Mailchimp is cheaper, but covers only 3 of 7 compared capabilities
$45/mo (Essentials · 2.5k) vs Klaviyo Email · 2.5k at $60/mo — covering 43% of the 7 compared capabilities.
Cheaper. Not the same job.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
Email · 2.5k plan at $60/mo, the cheapest paid plan.
Essentials · 2.5k: 45 USD/monthly.
Klaviyo costs $60/mo on the Email · 2.5k plan at 2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month, monthly billing. We found 1 assessed alternative that is cheaper in this scenario; 0 of them cover at least 75% of the 7 compared capabilities.
Capability comparison
Mailchimp covers 43% of the 7 capabilities compared against Klaviyo. ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Mailchimp | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audience segmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email templates | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Push notifications | ✗ | ✓ |
| WhatsApp marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI writing assistant | ✗ | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities Klaviyo has that Mailchimp lacks.
- Audience segmentation — Group subscribers into segments for targeted sends.Missing from Mailchimp.
- Push notifications — Send push notifications alongside email campaigns.Missing from Mailchimp.
- WhatsApp marketing — Send marketing messages over WhatsApp.Missing from Mailchimp.
- AI writing assistant — Get AI help drafting email copy.Missing from Mailchimp.
Price at your volume
The same comparison recomputed at three sizes. Plan caps change who is cheapest.
| Usage | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 contacts, 4,000 emails/month | $30/moEmail · 1k | $26.50/mocheaperEssentials · 1.5k |
| 2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month | $60/moEmail · 2.5k | $45/mocheaperEssentials · 2.5k |
| 10,000 contacts, 40,000 emails/month | $150/moEmail · 10k | $110/mocheaperEssentials · 10k |
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Free | Free |
| Essentials | $13/mo |
| Essentials · 1.5k | $26.50/mo |
| Essentials · 2.5k | $45/mo |
| Essentials · 10k | $110/mo |
| Standard | $20/mo |
| Standard · 1.5k | $45/mo |
| Standard · 2.5k | $60/mo |
| Standard · 10k | $135/mo |
| Premium | $350/mo |
| Premium · 1.5k | $350/mo |
| Premium · 2.5k | $350/mo |
| Premium · 10k | $350/mo |
| Pay As You Go | Contact sales |
| Free | Free |
| Enterprise / Professional Services | Contact sales |
| $20/mo | |
| Email · 1k | $30/mo |
| Email · 2.5k | $60/mo |
| Email · 10k | $150/mo |
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Frequently asked
How much cheaper is Mailchimp than Klaviyo?
25% cheaper in our scenario (2,500 contacts, 10,000 emails/month, monthly billing): $45/mo on Essentials · 2.5k vs $60/mo on Email · 2.5k. That is $180 a year. But it covers only 3 of 7 compared capabilities, so it isn't a like-for-like replacement.
What does Mailchimp lack compared with Klaviyo?
Audience segmentation, Push notifications, WhatsApp marketing, AI writing assistant — 4 of the 7 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
Klaviyo: 2026-10-28; Mailchimp: 2026-10-28 — on the official pricing pages.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources & freshness
- https://www.klaviyo.com/pricing (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-28)
- https://www.klaviyo.com/pricing#site-content (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-26)
- Mailchimp data last verified 2026-10-28