Privy vs Sendy
Privy and Sendy are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Privy starts at $30/mo versus $69 one-time for Sendy. Privy stands out with A/B testing and SMS marketing, while Sendy offers API access.
Quick Verdict
Privy wins on price, rating.
Best for most users: Privy (shopify stores).
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.
Sendy
Self-hosted email marketing that sends via Amazon SES at 100x lower cost
Sendy is a self-hosted email newsletter application that connects to Amazon SES to deliver emails at a fraction of the cost of traditional email marketing platforms. With a one-time $69 license and SES sending costs of roughly $1 per 10,000 emails, it is ideal for high-volume senders who want to avoid recurring subscription fees. It requires technical setup but offers unlimited subscribers, autoresponders, segmentation, and full data ownership.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Privy | Sendy |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $30/mo | $69 |
| Free Plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 0 |
| Integrations | 20 | 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 | ✕ | ✕ |
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
Sendy: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Extreme cost savings — one-time $69 license with Amazon SES sending at ~$1 per 10,000 emails
- +Unlimited subscribers with no tier-based pricing that punishes list growth
- +Full data ownership and privacy since everything is self-hosted on your own server
- +Clean, focused interface without bloated features — does exactly what it promises
- +White-label multi-brand support allows managing multiple client accounts from one install
Cons
- −Requires technical skills for server setup, installation, and ongoing maintenance
- −No built-in A/B testing, landing page builder, or advanced automation workflows
- −UI feels dated and lacks modern design polish compared to SaaS competitors
- −Limited customer support — solo developer product with slow response times reported
- −No drag-and-drop email editor; requires HTML knowledge for custom templates
The Verdict
Privy edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Sendy's 4.2/5. The gap comes mainly from ease of use (4.8 vs 3.9) and support (4.8 vs 4.3).
| Criterion | Weight | Privy | Sendy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $30/mo | $69/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 95% | 95% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 20 | 20 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Privy if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($30/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing
Choose Sendy if…
- + You need API access for custom integrations
- + You're a cost conscious email marketers with large lists
- + You're a technical users comfortable with self hosting and server management