Quick Overview
- 1#1: Klaviyo - Delivers personalized email, SMS, and push marketing powered by first-party data for retail and e-commerce brands.
- 2#2: Braze - Powers real-time customer engagement across email, SMS, push, and in-app channels for retail experiences.
- 3#3: Attentive - AI-driven SMS and MMS marketing platform that drives retail revenue through conversational messaging.
- 4#4: Iterable - Cross-channel growth platform with AI personalization for targeted retail campaigns and journeys.
- 5#5: Bloomreach - AI-powered commerce experience platform optimizing personalization and marketing for retail brands.
- 6#6: Yotpo - E-commerce marketing platform featuring loyalty programs, reviews, SMS, and visual UGC for retail.
- 7#7: Emarsys - Omnichannel marketing automation platform delivering personalized retail customer journeys.
- 8#8: Insider - Unified customer data platform enabling real-time personalization across retail touchpoints.
- 9#9: Nosto - Real-time personalization and marketing automation engine for enhancing retail website conversions.
- 10#10: Salesforce Marketing Cloud - Enterprise marketing automation suite for journey orchestration and CRM integration in retail.
We ranked these tools by evaluating feature depth (e.g., personalization capabilities, cross-channel reach), platform reliability, user experience, and value proposition for retail-specific workflows, prioritizing those that deliver measurable results and adapt to evolving customer expectations.
Comparison Table
In the dynamic retail sector, selecting the right marketing software is vital for connecting with customers and boosting results. This comparison table features top tools like Klaviyo, Braze, Attentive, Iterable, Bloomreach, and more, highlighting their core capabilities and ideal uses. Readers will discover which platform best suits their needs, from email and SMS campaigns to personalized shopping experiences.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Klaviyo Delivers personalized email, SMS, and push marketing powered by first-party data for retail and e-commerce brands. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | Braze Powers real-time customer engagement across email, SMS, push, and in-app channels for retail experiences. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | Attentive AI-driven SMS and MMS marketing platform that drives retail revenue through conversational messaging. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 4 | Iterable Cross-channel growth platform with AI personalization for targeted retail campaigns and journeys. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 5 | Bloomreach AI-powered commerce experience platform optimizing personalization and marketing for retail brands. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Yotpo E-commerce marketing platform featuring loyalty programs, reviews, SMS, and visual UGC for retail. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Emarsys Omnichannel marketing automation platform delivering personalized retail customer journeys. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 8 | Insider Unified customer data platform enabling real-time personalization across retail touchpoints. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 9 | Nosto Real-time personalization and marketing automation engine for enhancing retail website conversions. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.7/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | Salesforce Marketing Cloud Enterprise marketing automation suite for journey orchestration and CRM integration in retail. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
Delivers personalized email, SMS, and push marketing powered by first-party data for retail and e-commerce brands.
Powers real-time customer engagement across email, SMS, push, and in-app channels for retail experiences.
AI-driven SMS and MMS marketing platform that drives retail revenue through conversational messaging.
Cross-channel growth platform with AI personalization for targeted retail campaigns and journeys.
AI-powered commerce experience platform optimizing personalization and marketing for retail brands.
E-commerce marketing platform featuring loyalty programs, reviews, SMS, and visual UGC for retail.
Omnichannel marketing automation platform delivering personalized retail customer journeys.
Unified customer data platform enabling real-time personalization across retail touchpoints.
Real-time personalization and marketing automation engine for enhancing retail website conversions.
Enterprise marketing automation suite for journey orchestration and CRM integration in retail.
Klaviyo
specializedDelivers personalized email, SMS, and push marketing powered by first-party data for retail and e-commerce brands.
Revenue per recipient tracking, which attributes exact revenue to each marketing message for precise ROI measurement
Klaviyo is a leading marketing automation platform tailored for e-commerce and retail businesses, specializing in email, SMS, and push notification campaigns. It leverages a robust customer data platform (CDP) to enable hyper-personalized messaging, advanced segmentation, and automated customer journeys based on purchase history and behavior. With seamless integrations into major retail platforms like Shopify and Magento, Klaviyo empowers retailers to optimize revenue through data-driven insights and A/B testing.
Pros
- Exceptional customer segmentation and personalization using first-party data
- Powerful automation flows with revenue attribution tracking
- Deep e-commerce integrations and real-time analytics
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with contact list size and send volume
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features
- Limited multichannel support beyond email/SMS/push
Best For
E-commerce retailers and DTC brands seeking scalable, data-driven email and SMS marketing to maximize customer lifetime value.
Pricing
Free for up to 250 contacts and 500 email sends; paid plans start at $20/month, scaling by contacts/emails (e.g., $100+/month for 10k contacts) with enterprise custom pricing.
Braze
enterprisePowers real-time customer engagement across email, SMS, push, and in-app channels for retail experiences.
Canvas: Visual journey builder for creating dynamic, real-time customer experiences across channels
Braze is a powerful customer engagement platform tailored for retail marketers, enabling hyper-personalized, real-time interactions across email, SMS, push notifications, in-app messaging, and web. It excels in customer data unification, advanced segmentation, and journey orchestration through its intuitive Canvas tool, helping retailers drive loyalty and conversions. With robust A/B testing, AI-driven insights, and seamless integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Salesforce, Braze supports omnichannel campaigns at enterprise scale.
Pros
- Exceptional real-time personalization and cross-channel orchestration
- Advanced segmentation and AI-powered experimentation tools
- Scalable for high-volume retail operations with deep analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- High cost unsuitable for small retailers
- Complex initial setup and integration
Best For
Enterprise-level retail brands needing sophisticated, omnichannel customer engagement at scale.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at around $50,000 annually, based on monthly active users and message volume.
Attentive
specializedAI-driven SMS and MMS marketing platform that drives retail revenue through conversational messaging.
AI Einstein engine for real-time message personalization and optimal send timing
Attentive is a conversational commerce platform specializing in SMS and MMS marketing for retail brands, enabling personalized messaging to drive customer engagement, retention, and sales. It uses AI to segment audiences, optimize send times, and automate journeys across SMS, push notifications, and email. The platform integrates seamlessly with e-commerce tools like Shopify and Klaviyo, making it a powerhouse for mobile-first retail marketing strategies.
Pros
- Exceptional AI-driven personalization and predictive analytics for high ROI campaigns
- Seamless integrations with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce
- High deliverability rates and robust A/B testing for SMS/MMS optimization
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with message volume, making it costly for smaller retailers
- Primarily SMS-focused, with less depth in multi-channel email or social compared to competitors
- Steep learning curve for advanced automation and segmentation features
Best For
Mid-to-large retail brands with significant mobile audiences seeking to maximize SMS-driven conversions and customer lifetime value.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on message volume; typically starts at $500–$1,000/month for mid-tier plans, with enterprise options scaling higher.
Iterable
specializedCross-channel growth platform with AI personalization for targeted retail campaigns and journeys.
AI Decisioning engine for real-time behavioral triggering and automated optimization across channels
Iterable is a cross-channel customer engagement platform designed for retail marketers to deliver personalized messaging via email, SMS, push notifications, and in-app experiences. It uses real-time customer data and AI to automate journeys, optimize campaigns, and drive retention and conversions. With robust segmentation, A/B testing, and analytics, it helps retailers scale personalized marketing at enterprise levels.
Pros
- AI-powered real-time personalization and experimentation
- Seamless omnichannel journey orchestration
- Deep analytics and customer data unification
Cons
- Enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for small retailers
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Setup requires developer resources for advanced integrations
Best For
Mid-to-large retail brands focused on data-driven personalization and high-volume customer engagement.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $10,000-$15,000/month for mid-tier plans based on contacts and volume.
Bloomreach
enterpriseAI-powered commerce experience platform optimizing personalization and marketing for retail brands.
Clarity AI personalization engine that generates real-time, predictive customer journeys across all touchpoints
Bloomreach is an AI-powered customer engagement platform designed for retailers, focusing on personalization, marketing automation, and composable digital experiences. It unifies customer data from multiple sources to enable targeted campaigns across email, SMS, web, and in-app channels. The platform excels in discovery features like search, recommendations, and merchandising to drive conversions and customer loyalty.
Pros
- AI-driven hyper-personalization for real-time customer experiences
- Seamless omnichannel campaign management and orchestration
- Powerful customer data platform with advanced segmentation and analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup
- Enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for smaller retailers
- Limited out-of-the-box templates requiring customization
Best For
Mid-to-large retailers with complex e-commerce needs seeking data-driven personalization at scale.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $50,000+ annually for enterprise plans based on data volume and features.
Yotpo
specializedE-commerce marketing platform featuring loyalty programs, reviews, SMS, and visual UGC for retail.
Visual UGC with shoppable galleries that seamlessly turns customer photos/videos into revenue-generating content
Yotpo is a comprehensive e-commerce marketing platform focused on user-generated content (UGC), customer reviews, ratings, photos, and videos to build social proof and drive sales. It integrates SMS/email marketing, loyalty and referral programs, and shoppable galleries, making it ideal for retail brands aiming to enhance post-purchase engagement. With strong integrations for platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, Yotpo helps retailers collect authentic feedback and turn it into actionable marketing assets.
Pros
- Robust UGC and review collection with AI moderation and rich media support
- Multi-channel marketing tools including SMS, email, and loyalty programs
- Excellent integrations with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Magento
Cons
- Pricing can escalate quickly for smaller retailers with advanced features
- Some advanced customizations require developer support
- Reporting dashboards could be more intuitive for non-experts
Best For
Mid-sized e-commerce retailers seeking to leverage customer reviews, UGC, and loyalty programs for conversion optimization.
Pricing
Modular pricing starts at $29/month for Reviews, $199/month for Loyalty & Referrals; bundles and enterprise plans are custom with annual commitments.
Emarsys
enterpriseOmnichannel marketing automation platform delivering personalized retail customer journeys.
AI Engine for predictive next-best-action recommendations across all channels
Emarsys is an AI-powered omnichannel marketing platform designed for retail brands to deliver hyper-personalized customer experiences across email, SMS, mobile push, web, and in-app channels. It features a robust customer data platform (CDP) that unifies data for predictive segmentation, lifecycle automation, and real-time personalization. Retailers use it to boost engagement, retention, and lifetime value through intelligent campaign orchestration and analytics.
Pros
- Advanced AI-driven personalization and predictive analytics
- Seamless omnichannel orchestration for retail journeys
- Strong data unification and compliance features (GDPR-ready)
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Custom enterprise pricing lacks transparency
- Implementation can take several weeks
Best For
Mid-to-large retail brands needing scalable, AI-fueled personalization at enterprise levels.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on contacts, channels, and usage; typically starts at $10,000+/month for mid-sized implementations.
Insider
specializedUnified customer data platform enabling real-time personalization across retail touchpoints.
Real-time AI hyper-personalization engine that delivers tailored experiences across all touchpoints instantly
Insider is an AI-powered customer data and experience platform designed for retailers to unify customer data in real-time and deliver hyper-personalized marketing across channels like email, SMS, web, app, and in-store. It enables omnichannel orchestration, predictive segmentation, and automated journeys to drive engagement, loyalty, and conversions. With its Growth Management Platform, retailers can optimize campaigns using AI insights without needing extensive technical expertise.
Pros
- Powerful real-time CDP for unified customer views
- AI-driven personalization and recommendations at scale
- Seamless omnichannel orchestration including emerging channels
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- High cost suitable mainly for mid-to-large enterprises
- Limited reporting customization compared to some competitors
Best For
Mid-to-large retail brands seeking advanced AI personalization and omnichannel marketing automation to scale customer engagement.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on contacts and usage; typically starts at $10,000+ per month for mid-tier plans.
Nosto
specializedReal-time personalization and marketing automation engine for enhancing retail website conversions.
Cookie-free AI visitor intent recognition for instantaneous, privacy-compliant personalization
Nosto is an AI-driven personalization platform tailored for e-commerce retailers, focusing on delivering hyper-personalized customer experiences through dynamic product recommendations, targeted messaging, and automated email campaigns. It analyzes real-time visitor behavior to optimize content across the customer journey, boosting conversions, average order value, and loyalty. With seamless integrations for platforms like Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce, Nosto enables retailers to implement sophisticated personalization without heavy coding.
Pros
- Advanced AI-powered personalization with real-time behavioral targeting
- Proven ROI through increased conversions and AOV
- Extensive integrations with major e-commerce platforms
Cons
- High pricing scales quickly with traffic volume
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Limited support for omnichannel beyond web and email
Best For
Mid-sized e-commerce retailers with significant traffic aiming to leverage AI for 1:1 personalization and revenue growth.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on monthly visitors; entry-level plans start around €500/month, with enterprise tiers exceeding €5,000/month.
Salesforce Marketing Cloud
enterpriseEnterprise marketing automation suite for journey orchestration and CRM integration in retail.
Journey Builder for visually designing sophisticated, multi-step customer journeys across channels
Salesforce Marketing Cloud is a comprehensive digital marketing platform designed for orchestrating personalized customer experiences across email, SMS, mobile push, and ads. It excels in retail by unifying customer data into a 360-degree view, enabling advanced segmentation, automation, and journey orchestration to boost engagement and sales. With AI-powered insights via Einstein, it helps retailers predict behaviors and optimize campaigns in real-time.
Pros
- Extremely powerful customer data platform (CDP) for deep personalization and segmentation
- Journey Builder enables complex, multi-channel customer journeys with drag-and-drop simplicity
- Seamless integration with Salesforce CRM and robust AI analytics for predictive insights
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex interface requiring skilled administrators
- High cost that scales rapidly with volume, making it less accessible for smaller retailers
- Lengthy implementation and customization process
Best For
Large-scale retailers with enterprise needs, complex customer journeys, and existing Salesforce infrastructure seeking advanced personalization.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing starting at ~$1,200/month for basic plans, scaling to tens of thousands based on contacts, emails, and features; annual contracts typical.
Conclusion
The reviewed tools represent the pinnacle of retail marketing software, with Klaviyo emerging as the top choice, leveraging first-party data for highly personalized email, SMS, and push campaigns that resonate deeply with audiences. Braze follows, excelling in real-time cross-channel engagement, while Attentive stands out with AI-driven conversational messaging, offering distinct value for driving retail revenue. Together, they highlight the diverse capabilities available, though Klaviyo’s comprehensive approach makes it the go-to for most brands seeking to enhance their marketing effectiveness.
Don’t wait—dive into the power of Klaviyo and transform your retail marketing. Its proven ability to deliver personalized, data-backed strategies can help you build stronger customer connections and boost growth. Start exploring today to see why it’s the top pick for retail success.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison