Artisanal Solutions / Guides / Mailchimp Alternatives for Food Brands
Alternatives
Mailchimp alternatives for food brands and farms
Mailchimp is where many farms and food makers start. Once you sell online, want automatic emails or outgrow the free plan, these are the tools brands move to.
| Platform | Best for | Store data | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Simple newsletters | Basic | Add-on |
| Klaviyo | Shopify stores | Deep | Yes |
| Omnisend | Lighter e-commerce | Good | Yes |
| Shopify Email | Basics inside Shopify | Native | No |
| Flodesk | Design-led newsletters | Minimal | No |
The short answer
Klaviyo is the strongest alternative for food brands selling on Shopify, because it uses order and cart data to send emails on its own. Omnisend is a lighter e-commerce option. Shopify Email covers basic campaigns inside Shopify. Flodesk suits a design-led newsletter.
The alternatives
-
Klaviyo
Best for Shopify storesEmail and SMS built for online stores, using orders, browsing and carts to send welcome, abandoned cart, back-in-stock and review emails automatically.
Good fit if- You sell online on Shopify
- Products sell out and come back
Watch for- Pricing rises with list size
- Takes setup to get flows right
-
Omnisend
Best for lighter e-commerceE-commerce email and SMS with Shopify data and prebuilt automations, usually simpler to run than Klaviyo.
Good fit if- You want store-based flows with less setup
Watch for- Fewer advanced segments than Klaviyo
-
Shopify Email
Best for basics inside ShopifyEmail built into Shopify admin, using your products and customers without another login.
Good fit if- You send a few campaigns a month
Watch for- Limited automation
-
Flodesk
Best for design-led newslettersAn email tool focused on good-looking templates and simple sending.
Good fit if- The newsletter is the main thing you send
Watch for- Little store data and no SMS
Want one of these set up for you?
Tell us what you make. We send back a short plan and a price.
How it works
Tell us what you make
What you make and what you use now. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer.
Get a short plan
Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.
We set it up
Setup and migration done for you. You approve before anything goes live.
Run it or hand it off
Take it from there yourself or keep us on for the upkeep.
Questions
What is the best Mailchimp alternative for a food business?
Klaviyo if you sell online on Shopify. If you mostly sell in person, Mailchimp may still be the right tool.
Will I lose my list if I switch?
No. Contacts and their consent move over. Templates and automations are rebuilt in the new tool.
Which automatic emails should a food brand set up first?
Welcome, abandoned cart and back in stock, then a review request after delivery.
Can Madeline's move my list?
Yes. We move contacts and consent, rebuild the key flows and set up sending so mail lands in the inbox.
Get a plan and a price
Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.
The newsletter for artisans, makers and farmers
Tools worth using, shipping and labeling how-tos, and what is working for other small producers. Email only, unsubscribe any time.
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Guides
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- Best CSA software for farms
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- Best shipping software for perishable food
- Best email marketing for food brands
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- How to ship chocolate
- Shipping supplies: what to buy and where
- Carriers and shipping software basics
- Food label requirements
- Cottage food laws by state
- Cottage food to commercial kitchen
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- Farmers market vendor checklist
- Where to sell artisan food online
- Grants and programs
- Food business glossary