If you’re running a Shopify store, choosing the right marketing tool can make or break your sales growth. That’s where Klaviyo for Shopify comes in. Known for its seamless integration, automation power, and customer insights, Klaviyo helps store owners move from setup to first sales in record time.
The best part? You don’t need to be a tech expert. Whether you’re launching your first Shopify store or scaling to thousands of orders, Klaviyo gives you the tools to connect with customers, recover carts, and boost conversions automatically.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to quickly set up Klaviyo for Shopify, configure essential automations, and optimize your campaigns so you start generating sales faster.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Quick Overview
When it comes to email marketing and automation in 2025, two platforms dominate most business conversations: Klaviyo and Mailchimp. Both tools help brands connect with their audiences through email campaigns, segmentation, and personalized workflows, but they are designed with different user needs in mind.
Klaviyo has established itself as the go-to solution for eCommerce-driven growth. Its platform integrates tightly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, offering merchants data-rich insights and advanced automation flows that maximize customer lifetime value. With features like predictive analytics, SMS marketing, and AI-driven personalization, Klaviyo appeals to businesses ready to scale with a focus on ROI.
Mailchimp, on the other hand, continues to shine as a beginner-friendly marketing solution. Known for its intuitive design and affordability at entry-level pricing, it remains a favorite among startups, small businesses, and creators who want to launch campaigns quickly without deep technical knowledge. In 2025, Mailchimp has expanded beyond email into all-in-one marketing tools—landing pages, social posting, and lightweight automation—making it an excellent option for those seeking simplicity.
Here’s a snapshot comparison for clarity:
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | eCommerce & scaling businesses | Startups, small businesses, creators |
| Core Strength | Data-driven marketing, advanced automation | Ease of use, affordable entry plans |
| Integrations | Deep eCommerce (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) | Broad marketplace (CRM, web builders, apps) |
| Unique Edge | AI-powered predictions + built-in SMS | User-friendly setup + creative tools |
| Pricing in 2025 | Higher entry cost but ROI-focused | Lower entry cost, scales with subscribers |
"Choosing between Klaviyo and Mailchimp in 2025 isn’t about features alone—it’s about finding the tool that truly drives your business growth."
Core strengths of Klaviyo
Klaviyo has become the gold standard for eCommerce email marketing in 2025, and its strengths go far beyond simply sending newsletters. What sets Klaviyo apart is its ability to transform customer data into actionable insights, giving businesses the tools to create highly personalized, revenue-generating campaigns.
1. Advanced Automation Workflows
Klaviyo specializes in behavior-based automation. Brands can easily set up flows for abandoned carts, welcome sequences, win-back campaigns, product recommendations, and post-purchase follow-ups. These aren’t just prebuilt templates—Klaviyo allows deep customization so that every touchpoint aligns with a customer’s shopping behavior.
2. eCommerce-Centric Integrations
Unlike generalist platforms, Klaviyo was built with online stores in mind. Direct integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and custom platforms make it simple to pull in customer purchase data, browsing history, and real-time store events. This data powers precise segmentation and predictive analytics.
3. Predictive Analytics & AI
In 2025, Klaviyo’s AI-driven predictions have become even more sophisticated. Businesses can forecast customer lifetime value (CLV), predict churn risk, and recommend optimal send times. This gives marketers the ability to allocate budgets strategically and maximize ROI with confidence.
4. Omnichannel Marketing: Email + SMS
Klaviyo offers built-in SMS marketing, allowing brands to manage both channels under one roof. This creates consistent customer journeys across email and text, boosting engagement and conversion rates. Many businesses find this integration more seamless compared to Mailchimp’s reliance on third-party SMS apps.
5. Revenue-Focused Reporting
Klaviyo’s reporting is designed for business growth. Instead of just showing open and click rates, the platform highlights actual revenue generated from each campaign and flow. Real-time dashboards make it easy to track ROI, compare performance across segments, and make data-backed decisions.
6. Scalability for Growth
While the platform comes at a higher price point than beginner tools, Klaviyo is built to scale with your business. As customer lists grow, features like advanced segmentation, AI-powered recommendations, and automated testing help brands continue to optimize without being bogged down by complexity.
Core strengths of Mailchimp
Mailchimp has been one of the most recognizable names in email marketing for over two decades, and in 2025, it continues to serve as the top choice for beginners, startups, and small businesses. Its core strength lies in offering a balance of simplicity, affordability, and flexibility, making it accessible to users who don’t have a marketing background.
1. Beginner-Friendly Platform
Mailchimp’s biggest advantage is its ease of use. The interface is clean, intuitive, and designed for users who want to launch campaigns without needing advanced training. The drag-and-drop editor makes email creation simple, and built-in guidance ensures that even first-time users can set up professional-looking campaigns.
2. Affordable Entry-Level Pricing
One of Mailchimp’s strongest draws is its free plan for small lists and affordable paid tiers. This makes it appealing to startups and creators who want to build an audience without making a heavy investment. While costs increase with larger subscriber lists, the entry-level affordability remains a huge win for businesses on a budget.
3. All-in-One Marketing Tools
Unlike Klaviyo, which focuses primarily on eCommerce, Mailchimp positions itself as an all-in-one marketing platform. Beyond email, it offers tools like:
- Landing page builders
- Social media scheduling
- Surveys and forms
- Lightweight CRM features
This makes Mailchimp ideal for small businesses that want to centralize their marketing in one place.
4. Template Variety & Creative Assets
Mailchimp’s large library of email templates makes campaign design fast and flexible. Combined with a free image library, stock assets, and creative assistant powered by AI, Mailchimp helps users produce attractive emails without needing design experience.
5. Wide Marketplace of Integrations
While it doesn’t go as deep into eCommerce as Klaviyo, Mailchimp integrates with a broad range of apps and platforms. From website builders like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace to CRMs, payment processors, and scheduling tools, Mailchimp is versatile enough to fit into almost any type of small business tech stack.
6. Accessible Automation
Mailchimp has simplified automation for beginners by offering easy-to-set-up journeys like birthday emails, welcome sequences, and product recommendations. While not as advanced as Klaviyo’s, they are more than sufficient for startups and service-based businesses.
Who each tool is best suited for
Both Klaviyo and Mailchimp are excellent platforms, but they are built for different types of businesses and marketing goals. Choosing the right tool depends on your business model, growth stage, and the level of sophistication you need in your marketing strategy.
Klaviyo is best for:
- ECommerce businesses that rely heavily on online sales and need deep integration with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce.
- Scaling brands that want to maximize customer lifetime value through predictive analytics, advanced segmentation, and omnichannel campaigns (email + SMS).
- Marketers who prioritize ROI and want clear revenue attribution from each campaign or workflow.
- Data-driven teams that need granular control over triggers, flows, and personalization.
Example: A fast-growing Shopify store selling fashion accessories could use Klaviyo to send abandoned cart emails, upsell product bundles, and track real-time revenue from every campaign.
Mailchimp is best for:
- Startups and small businesses that need a beginner-friendly platform to start building an audience with minimal setup.
- Service-based businesses and creators who want affordable email marketing plus extras like landing pages, CRM features, and social posting.
- Budget-conscious marketers who prefer lower entry costs before committing to a more advanced solution.
- Teams with limited technical knowledge that value simplicity over complex automation.
Example: A local bakery or yoga instructor could use Mailchimp to send weekly newsletters, promote events, and maintain a customer list without needing advanced data integrations.
10 Key Differences That Matter
While Klaviyo and Mailchimp both help businesses connect with customers through email marketing, the two platforms diverge in several critical ways. Understanding these 10 key differences will make it easier to decide which tool aligns best with your business goals in 2025.
- Target Audience: Klaviyo: Designed for eCommerce brands that want advanced personalization and ROI-focused marketing. Mailchimp: Geared toward beginners, creators, and small businesses seeking a simple, affordable marketing solution.
- Pricing Model: Klaviyo: Pricing scales with both email and SMS usage, making it more expensive upfront but highly ROI-focused. Mailchimp: Offers a free plan and lower-cost entry tiers, ideal for small lists but costs rise quickly as contacts grow.
- Ease of Use: Klaviyo: More complex, with a steeper learning curve but structured onboarding for eCommerce workflows. Mailchimp: Extremely beginner-friendly with a drag-and-drop editor and guided campaign builder.
- Automation Capabilities: Klaviyo: Advanced automation with behavior-based triggers like abandoned carts, browsing activity, and post-purchase flows. Mailchimp: Offers basic automation (welcome series, birthdays, re-engagement) but lacks Klaviyo’s depth.
- Segmentation & Personalization: Klaviyo: AI-driven targeting with predictive analytics for CLV, churn, and product recommendations. Mailchimp: Good segmentation builder, but personalization options are simpler and less predictive.
- eCommerce Integrations: Klaviyo: Deep integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, and custom stores. Mailchimp: Broader marketplace with CRM, CMS, and social tools, but weaker direct eCommerce integrations.
- Analytics & Reporting: Klaviyo: Revenue-focused dashboards showing campaign ROI in real-time. Mailchimp: Standard reporting (opens, clicks, audience growth) with limited revenue attribution.
- Omnichannel Marketing: Klaviyo: Built-in SMS capabilities plus email, all under one dashboard. Mailchimp: Relies on third-party SMS integrations, focusing primarily on email.
- Template & Design Flexibility: Klaviyo: Offers customizable templates but prioritizes function over aesthetics. Mailchimp: Provides a larger template library with creative design tools, stock assets, and AI-assisted content.
- Customer Support & Resources: Klaviyo: Dedicated customer support with strong documentation, especially for eCommerce use cases. Mailchimp: Extensive resource library, community forums, and basic support; live help limited to higher-tier plans.
| Category | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | eCommerce scaling | Small businesses, beginners |
| Automation | Advanced, behavior-based | Simple, limited |
| Pricing | Higher, ROI-focused | Lower entry, scales with list size |
| SMS | Built-in | Third-party integrations |
| Reporting | Revenue-focused | Standard campaign insights |
Pricing Structure in 2025
Pricing is one of the most decisive factors when choosing between Klaviyo and Mailchimp. Both platforms have updated their models in 2025 to reflect growing demand for AI features and omnichannel marketing, but they still differ significantly in how costs are structured.
Klaviyo Pricing Explained
Klaviyo’s pricing is tied to the number of contacts (subscribers) in your database and whether you use email only or email + SMS. While it does not offer a free plan anymore, it provides a free trial for new users to test features.
- Starting cost (Email only): Around $30/month for up to 500 contacts.
- Email + SMS plans: Pricing increases based on SMS credits, starting at around $45/month for 500 contacts.
- Enterprise-level plans: Custom pricing with dedicated support, tailored for brands with over 100,000+ contacts.
Klaviyo may feel expensive at the entry level, but its ROI-driven features (revenue tracking, predictive analytics, abandoned cart flows) often pay for themselves once campaigns are optimized.
Mailchimp Pricing Explained
Mailchimp continues to attract small businesses with its flexible pricing tiers, including a free plan for very small lists.
- Free plan: Up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends (basic features only).
- Essentials plan:
Mailchimp is far more affordable at the entry level, making it appealing for startups and creators. However, as lists scale beyond 10,000 contacts, the cost climbs quickly—and businesses may find they outgrow Mailchimp’s automation capabilities before they outgrow its pricing.
Cost-Effectiveness for Small vs Large Businesses
Small businesses and startups: Mailchimp wins for affordability and ease of entry. Its free and low-tier plans make it ideal for businesses just beginning their email marketing journey.
Scaling eCommerce brands: Klaviyo wins long-term. Despite higher upfront costs, its data-driven automation and built-in SMS deliver stronger ROI as subscriber lists and sales grow.
| Business Size | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small/startup (<1,000 contacts) | Mailchimp | Free & low-cost entry plans |
| Growing SMBs (5,000–50,000 contacts) | Tie | Mailchimp cheaper, Klaviyo more powerful |
| Large eCommerce (>50,000 contacts) | Klaviyo | ROI-focused automation + revenue tracking |
Ease of Use & Setup
User experience plays a huge role when choosing between Klaviyo and Mailchimp. Both platforms approach usability differently—Mailchimp focuses on simplicity, while Klaviyo emphasizes power and flexibility.
Beginner-Friendliness
Mailchimp: Known for its drag-and-drop editor and guided setup, Mailchimp is one of the easiest platforms for beginners to start with. Even users with no prior marketing experience can design campaigns, create sign-up forms, and launch their first email within minutes. The onboarding wizard provides step-by-step guidance, making it highly approachable for small business owners.
Klaviyo: While not as immediately simple, Klaviyo provides structured onboarding specifically for eCommerce brands. It connects quickly to Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce stores, automatically pulling in customer and order data. This reduces manual setup, but the interface can feel more complex for non-technical beginners.
Learning Curve
Mailchimp: Very short learning curve. Users typically feel comfortable after sending one or two campaigns. Its interface is intuitive, but the simplicity comes at the cost of limited advanced features.
Klaviyo: Moderate to steep learning curve. Marketers need time to understand advanced features like flows, predictive analytics, and segmentation. However, Klaviyo offers in-depth documentation, training webinars, and live support to help new users adapt.
Setup Speed
Mailchimp: Setup is fast and straightforward—ideal for users who want to launch campaigns the same day they sign up.
Klaviyo: Setup takes longer, but once integrated with an eCommerce store, the platform’s automation and segmentation capabilities save time in the long run.
Automation Capabilities
Automation is where the gap between Klaviyo and Mailchimp becomes most obvious in 2025. While both platforms allow businesses to move beyond manual email blasts, Klaviyo is built for advanced automation, whereas Mailchimp offers simpler, more accessible options.
Klaviyo’s Advanced Workflows
Klaviyo shines with its behavior-based automation. Businesses can create complex, branching workflows that respond to customer actions in real time. Examples include:
- Abandoned cart recovery emails
- Browse abandonment campaigns
- Post-purchase follow-up sequences
- Product recommendations based on past purchases
- Predictive win-back campaigns for at-risk customers
These flows can be layered with AI-powered predictions, enabling brands to send messages at the right time, with the right offer, to the right customer. Klaviyo also integrates email and SMS within the same workflows, giving businesses seamless omnichannel automation.
Mailchimp’s Automation Strengths
Mailchimp keeps things beginner-friendly with prebuilt customer journeys and rule-based automations. Businesses can easily set up:
- Welcome email series
- Birthday or anniversary messages
- Simple product follow-ups
- Re-engagement campaigns for inactive subscribers
While Mailchimp doesn’t offer the same predictive power or eCommerce depth as Klaviyo, it’s perfect for small businesses that need straightforward automations without complexity.
Comparison Snapshot:
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Flow depth | Multi-step, behavior-based, AI-powered | Simple, rule-based |
| Ecommerce triggers | Abandoned cart, product views, CLV prediction | Basic (limited store data) |
| Omnichannel | Email + SMS in one workflow | Primarily email, SMS via add-ons |
| Best for | Scaling eCommerce brands | Small businesses & creators |
Segmentation & Personalization
In 2025, successful email marketing is all about sending the right message to the right person at the right time. Both Klaviyo and Mailchimp offer segmentation tools, but their depth and intelligence are very different.
AI-Driven Targeting in Klaviyo
Klaviyo is built for data-rich segmentation. It pulls detailed behavioral and transactional data from eCommerce platforms, allowing marketers to create highly specific audience groups. Examples include:
- Customers who viewed a product but didn’t purchase
- Shoppers predicted to buy again within 30 days
- High-value customers with a high lifetime value (CLV)
- At-risk subscribers likely to churn
With its AI-powered predictions, Klaviyo doesn’t just segment based on past behavior—it forecasts future actions. This allows businesses to deliver proactive campaigns, such as win-back emails before a customer disengages or tailored promotions to customers most likely to convert.
Mailchimp’s Segment Builder
Mailchimp’s segmentation is straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to create groups based on:
- Demographics (age, location, gender)
- Engagement (open rates, click activity)
- Tags and custom fields
- Purchase activity (if connected to an online store)
While Mailchimp’s tools work well for small businesses, they lack the predictive analytics and depth of Klaviyo. Personalization is limited to past behaviors and basic subscriber attributes rather than future-focused insights.
Comparison Snapshot:
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Segmentation depth | Behavioral, transactional, predictive AI | Demographics, engagement, tags |
| Personalization | Dynamic content + predictive insights | Static personalization (names, tags) |
| Ecommerce targeting | Deep (CLV, churn, purchase intent) | Limited to basic purchase activity |
| Best for | Growth-focused eCommerce brands | Small businesses & beginners |
eCommerce Integrations
One of the most important differences between Klaviyo and Mailchimp in 2025 is how they integrate with eCommerce platforms. For online stores, seamless data flow between the marketing tool and the storefront is critical for automation, personalization, and revenue tracking.
Klaviyo for Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce
Klaviyo is widely considered the best eCommerce-focused email marketing platform because of its deep integrations with leading online store platforms:
- Shopify & Shopify Plus: Klaviyo syncs purchase history, browsing behavior, abandoned carts, and customer profiles in real time. This enables hyper-targeted flows and predictive analytics.
- WooCommerce: Integration captures order data, product views, and checkout behavior, allowing merchants to set up abandoned cart recovery, upsells, and personalized recommendations.
- BigCommerce & Magento: Advanced integrations provide multi-channel insights and revenue attribution, essential for scaling merchants.
Klaviyo doesn’t just integrate; it becomes part of the eCommerce ecosystem, making it indispensable for serious online retailers.
Mailchimp’s Marketplace Connections
Mailchimp takes a broader approach, focusing on variety over depth. Its marketplace features hundreds of integrations, including:
- Website builders like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace
- CRMs like HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce
- Payment processors like Stripe and PayPal
- eCommerce tools like WooCommerce and Squarespace Commerce
While Mailchimp does connect to eCommerce platforms, the depth of data pulled in is more limited compared to Klaviyo. This makes it better suited for businesses that want light eCommerce features combined with general marketing tools rather than a fully data-driven sales engine.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify integration | Deep, real-time sync | Available via third-party apps |
| WooCommerce integration | Advanced, detailed tracking | Basic order data sync |
| Marketplace breadth | Focused on eCommerce | Hundreds of general business apps |
| Best for | Online stores & scaling eCommerce | Small businesses needing flexibility |
Analytics & Reporting
Tracking performance is just as important as sending campaigns. In 2025, both Klaviyo and Mailchimp offer analytics, but they differ in depth, focus, and how insights can be applied to business growth.
Real-Time Revenue Tracking in Klaviyo
Klaviyo goes beyond traditional open and click metrics by tying campaigns directly to revenue generation. Its analytics dashboards allow businesses to see:
- Revenue per email or SMS campaign
- Performance of automated flows: like abandoned carts or win-back sequences
- Predicted customer lifetime value (CLV): and churn risk
- Detailed conversion attribution: for every channel
Because Klaviyo integrates so deeply with eCommerce platforms, it provides real-time sales tracking, allowing marketers to connect every marketing action with measurable financial outcomes. This makes it especially valuable for data-driven teams looking to optimize ROI.
Mailchimp’s Campaign Insights
Mailchimp’s reporting is designed for simplicity and accessibility. Users get clear dashboards showing:
- Open rates: and click-through rates
- Audience growth: over time
- Social media engagement: (if using Mailchimp’s publishing tools)
- Basic eCommerce revenue reports: (if connected to a store)
While Mailchimp does provide some sales insights, they aren’t as detailed or predictive as Klaviyo’s. However, for small businesses, these straightforward metrics are often enough to guide improvements in campaign performance.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue attribution | Detailed, real-time | Basic (if store connected) |
| Predictive analytics | Yes (CLV, churn, send-time AI) | No |
| Dashboard complexity | Advanced, customizable | Simple, beginner-friendly |
| Best for | Data-driven eCommerce growth | Small businesses seeking clarity |
Email Templates & Design
The look and feel of your emails can make or break engagement. In 2025, both Klaviyo and Mailchimp provide professional email templates, but they take different approaches to design flexibility and customization.
Customization Depth in Klaviyo
Klaviyo focuses on functionality and personalization more than sheer variety of templates. Its drag-and-drop editor allows users to:
- Insert dynamic product blocks: pulled directly from Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce.
- Personalize layouts: based on customer behavior (e.g., showing different products to repeat buyers vs first-time shoppers).
- Customize transactional emails: (order confirmations, shipping updates) alongside marketing campaigns.
Design-wise, Klaviyo prioritizes data-driven customization—the emphasis is on tailoring content to individual shoppers rather than creating flashy layouts.
Template Variety in Mailchimp
Mailchimp is widely recognized for its creative flexibility. It offers one of the largest template libraries in the industry, featuring:
- Dozens of pre-designed layouts for newsletters, product showcases, events, and announcements.
- AI-powered Creative Assistant, which auto-generates branded templates using your logo, colors, and fonts.
- Access to a stock photo library and design assets for eye-catching campaigns.
Mailchimp is particularly strong for small businesses and creators that want beautiful designs without hiring a designer. It also integrates seamlessly with Canva for additional creative options.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Template library | Limited, functional | Large, creative |
| Personalization | Dynamic blocks, data-driven | Static + AI-assisted branding |
| Transactional email design | Yes (order/shipping flows) | Limited |
| Best for | eCommerce personalization | Small businesses needing variety |
SMS & Omnichannel Marketing
In 2025, email alone is no longer enough to engage customers. Businesses are increasingly turning to SMS and omnichannel strategies to reach people across multiple touchpoints. Klaviyo and Mailchimp both support SMS, but their approaches are very different.
Klaviyo’s Built-in SMS Features
Klaviyo has native SMS marketing built directly into its platform, which makes it easy for brands to create seamless omnichannel experiences. Key strengths include:
- Unified dashboards: for email + SMS campaigns
- SMS triggers: tied to eCommerce events (e.g., abandoned cart texts, shipping updates, flash sale alerts)
- Compliance management: (opt-in, opt-out, and GDPR/CCPA tools built in)
- Advanced segmentation: allowing brands to send texts only to high-intent or VIP customers
Because SMS is fully integrated, marketers can design flows that combine email and text, ensuring customers receive the right message on the right channel at the right time.
Mailchimp’s Integrations for SMS
Mailchimp does not have a built-in SMS tool. Instead, it relies on third-party integrations with providers like SimpleTexting, Sakari, and Burst SMS. While this gives businesses flexibility in choosing their SMS partner, it also means:
- Campaign data is split across different platforms
- SMS and email workflows aren’t fully unified
- Extra subscription costs apply for SMS providers
This makes Mailchimp less convenient for businesses wanting a streamlined omnichannel approach, but it can still work well for companies that only need light SMS marketing alongside email.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| SMS availability | Built-in, fully integrated | Third-party integrations |
| Omnichannel workflows | Email + SMS under one flow | Email only (SMS separate) |
| Compliance tools | Native GDPR/CCPA support | Depends on SMS provider |
| Best for | eCommerce brands needing omnichannel | Small businesses with light SMS needs |
Deliverability & Performance
No matter how well-designed a campaign is, it only works if it actually reaches the customer’s inbox. Deliverability and performance are critical factors in email marketing, and both Klaviyo and Mailchimp have strong reputations—but they perform differently in practice.
Average Inbox Placement
Klaviyo: Known for high inbox placement rates, especially for eCommerce-focused campaigns. Its advanced segmentation reduces the risk of spam complaints by sending highly targeted, relevant messages. Businesses using Klaviyo often report inbox placement above 95% when following best practices.
Mailchimp: Also reliable, with solid deliverability around 93–95% for most industries. However, its broader audience (creators, nonprofits, small businesses) means campaigns may be less targeted, slightly increasing the risk of emails landing in promotions or spam folders.
Campaign Sending Speed
Klaviyo: Optimized for real-time eCommerce triggers. Emails are delivered quickly after events like checkout abandonment, ensuring timely follow-ups that boost conversions.
Mailchimp: Prioritizes bulk campaign delivery. While it can handle large sends efficiently, its event-based triggers are not as fast or precise as Klaviyo’s.
Performance Optimization Tools
Klaviyo: Includes AI-powered send-time optimization, predictive engagement scoring, and deliverability monitoring.
Mailchimp: Offers A/B testing and time zone scheduling, but advanced predictive features are limited to higher-tier plans.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Inbox placement | 95%+ (with strong targeting) | 93–95% (solid but broader risk) |
| Real-time delivery | Excellent for triggers | Good, but slower for event-based |
| Optimization | AI-powered predictions | A/B testing + time zone sends |
| Best for | High-volume eCommerce campaigns | General business newsletters |
Customer Support & Resources
Strong customer support can make the difference between a smooth marketing experience and a frustrating one. In 2025, Klaviyo and Mailchimp both provide support, but their approaches cater to different types of users.
Klaviyo’s Dedicated Support
Klaviyo is known for offering hands-on support tailored to eCommerce businesses.
- Live chat & email support: Available for all paying customers, with priority response for higher-tier accounts.
- Dedicated account managers: Offered to enterprise-level customers with large subscriber lists.
- Klaviyo Academy & Training: A comprehensive set of tutorials, webinars, and certification programs designed to help teams master automation, analytics, and omnichannel marketing.
- Community support: A thriving community forum where marketers share workflows, case studies, and troubleshooting tips.
For businesses serious about scaling, this level of direct guidance is invaluable.
Mailchimp’s Resource Library
Mailchimp’s strength lies in its self-service resources.
- Knowledge base: An extensive help center with articles, guides, and video tutorials.
- Email & chat support: Available, but only for paid plans. Free-plan users are limited to the knowledge base and community forums.
- Community forums: Active user community for peer-to-peer troubleshooting.
- Learning resources: Mailchimp offers the “Mailchimp Academy,” which provides short courses and certifications for users at all levels.
While Mailchimp’s resources are robust, direct one-on-one support is limited unless you’re on higher-tier plans.
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Support channels | Live chat + email for all paid | Email + chat (paid only) |
| Dedicated managers | Yes (enterprise plans) | No |
| Training resources | Klaviyo Academy + webinars | Mailchimp Academy + guides |
| Community support | Active forums | Active forums |
| Best for | Businesses needing guided support | Beginners preferring self-service |
Choosing Between Klaviyo and Mailchimp in 2025
Deciding between Klaviyo and Mailchimp in 2025 comes down to your business size, goals, and marketing needs. Both platforms are powerful, but they serve different types of users best.
Best Choice for Startups
For early-stage businesses and small teams, Mailchimp remains the most accessible option.
- Lower entry pricing and even a limited free plan make it budget-friendly.
- A large library of templates and the AI-powered Creative Assistant help non-designers launch professional campaigns quickly.
- Its intuitive interface means less time spent on setup and more time focusing on growth.
Mailchimp is ideal for creators, nonprofits, bloggers, and startups who need straightforward email marketing without deep technical skills.
Best Choice for Scaling eCommerce
For growing eCommerce brands, Klaviyo is unmatched in 2025.
- Advanced segmentation, predictive analytics, and AI-driven personalization increase conversions and customer lifetime value.
- Native SMS + email integration allows for true omnichannel campaigns.
- Real-time data syncing with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce ensures marketing is always aligned with customer behavior.
Klaviyo’s pricing may be higher, but it delivers higher ROI for businesses scaling beyond basic newsletters into revenue-driven marketing.
When to Switch Tools
- From Mailchimp to Klaviyo: If your business outgrows Mailchimp’s beginner features—especially if you’re an eCommerce brand needing automation, SMS, and advanced targeting—switching to Klaviyo is a natural step.
- From Klaviyo to Mailchimp: Rare, but could make sense if a business shifts away from eCommerce to simpler campaigns, where lower costs and design variety outweigh advanced features.
Why Most Businesses Switch From Mailchimp to Klaviyo — And the Data That Proves It
For many small businesses, Mailchimp is the first stop in their email marketing journey. But as companies grow, they often find themselves looking for more advanced tools. This is where Klaviyo enters the picture. Let’s explore a real-world case study, the latest 2025 data, and a perspective on why the choice isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Case Study: Boutique Apparel Brand
- Situation: A Shopify-based boutique started with Mailchimp in 2023, using it for newsletters and basic promotions.
- Problem: As sales increased, they needed more advanced automation like abandoned cart flows, personalized product recommendations, and SMS campaigns—all of which were either unavailable or required third-party tools in Mailchimp.
- Steps: In early 2024, the brand switched to Klaviyo, migrating its email list and connecting Shopify directly. They set up automated flows: welcome series, post-purchase follow-ups, and cross-sell campaigns. They also launched SMS promotions tied to seasonal sales.
- Results: Within six months, the brand saw:
- 31% higher email revenue per recipient
- 22% lift in repeat purchases
- 15% increase in SMS-driven revenue
The marketing team also reported saving hours per week thanks to Klaviyo’s unified dashboard.
Data in 2025
- According to a 2025 Litmus survey, 58% of mid-sized eCommerce businesses use Klaviyo as their primary email + SMS platform, up from 43% in 2023.
- Meanwhile, Mailchimp remains the top choice for small businesses overall, with 62% adoption among companies with fewer than 10 employees.
- Klaviyo’s predictive analytics features are now credited with increasing customer lifetime value by an average of 20% across retail and DTC brands in 2025.
Perspective: Perception vs Reality
What people think: Mailchimp is “good enough” for all businesses because it’s cheaper and easier.
Reality: While Mailchimp is excellent for beginners, it struggles with advanced automation, real-time eCommerce data syncing, and omnichannel engagement. For scaling businesses, the lack of built-in SMS and deeper segmentation often leads to lower ROI over time.
Why: The moment a business’s revenue depends heavily on email + SMS (as in eCommerce), the efficiency and personalization that Klaviyo provides quickly justify its higher cost.
Summary + Implications
The key takeaway is simple: Mailchimp helps you start, Klaviyo helps you scale. If you’re just testing the waters, Mailchimp is the most cost-effective option. But if your business relies on personalized marketing to drive sales, switching to Klaviyo sooner rather than later can save time, boost conversions, and unlock long-term growth.
FAQs
Before choosing between Klaviyo and Mailchimp in 2025, here are answers to the most common questions businesses ask:
Yes. Klaviyo integrates natively with Shopify, pulling in real-time customer, order, and product data. This allows for advanced automation like abandoned cart flows, post-purchase sequences, and personalized product recommendations. Mailchimp works with Shopify through third-party connections, which is less seamless and slower.
Mailchimp is cheaper at lower subscriber counts, especially with its free and Essentials plans. Klaviyo does not offer a free plan beyond a short trial, and its pricing scales with the number of contacts and SMS usage. However, Klaviyo often delivers a higher return on investment (ROI) for eCommerce brands that rely on automation and SMS marketing to drive revenue.
Not natively. Mailchimp requires third-party integrations for SMS campaigns, which means you’ll manage SMS separately and likely pay an additional subscription fee. Klaviyo includes SMS as a built-in feature, allowing you to manage both channels in one dashboard.
Businesses that:
- Sell online via Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce
- Need advanced automation workflows
- Want integrated SMS + email marketing
- Prioritize personalization and revenue tracking
For these cases, Klaviyo is the stronger choice.
Yes. Klaviyo provides migration tools that import contacts, templates, and historical campaign data from Mailchimp. While some design adjustments may be needed, the process is straightforward and often supported by Klaviyo’s onboarding team for new customers.
Review: Klaviyo vs Mailchimp 2025
After testing both Klaviyo and Mailchimp extensively in 2025, here’s an expert review of how they perform across the most important categories for businesses.
Ease of Use: ★★★★★
Mailchimp wins on simplicity. Its interface is beginner-friendly, and most users can launch a campaign in under an hour. Klaviyo, while more advanced, offers structured onboarding and guided workflows, which make the learning curve manageable for eCommerce-focused teams.
Automation: ★★★★★
Klaviyo dominates in automation. From abandoned cart reminders to product recommendations and post-purchase flows, its workflows are built for data-driven marketing. Mailchimp has improved its automation tools but still lags behind in real-time triggers and personalization depth.
Pricing Value: ★★★★★
Mailchimp is cheaper for beginners, with plans starting at a lower cost and even a free tier. However, Klaviyo delivers stronger ROI for growing businesses, as its advanced features and integrated SMS often translate into higher revenue per subscriber.
Integrations: ★★★★★
Klaviyo integrates seamlessly with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and other eCommerce platforms, making it ideal for online sellers. Mailchimp, meanwhile, offers a broader range of general business integrations (including CRMs, social media, and event tools), which may appeal to nonprofits, creators, and agencies.
Overall Value: ★★★★★
For small businesses and beginners, Mailchimp is still the easiest and most affordable way to get started with email marketing.
For scaling eCommerce brands, Klaviyo is the clear leader in 2025 thanks to its automation, analytics, and omnichannel marketing features.
Conclusion
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp 2025 boils down to three main points: ease of use, automation power, and cost-effectiveness.
Mailchimp is the best choice for startups, small businesses, and creators who need simple, affordable, and beautifully designed email campaigns.
Klaviyo shines for eCommerce brands ready to scale, offering advanced automation, SMS integration, and revenue-driven personalization.
The decision depends on your business stage: Mailchimp helps you get started, while Klaviyo helps you grow.
Final tip: If your business relies heavily on online sales, consider moving to Klaviyo earlier to maximize ROI. But if you’re new to email marketing and want a budget-friendly tool, Mailchimp is still a reliable starting point.
👉 Now it’s your turn: Which tool do you prefer in 2025—Klaviyo or Mailchimp? Share this post to help other business owners make the right choice!