Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Which email marketing platform is best for your business?

by Moises Hamui March 20, 2024

Choosing the right email marketing platform for your business can be a difficult decision. Two of the most popular options are Klaviyo and Mailchimp.

Both platforms offer a wide range of features to help you create and send personalized emails to your subscribers.

However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that you should keep in mind before making a decision.

What is Klaviyo?

Klaviyo is an email marketing platform designed specifically for online stores . It offers a wide range of features to help you create and send personalized emails, such as:

- Advanced segmentation: Klaviyo allows you to segment your subscriber list based on their behavior, interests and demographics . This allows you to send more relevant emails to each segment of your audience.

- Marketing Automation: Klaviyo allows you to create automated workflows to send personalized emails to your subscribers based on their actions . For example, you can send a welcome email to new subscribers or a follow-up email to customers who have abandoned their shopping cart.

- Detailed reports: Klaviyo offers you detailed reports on the performance of your email marketing campaigns. This allows you to see which campaigns are performing well and which campaigns you need to improve.

Examples of the advantages of Klaviyo for online stores

Abandoned Cart Recovery: Klaviyo allows you to send follow-up emails to customers who have abandoned their shopping cart . These emails can include a discount code to encourage customers to complete their purchase.
Personalized recommendations: Klaviyo allows you to send personalized recommendations to your customers based on their purchase history. This allows you to increase sales and improve the customer experience.
Behavioral Segmentation: Klaviyo allows you to segment your subscriber list based on their behavior. This allows you to send more relevant emails to each segment of your audience.

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is a more general email marketing platform that can be used for a variety of purposes, not just online stores. It offers a similar range of features to Klaviyo, such as:

- Email templates: Mailchimp offers a wide range of pre-designed email templates that you can customize. This allows you to create professional emails without requiring any design knowledge.

- Drag and Drop Email Builder: Mailchimp allows you to create personalized emails using a drag and drop builder. This allows you to create emails with a unique look without needing any coding knowledge.

- Basic reports: Mailchimp offers you basic reports on the performance of your email marketing campaigns. This allows you to see which campaigns are performing well and which campaigns you need to improve.

Examples of the advantages of Mailchimp for businesses that are not online stores

Newsletters: Mailchimp allows you to create and send newsletters to your subscribers.
Promotional Emails: Mailchimp allows you to send promotional emails to announce new products or services.
Surveys and Quizzes: Mailchimp allows you to create and send surveys and questionnaires to your subscribers.

Comparison table: Klaviyo vs Mailchimp

Characteristic	Klaviyo	Mailchimp
Price	From $0/month	From $9.99/month
Contacts	Up to 250 contacts for free	Up to 2,000 contacts for free
Email Templates	More than 200 templates	100+ templates
Email builder	Drag and drop	Drag and drop
Segmentation	Advanced	Basic
Marketing automation	Yeah	Yeah
Reports	Detailed	Basics
Integrations	200+ integrations	100+ integrations
Customer Support	24/7	24/7

Which platform is best for your business?

The best email marketing platform for your business will depend on your specific needs . If you have an online store, Klaviyo is a good option due to its advanced segmentation and marketing automation features.

If you need a general-purpose email marketing platform, Mailchimp is a good option due to its ease of use and affordable price.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing an email marketing platform:

Your specific needs: What features do you need in an email marketing platform? Do you need advanced segmentation and marketing automation features? Or do you need a more basic platform to send newsletters and promotional emails?
Your budget: How much are you willing to spend on an email marketing platform?
Your level of technical experience: Do you have design or coding knowledge? Or do you need a platform that is easy to use?

5. Alternatives to Klaviyo and Mailchimp

There are other email marketing platforms that you can consider, such as:

ActiveCampaign
Constant Contact
AWeber
ConvertKit
Sendinblue

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is email marketing?

Email marketing is a marketing strategy that consists of sending emails to a list of subscribers to promote products or services, generate leads or increase customer loyalty.

Why is email marketing important?

Email marketing is an effective way to reach your target audience and generate results. It is a profitable tool that allows you to:

Promote products or services: You can send emails to promote your products or services to a list of interested subscribers.
Generate leads: You can use email marketing to generate leads and convert them into customers.
Increase customer loyalty: You can send emails to your customers to keep them informed about your products or services and to offer them discounts or special promotions.

How can I get started with email marketing?

To get started with email marketing, you need:

Choosing an email marketing platform: There are many email marketing platforms available, such as Klaviyo, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, etc.
Create a subscriber list: You can create a subscriber list through your website, blog or social networks.
Design and send emails: You can use an email marketing platform to create and send personalized emails to your subscribers.
Track your results: It is important to track your results to see what works and what doesn't.

Written by Moises Hamui Abadi : I am an entrepreneur, founding partner of Viceversa and SoyMacho. After leading several digital businesses and advising several other businesses; I decided to form MHA Consulting, a digital marketing consultancy dedicated to growing and enhancing digital businesses in more than 7 countries and generating more than 1,500 million pesos.