Feature Ledger

Klaviyo vs Mailchimp

What changes the decision

Both free plans cap sending at 500 emails a month. Klaviyo counts active profiles, while Mailchimp uses contact tiers. Their workflow limits count different things, such as messages, flow steps, or flows.

Klaviyo pricing and plan comparison · Compare Mailchimp Marketing plans

Plans covered: Klaviyo Free and the Email plan at 500 active profiles, and Mailchimp Free, Essentials, and Standard at their listed contact tiers. Notes in the table mark the limits that apply only to Shopify-connected Klaviyo accounts. Documentation reviewed 2026-11-12. Methodology.

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7 features

From vendor documentation, checked 2026-11-12. Audience sizes, sending periods, and product editions differ by plan, so the prices are not quotes for the same workload. Salesforce figures are for Marketing Cloud Next, and SendGrid figures are for Marketing Campaigns. "Not verified" means we couldn't confirm the value. It does not mean the feature is missing.

Email marketing plan features. Vendor documentation reviewed 2026-11-12. "Not verified" does not mean unavailable.
FeatureKlaviyo
Email · From $20 USD / mo
Price for 500 active profiles and 5,000 emails a month. The price rises with profiles, and other Klaviyo products cost extra.
Mailchimp
Essentials · From $13 USD / mo
Regular monthly price for 500 contacts, without introductory discounts. Taxes and overages can apply.
Audience & sending
Contacts / subscribers
How many contacts or subscribers the listed tier allows. Vendors count these differently.
500 active profiles at listed price
This is the entry tier we priced. Larger tiers are available.
Limit applies · Klaviyo source
500 at listed price
Limit applies · Mailchimp source
Email sends
The documented sending allowance and its time period, including rolling 30-day, monthly, daily, and hourly restrictions.
5,000 / month
Limit applies · Klaviyo source
5,000 / month
Ten times the contact tier. Larger tiers cost more.
Limit applies · Mailchimp source
Audience growth
Signup forms
Forms for collecting email subscribers.
Included
A paid email plan removes the documented Free live-form cap.
Documented · Klaviyo source
Included
Documented · Mailchimp source
Landing pages
Hosted pages for collecting subscribers. Form limits have their own row.
Hosted pages with links & redirects
Using your own domain for hosted pages requires a separate account verification.
Documented · Klaviyo source
Included
Documented · Mailchimp source
Workflows
Automations
Automated workflows, including any stated contact or workflow limit.
Flow emails included
The paid Email plan removes Free's cap on live messages. Flow sends still count against the email allowance. Klaviyo does not promise unlimited steps.
Documented · Klaviyo source
Up to 4 steps / flow
This limits steps in a flow, not the number of flows. Branching and multiple starting points require Standard or Premium.
Limit applies · Mailchimp source
Remove provider branding
Whether you can remove the provider logo without buying an add-on.
Email branding removal included
Paying for SMS alone does not remove email-footer branding.
Documented · Klaviyo source
Removal included
Documented · Mailchimp source
Support
Support
The support channels the vendor lists for the selected plan.
Email & chat
Documented · Klaviyo source
24/7 email & chat
Documented · Mailchimp source

Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: active profiles, free limits, and automated messages

Klaviyo Free and the Email plan at 500 active profiles, and Mailchimp Free, Essentials, and Standard at their listed contact tiers. Notes in the table mark the limits that apply only to Shopify-connected Klaviyo accounts.

The advice below is our reading of each vendor's plan terms. We have not tested usability, performance, or deliverability.

By use case

Compare a small free newsletter

Check both the audience limit and the sending allowance on each free plan. The same monthly allowance does not mean the same features.

Plan an automated follow-up

Klaviyo's paid Email plan includes flow emails. Mailchimp Essentials allows four steps per flow, and Standard adds branching. Confirm the trigger and sequence you need.

  • Klaviyo Email · Automations: Flow emails included. The paid Email plan removes Free's cap on live messages. Flow sends still count against the email allowance. Klaviyo does not promise unlimited steps. Evidence record · Klaviyo source
  • Mailchimp Essentials · Automations: Up to 4 steps / flow. This limits steps in a flow, not the number of flows. Branching and multiple starting points require Standard or Premium. Evidence record · Mailchimp source

Count your audience each provider's way

Klaviyo's paid tier is priced by active profiles and includes a set number of monthly sends. Mailchimp's paid price uses its contact tier. Work out your billable audience under each definition before comparing prices.

Free plans limit more than sending

Both free plans limit support. Klaviyo offers email support for the first 60 days, and Mailchimp for the first 30. Mailchimp also caps sending at 250 emails a day. Klaviyo blocks links on landing pages for newer free accounts, and Shopify-connected accounts have their own limits on forms and live automated messages. Those Shopify limits apply only to those accounts.

  • Klaviyo Free · Support: Email for first 60 days. Community and education resources remain after that period. Evidence record · Klaviyo source
  • Mailchimp Free · Support: Email for first 30 days. Guides and tutorials remain available. Evidence record · Mailchimp source
  • Mailchimp Free · Email sends: 500 / month · 250 / day. Evidence record · Mailchimp source
  • Klaviyo Free · Landing pages: Hosted pages · link restrictions. Free accounts created after March 5, 2026 cannot add links or use redirects. Older free accounts keep those features. Evidence record · Klaviyo source
  • Klaviyo Free · Automations: Flow emails · limits vary. Shopify-connected accounts can have three live automated messages, including ones created at klaviyo.com. That is three messages, not three multi-email workflows. Evidence record · Klaviyo source

Common questions

Does one automated message equal a workflow?

No. One workflow can contain several messages. Klaviyo's Shopify cap on live messages is not comparable to Mailchimp's step or flow limits.

Understanding free plan limits and upgrading with Klaviyo in Shopify · Compare Mailchimp Marketing plans

Sources

Prices and limits change. Each value in the table keeps its plan and any conditions we found. Prepare a correction report.

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