Mailchimp vs Klaviyo
A side-by-side comparison of features and pricing to help you choose.
Mailchimp
Approachable email marketing for small businesses
Free plan
Free up to 250 contacts; Essentials from $13/mo
Klaviyo
Email & SMS built for ecommerce data
Free plan
Free up to 250 contacts; scales with list size + SMS
At a glance
| Spec | Mailchimp | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Budget tier | Budget-friendly | Mid-range |
| Complexity | Beginner-friendly | Intermediate |
| Primary category | Email Marketing | Email Marketing |
| Integrations | 300+ | 350+ |
| Founded | 2001 | 2012 |
Feature comparison
Mailchimp offers 8 of 9 tracked email marketing features; Klaviyo offers 9.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| Email campaigns | ||
| Automation workflows | ||
| Audience segmentation | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| SMS marketing | ||
| Template library | ||
| Free plan | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
Mailchimp
Pros
- Famously easy drag-and-drop editor
- Generous-enough free plan to get started
- Solid template library and content studio
Cons
- Automation is shallow versus dedicated platforms
- Pricing counts unsubscribed/archived contacts in some tiers
- Support is thin on lower plans
Klaviyo
Pros
- Unmatched ecommerce data model and segmentation
- Predictive analytics (CLV, churn risk) built in
- Email + SMS in one platform
Cons
- Pricing climbs sharply with list size
- Overkill for non-ecommerce senders
- Template editor less polished than rivals
The verdict
The right pick depends on your priorities. Choose Mailchimp if you value small businesses and creators who want email that just works. Choose Klaviyo if you need ecommerce brands that want revenue-driven email & sms.
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