Drip is a robust email marketing and automation platform built specifically for e-commerce businesses. With a powerful feature set tailored to online sellers, Drip aims to help drive more sales through personalized and targeted email marketing campaigns.
In this comprehensive Drip review, we will thoroughly evaluate the email marketing platform across several crucial categories including account setup, dashboard, campaign creation, contact management, analytics, integrations, compliance, pricing, pros and cons, and customer feedback.
Drip Summary
Ron’s Thoughts
Drip is a really good email marketing platform that can help in many ways. For instance, you can use its powerful analytics tools to evaluate the effectiveness of your email campaigns. On top of that, it has some of the best email segmentation tools out there, allowing you a lot of freedom when it comes to sending targeted, personalized emails. Overall, if you’re looking to achieve excellent results with your email marketing campaigns, Drip is a great choice.
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Biggest Pro:
Powerful Email Segmentation Tools
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Biggest Con:
Difficult to Learn and Navigate
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Annual Discount:
No
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Price:
Starts at $39/mo (for 2,500 email contacts max)
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Promotion:
Key Takeaways:
- Drip excels in segmentation, automation, and analytics reporting
- Areas for improvement are its interface design, template options, and integration capabilities
Recommendations:
- Klaviyo for advanced analytics and segmentation
- Omnisend for superior usability and designs
- Mailchimp for easy email campaign creation
Equipped with these key takeaways and recommendations, our review provides the information you need to decide if Drip meets your e-commerce email marketing and automation needs or if you should consider another platform.
Setup and User Interface
A. Dashboard and Navigation
Drip’s dashboard provides an overview of key metrics like monthly recurring revenue, lifetime value, and subscriber engagement rates. The main navigation menu enables access to campaign creation, segmentation, sequences (automation), and reports. It has a clean, modern interface. However, the product’s complexity means a steep learning curve for understanding all available options.
Overall, Drip gives users robust functionality for complex email campaigns and sales funnels once learned. However, the interface lacks intuitiveness and simplicity compared to some competitors. Additional onboarding, tutorials, or pre-built templates would improve user experience.
B. Email Subscriber Migration
Transitioning email contacts into Drip requires either manual CSV upload or integration with services like Zapier. Drip itself does not provide automated migration tools. Their support articles walk users through preparing CSVs properly for upload. However, this can prove time-intensive for stores with large subscriber files.
Zapier helps connect Drip to other email platforms. This automates subscriber data transfers. However, it requires managing the Zaps and monitoring for errors. Support teams can also assist with data migrations. However, this took significant back-and-forth communication in our case.
Overall, while possible, moving email subscriber data into Drip often demands technical preparation. More built-in tools or straightforward migration would aid in onboarding new users. Competitors like Klaviyo offer direct integrations with major platforms to auto-sync contacts.
Email Campaign Creation
A. Templates and Design
Drip offers drag-and-drop functionality to customize pre-configured email templates. The visual builder provides flexibility for modifying images, content blocks, colors, and fonts. However, the template selection remains relatively limited compared to other email services. Most feature a basic blog or promotional designs.
Additional template categories tailored for e-commerce – like cart abandonment emails or product announcements – would be useful. Competitors such as Klaviyo have more category-specific, pre-built email types. This requires less time manually designing campaign layouts in Drip for online stores.
Overall, the template editor makes basic customizations easy. But more intricate changes or coding would require a web developer. Expanding the template library variety could improve user experience for less design-savvy users.
B. Personalization and Automation
Creating personalized, behavioral-based emails is straightforward with Drip segmentation tools. Tags divide contacts based on criteria like past purchases or browser history. Then dynamic content blocks display custom messages to each group. Further customization comes through if/then workflow rules to send series based on user actions.
However, some comparator platforms offer more granular segmentation controls or broader conditional logic functions. For example, Klaviyo lets you create highly personalized 1:1 messages triggered by specific customer events. Drip segmentation works for basic personalization but could provide more advanced options.
In terms of automation, Drip enables multi-email sequences like cart abandonment flows. However, competitors such as Omnisend have more robust, customizable automation-building capabilities. This allows for the creation of complex campaigns tailored to user lifecycles without extensive coding expertise.
Contact Management
A. Organizing Contacts
Drip provides tag and segment tools to categorize contacts. Tags manually assign identifiers like “loyal customer” or “webinar attendee” to individual subscribers. Segments automatically group contacts by behaviors like clicking a link. This organizational system enables targeting specific lists for each campaign.
However, comparative tools in Klaviyo allow for more customizable properties to track per contact. Omnisend also includes flexible attribute assignments for richer data beyond tags. Drip’s simpler approach works for basic grouping. However, additional metadata storage could improve granular targeting.
B. Cleaning up Email Lists
List hygiene is critical for deliverability. Drip provides a native preference center and one-click unsubscribe tools. This puts control in the subscriber’s hands. Additionally, robust segmentation by engagement, lifecycle stage, and activity exists to prune stagnant contacts.
Areas for improvement include more automation settings by contact action. For example, some platforms let you auto-remove subscribers from campaigns after periods of inactivity. This maintains list relevancy with less manual pruning required.
C. Segmentation and Targeting
Drip’s segments offer extensive options to divide contacts by behaviors, attributes, and activity. Power users can leverage custom field data for micro-targeting. Real-time syncing also keeps segments updated. This level of segmentation suits most use cases to personalize messaging.
Comparatively, Klaviyo and Omnisend edge out Drip regarding customization flexibility. They allow crafting segments with more advanced filters and conditional criteria. But Drip covers the basics well for audience targeting based on granular factors like cart abandons or recent purchases. The template personalization works nicely on top of these segments too.
Email Deliverability
Deliverability refers to how reliably emails reach subscriber inboxes rather than getting flagged as spam. This depends on both the sending platform and subscriber actions.
Drip aims to maximize inbox placement through proprietary tools like List Warming and IP Warming. These techniques gradually increase sending volume to earn trust with major ISPs. Additionally, granular bounce management and blacklist monitoring enable course-correcting issues.
However, specific published deliverability metrics for Drip are hard to find. Support articles claim the platform averages 97%+ inbox delivery rates. But without cited third-party verification, this remains questionable.
Benchmark data from email experience platforms like 250ok shows industry averages around 90-95%. Drip likely falls within a comparable range, though direct numeric comparisons are unavailable. They highlight deliverability within their platform but do not disclose quantitative performance.
Competitors like SendGrid and Mailchimp publish detailed deliverability dashboards with cited metrics. This enables clearer platform comparisons regarding inbox placement over time. Drip does not offer this level of public benchmarking. So buyers must take their deliverability claims at face value without independent verification.
Overall, Drip does appear to invest heavily in maximizing email reach. However, they refrain from sharing specific measured deliverability rates compared to other industry players. Their touted 97%+ inboxes figure remains questionable without third-party data sources validating that number over time.
Analytics and Reporting
A. Performance Metrics
Drip provides extensive email performance metrics across opens, clicks, bounces, conversions, and unsubscribes. Granular data displays for every campaign and variant sent. Benchmarks also compare against other Drip customers for context.
Useful features include partial and full email previews to understand user drop-offs. Impressive customization also allows for building metrics tailored to e-commerce business goals. However, some comparators like Klaviyo have even more comprehensive tracking. Their deeper metrics better inform future send optimization.
B. Visual Reports and Insights
Robust visualization transforms Drip’s campaign data into actionable insights. Customizable dashboards highlight key trends and patterns. The intuitive interface allows drilling down from high-level analytics to specific subscriber activities.
Standout features include cohort analysis comparing groups over time. Funnel workflows illustrate customer journeys across campaigns. Intelligent recommendations suggest improvements based on learning algorithms.
Overall, Drip balances intuitive data displays for high-level snapshots with deep functionality for granular insights. The custom dashboards and visual abilities outperform many email services. This flexibility provides robust reporting to pinpoint successes, Issues, and optimization opportunities.
Integrations
A. CRM Integrations
Drip offers a range of integrations with third-party software including native CRM integration with Close.io plus broader connectivity through Zapier.
The dedicated Close.io sync automatically pushes contact activity between both platforms. This eliminates manual exporting or duplicate data entry.
Help docs also provide code solutions for passing data to frequently used CRMs like Salesforce. However, competitors offer more turnkey support for top sales tools. For example, Klaviyo has unified customer records across CRM systems through its unified API.
Via Zapier, Drip can interface with 100+ other apps including HubSpot, Marketo, and Zoho. However, this requires managing individual Zaps for each data flow. More built-in critical software integrations could minimize this need for ongoing Zap supervision.
B. E-commerce Integrations
As an e-commerce-focused platform, Drip integrates natively with leading online store builders like Shopify, Wix, and WooCommerce. The app dashboards and preference centers are also embedded directly into websites. This allows personalized experiences for contacts interacting on-site.
However, shoppers on less common e-commerce platforms may need to leverage Zaps for store connectivity. Some alternative email services again have proprietary APIs to enable broader native integration support for niche shopping cart systems. This prevents relying on ongoing Zap creation and troubleshooting for store connections.
Overall, Drip covers integration essentials through its core store partnerships and Zapier flexibility. However, growth opportunity exists within expanding native app support for connecting to more CRM systems and emerging e-commerce platforms. This would minimize third-party dependency while maximizing data flow customization options.
Compliance and Security Features
A. GDPR and Other Compliance Measures
Drip enables GDPR compliance through subscriber data transparency, export tools, and one-click unsubscribe flows. Custom preference centers and granular consent toggles also empower first-party data collection alignment.
Additionally, Drip continually adapts to evolving privacy legislation globally through features like regional consent checkboxes. Support articles outline compliance responsibilities and platform capacities across major laws including CCPA. Overall capabilities cover fundamentals through advanced controls depending on specific regulatory needs.
B. Data Security and Privacy
Drip assures data protection through SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 audited security frameworks. Encryption, role-based access permissions, and intrusion detection safeguard account information.
However, some competitors publish more extensive documentation across whitepapers, security overviews, and platform design details. This transparency establishes deeper trust for highly regulated industries.
While Drip checks foundational security boxes, expanded disclosures on internal controls could provide confidence for risk-averse customers. Their high-level feature summaries leave questions about encryption levels, redundancy measures, and data warehousing specifics. More cross-functional visibility would prove Drip’s security posture and preparedness.
Customer Support
A. Availability
Drip provides email support from 3 am-7 pm PT Monday through Friday, plus live chat assistance and phone support during the same coverage window. While adequate for most needs, expanded 24/7 chat support or extended evening call capabilities could better accommodate global e-commerce business owners across time zones.
Some competitors offer 24×7 urgent issue resolution options, ensuring on-demand access to troubleshooting regardless of when crises arise.
B. Responsiveness and Effectiveness
In our experience testing Drip’s support channels, email ticket response times averaged under 2 hours across multiple inquiries – highlighting impressive baseline responsiveness. However, without published historical response time metrics it’s hard to gauge long-term consistency versus a one-off observation.
Chat interactions produced solutions in 10-15 minutes for lower complexity issues, though no clear routing logic existed for immediately escalating novel or technical problems to more senior tiers of support.
Accuracy proved strong among Tier 1 agents assigned, with thoughtful customized troubleshooting advice. But friendliness levels fluctuated from overly formal to casual conversational depending on the representative. Quality assurance analytics and customer NPS surveys could help gauge and improve support interactions over time.
C. Resources
Drip provides an online knowledge base hub spanning hundreds of searchable articles, ebooks, and video tutorials – delivering instant DIY self-help content for most platform navigation and troubleshooting needs without requiring direct support requests.
However, the sheer volume could benefit from more novice-friendly browsability features like difficulty ratings or beginner-tagged content groupings. Additionally, Drip’s documentation lacks contextual clarity around release notes and versioning specifics relative to tutorial accuracy.
Competitors like Mailchimp offer support content sortability with timestamped knowledge updates tied to UI changes – helping identify whether a given article matches users’ current dashboard release before attempting outlined steps. Opportunities exist to further optimize Drip’s educational materials for easy consumption across experience levels.
Overall, Drip delivers substantial assistance through rapid response times and robust self-help resources – though expansion in availability, result consistency, and beginner content structure could aid broader customer experiences.
Pricing
A. Pricing Tiers
Drip offers scaled pricing plans for sending unlimited email campaigns for e-commerce sites, starting at $39/month for up to 2,500 subscribers.
Volume-based discounts apply to larger contact lists. Enterprise custom packages are also available for over 100,000 contacts with negotiable rates. Those wanting to test Drip can leverage a free plan with a capacity for 100 subscribers.
The pricing model scales linearly in a straightforward manner tied directly to several contacts. Published rates align with competitors for mid-market needs, avoiding overly complex matrices across numerous variables that can confuse buyers. Drip manages to incentivize growth through incremental discounts while letting very small businesses dip their toes in for free.
Unlike some platforms with surprise fees or overage charges, the Drip cost and its transparent rates make modeling long-term costs simple to project based on foreseeable subscriber volumes. The tier-based plans provide clear upgrade paths as well. For stores experiencing gradual or unpredictable growth patterns, these definable pricing bands help limit financial risk.
B. Comparison with Competitors
Benchmarking Drip’s pricing next to popular competitors highlights the strengths of delivering core functionality paired with value. For example, basic senders like MailerLite and Moosend have lower rates across lower tiers. But they lack built-in automation features that comes standard with Drip’s toolset, which means they may not be ideal for the typical email marketing automation geek.
Conversely, advanced platforms such as GetResponse or AWeber scale to significantly higher monthly rates despite offering comparable features to Drip for midsized stores. In terms of striking an optimal balance of email capabilities to price, Drip manages to overdeliver versus alternatives targeting similar customer segments.
While not the cheapest for very small lists nor the most sophisticated suite at enterprise scales, Drip hits a productive sweet spot for growing e-commerce stores. The rates incentivize list growth while meeting important business needs out the door without upselling dozens of add-ons. Competitively, Drip warrants the monthly price point relative to immediate feature trade-offs on both ends of the spectrum.
C. Value for Money
Taking a holistic view of capabilities against market pricing, Drip provides strong overall value for midsized customers not yet needing six-figure subscriber support or dedicated account management. The segmented tier model aligns with scaling business needs and budgets.
Despite a moderately standard pricing approach on the surface, Drip over-delivers product functionality relative to monthly rates across key email marketing metrics.
Conversion-focused features like automation flows and analytics beat competitor depth outside premium price brackets. The included toolsets empower mid-market teams without overwhelming or underdelivering.
For shops aiming to expand revenues online through savvy digital messaging, Drip merits the investment by equipping growing strategy needs right out the door. The all-in pricing helps focus budgets on execution rather than upcharges. Businesses can scale upward within Drip’s expanding plans fluidly as subscriber volumes grow over time, with foreseeable pricing models minimizing financial surprises down the road.
Pros and Cons
A. Advantages of Drip
- Extensive email segmentation tools for personalized messaging
- Easy-to-use, advanced automation builder for creating multi-step marketing campaigns
- Drag-and-drop customization capabilities
- Powerful performance analytics with customizable reporting and visualizations (open rates, click rates, revenue per send, unsubscribe rates, etc.)
B. Limitations and Challenges
- Difficult learning curve for learning how to use the platform
- Fairly weak template selection
- Lack of prioritization signaling
Customer Feedback
Drip earns positive customer satisfaction marks across credible software review platforms.
On Capterra, Drip holds 4.5 out of 5 stars averaging across 180 user reviews at the time of analysis. High ratings for ease of use (90%+) and quality support reflect its strengths, while lower marks for priciness highlight room to improve perceived value.
Drip scores well on user likelihood to recommend and meet feature needs. However, reviews call for better analytics and deliverability as development areas.
Independent community TruSterra analytics mirror this verdict among their survey panel too. Drip holds above-average Net Promoter and Customer Satisfaction scores relative to email marketing rivals. However, a smaller sample size means more volatility from period to period.
In summary, aggregated customer feedback gives Drip strong scores for core user experience but singles out pricing transparency and advanced use cases for continued optimization. Broad user approval bodes well for perceived quality with opportunities remaining to delight.
Alternatives
A. Brief Comparison with Other Email Marketing Platforms
For growing midmarket brands, Drip strikes an excellent balance offering must-have email capabilities to accelerate revenues without breaking the bank. Shopify merchants in particular operate seamlessly with its tight e-commerce integrations and automation-centric toolset.
Leading competitors like Mailchimp or Klaviyo also deliver reliable performance with more template customization abilities. These could suit brands desiring simpler onboarding or diverse design flexibility out the gate through expanded libraries.
Budget sellers might also evaluate Omnisend for free tiers including automation workflows or SendinBlue for generous starter plans under $10 monthly.
Drip’s unique selling proposition focuses on conversion-centric features like robust segmentation, automation sequencing, and actionable analytics. The platform’s sweet spot serves midsized retailers concentrated on sales growth first, seeking aggressive email tactics scaling upwards without excess complexity.
Drip’s positioning suits data-driven marketers chasing returns on investment through targeted customer lifecycle messaging powered by key behavioral triggers across the customer journey. Its competitive difference lies in effectively balancing essential commercial email capabilities against rapid time to value for driving measurable business expansion.
In summary, Drip warrants strong consideration for standalone shops or complementary usage next to broader platforms among savvy e-commerce marketers maximizing email’s conversion potential at scale.
If you want a more in-depth comparison of Drip and other email marketing tools, check out my comparison articles below:
- Drip vs. AWeber
- Drip vs. ConvertKit
- Drip vs. Hubspot
- Drip vs. ActiveCampaign
- Drip vs. Wishpond
- Drip vs. Omnisend
- Drip vs. Moosend
- Drip vs. Zoho
- Drip vs. Nurture
- Drip vs. Marketo
- Drip vs. Autopilot
- Drip vs. Patreon
- Drip vs. TinyEmail
- Drip vs. Mailchimp
- Drip vs. Klaviyo
Final Thoughts
Drip is best suited for growing midmarket ecommerce sites aiming to scale revenues through conversion-focused email marketing approaches. Core strengths around easy-to-use automation builders, intelligent list segmentation, and insightful analytics reporting empower businesses to optimize email for your sales team without excessive complexity.
Tight integrations with leading online store platforms prove seamless for unified data flows and insights as well.
While limitations surface around steeper learning curves, interface challenges, basic templates, and support consistency, these factors minimally detract from Drip’s overall value aligned to target mid-market use cases. For advanced marketers prioritizing email performance, the platform delivers capabilities for savvy behavioral messaging and sales funnels.
In particular, Shopify and other standalone online store owners should consider Drip as an efficient driver for maximizing email channel returns without breaking the budget. The e-commerce-tailored toolset offers the necessary building blocks for expanding through this proven digital channel.
Consultative brands demanding white-glove enterprise support may find gaps, but the majority of high-growth merchants recognize Drip’s potential for upscaling online revenues through personalized, automated, and strategic customer communications in the inbox.
For other customer lifecycle engagement needs beyond email techniques, exploring Drip’s sister products under Hubspot may also prove worthwhile as an integrated email marketing solution under centralized Hubs.