Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right email marketing tool for your needs.

Our Pick: Klaviyo (by a slight margin)

Klaviyo edges out with a slightly higher rating (8.5 vs 8)

Quick Comparison

Aspect
K
Klaviyo(Winner)
M
Mailchimp
Overall Rating
8.5/10
8/10
Starting Price
$20/mo
$13/mo
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best For
medium
any
Ease of Use
7/10
9/10
Features
10/10
8/10
Value for Money
7/10
6/10
Support
8/10
7/10

Overview

Klaviyo is the leading email and SMS marketing platform for e-commerce. Deep integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms for personalized customer journeys.

Mailchimp is the most popular email marketing platform, offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features. Known for ease of use and generous free tier.

Pricing Comparison

Better value: Mailchimp
K

Klaviyo

Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$20/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier
M

Mailchimp

Better Value
Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$13/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier

Features Comparison

Winner: Mailchimp
FeatureKlaviyoMailchimp
Automation
Templates
Segmentation
Ab Testing
Landing Pages
Transactional Emails
Paid add-on
Ecommerce Features
Form Builder
Free Subscribers
250
500
Emails Per Month
500 on free
10x contacts

0

features unique to Klaviyo

1

features unique to Mailchimp

Pros & Cons

K

Klaviyo

Pros

  • Best e-commerce integrations
  • Powerful segmentation and personalization
  • Revenue tracking and attribution
  • SMS marketing included
  • Predictive analytics

Cons

  • Expensive for large lists
  • Learning curve for beginners
  • Overkill for non-e-commerce
  • Can be complex to set up
M

Mailchimp

Pros

  • Free tier up to 500 contacts
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
  • Huge template library
  • Strong brand recognition
  • All-in-one marketing features

Cons

  • Gets expensive as list grows
  • Limited automation on free plan
  • Support quality varies
  • Pricing changed negatively

The Verdict: Klaviyo Edges Out

This was a close comparison, but Klaviyo edges out Mailchimp with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.5/10 versus 8/10. Both are solid choices, but Klaviyo offers a marginally better overall package.

Klaviyo's advantages include Best e-commerce integrations and Powerful segmentation and personalization, though Mailchimp counters with Free tier up to 500 contacts and Intuitive drag-and-drop builder.

Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to Klaviyo, but don't count out Mailchimp if its specific strengths align better with your needs.

Choose Klaviyo if you...

  • • Need shopify and e-commerce stores
  • • Need dtc brands
  • • Need revenue-focused email marketing

Choose Mailchimp if you...

  • • Need small businesses starting email
  • • Need beginners needing simplicity
  • • Need those wanting all-in-one platform

Ready to Get Started?

* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.

Klaviyo vs Mailchimp FAQ

Based on our evaluation, Klaviyo has a slight edge with an overall rating of 8.5/10. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
Yes, Mailchimp is more affordable with plans starting at $13/month, compared to $20/month for the other.
Mailchimp scores higher in ease of use (9/10) compared to Klaviyo (7/10).
Yes, migration between Klaviyo and Mailchimp is possible. Most tools offer data export features. Check each tool's documentation for specific migration guides and import capabilities.
Both tools can work for small teams. Klaviyo is best for medium teams while Mailchimp suits any teams.
For startups, consider your growth trajectory. Klaviyo offers a free tier which is great for bootstrapped startups.
Yes, each tool has unique strengths. Klaviyo excels at: Shopify and e-commerce stores, DTC brands. Mailchimp is better for: Small businesses starting email, Beginners needing simplicity. Review our detailed feature comparison above.
Klaviyo rates higher in customer support (8/10) compared to Mailchimp (7/10).
Klaviyo offers better value for money with a rating of 7/10 compared to Mailchimp's 6/10.
Consider switching if Mailchimp's strengths (Small businesses starting email) align better with your current needs. However, factor in migration effort and learning curve before making the switch.