Klaviyo is a specialized email and SMS marketing platform built for e-commerce with advanced segmentation and higher costs ($20-$1,250/month), while Mailchimp is a general-purpose marketing automation tool with a free tier and lower pricing ($0-$350/month) but less sophisticated features.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
E-commerce-focused email and SMS marketing platform with advanced segmentation and automation.
All-in-one marketing platform offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features.
Pricing Model. Segmentation Depth. E-commerce Integration. SMS Marketing Channel. Automation Workflows. Free Plan Availability. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
Choose Klaviyo if you run an e-commerce business and need sophisticated segmentation, SMS marketing, and predictive analytics to maximize customer lifetime value—the higher cost justifies ROI for high-volume sellers. Choose Mailchimp if you're a small business, nonprofit, or startup with a limited budget, want a free option to start, or need basic email marketing without complex automation.
Klaviyo: $20/month | Mailchimp: $13/month
Klaviyo: $100/month | Mailchimp: $50-70/month
Klaviyo: $720/month | Mailchimp: $100/month
Klaviyo: All email features included | Mailchimp: Limited core features only
Klaviyo: eCommerce-optimized templates | Mailchimp: Extensive design variety and customization
Klaviyo: Advanced behavior-led segmentation | Mailchimp: Standard audience segmentation
Klaviyo: Unified customer data foundation | Mailchimp: Basic contact data syncing
Klaviyo: Basic email features only | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Extensive custom via API | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Real-time behavioral graphs with continuous updates | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Email, SMS, push, in-app, direct mail | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Higher minimum investment required | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Mid-to-large ecommerce, Shopify Plus, data-driven brands | Mailchimp: N/A
Average eCommerce Email Revenue Per Send
Klaviyo: $20/month (500 contacts) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Varies by plan features | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: B2C customer data platform | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Included in all plans | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Native with product catalog sync, dynamic blocks, and product recommendations | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 4,200% ROI (industry average) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Email, SMS, push (native) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Limited 2-way capability | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Native email + SMS + pop-ups | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Yes, multi-channel A/B testing | Mailchimp: All paid plans
Klaviyo: Smart scheduling with AI optimization | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Active profiles (contacts with behavior) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Limited (plan-dependent) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Included (higher plans only) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Advanced behavioral data segmentation | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 3 (Email, SMS, WhatsApp) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Personalized send time optimization | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Built-in CDP as core foundation | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Steeper learning curve (data-focused) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Predictive send-time optimization (Q4 2025), AI-driven personalization | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Enterprise-grade, proven at scale with dedicated infrastructure | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Unlimited triggered sequences with advanced conditional logic | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: SMB to Enterprise (all Shopify store sizes) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: $72 per email sent | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Industry average 4,200% | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Deep native with purchase-event segmentation | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Behavioral purchase-event segmentation | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: North America eCommerce focus | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: $20+ (usage-based) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Email, SMS, Web Push, Forms | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 24/5 email, phone 9-5 EST | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Behavioral, predictive, e-commerce segments, custom attributes | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 150,000+ e-commerce merchants | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Advanced multi-channel | Mailchimp: Basic (Customer Journey Builder)
Klaviyo: Native integration with major platforms | Mailchimp: Advanced abandoned cart, product recommendations, dynamic pricing
Klaviyo: AI-powered with customer data platform | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: $20 | Mailchimp: $0 (free tier) or $20 (Pro)
Klaviyo: Yes, native SMS | Mailchimp: No (add-on only)
Klaviyo: No, third-party required | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop, AI-assisted)
Klaviyo: Native SMS included | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 200+ Shopify-optimized | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 500 req/sec | Mailchimp: 10 calls/second
Klaviyo: Unlimited with predictive optimization | Mailchimp: ~5 basic automations
Klaviyo: 10-15% with predictive send time | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 500+ | Mailchimp: 100+ professional templates
Klaviyo: None (paid only) | Mailchimp: 500 free contacts
Klaviyo: 25+ including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, TikTok Shop, custom APIs | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 5 active automations | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 150+ with AI generation | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: Yes (all plans) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: $20 (for 500 contacts) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: 500+ | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Klaviyo: 1-2 weeks (visual setup) | Mailchimp: 0.08 months (1 hour)
Klaviyo: Yes (native + Plus tier) | Mailchimp: N/A
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (500 contacts)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 7 (moderate to high)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Sophisticated data-driven rules
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, varies by plan
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, with international expansion
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Free on all plans
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: A/B testing and design testing (free)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: More extensive platform coverage
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact management
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Beginner-friendly
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - charges per contact/send overages
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic personalization features
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Available but less intuitive setup
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Legacy interface, steep learning curve
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full native CRM platform integrated
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: No (API integration only)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)
Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000 emails/month
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Capped by contact tier multipliers
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 13 million users
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited e-commerce via integrations
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Steep 3-4x multiplier
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic add-on CRM
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual segmentation only
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, basic social
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Minimal (intuitive interface)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard quarterly updates
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, full CRM suite
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, SMS, landing pages, ads
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Moderate, marketing-focused
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 300,000 (based on plan)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $13/month (Essentials)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $800/month (100,000 contacts)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full-featured free plan
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (up to 500 contacts)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Modern and professional
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced automation included
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Third-party integrations
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Transactional email and small business
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with customer profiles
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 (free) / 5,000 (paid)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (Salesforce, HubSpot, custom)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Behavioral segmentation only
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Email-based, no SLA
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (list segmentation only)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: No (Zapier third-party only)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 (beginner-friendly)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: None (requires third-party solutions)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with 10k contacts max)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Not applicable (subscriber-based)
Starter Tier Monthly Cost (50k contacts)
Automation Workflow Steps (Free/Starter Tier)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (standard feature)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with pricing increase)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited basic sequences
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Phone support on paid plans only
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (you handle payments)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (conditional, behavioral triggers)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: No (third-party required)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (subject lines, send time)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Included in paid plans
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 30+ (payment processor + Mailchimp config)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Not offered (email-focused)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (email, SMS via paid add-on, social)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5-2 hours (no code required)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (up to 5-10 per plan tier)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 100+ templates
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $2–$7 (plan-dependent)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5–1 hour (UI-based)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (subject, send time, content)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual review required
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with segmentation, tagging, custom fields
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $200–$350 (based on tier)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01 (SMS add-on)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 day (no-code signup)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 12M+ users (2025)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited steps
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: No (paid add-on)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (SaaS model)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 20 (1K-contact plan)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 500+ templates including AI-generated
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: $20 additional per month
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic automation on free plan
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced AI copywriter with subject line optimization
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited - basic integration support only
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced visual builder included
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: List management only
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - iOS and Android
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop)
Klaviyo: N/A | Mailchimp: Available at higher tiers
How to choose between Klaviyo and Mailchimp
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Klaviyo vs Mailchimp. Contains 250 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Klaviyo vs Mailchimp.
Is Mailchimp really free, and what are the limitations?
Yes, Mailchimp's free tier is legitimately free for up to 500 contacts with unlimited emails, basic automation, and core features. Limitations include: no advanced segmentation, limited to 25 pre-built workflows, no SMS functionality, basic reporting, and Mailchimp branding on emails. Upgrade to paid plans starting at $20/month to remove these constraints.
Can I use Klaviyo without an e-commerce store?
Technically yes, Klaviyo works for any business, but it's purpose-built and priced for e-commerce. If you don't have recurring customer data or need SMS alongside email, Mailchimp's more general approach and lower pricing may be a better fit. Klaviyo's core strength is syncing purchase behavior, cart data, and customer lifecycle events.
How much can I save by choosing Mailchimp over Klaviyo?
At 10,000 contacts, Mailchimp costs $35/month vs. Klaviyo's $155/month—a 77% savings. At 50,000 contacts, the gap widens: Mailchimp is $175/month while Klaviyo reaches $900+/month. However, Klaviyo's predictive segmentation and SMS often generate 3-5x ROI uplift for e-commerce, so the higher cost frequently pays for itself.
Which platform is better for SMS marketing?
Klaviyo offers native SMS with 98%+ deliverability, compliance automation, and unified contact management. Mailchimp requires a separate SMS add-on (Mailchimp SMS) with lower deliverability guarantees and separate billing. For serious SMS campaigns, Klaviyo is the clear winner; Mailchimp SMS is supplementary.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Klaviyo without losing data?
Yes, both platforms support CSV export/import of contacts and basic campaign history. However, historical email engagement data (opens, clicks) does not transfer, so you'll start fresh with Klaviyo's predictive models. Most users migrate smoothly in 1-2 hours; plan for a 2-4 week period to rebuild segmentation and automation logic.
How to Choose Between Klaviyo and Mailchimp
Pricing Model: Klaviyo has $20-$1,250/month based on contacts, while Mailchimp has $0-$350/month with free tier.
Segmentation Depth: Klaviyo has Advanced behavioral + predictive segmentation, while Mailchimp has Basic demographic + list segmentation.
E-commerce Integration: Klaviyo has Native Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce integration, while Mailchimp has Limited native integration, requires apps.
SMS Marketing Channel: Klaviyo has Built-in SMS with deliverability tracking, while Mailchimp has SMS available via add-on only.
Automation Workflows: Klaviyo has 150+ pre-built templates, AI-assisted flows, while Mailchimp has 25+ templates, basic conditional logic.
Free Plan Availability: Klaviyo has No free tier, while Mailchimp has Free tier up to 500 contacts.
Consider: Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): Klaviyo has $480/year per active user, while Mailchimp has $95/year per active user.