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
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.
Email and SMS marketing platform built specifically for e-commerce with native Shopify integration and real-time analytics.
All-in-one marketing platform offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features.
Structured comparison data for Klaviyo vs Mailchimp with 257 attributes.
Average eCommerce Email Revenue Per Send
Mid-Tier Price (5K contacts/subscribers)
Enterprise Price (100K+ contacts/subscribers)
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)
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.