Loops vs Privy
Loops and Privy are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Privy has been around since 2011, giving it a 11-year head start over Loops (founded 2022). Privy is the more affordable option at $30/mo — that's $19 less than Loops's $49/mo entry point. Loops offers a free plan (1,000 contacts, 4,000 sends/month, Loops branding), while Privy does not. Loops stands out with API access, while Privy offers A/B testing and SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
Loops wins on integrations, free tier.
Privy wins on price.
Best for most users: Privy (shopify stores).
Loops
The email platform built for SaaS
Loops is a developer-first email platform designed exclusively for SaaS companies, combining marketing and transactional email in a single clean interface. Built by Y Combinator alumni, it features a Notion-style block editor, event-based automation triggered by user behavior like signups and upgrades, and contact-based pricing with unlimited sends. Its standout strength is letting small SaaS teams replace both their marketing email tool and transactional service (like SendGrid) with one unified platform.
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 | Loops | Privy |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $30/mo |
| Free Plan | 1,000 contacts, 4,000 sends/month, Loops branding | No free plan |
| Founded | 2022 | 2011 |
| Email Templates | 15 | 50 |
| Integrations | 24 | 20 |
| Deliverability Rate | 95% | 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 | ✕ | ✕ |
Loops: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Clean Notion-style block editor with extremely fast email creation and minimal learning curve
- +Unified platform for both marketing and transactional emails eliminates need for separate services like SendGrid
- +Simple contact-based pricing with unlimited sends and no per-seat charges on all paid plans
- +Strong developer-focused API with direct integrations for Stripe, Supabase, Clerk, and webhook support
- +Founder-led customer support with direct access via live chat, email, and 1:1 Calendly calls
Cons
- −Limited automation logic — lacks advanced multi-branch workflows and conditional logic found in mature platforms
- −No built-in CRM or detailed contact history, requiring external tools for relationship management
- −Editor has reported bugs including no undo functionality, risking accidental content loss
- −Narrow SaaS-only focus makes it unsuitable for ecommerce, media, or non-tech industries
- −Very small integration ecosystem (24 native integrations) compared to competitors with hundreds
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
Loops and Privy are closely matched — both score within 0.0 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality.
| Criterion | Weight | Loops | Privy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $49/mo | $30/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 95% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 24 | 20 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Loops if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You need API access for custom integrations
- + You're a saas startups
- + You're a developer first teams
Choose Privy if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($30/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing