We compared how each one connects to store platforms, how it handles ecommerce automation triggers such as cart abandonment and order updates, and whether texting is a standalone product or comes bundled with email. We also weighed pricing and signup requirements.
The table below lines up all five, and the sections that follow explain who each platform suits and where it falls short.
Our evaluation criteria for ecommerce SMS
We compared every platform on the same four points, all chosen with online sellers in mind. Here is what we looked at:
- Store platform integrations: Shopify and WooCommerce were our main checks, since these connections decide how easily order and customer data reaches your texts.
- Ecommerce automation triggers: We looked for triggers built for online stores, including cart abandonment, order updates, and back-in-stock alerts.
- Price visibility and signup: We noted whether rates are published and whether you can begin sending on your own or have to book a sales call.
- Bundled or standalone texting: We considered whether SMS comes as part of a wider marketing platform or as a separate product.
Check our comparisons hub for more marketing tool matchups.
Best for bundling SMS with email: Mailchimp
Mailchimp suits stores that already run campaigns through an email marketing platform and want to manage texting in the same account.
Its ecommerce marketing tools connect to your storefront, which makes it a workable ecommerce text message marketing platform for growing stores. Mailchimp SMS e-commerce users saw up to a 22x ROI after launching their first SMS Marketing campaign.*
Pricing
- SMS is an add-on to any paid Email plan; credits from $20/mo (1K) to $2,500/mo (450K)
- Self-serve from $13/mo; SMS setup includes a short application & approval before you can send
Ecommerce fit
- Shopify and WooCommerce integrations: These integrations let order and customer data shape your audiences and messages. Mailchimp also belongs to the Intuit and QuickBooks ecosystem, which helps if your bookkeeping already runs through QuickBooks.
- Email and SMS replies in one inbox: Replies to your emails and texts land in the Mailchimp Inbox or the mobile app, which suits stores that do not want a separate tool just for texting.
- Email-to-SMS campaigns: Mailchimp can turn your best emails into SMS campaigns, with AI suggestions to help you adapt the copy. Mailchimp users saw up to a 2x higher click rate when they used both Email and SMS.**
Limitations
- Separate SMS credit costs: You pay for credits in addition to your base plan, so budget for both.
- Country coverage tops out at 37: If your customers order from outside those countries, check the supported list before you commit.
Best for deep segmentation: Klaviyo
Klaviyo treats purchase history as the starting point for nearly every message it sends. That approach appeals to online stores that want to target texts by what and how often customers buy. The platform also brings email, SMS, WhatsApp, and a B2C CRM together in one place.
Pricing
- Email + SMS plan from about $35/mo (500 profiles); SMS credits scale with volume on top
- Bills on active profiles, so cost scales with list size regardless of send volume
Ecommerce fit
- Tight Shopify partnership: Segmentation and flows are built around store and purchase data specifically, so your targeting draws directly from what customers buy.
- Mixed reviews on SMS: Independent reviewers disagree on the SMS experience. Some praise the combined email and SMS setup, while others say that SMS has historically trailed Klaviyo's email product.
Limitations
- Costs rise with list growth: Because billing follows active profiles, your bill can jump as your list expands, even if your send volume stays flat.
- Shorter country list: Klaviyo's SMS reaches 23 countries, fewer than Mailchimp's 37. Check with Klaviyo for its current list before planning international campaigns.
- No phone support: Paid plans get 24/7 email and 24/5 live chat, with weekend chat hours varying by plan. There is no phone line.
Best value for budget-conscious stores: Brevo
Brevo keeps costs low by pricing on email volume instead of the number of contacts you store. Stores with big lists can hold on to every subscriber and pay for SMS only when they send. Email and SMS live on one platform, with WhatsApp added on the Professional plan.
Pricing
- SMS billed per message, varying by country; prepaid credits never expire; Starter from $9/mo
- Priced by email volume sent, not contacts stored, so SMS is the added variable cost
Ecommerce fit
- Generous contact storage: The Free plan holds up to 100,000 contacts, which helps stores with large lists that they message only now and then.
- Email & SMS in one place: You can reach shoppers by email and SMS without paying for separate tools. WhatsApp campaigns require the Professional plan ($499/mo) or above.
- Broad country reach: Brevo lists SMS credits in 190+ countries & territories. Check current compliance rules with Brevo.
Limitations
- Ecommerce automation costs more: Full automation, including ecommerce triggers, starts on the Standard plan ($18/mo), and Free & Starter cap automations at 2,000 contacts.
- SMS costs grow with volume: Since every text is billed individually, large campaigns can add up fast.
Best for a simple add-on: Constant Contact
Constant Contact fits stores that already run their email through it and would rather not adopt another tool for texting. SMS sits on top of an existing plan, so there is no separate platform to learn.
Pricing
- SMS add-on from $10/mo (500 messages) on Lite/Standard; included on Premium ($80/mo)
- Lite from $12/mo, Standard from $35/mo, Premium from $80/mo (all at 500 contacts, price rises steeply with list size)
Ecommerce fit
- AI Campaign Builder: Standard & up can produce a draft email, social & SMS campaign from a single prompt; custom automations require Premium.
- Lighter ecommerce automation: Ecommerce automation templates start on Standard, but it has less ecommerce-specific automation depth than the dedicated ecommerce platforms in this comparison.
Limitations
- Add-on fees on entry plans: Texting carries an extra fee on Lite and Standard and is only bundled with Premium.
- SMS limited to the US: Texting is available within the United States only.
- Custom automation requires Premium: Lite includes one automation template and Standard includes three. Custom automations require Premium ($80/mo).
Best for high-volume, SMS-first brands: Attentive
Attentive is a dedicated SMS platform built for high-volume brands that treat texting as a primary revenue channel. It has the deepest SMS-specific toolset of the five, and its pricing and signup process reflect that.
Pricing
- Hybrid subscription + usage; reported minimum of $2,000 to $3,000 per quarter; custom Order Form rates, no public rate card
- Optional short code from $750/mo; demo-gated, rates sit behind a sales call rather than a public pricing page
Ecommerce fit
- Highly rated for ecommerce SMS: Attentive holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating on G2 across nearly 1,500 reviews, and reviewers credit its deep SMS feature set.
- Platform integrations: Attentive connects with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Zendesk, Recharge & Snowflake, among others.
- AI tools: Attentive Concierge pairs AI with live agents, and Brand Voice 2.0 tailors AI copy to your brand. AI Campaigns, Predictive Analytics & a Reporting Agent have been announced.
Limitations
- Sales-led signup: You need a demo, a custom Order Form, and a sales conversation before you can send.
- Enterprise-scale costs: With a quarterly minimum plus a monthly short-code fee, Attentive rarely suits smaller stores.
- No cross-channel inbox: Email and SMS replies stay separate, whereas Mailchimp offers one unified inbox for both.
- Coverage in 20+ countries: Attentive lists SMS in 20+ countries, fewer than Mailchimp's 37.
Picking the right SMS platform for your store
The best SMS marketing for ecommerce is the setup that matches how your store runs today. Here are the questions to work through before you decide:
- Your store platform and tech stack: Mailchimp connects deeply with Shopify and WooCommerce, Klaviyo pairs closely with Shopify, and Attentive adds BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento) & Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Check that your platform is on the list.
- How you want to sign up: Four of the five let you sign up on your own. Attentive asks you to book a demo before you can sign up.
- Your budget and send volume: Brevo charges per message, Klaviyo bills on active profiles, and Attentive sets a quarterly minimum. Each model favors a different kind of store.
- How much SMS-specific automation you need: Attentive has the deepest SMS toolset, while Mailchimp and Constant Contact work as simpler add-ons to email.
Grow your store with Mailchimp SMS
Connect your Shopify or WooCommerce store, pick an Email plan, then buy SMS credits. SMS setup includes a short application & approval before your first send. With Mailchimp, your emails, texts, and customer replies all live in one account.
Disclaimers:
*Up to 22x ROI: Based on e-commerce revenue attributable to Mailchimp users’ SMS Marketing campaigns and Mailchimp SMS spend (not including plan cost) within one year of launch of first SMS campaign from 10/01/24 to 10/17/25. ROI calculation requires an e-commerce store that is connected to a Mailchimp account. Excludes Short code SMS. Results may vary.
**Up to 2x Higher Click Rate: Based on US Mailchimp users who sent both email and SMS campaigns compared to users who sent email-only campaigns from 8/1/23 to 7/28/26. Individual results may vary.