ConvertKit is a creator-focused email platform optimized for building audiences and selling digital products, while Klaviyo is an e-commerce marketing automation platform designed for SMS, email, and behavioral targeting at scale. ConvertKit starts at $25/month for creators, while Klaviyo's free tier serves up to 500 contacts but paid plans begin at $20/month for e-commerce businesses.
ConvertKit vs Klaviyo — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Email marketing platform purpose-built for creators with landing pages and subscriber management
E-commerce-focused email and SMS marketing platform with advanced segmentation and automation.
Primary Use Case. Starting Price (USD/month). SMS Marketing. Behavioral Automation Triggers. Landing Page Builder. API Rate Limits. Integration Ecosystem
Choose ConvertKit if you're a creator, solopreneur, or coach building an email list to sell digital products—it excels at subscriber nurturing and has the simplest creator-focused setup. Choose Klaviyo if you run an e-commerce store and need sophisticated SMS campaigns, behavioral automation, and predictive analytics to maximize customer lifetime value.
ConvertKit: $25 (paid plan) | Klaviyo: $20 (for 500 contacts)
ConvertKit: Yes, built-in | Klaviyo: No, third-party required
ConvertKit: Basic subscriber management | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Standard (simple sequences, tags) | Klaviyo: Unlimited with predictive optimization
ConvertKit: $119 (10k subscriber tier) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: $33/month (Creator plan, billed yearly) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 1,000 subscribers | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Advanced (sequences, conditionals, tags, delays) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Yes - full course and digital product platform | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Email, help center, community forum | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 0 (creator-owned only) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 100% (creator owned) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Full-featured email marketing with automation | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 60-120 minutes | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Full export available | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Unlimited (creator-controlled) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: No (third-party required) | Klaviyo: Yes, native SMS
ConvertKit: Basic API integration only | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Tags, purchase history, custom fields | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 12-18 hours average | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Tag-based (limited) | Klaviyo: 200+
ConvertKit: None (paid only) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Creator sequences | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Paid add-on ($9+/mo) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Yes, native feature | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Yes, built-in matching | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: $0 (0-1K subs), then $29-$99/month | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: 1,000 subscribers included | Klaviyo: None (paid only)
ConvertKit: 100+ templates | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: No (requires integration) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Landing pages only | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: No (cloud-only, vendor lock-in) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: Yes (API available) | Klaviyo: N/A
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: All email features included
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: eCommerce-optimized templates
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Advanced behavior-led segmentation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Unified customer data foundation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Basic email features only
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Extensive custom via API
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Real-time behavioral graphs with continuous updates
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Email, SMS, push, in-app, direct mail
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Higher minimum investment required
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Mid-to-large ecommerce, Shopify Plus, data-driven brands
Average eCommerce Email Revenue Per Send
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: $20/month (500 contacts)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Varies by plan features
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: B2C customer data platform
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Included in all plans
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Native with product catalog sync, dynamic blocks, and product recommendations
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 4,200% ROI (industry average)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Email, SMS, push (native)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Limited 2-way capability
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Native email + SMS + pop-ups
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Yes, multi-channel A/B testing
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Smart scheduling with AI optimization
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Active profiles (contacts with behavior)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Limited (plan-dependent)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Included (higher plans only)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Advanced behavioral data segmentation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 3 (Email, SMS, WhatsApp)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Personalized send time optimization
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Built-in CDP as core foundation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Steeper learning curve (data-focused)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Predictive send-time optimization (Q4 2025), AI-driven personalization
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Enterprise-grade, proven at scale with dedicated infrastructure
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Unlimited triggered sequences with advanced conditional logic
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: SMB to Enterprise (all Shopify store sizes)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: $72 per email sent
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Industry average 4,200%
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Deep native with purchase-event segmentation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Behavioral purchase-event segmentation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Email and SMS
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: North America eCommerce focus
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: $20+ (usage-based)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Email, SMS, Web Push, Forms
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 24/5 email, phone 9-5 EST
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Behavioral, predictive, e-commerce segments, custom attributes
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 150,000+ e-commerce merchants
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Advanced multi-channel
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Native integration with major platforms
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: AI-powered with customer data platform
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Native SMS included
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 200+ Shopify-optimized
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 10-15% with predictive send time
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 25+ including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, TikTok Shop, custom APIs
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 5 active automations
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 150+ with AI generation
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Yes (all plans)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: 1-2 weeks (visual setup)
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Web push only
ConvertKit: N/A | Klaviyo: Yes (native + Plus tier)
How to choose between ConvertKit and Klaviyo
ConvertKit vs Klaviyo — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for ConvertKit vs Klaviyo. Contains 152 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
ConvertKit vs Klaviyo — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for ConvertKit vs Klaviyo.
ConvertKit can technically send emails to customers, but it lacks native SMS, advanced behavioral automation, and e-commerce integrations that Klaviyo provides. If your primary business is online retail with cart abandonment needs, Klaviyo is the better choice. ConvertKit excels when you're selling digital products (courses, ebooks) to creators.
Does Klaviyo work for newsletter creators?
Klaviyo can send newsletters, but it's designed for customer data analysis and repeat purchase cycles, not audience building. It lacks ConvertKit's landing page builder and creator-focused features like one-click sponsorships. ConvertKit is more intuitive for independent newsletter writers without e-commerce.
What's the total cost difference after 12 months?
At 1,000 contacts: ConvertKit costs ~$300/year ($25/month), while Klaviyo costs ~$240/year ($20/month starting at 501-1,000 contacts). However, Klaviyo's SMS add-on ($50-300/month depending on volume) could increase total cost significantly for multi-channel campaigns. ConvertKit requires separate SMS tools ($50-200/month), making long-term costs similar.
Which platform has better customer support?
ConvertKit offers 24/7 email support and a knowledge base. Klaviyo provides 24/7 chat support, email, and phone support (on higher tiers). Both have active community forums. Klaviyo's chat support is generally faster (under 2 hours), while ConvertKit's email support averages 6-12 hours. For urgent issues, Klaviyo has a slight advantage.
Can I migrate from ConvertKit to Klaviyo?
Yes. Both platforms support CSV exports/imports of subscriber lists. However, you'll lose tag structures and automation workflows—you'll need to rebuild automations in Klaviyo. Klaviyo's native Shopify integration makes migration easier if you sell on Shopify. Migration typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on complexity.
How to Choose Between ConvertKit and Klaviyo
Primary Use Case: ConvertKit has Creator economy (newsletters, courses, digital products), while Klaviyo has E-commerce and SMS marketing automation.
Starting Price (USD/month): ConvertKit has $25 for Subscriber plan, while Klaviyo has $0 free tier (up to 500 contacts), then $20.
SMS Marketing: ConvertKit has Not included; requires third-party integration, while Klaviyo has Native SMS with advanced segmentation.
Consider: Behavioral Automation Triggers
Behavioral Automation Triggers: ConvertKit has Tag-based automation; limited event tracking, while Klaviyo has 200+ behavioral triggers including browse abandonment, purchase history.
Landing Page Builder: ConvertKit has Built-in landing pages for lead capture, while Klaviyo has Minimal native landing page tools; focuses on post-purchase.
API Rate Limits: ConvertKit has 100 requests per second, while Klaviyo has 60 requests per second.
Integration Ecosystem: ConvertKit has 300+ integrations; strong with course platforms, while Klaviyo has 400+ integrations; deep e-commerce connections (Shopify, WooCommerce).