Criterion by criterion
Where each one wins
Klaviyo6.0
Free plan is small and paid tiers are premium-priced.
Free plan & value
25% weight
Mailchimp6.2
Free plan exists but is limited, and paid tiers cost more per contact than many rivals.
Klaviyo9.0
Pre-built ecommerce flows with store-event triggers.
Automation
20% weight
Mailchimp7.6
Customer journey builder with pre-built flows on paid plans.
Klaviyo7.2
Rich features mean more set-up than simpler tools.
Ease of use & templates
15% weight
Mailchimp8.2
Polished editor and a large template library.
Klaviyo9.2
Deep native integrations with major store platforms.
Integrations & ecommerce
15% weight
Mailchimp9.0
Very large catalogue of native integrations.
Klaviyo7.0
Email support on free; chat on paid plans.
Support & compliance tools
15% weight
Mailchimp6.8
Free users get limited help; chat and email come with paid plans.
Klaviyo8.4
Built for high-volume stores and large catalogues.
Scalability
10% weight
Mailchimp7.2
Scales to large lists, but pricing steps up steeply.
Published facts
Side by side
| Fact | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial on paid plans | No | Yes |
| Free plan limits | Not published | Not published |
| Priced by | Active profiles | Contacts |
| SMS built in | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Email; chat on paid plans | Email and chat on paid plans; phone on top tier |
| Company base / data region | United States | United States |
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Choose Klaviyo if…
You want something best for online stores, especially on Shopify.
- + Excellent ecommerce data and segmentation
- + Email and SMS in one platform
- + Revenue reporting per flow
Choose Mailchimp if…
You want something best for small businesses wanting a familiar all-rounder.
- + Huge integration library
- + Easy, well-designed editor
- + Free tier to get started
Checked 1 Nov 2026.
Questions
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: quick answers
Is Klaviyo better than Mailchimp?
Klaviyo leads Mailchimp by 0.3 points overall (7.7 vs 7.4). Klaviyo scores higher on automation, integrations & ecommerce, support & compliance tools, scalability. Mailchimp scores higher on free plan & value, ease of use & templates.
Who should choose Mailchimp over Klaviyo?
Mailchimp is best for small businesses wanting a familiar all-rounder. Klaviyo is best for online stores, especially on Shopify.
How were Klaviyo and Mailchimp scored?
Both were scored on the same 6 weighted criteria for email marketing platforms, using public information such as published plans and terms. We do not lab-test products.