Constant Contact vs Drip: Which Is Better in 2026?
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Drip is marketing automation for small online stores. Constant Contact’s strength is helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand; Drip’s is ecommerce automation without Klaviyo’s complexity.
01Pricing
Constant Contact: paid plans start at $10.20/mo for 500 contacts. Drip: paid plans start at $39/mo for up to 2,500 active people. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. Drip has no free plan; the trial runs 14 days.
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite † | $10.20 | $12 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 10x contacts; 1 user; 1 automation template | Basic reporting |
| Standard † | $29.75 | $35 | Monthly sends 12x contacts; 3 users; 3 automation templates | Email scheduling; A/B testing; Advanced reporting |
| Premium † | $68 | $80 | Monthly sends 24x contacts; Unlimited users | Unlimited automations and segments; Dynamic content; Dedicated priority support team |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip † | n/a | $39 | Up to 2,500 active people at this price; Unlimited email sends | Every feature included at all sizes; Billed only for active people |
Prices are per month on annual billing, except Drip (monthly billing; no annual price published). † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. Constant Contact pricing and Drip pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Beyond email it handles event registration, social posting and surveys, and it backs them with phone support and plenty of guidance. Automation is basic, and there is a trial instead of a free plan.
- Best at
- Helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand.
- Falls short
- Automation and segmentation are limited, and you pay from the start.
Drip
Drip is marketing automation for small online stores. It connects to store platforms, segments customers by what they bought and browsed, and runs visual workflows for carts, welcomes and win-backs. It covers much of what Klaviyo does with a simpler product.
- Best at
- Ecommerce automation without Klaviyo’s complexity.
- Falls short
- There is no free plan, the integration catalog is smaller, and it offers little to businesses that are not stores.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Constant Contact | Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers. |
| Ecommerce | Drip | Store-driven automation for smaller shops that find Klaviyo too much. |
| Startups | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for startups. |
| Creators | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for creators. |
| Agencies | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for agencies. |
04Verdict
Choose Constant Contact if you are a small business or nonprofit that wants hand-holding and event tools. Choose Drip if you run a small online store and want automation that is easy to manage.
05FAQ
Is Constant Contact or Drip cheaper?
Constant Contact starts at $10.20/mo and Drip at $39/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing, except Drip (monthly billing; no annual price published).
Do Constant Contact and Drip have free plans?
Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. Drip has no free plan; the trial runs 14 days.
Which is easier to learn, Constant Contact or Drip?
Constant Contact is quick to set up; Drip is moderately involved to set up. There is no free plan, the integration catalog is smaller, and it offers little to businesses that are not stores.
Which is better for small business, Constant Contact or Drip?
Constant Contact. Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers.