Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Klaviyo and Mailchimp.
Marketing automation platform built for e-commerce
Email marketing and automation platform
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | $13/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.6/5 ↑ | 4.3/5 |
| Capterra rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Founded | 2012 | 2001 |
Klaviyo: pros & cons
- ✓Best-in-class e-commerce features
- ✓Deep Shopify integration
- ✓Powerful segmentation
- ✓Revenue attribution
- ✗Expensive at scale
- ✗Overkill for non-e-commerce
- ✗Learning curve for automations
Mailchimp: pros & cons
- ✓Easy to use
- ✓Generous free plan
- ✓Good template library
- ✓Strong e-commerce integrations
- ✗Pricing jumps steeply
- ✗Automations less powerful than competitors
- ✗Contact-based pricing gets expensive
Choose Klaviyo if...
- →Your Shopify store needs abandoned cart, browse abandonment, and post-purchase flows that trigger from real-time storefront behaviour
- →You want to segment your email list by purchase history, predicted lifetime value, or product category to send genuinely relevant campaigns
- →Your brand does both email and SMS and wants both channels running from a single automation flow with unified revenue attribution
Choose Mailchimp if...
- →You're a small business or startup sending newsletters and promotional emails to under 5,000 contacts
- →You run a Shopify or WooCommerce store and want basic abandoned cart and welcome automations without complex setup
- →Your team is non-technical and needs a drag-and-drop email builder with a large template library
Our verdict
Klaviyo scores higher on G2 (4.6/5 vs 4.3/5), suggesting stronger overall user satisfaction. Mailchimp is the more affordable option. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: frequently asked questions
Is Klaviyo better than Mailchimp?
Klaviyo has a higher G2 score (4.6/5 vs 4.3/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Klaviyo or Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is cheaper, starting at $13/mo.
What is the main difference between Klaviyo and Mailchimp?
Klaviyo focuses on email marketing, sms marketing, advanced segmentation. Mailchimp focuses on email campaigns, automations, landing pages. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Klaviyo to Mailchimp?
Most teams migrate between Klaviyo and Mailchimp within a day or two. Export your data from Klaviyo (typically as CSV or via API), then use Mailchimp's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.