Constant Contact vs Privy
Constant Contact is a all-in-one marketing platform while Privy is a email marketing platform. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 16-year head start over Privy (founded 2011). Constant Contact is the more affordable option at $12/mo — that's $18 less than Privy's $30/mo entry point. Constant Contact has the edge with landing pages, advanced analytics, API access.
Quick Verdict
Constant Contact wins on price, deliverability, integrations.
Privy wins on rating.
Best for most users: Constant Contact (small businesses).
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
Privy
Ecommerce email and SMS marketing built for Shopify stores
Privy is an ecommerce-focused email and SMS marketing platform built specifically for Shopify stores, combining conversion popups, email campaigns, and abandoned cart recovery in one tool. With unlimited email sending on all paid plans and a native Shopify integration, it's designed for DTC brands and small online stores that want to grow their list and revenue without the complexity of enterprise marketing platforms.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Constant Contact | Privy |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $30/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Founded | 1995 | 2011 |
| Email Templates | 300 | 50 |
| Integrations | 300 | 20 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97% | 95% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✕ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✕ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✕ |
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- +Excellent event marketing features
- +300+ templates and integrations
- +Strong brand recognition and trust
- +Social media posting included
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Automation is basic on lower tiers
- −Gets expensive with larger lists
- −Interface feels outdated in places
- −Limited advanced features
Privy: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Deep native Shopify integration with one-click install and automatic product syncing
- +Unlimited email sending on all paid plans — no volume limits that punish growth
- +Excellent popup and conversion tools including spin-to-win, exit intent, and cart savers
- +Combined email + SMS marketing eliminates need for separate communication tools
- +Built specifically for ecommerce with abandoned cart recovery and welcome series automation
Cons
- −Limited to ecommerce use cases — not suitable for B2B, SaaS, or non-store businesses
- −No public API, limiting custom integrations and developer extensibility
- −Pricing scales by contacts, getting expensive at higher subscriber counts
- −Reporting and analytics are basic compared to full-featured email marketing platforms
- −Template selection is limited compared to competitors like Klaviyo or Omnisend
The Verdict
Privy edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Constant Contact's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.7 vs 4) and deliverability (4.4 vs 3.9). On deliverability, Constant Contact reports 97% compared to 95% for Privy — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Constant Contact | Privy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $30/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 300 | 20 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Constant Contact if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You need API access for custom integrations
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need advanced analytics
Choose Privy if…
- + You're a shopify stores
- + You're a ecommerce
- + Deep native Shopify integration with one-click install and automatic product syncing