Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform suited for small businesses seeking affordability and ease of use, while Klaviyo is a behavior-driven CRM platform optimized for eCommerce brands needing advanced segmentation and data-driven lifecycle marketing. Klaviyo's pricing scales with active profiles, making it more expensive at scale but more powerful for data analytics.
Mailchimp vs Klaviyo — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Both platforms excel in different contexts: Mailchimp is the better choice for budget-conscious small businesses seeking simplicity and affordability, while Klaviyo dominates for eCommerce brands requiring sophisticated customer data analysis and behavior-driven marketing. The selection ultimately depends on your business size, budget, and the sophistication of customer insights you need.
All-in-one marketing platform offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features.
E-commerce-focused email and SMS marketing platform with advanced segmentation and automation.
Structured comparison data for Mailchimp vs Klaviyo with 250 attributes.
Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers
Starter Tier Monthly Cost (50k contacts)
Automation Workflow Steps (Free/Starter Tier)
Average eCommerce Email Revenue Per Send
Mailchimp vs Klaviyo — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Mailchimp vs Klaviyo.
Which platform is cheaper for small businesses?
Mailchimp is significantly cheaper for small businesses, starting at $13/month compared to Klaviyo's $20/month. For lists under 10,000 contacts, Mailchimp's contact-based pricing remains more affordable. However, Klaviyo's free plan offers more features, making it better for bootstrapped startups.
Is Klaviyo worth the higher cost for eCommerce brands?
Yes, for eCommerce brands with sophisticated marketing needs. Klaviyo's unified customer data foundation, advanced behavior-led segmentation, and eCommerce-optimized workflows justify the higher cost. At scale (50,000+ profiles), costs become steep, but the advanced insights and automation capabilities typically drive higher ROI for D2C brands.
Can I use Mailchimp or Klaviyo for free?
Mailchimp offers a free plan with limited features (basic email campaigns, up to 500 contacts). Klaviyo's free plan includes all email features, making it more generous for free users. Both free plans require upgrading for advanced features like SMS, advanced automation, or higher sending limits.
Which platform has better email template design?
Mailchimp offers greater design variety and quicker customization for general marketing. Klaviyo's templates are specifically optimized for eCommerce workflows (abandoned cart, product recommendations, post-purchase) but offer less general-purpose design flexibility. Choose based on your industry needs.
How do pricing models differ between the two?
Mailchimp charges based on the number of contacts in your list, with a tiered pricing structure. Klaviyo charges based on active profiles (contacts who have engaged), scaling from $20/month for 251-500 profiles to $720/month for 50,000+. For growing lists, Mailchimp remains cheaper; for highly engaged customer bases, Klaviyo's active-profile model may be more efficient.