10 Emarsys Competitors and Alternatives Retailers Should Explore in 2025

TL;DR

Here’s what you need to know about Emarsys’ competitors and alternatives in 2025:

• Retailers are leaving Emarsys behind due to complexity, SAP ties, and weak loyalty support.
• The best Emarsys alternatives unify customer data, AI, and loyalty in one platform.
• Look for tools that support real cross-channel campaign management across email, SMS, push, and in-store.
• Voyado stands out with built-in marketing automation, predictive segmentation, and fast time to value.
• You need more than email. Modern platforms enable personalized customer experiences at every step of the customer journey.

If you’re searching for Emarsys competitors and alternatives, you’re likely hitting limits your team can’t work around anymore.

Maybe it’s the SAP lock-in, the clunky setup, or the missing loyalty tools. Or maybe you’re just tired of juggling multiple channels without clear returns on your customer engagement.

Whatever the reason, more e-commerce businesses are walking away from Emarsys in 2025 and looking for a platform that turns customer data into real results.

But why?

Why retailers are considering alternatives to Emarsys in 2025

Retailers like you need more than a campaign builder in 2025. You need tools built for modern shoppers, not platforms weighed down by complexity and legacy tech.

That’s where Emarsys is falling behind.

It’s still a known name, but more brands are questioning whether it can keep up with today’s customer engagement demands.

Here’s what’s pushing teams to explore Emarsys alternatives:

• Too tied to SAP. Since being acquired, Emarsys has leaned heavily on SAP integrations. That creates friction for teams using other e-commerce platforms or lacking deep technical expertise.
• Painful onboarding and custom work. Many businesses need external help just to get started. That means delays, added cost, and slower access to value.
• Loyalty isn’t built in. You can integrate loyalty tools, but Emarsys doesn’t offer a native customer loyalty platform. That’s a big gap for brands focused on long-term customer relationships.
• Not built for real-time, cross-channel work. Emarsys supports multiple touchpoints, but launching and managing campaigns across channels still feels clunky.
• Too general for retail. Emarsys supports many industries, but lacks the deep product and assortment understanding that drives retail performance. Voyado’s AI knows the difference between jeans and mascara, and activates it across channels instantly.

With higher pressure to drive value across the customer journey, more retailers are moving to platforms that are purpose-built for omnichannel success.

Let’s look at which ones stand out in 2025.

Top Emarsys competitors for retailers in 2025

These Emarsys competitors and alternatives each bring something different to the table. But remember, not all are truly built with retail in mind.

We’ve highlighted what makes each stand out and where they may fall short compared to Emarsys.

1. Voyado

Voyado is built for retail and e-commerce teams that want fast results without tech overload. It combines CRM, marketing automation, loyalty, and AI-driven segmentation in one platform. No added tools. No IT delays.

Best for: Retailers of all sizes needing unified customer data, loyalty, and automation across multiple channels.

Core strengths:

• Retail-native from day one
• Built-in CDP, loyalty engine, and campaign automation
• Personalized customer experiences via email, SMS, web, and in-store
• Fast setup with a user-friendly interface
• Predictive tools for segmentation and merchandising

Limitation: Focuses on retail use cases, which may not serve B2B or non‑retail businesses as well.

2. Insider

Insider delivers AI-powered personalization across web, mobile apps, email marketing campaigns, and messaging channels. It is known for fast deployment and advanced segmentation.

Best for: Fast‑growing e-commerce businesses focused on personalized journeys and multi-channel growth.

Strengths:

• Real-time behavioral targeting
• Advanced AI recommendations
• Seamless integration with e-commerce platforms

Limitation: Lacks native loyalty features and may require external tools or setup.

3. Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Salesforce Marketing Cloud offers enterprise-grade automation, deep CRM integration, and data unification. It’s a powerful marketing tool for advanced analytics and cross-channel campaign management.

Best for: Large organizations with experienced marketing ops teams and technical support.

Strengths:

• Deep CRM integration
• Strong data workflows and reporting
• Global scale and enterprise-grade security

Limitation: Setup and execution can be time-consuming. Requires technical expertise and internal admin ownership.

4. Adobe Experience Platform

Adobe Experience Platform is designed for experimentation, testing, and personalized journeys. Ideal for teams that value flexibility and data-driven architecture.

Best for: Mature teams focused on advanced segmentation, dynamic content, and testing methods.

Strengths:

• Industry-leading A/B testing and targeting
• Full control over personalization and workflows
• Flexible AI-driven architecture

Limitation: High cost and steep learning curve for retail teams without dedicated analysts.

5. Bloomreach Engagement

Bloomreach Engagement offers commerce-focused CDP capabilities along with email and SMS automation. It excels at AI‑driven merchandising and product discovery.

Best for: Retailers who want personalized product experiences tied directly to their e-commerce catalog.

Strengths:

• Commerce-based product discovery
• Integrated CDP and marketing tools
• AI-driven merchandising

Limitation: Better suited to mid-sized brands. The interface may feel less intuitive.

6. Braze

Braze specializes in mobile-first engagement. It offers in-app messaging, real‑time triggers, and cross-platform flexibility.

Best for: Brands with strong mobile app presence focused on push notifications and in‑app personalization.

Strengths:

• Real-time event triggers
• In-app and mobile personalization
• Flexible APIs and SDKs

Limitation: Weaker in CRM and loyalty tools. Best used as part of a broader marketing tool stack.

7. Iterable

Iterable enables complex journey building, data routing, and cross-channel orchestration across email, push, SMS, and more.

Best for: Teams that want deep journey builder flexibility and rich integrations.

Strengths:

• Customizable campaign logic
• Support for advanced segmentation
• Broad channel coverage

Limitation: Does not include a native loyalty engine. Reporting may not be as robust as other platforms.

8. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is popular with Shopify users, offering immediate email and SMS campaign capabilities and easy onboarding.

Best for: Smaller e-commerce brands focused on email marketing campaigns and simple automation.

Strengths:

• Easy email and SMS campaigns
• Strong Shopify integration
• Fast onboarding

Limitation: Limited CRM features and not ideal for complex segmentation or cross-channel campaign management

Want to dig deeper on Klaviyo? Check out this guide to top Klaviyo competitors to learn more.

9. MoEngage

MoEngage offers push notifications, in-app messaging, and real-time analytics with strong multilingual support.

Best for: Retail apps and global teams needing extensive language support and analytics.

Strengths:

• In-app automation
• Real-time customer behavior analytics
• Multi-region capabilities

Limitation: Less focus on web or in-store marketing. Lacks native loyalty and CDP features.

10. Dotdigital

Dotdigital combines easy drag-and-drop automation with email, SMS, and CRM connectors for multi-channel campaigns.

Best for: Brands seeking simple campaign tools that still offer control and automation.

Strengths:

• Intuitive campaign builder
• Smooth integration with e-commerce platforms
• Multi-channel reach

Limitation: Lacks advanced analytics, AI, or personalization features. Best for straightforward campaign needs.

Before you make your shortlist, it helps to know what really sets a strong Emarsys alternative apart.

Here are the features we believe matter most for modern retail brands.

6 Things to look for in a modern Emarsys alternative

Choosing a new platform is a big responsibility because it needs to be the right fit for your business, your team, and your customers.

Based on what we’ve seen working for today’s top retail brands, here’s what truly matters when evaluating Emarsys competitors and alternatives in 2025.

1. A built-in CRM or customer data platform

You shouldn’t have to stitch together multiple tools just to understand your customers.

We believe a strong Emarsys alternative should include a native CRM or full customer data platform to unify and activate your data across every channel.

For a deeper dive into your options, explore this breakdown of CRM software for retail.

When your customer data lives in one place, you can respond faster, personalize more deeply, and create better experiences at every stage of the customer journey.

2. Loyalty features built into the platform

Your existing customers are your biggest growth opportunity. That’s why we recommend choosing a platform with native loyalty tools, not just integrations.

When loyalty lives inside your core marketing automation setup, you can reward the right behaviors, boost customer lifetime value, and deliver personalized messaging automatically.

This is especially important for retailers who want more than just points and discounts.

3. Predictive AI and advanced segmentation

Retail moves fast. Your tools should help you stay ahead. We encourage teams to look for AI-powered platforms that use machine learning to predict what customers will do next.

From surfacing product categories to personalizing landing pages based on past purchases, predictive tools take the guesswork out of marketing. Voyado’s product discovery engine is one way to turn data into action.

If you’re curious how leading brands approach it, check out our guide to personalization in retail.

4. Seamless integration with your e-commerce tools

We’ve seen too many teams get stuck during onboarding because their new platform didn’t work well with the rest of their stack.

Choose a solution that integrates seamlessly, with a user-friendly interface and minimal developer involvement.

Look for features like:

• A drag-and-drop editor
• Pre-built integrations with popular e-commerce platforms
• Flexible APIs

This saves your team time and reduces the learning curve.

5. Real-time orchestration and automation

Today’s shoppers expect instant responses. Whether it’s an email campaign, an SMS, or a triggered message based on store behavior, your platform needs to react in real time.

We recommend prioritizing tools with:

• Strong automation capabilities
• Behavior-based triggers
• The ability to act on user actions right away

These features drive more engagement and help build lasting customer relationships.

6. True cross-channel scale

Your customers don’t stay in one place, and neither should your campaigns. That’s why we always advise looking for a platform that supports multi-channel engagement.

This includes:

• email
• SMS campaigns
• push notifications
• in-app messaging
• web push
• on-site personalization

The best marketing tools unify it all in one platform so your team can manage the entire experience from a single dashboard.

Once you’ve found a platform that checks these boxes, you’re already in a stronger position to grow. So, how does Voyado measure up?

Let’s take a closer look.

Why Voyado is the smarter choice for retail growth

If you’re searching for a platform that’s built with retailers in mind, Voyado is worth your time.

We’ve designed our platform around how retail and e-commerce teams actually work, not how generic software assumes they do.

That means:

• Fewer workarounds
• Faster campaign launches
• One connected place for data, loyalty, and personalization

Let’s take a closer look at what sets Voyado apart.

Built-in loyalty, CRM, and CDP

With Voyado, everything you need is already built in:

• A customer data platform to unify insights
• A native CRM for smarter segmentation
• Loyalty tools that go beyond points and discounts

No external add-ons, no patchwork integrations. Just one platform where your team can see and act on the full customer picture.

“We’ve seen great results by creating personalized experiences based on customer behavior, which in turn builds emotional loyalty.”

– Laufey Lúðvíksdóttir, CRM and Loyalty Specialist at By Malene Birger

Real-time triggers and predictive tools

Speed matters, and Voyado helps you move faster.

Our predictive engine uses behavioral and transactional data to:

• Trigger messaging based on real-time customer actions
• Recommend products based on past purchases
• Deliver more relevant messaging without manual setup

This turns your customer data into action, without adding to your team’s workload.

Fast, flexible campaign building

You don’t need a developer to get results.

Voyado makes it easy to:

• Build and launch campaigns across email, SMS, and push
• Personalize experiences with an intuitive, user-friendly interface
• Adjust flows or promotions without starting from scratch

Your team gets full control without the tech bottlenecks.

Built for multi-channel retail

Your customers shop across channels. Your platform should support that without extra effort.

Voyado helps you:

• Run campaigns across email, SMS campaigns, push notifications, web personalization, in-store triggers, and app messaging
• Keep every customer journey connected and consistent
• Manage it all from one platform

You reach customers where they are, without juggling disconnected tools.

Support that actually supports you

We know switching platforms is a big move. That’s why our support goes far beyond onboarding.

You get:

• A dedicated team that understands retail
• Strategic advice to improve results over time
• Ongoing support built around your team’s goals

Whether you’re scaling fast or optimizing what you have, we’re here to help every step of the way.

We believe growth happens when teams are empowered to move quickly, personalize at scale, and focus on what matters. Voyado is built to make that easier.

If you’re ready to see how Voyado can support your goals, request a demo, and let’s explore what’s possible for your team.

Choosing smarter retail tools starts here

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already doing what many successful brands are doing in 2025: rethinking legacy platforms and prioritizing tools that support how modern retail actually works.

There are plenty of Emarsys competitors on the market. But very few bring loyalty, automation, personalization, and customer data together in one platform designed specifically for retailers.

If your goals include stronger engagement, higher customer lifetime value, and easier campaign management, the right platform can help you get there faster.

Here’s what we recommend as your next steps:

1. Revisit the key features your team needs now and in the future
2. Compare how current tools support (or block) your marketing goals
3. Look beyond email and SMS — think multi-channel, real-time engagement
4. Prioritize platforms with built-in loyalty, CDP, and automation
5. Schedule a live demo to see your top contender in action

You’ve done the research. You know what to look for. Now it’s time to find the fit that truly works for your business.

Request a demo today to see how Voyado can support your next chapter in retail growth.