Constant Contact vs Shopify — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Constant Contact starts at $12/mo. Shopify starts at $39/mo. Constant Contact is $27/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Shopify.
See price history: Constant Contact · Shopify
One of the original email marketing platforms (founded 1995), positioned as the beginner-friendly alternative to Mailchimp for very-small-business and nonprofit segments. Distinctive for its 98% inbox delivery rate and dedicated live-support model — unusual in the SMB email space. Restructured 2026 with 3 published tiers (Lite/Standard/Premium) plus custom Teams tier for franchises and multi-location businesses. Lite starts at $12/mo monthly ($8.40 annual) for 500 contacts scaling by list size. 30% off first 3 months promo currently active. Owned by Endurance International / Newfold Digital.
The e-commerce platform that grew from $19/mo startup roots to a $95B market cap public company powering ~10% of all US e-commerce. Positioned as the alternative to running your own e-commerce infrastructure or fighting Amazon's marketplace rules. Distinctive for the 8,000+ app ecosystem plus Shopify Payments (which is where the real margin comes from, on top of $39-$399 subscription). Shopify Plus at $2,300+/mo dominates enterprise e-commerce. Also runs the payment infrastructure for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shopping. Recent 2026 shift raised Basic from $29 to $39 monthly with a new POS Pro add-on at $89/mo per location.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Constant Contact monthly | Constant Contact annual | Shopify monthly | Shopify annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Lite / Basic | $12 | $10.2 | $39 | $29 |
| Mid tier 1 | Standard / Grow | $35 | $29.75 | $105 | $79 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / Advanced | — | — | $399 | $299 |
| Pro / power | Premium / Plus | $80 | $68 | $2300 | — |
| Teams | Teams / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Constant Contact is worth it if… very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers. Lite covers newsletter-only needs with 1 automation template; Standard adds A/B testing and 3 automations; Premium unlocks unlimited automations, SEO recommendations, and Google Ads manager; Teams for multi-location businesses.
Shopify is worth it if… anyone selling physical or digital products online who wants a proven e-commerce platform with a massive app ecosystem — particularly if you're above the WooCommerce/Wix DIY tier but below the Salesforce Commerce Cloud enterprise budget. Basic handles solo entrepreneurs and small stores; Grow adds standard reports and 5 staff; Advanced adds custom reports for scaling brands; Plus for $1M+ GMV businesses.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Constant Contact over Shopify if…
Choose Constant Contact if…
- You're comfortable with Constant Contact's from $12/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Constant Contact is built for: very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Shopify if…
- You're comfortable with Shopify's from $39/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Shopify is built for: anyone selling physical or digital products online who wants a proven e-commerce platform with a massive app ecosystem — particularly if you're above the WooCommerce/Wix DIY tier but below the Salesforce Commerce Cloud enterprise budget.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Constant Contact | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $12/mo | $39/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Verification | Verified August 12, 2026 | Verified August 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 18, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Constant Contact and Shopify
- How much does Constant Contact cost in 2026?
- Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
- How often does Constant Contact change prices?
- What are the best Constant Contact alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Shopify cost in 2026?
- Does Shopify have a free plan?
- How often does Shopify change prices?
- What are the best Shopify alternatives in 2026?