Understanding What Spently Does (and Does Not Do)
Before evaluating alternatives, it is important to understand that Spently (now UpOrder) is not an email marketing platform. It is a Shopify notification email customization tool. It modifies the automatic emails that Shopify sends when orders are placed, shipped, or when accounts are created. For a broader look at e-commerce email, see our guide to the best email marketing tools for SaaS.
This means most "alternatives" to Spently are not true replacements. They are either:
- Direct competitors that also customize Shopify notifications (OrderlyEmails)
- Email marketing platforms that handle campaigns and automation (Sequenzy, Klaviyo, Omnisend)
- Complementary tools that work alongside Spently for different email needs
- Non-email channels like SMS and Messenger marketing (Postscript, Recart)
Most Shopify stores benefit from having both: a notification email tool like Spently and a marketing platform like Sequenzy or Klaviyo. See our Spently comparison page for a deeper look at where each tool fits.
Why Stores Switch from Spently
The most common reasons stores look for Spently alternatives:
- They need email marketing and thought Spently would cover it (it does not)
- Order-based pricing gets expensive at high volumes ($10 per 50 orders adds up)
- They are leaving Shopify for another platform where Spently will not work
- They want fewer tools and prefer one platform for both marketing and transactional email
- They want more automation beyond Spently's basic follow-up workflows
The Best Approach for Most Stores
For most Shopify stores, the best email setup combines:
- Sequenzy (or Klaviyo/Omnisend) for marketing campaigns, AI-generated sequences, and transactional email
- Spently (or OrderlyEmails) for branded notification email customization with upsells
This two-tool approach costs $29-175/month for marketing plus $0-100/month for notifications, but maximizes revenue from both marketing emails and high-open-rate receipt emails.
If budget is tight or you prefer simplicity, Sequenzy at $29/month handles marketing and transactional email in one platform, and you can add Spently later when order volume justifies the investment. Check our pricing page for details.
Adding SMS to the mix
Many Shopify stores see significant ROI from adding SMS marketing through Postscript or using a platform like Klaviyo or Omnisend that includes SMS alongside email. Text messages have 98% open rates and are particularly effective for abandoned cart recovery and flash sales. See our guide to email marketing for e-commerce for more channel strategy ideas.
The automation advantage
If you find Spently's basic follow-up workflows limiting, platforms like ActiveCampaign and Drip offer visual automation builders with conditional branching, purchase-based triggers, and sophisticated post-purchase sequences. Use our email warmup calculator when migrating to ensure your deliverability stays strong.