Why E-commerce Teams Look for Omnisend Alternatives

Omnisend has built a strong reputation in the e-commerce email marketing space. With 150,000+ online stores using the platform, they've mastered Shopify and WooCommerce integration. But as messaging habits evolve, some teams are discovering limitations.

Common reasons teams explore alternatives:

  • No native WhatsApp: Omnisend focuses on SMS, but WhatsApp dominates in APAC, LATAM, and much of Europe
  • Costs scale quickly: As your contact list grows, pricing can increase rapidly beyond 500-1,000 contacts
  • E-commerce focus only: If you're SaaS, B2B, or content-focused, Omnisend may not be the best fit
  • Limited SMS credits: SMS credits run out quickly with active campaigns in lower-tier plans
The Key Difference
Native WhatsApp vs. Third-Party Integration

Omnisend requires third-party tools like Chatarmin for WhatsApp. HiMail.ai has WhatsApp Business API built directly into the platform—same dashboard, same automations, no extra integrations needed.

HiMail.ai vs Omnisend: Feature Comparison

Here's how HiMail.ai compares to Omnisend's Standard plan at similar contact levels.

Feature HiMail.ai Professional Omnisend Standard
Monthly Price
At ~2,500 contacts
 $49/month ~$35/month
WhatsApp Marketing
Native Business API
 5,000/month included Requires 3rd-party tool
SMS Marketing
Text message campaigns
 Add-on available $1 credit included
Email Sends
Monthly limit
 12,500/month 30,000/month (12x contacts)
E-commerce Integrations
Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.
 Supported Best-in-class
Pre-built Automations
Ready-to-use workflows
 Email + WhatsApp flows 27+ email/SMS flows
Free Trial
Test before you buy
 14 days Free plan (limited)
Team Members
Users included
 Unlimited Varies by plan

Omnisend Pricing in 2025

Understanding Omnisend's pricing structure helps you see where each platform offers value.

Omnisend Plans & Pricing

📊 Omnisend Plans
  • Free: $0/mo (250 contacts, 500 emails)
  • Standard: From $11.20/mo
  • Pro: From $41.30/mo
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing
Scaling Costs
  • Pricing increases with contact list
  • SMS credits run out quickly
  • No native WhatsApp support
  • Best features in higher tiers

Price Comparison at Different Contact Levels

Contacts HiMail.ai Omnisend Standard
500 contacts $29/month ~$16/month
2,500 contacts $49/month ~$35/month
5,000 contacts $149/month ~$65/month
10,000 contacts $149/month ~$115/month

Note: HiMail.ai pricing includes 5,000 WhatsApp messages/month and unlimited users. If you need WhatsApp with Omnisend, you'd need a separate tool like Chatarmin (additional cost).

WhatsApp vs SMS: Why It Matters

Omnisend excels at email + SMS marketing. But SMS isn't the only game in town for direct messaging—especially outside the US.

WhatsApp Advantages

Metric WhatsApp SMS
Open Rate 98% ~90%
Response Rate 45-60% ~10%
Rich Media Images, videos, PDFs Text only (MMS costs extra)
Global Reach 2B+ users worldwide Best in US/Canada
Cost per Message Lower (especially international) Higher for global

Where each channel wins:

  • SMS: Best for US/Canada customers, quick alerts, time-sensitive offers
  • WhatsApp: Best for international customers, rich conversations, support integration, markets where WhatsApp dominates (India, Brazil, Indonesia, UK, Germany, etc.)

When to Choose HiMail.ai Over Omnisend

1. You Need WhatsApp Marketing

If your customers are on WhatsApp (most of the world outside North America), HiMail.ai's native WhatsApp Business API integration is a major advantage over Omnisend's SMS-focused approach.

2. You're Not Purely E-commerce

Omnisend is optimized for e-commerce with 27+ pre-built flows for Shopify and WooCommerce. HiMail.ai works great for e-commerce but also serves SaaS, service businesses, and B2B companies equally well.

3. You Have International Customers

WhatsApp is cheaper and more effective than SMS for international messaging. If you sell globally, HiMail.ai can save you significant messaging costs.

4. You Want Unified Multi-Channel

HiMail.ai puts email and WhatsApp in one dashboard with unified automations. With Omnisend, you'd need to integrate a third-party WhatsApp tool separately.

✓ HiMail.ai Strengths
  • Native WhatsApp Business API
  • Email + WhatsApp unified
  • Better for international markets
  • Unlimited team members
  • 14-day free trial
✗ When Omnisend Wins
  • Best-in-class Shopify integration
  • 27+ pre-built e-commerce flows
  • SMS focus for US customers
  • Lower price for small lists
  • Free tier available

Who Should Consider Switching?

HiMail.ai is the better choice if you:

  • Sell to international markets: WhatsApp reaches 2B+ users where SMS doesn't
  • Want higher engagement: 98% WhatsApp open rates vs 90% SMS
  • Need rich messaging: Send images, videos, PDFs—not just text
  • Run a non-e-commerce business: SaaS, services, B2B, or content
  • Have a growing team: Unlimited users vs seat limits

Omnisend might still be right if you:

  • Run a Shopify or WooCommerce store exclusively
  • Your customers are primarily in the US/Canada
  • SMS is your preferred messaging channel
  • You need a free tier to start
  • You want the most e-commerce integrations possible

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate from Omnisend to HiMail.ai?

Yes. HiMail.ai offers migration assistance for teams switching from Omnisend. We'll help you import contacts, recreate automations, and get set up quickly. Most migrations complete within a few hours.

Does HiMail.ai work with Shopify?

Yes! HiMail.ai integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and other e-commerce platforms. While Omnisend has more pre-built e-commerce flows, HiMail.ai covers all the essential automation triggers like abandoned cart, post-purchase, and win-back campaigns.

How does WhatsApp compare to SMS for marketing?

WhatsApp achieves 98% open rates and 45-60% response rates, compared to SMS's 90% open rate and ~10% response rate. WhatsApp also supports rich media (images, videos, documents) and is more cost-effective for international messaging. However, SMS still dominates in the US/Canada.

Does Omnisend have WhatsApp integration?

Omnisend doesn't have native WhatsApp support. They offer integration with third-party tools like Chatarmin for WhatsApp marketing, but this requires a separate subscription and doesn't provide the same unified experience as HiMail.ai's native WhatsApp Business API.

Is there a free trial?

Yes! HiMail.ai offers a 14-day free trial on all plans—no credit card required. Omnisend offers a limited free tier (250 contacts, 500 emails/month) that you can use indefinitely, but with restricted features.