What are the differences between ShopMagic and WooCommerce notifications#
WooCommerce provides predefined email notifications for common store events. ShopMagic lets you build custom automations using events, optional filters, and actions.
Both support personalized email content. The main difference is how you control when a message is sent and which customers receive it.
| Feature | WooCommerce notifications | ShopMagic |
|---|---|---|
| Email triggers | Built-in triggers assigned to each notification type. | Select an event for each automation, including pending payment and specific order status transitions. |
| Product-based conditions | Standard notification settings do not include product-based filtering. | Use the Order - Items filter to send different messages based on purchased products or variations. |
| Email content and layout | Configure predefined notifications, including their subject, heading, additional content, and email format. Further changes depend on the editor or template customization. | Write separate content for each automation. Choose the WooCommerce template, your own raw HTML, or plain text. |
| Personalization | Use the placeholders supported by each notification and its settings. | Use placeholders for customer, order, and store data, depending on the selected event. |
| BCC recipients | Available for selected notifications when Email improvements is enabled. | Available in email actions. BCC recipients are not included in action delivery reports. |
| PDF attachments | Standard notification settings do not include a PDF attachment picker. | Add PDF attachments directly in email actions. |
| Automation results | WooCommerce provides email diagnostics through its logging tools. | Outcomes records the results of ShopMagic automation actions, including email sending attempts and errors. |
| Delayed workflows | Timing is defined by the notification type; standard order notification settings do not provide a general delay option. | Custom delays require the ShopMagic Delayed Actions add-on. |
The ShopMagic features listed above are included in the free plugin, except custom delays, which require the separate Delayed Actions add-on.
ShopMagic runs alongside WooCommerce notifications. If you use an automation to replace a built-in email, disable the corresponding notification in WooCommerce → Settings → Emails to avoid sending two similar messages.