The Quick Verdict
Omnisend is the clear pick for online stores. Its pre-built e-commerce automations, SMS marketing, and product picker make it purpose-built for selling online, starting at $16/mo. Constant Contact is the better fit for brick-and-mortar businesses, nonprofits, and event promoters who want simple list management and event tools starting at $12/mo. Neither tool is a great all-rounder for B2B companies or SaaS teams. If you run a Shopify or WooCommerce store, Omnisend wins by a wide margin.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Omnisend | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $16/mo (paid tier, 500 contacts) | $12/mo (Lite, 500 contacts) |
| Free Plan | Yes — 500 emails/mo, full automation access | No — 60-day free trial only |
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Automation Depth | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Customization | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Integrations | 130+ (deep e-commerce focus) | 300+ (broader but shallower) |
| Reporting | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Support Quality | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Best For | E-commerce stores needing SMS + email automation | Local businesses, nonprofits, and event promoters |
| Our Score | 8.4 / 10 | 7.1 / 10 |
Pricing Comparison
Both tools price by contact count, but they land differently in terms of what you actually get at each tier.
| Scenario | Omnisend | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free (500 emails/mo) | No free plan |
| 500 contacts | $16/mo | $12/mo |
| 5,000 contacts | $65/mo | $80/mo |
| 25,000 contacts | $180/mo | $230/mo |
Automation: Omnisend Laps the Field for E-Commerce
Omnisend ships with pre-built automation workflows for cart abandonment, browse abandonment, post-purchase follow-ups, and welcome series. These work out of the box with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce without custom setup. Constant Contact offers basic autoresponders and a simple automation builder, but it lacks product-triggered flows and multi-channel sequences. If you want to send an SMS 30 minutes after a cart is abandoned and follow up with an email the next day, Omnisend handles that natively. Constant Contact cannot. For automation, Omnisend wins decisively.
Ease of Use: Constant Contact's Biggest Advantage
Constant Contact has spent decades refining its onboarding for non-technical users. The drag-and-drop editor is clean, the interface is uncluttered, and new users can send their first campaign within 20 minutes. Omnisend’s editor is also solid, but the platform introduces more complexity upfront with segmentation, automation branching, and SMS setup. For a small nonprofit or a yoga studio owner sending a monthly newsletter, Constant Contact genuinely requires less mental overhead. If simplicity is the top priority, Constant Contact edges ahead here.
SMS and Multi-Channel: Omnisend Is Built for It
Omnisend treats SMS as a first-class channel, not a bolt-on. You can build unified email, SMS, and web push notification campaigns from one automation workflow. SMS credits are included in the Pro plan, and you can collect phone numbers via Omnisend’s native pop-up forms. Constant Contact launched SMS marketing but it is only available in the US, requires an add-on, and cannot be combined with email in the same automation sequence. For any store wanting a true omnichannel approach, Omnisend is the only real choice between these two tools.
Pricing Value for Small Businesses
Constant Contact starts at $12/mo but charges based on contact count, and costs climb fast once you cross a few thousand subscribers. Omnisend’s free tier supports up to 250 contacts with full feature access, and its $16/mo plan unlocks automations and SMS in a way Constant Contact simply doesn’t match at a comparable price. Constant Contact also lacks a meaningful free plan, offering only a short trial before locking you out. For e-commerce stores, Omnisend’s pricing structure makes far more sense because revenue-driving features like abandoned cart recovery are available on entry-level plans rather than gated behind upgrades. For nonprofits or small brick-and-mortar businesses sending simple newsletters, Constant Contact’s flat pricing is predictable enough to work. But on pure value for features delivered, Omnisend wins this category for most small businesses.
Who Should Choose Which?
- You run a Shopify or WooCommerce store and need pre-built revenue-focused automations that connect directly to your product catalog
- You want cart abandonment and post-purchase flows ready to activate without custom configuration
- You need email and SMS combined in a single drag-and-drop workflow rather than managing two separate tools
- You want a free plan that includes automation triggers and segmentation from day one
- You run a local service business, nonprofit, or community org where simplicity matters more than e-commerce depth
- You regularly host events and need built-in RSVP and registration tools without third-party integrations
- You want the fastest possible path to a clean-looking email with minimal learning curve or technical setup
- You are already using Constant Contact and your current workflows, lists, and templates are performing reliably