Constant Contact vs Drip: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Constant Contact and Drip is a common decision for email marketing buyers in 2026. Constant Contact has been in the market since 1995, giving it a 18-year head start over Drip (founded 2013). Constant Contact serves 600K+ users while Drip has 30K+ orgs users globally. Constant Contact differentiates with email campaigns and event marketing, while Drip leads with email automation and ecommerce crm. In this head-to-head comparison, Drip earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 88/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

📣
Constant Contact
Email Marketing
82
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
💧
Drip
Email Marketing
88
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Constant Contact
Drip
Starting Price
$12/mo
$39/mo
Free Plan
No
No
Users
600K+
30K+ orgs
Founded
1995
2013
Rating
4.1/5
4.4/5
Best For
Nonprofits and local businesses running events and...
E-commerce stores wanting advanced behavior-trigge...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Constant ContactDrip
82Ease of Use92
87Features93
77Value for Money81
82Customer Support80
82Integrations88
84Scalability88
75Learning Curve80

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Constant Contact
+Very beginner-friendly
+Good event marketing features
-Higher price vs competitors
-Limited automation on lower tiers
Drip
+Strong e-commerce focus
+Excellent visual workflow builder
-Pricier than alternatives
-Learning curve for automation
AI Verdict

After comparing Constant Contact and Drip across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Drip takes the lead with a score of 88/100 versus Constant Contact's 82/100. Drip's key advantages include "strong e-commerce focus" and "excellent visual workflow builder". That said, Constant Contact has its own strengths — particularly "very beginner-friendly" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

Neither Constant Contact nor Drip offers a free plan. Constant Contact starts at $12/mo and Drip at $39/mo. For the investment, Constant Contact delivers email campaigns and event marketing, while Drip provides email automation and ecommerce crm.

Bottom line: Choose Constant Contact if you need nonprofits and local businesses running events and email campaigns. Go with Drip if your priority is e-commerce stores wanting advanced behavior-triggered email flows. Both are strong email marketing tools — we recommend trying a trial of each before committing.

CHOOSE CONSTANT CONTACT IF:

Nonprofits and local businesses running events and email campaigns.

CHOOSE DRIP IF:

E-commerce stores wanting advanced behavior-triggered email flows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Constant Contact better than Drip in 2026?
Drip scores 88/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Constant Contact's 82/100. Constant Contact stands out for "very beginner-friendly" and is best for Nonprofits and local businesses running events and email campaigns. Drip is known for "strong e-commerce focus" and suits E-commerce stores wanting advanced behavior-triggered email flows. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Constant Contact and Drip?
Both offer paid-only plans. Constant Contact starts at $12/mo and Drip at $39/mo. When comparing value, consider that Constant Contact (founded 1995, 600K+ users) includes features like Email campaigns, Event marketing, SMS. Drip (founded 2013, 30K+ orgs users) offers Email automation, Ecommerce CRM, SMS. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Constant Contact and Drip?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Constant Contact excels at Email campaigns, Event marketing, SMS, while Drip focuses on Email automation, Ecommerce CRM, SMS. Constant Contact's main advantage is "very beginner-friendly", though some users note "higher price vs competitors". Drip's strength is "strong e-commerce focus", but "pricier than alternatives" can be a drawback. Both serve the Email Marketing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Constant Contact to Drip?
Switching between Constant Contact and Drip is possible since both operate in the Email Marketing space. Before migrating, export your data from Constant Contact and check Drip's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Email campaigns, Event marketing, SMS (Constant Contact) vs Email automation, Ecommerce CRM, SMS (Drip). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Constant Contact or Drip?
Both tools require paid subscriptions (Constant Contact: $12/mo, Drip: $39/mo), so evaluate based on features. Constant Contact is ideal for Nonprofits and local businesses running events and email campaigns, while Drip fits E-commerce stores wanting advanced behavior-triggered email flows. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools