Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Which One Should You Choose in 2026?
Klaviyo
Best for: Shopify brands' email, SMS and CDP Starts at: Free plan 1.6370 reviews Klaviyo review Full profilePick Klaviyo if you need Shopify brands' email, SMS and CDP. Pick Mailchimp if small stores starting email matters more. The table and three-question quiz below show where they differ.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shopify brands' email, SMS and CDP | Small stores starting email |
| Pricing model | Freemium, by active profiles | Freemium, by contacts |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Rating | 1.6 / 5 (370 reviews) | – |
| Launched | – | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Boston, MA | Atlanta, GA |
| Key features | Email marketing, SMS and mobile messaging, Customer data platform, Segmentation and flows, Reviews, SMS marketing | Email marketing, Automations, Landing pages, Basic SMS, SMS add-on, Pop-up forms |
| Our score | 89.1 / 100 | 83.5 / 100 |
From each company's public pricing page and review profiles, checked Oct 27, 2026. Prices change: confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Klaviyo
- G2 4.6 from 1,370 reviews
- Deep Shopify and order data
- Free plan to start
- Costs climb with list size
- Trustpilot 1.6 (370 reviews)
Mailchimp
- 13,000 G2 reviews
- Free plan
- Easy for beginners
- Ecommerce automation lighter than Klaviyo
- Costs rise fast with contacts
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: the core difference
Klaviyo was built for ecommerce. It reads order, product and browsing data from your store and uses it for segments and automated flows. Mailchimp, on the other hand, began as a general email tool for small businesses and now serves a broad range of industries, from services to retail.
That difference shows up in daily work. For instance, building a segment of customers who bought twice and haven’t ordered in sixty days takes a few clicks in a store-focused tool. In a general tool, the same segment may depend on how well your store integration passes data.
When each one fits
A store that earns a large share of revenue from email flows usually gets more from an ecommerce-first platform. Meanwhile, a business that sends newsletters, event invites and simple promotions may prefer a general tool with friendly templates and broad integrations.
Price also matters. Both charge more as your list grows, but the tiers and included features differ. Therefore, price each one at your real contact count and the sending volume you expect next year.
How to decide
First, list the five flows that drive your email revenue. Next, rebuild one of them in a trial of each platform. Then compare how long it took and how well the segment matched your intent. Finally, check deliverability tools and support, since those affect results long after the setup is done.
Which should you choose?
Answer three questions. The pick is worked out from the prices, scores and features in the table above.
Alternatives to consider
FAQs: Klaviyo vs Mailchimp
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: which is better?
Neither Klaviyo nor Mailchimp is better for everyone. The side-by-side table compares them point by point, and the short quiz below it recommends one based on your goal, team size and sales channels.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: which is cheaper?
Compare the starting-price rows in the table above, then price Klaviyo and Mailchimp at your real volume (contacts, orders, seats or spend), because entry plans include different limits and features.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: which suits Amazon and Shopify sellers?
For Amazon and Shopify sellers, the deciding factors are native integrations, how each handles marketplace data, and reporting. The 'Which should you choose' section maps common seller situations to Klaviyo or Mailchimp.