flow performance and incremental revenue. If welcome and abandoned cart flows generate at least 10% of monthly revenue, investing in better segmentation pays.

Upgrade triggers with examples

Contact limit trigger: If free plan supports 1,000 contacts and you reach 900, expect to upgrade in 1-2 months at current growth.
Feature trigger: If you need advanced segmentation or predictive analytics (like Klaviyo’s lifetime value prediction), this often justifies moving to paid when attributed email revenue is 3-5x the upgrade cost.
Channel trigger: If you want SMS and unified analytics, moving to Omnisend paid tier may cut third-party costs and improve conversion timing.

Cost examples (approximate ranges as reference)

Entry paid tiers often start at $20 to $30 per month for 1,000 to 2,500 contacts.
Mid-range tiers for 5,000 to 10,000 contacts typically run $60 to $200 per month depending on features.
Klaviyo and Omnisend pricing scales quickly with contacts and SMS spend; expect to budget based on expected monthly email-attributed revenue.

ROI example

A store paying $50 per month for an email platform that drives an additional $2,000 monthly revenue yields a 40x return on the $50 expense for email software. Use this simple rule: if platform upgrade multiplies conversion or unlocks flows that increase monthly revenue by more than the incremental cost, upgrade.

Practical scaling steps

Keep flows running and add one advanced automation per month (browse abandonment, product recommendation, VIP tier).
Consolidate tools: move popups or landing pages into your email provider to reduce integrations and overlap.
Monitor deliverability: maintain list hygiene, remove hard bounces, and suppress inactive addresses after 6-12 months.

Tools and Resources

This section lists specific apps, what you get on free plans, and key pros and cons. Verify current limits in Shopify App Store before committing.

Shopify Email

Free tier highlights: Built by Shopify, integrated templates, simple campaign creation inside Shopify admin.
Pros: Quick setup, native order data, no external integration.
Cons: Limited advanced segmentation and automation relative to specialized platforms.
Typical use: Newsletters and basic campaign sequences.

Klaviyo

Free tier highlights: Free up to a threshold of contacts (check current limit in Klaviyo billing). Known for strong segmentation and revenue attribution.
Pros: Deep Shopify data syncing, powerful flows, granular segmentation.
Cons: Pricing scales steeply with contacts; steeper learning curve.

Omnisend

Free tier highlights: Email plus some automation and popup capture; includes SMS as an add-on.
Pros: Unified email and SMS, templates, and workflows.
Cons: Free plan limits advanced features; SMS costs extra.

Seguno Email Marketing

Free tier highlights: Embedded in Shopify admin, easy-to-use automation for small stores.
Pros: Designed for merchants who want a Shopify-native tool.
Cons: Less sophisticated analytics than Klaviyo.

Privy

Free tier highlights: Popups, flyouts, email capture, basic emailing.
Pros: Excellent for conversion-focused popups and early list building.
Cons: Email automation capabilities are basic compared to dedicated ESPs (email service providers).

Sendinblue

Free tier highlights: Email and SMS combined with daily send limit.
Pros: Good for transactional emails and integrated SMS.
Cons: Daily send limit can be restrictive for lists that send occasional large broadcasts.

Mailchimp (via integration)

Free tier highlights: Mailchimp has its own free plan but direct Shopify integration may require third-party connector.
Pros: Familiar UI for many merchants.
Cons: Integration overhead and potential sync lag.

Resources

Shopify App Store listings for each app for current pricing and reviews.
Shopify Help Center and app docs for setup steps and template guides.
Deliverability resources from Return Path or Postmaster guides for inbox placement best practices.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Installing without testing deliverability

Problem: Sending a large campaign from a new sending domain or IP can result in low inbox placement.
How to avoid: Start with smaller segmented sends, warm up the domain with transactional emails first, and use double opt-in where possible.

Mistake 2: Trying to do everything at once

Problem: Launching multiple complex flows and frequent A/B tests leads to confusion and slow optimization.
How to avoid: Prioritize welcome, abandoned cart, and post-purchase flows. Add one new flow per month.

Mistake 3: Ignoring list hygiene

Problem: Keeping inactive subscribers increases costs and damages deliverability.
How to avoid: Remove or re-engage addresses inactive for 6-12 months. Use a 3-email re-engagement series before suppression.

Mistake 4: Over-relying on discounts

Problem: Frequent discounts train customers and reduce full-price sales.
How to avoid: Mix value-added content, product education, and limited promotions. Use scarcity or bundling rather than perpetual discounts.

Mistake 5: Not tracking attribution

Problem: You cannot measure whether email drives revenue or if other channels do.
How to avoid: Use UTM tags on links, enable Shopify tracking and platform revenue attribution, and measure revenue per email sent.

FAQ

What is the Best Free Email App Shopify for Beginners?

Shopify Email and Seguno are the easiest for beginners because they integrate directly into Shopify admin and require minimal setup. They cover newsletters and basic automations with templates and simple templates.

Can I Use Mailchimp with Shopify for Free?

You can use Mailchimp on its own free plan, but direct Shopify syncing may require a third-party connector or app. Verify current integration options and potential connector fees before assuming full free compatibility.

When Should I Upgrade From a Free Plan?

Upgrade when your contact list or monthly sends hit the free-plan limits, or when paid features (advanced segmentation, multi-channel automation, or better deliverability) drive enough revenue to cover the monthly cost. A practical trigger is when email-attributed revenue exceeds the upgrade cost by at least 3x.

How Many Automated Flows Should I Run Initially?

Start with three: welcome series, abandoned cart, and post-purchase. These cover most early lifecycle touchpoints and typically drive the fastest revenue uplift.

Will Free Email Apps Handle Transactional Emails Like Order Confirmations?

Some platforms handle transactional emails, but many merchants keep Shopify’s built-in transactional emails for order confirmations and use the marketing app for newsletters and automations. Check the app documentation to confirm transactional capabilities.

How Do I Measure If Email is Working for My Store?

Track open rate, click-through rate, conversion rate, and revenue per email. Use Shopify and app attribution reports and UTM-tagged campaign links to measure revenue directly attributed to email.

Next Steps

Pick and install one app: start with Shopify Email or Seguno for fast setup, or Klaviyo/Omnisend for advanced capabilities. Allow 30-60 minutes for installation and syncing.
Build and activate 3 core flows: welcome series, abandoned cart, and post-purchase over the first 2 weeks. Use provided templates to speed implementation.
Run a baseline newsletter or promotional campaign in week 3 to establish open and click benchmarks.
Review performance at 30 days: check revenue attributed to email and decide whether to upgrade, add SMS, or migrate to a paid tier based on contact growth and ROI.

Complete these steps with clear ownership and a short testing schedule. Track metrics weekly and iterate subject lines, timing, and segmentation to steadily improve performance.

Best Free Email App Shopify for Store Owners