Several email marketing platforms have flourished since the introduction of Mailchimp in 2001. We spent much time exploring each software and comparing its strengths and weaknesses. Klaviyo, a popular marketing platform for eCommerce, is one of Mailchimp's alternatives. If you're curious about other options, this comparison between Klaviyo vs Mailchimp can help you decide.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp Summary Mailchimp is one of the most popular marketing platforms and is known for its flagship email marketing service. It has over 12 million users and sends half a billion emails daily. Forbes Advisor has chosen Mailchimp as the best all-in-one marketing software for 2024 .
But why do marketers and retailers make the switch to Klaviyo? Mailchimp offers limited email marketing automation options to small- and mid-sized businesses that prefer DIY. In contrast, Klaviyo allows users to test, customize, and personalize their emails depending on their needs and preferences. Mailchimp is ideal for starters, while Klaviyo is recommended for experts. Scroll down for the in-depth Klaviyo vs Mailchimp analysis based on critical criteria.
eCommerce and Retail In the era of a highly competitive marketplace, building an online store simplifies selling your products. Mailchimp makes it easy to navigate the complicated eCommerce business. With its intuitive website builder, anyone can create a beautiful store and built-in marketing tools to help you succeed. Mailchimp is ideal for beginners who want to launch an eCommerce journey. Below are the well-known features of Mailchimp that are specifically designed for retailers.
Retail marketing eCommerce automation Product recommendations Abandoned cart emails Klaviyo is the gold standard for email marketing for eCommerce brands. Designed exclusively for online retailers, it leverages data, analytics, and tracking to boost revenue and craft deeply personalized campaigns. Klaviyo also uses AI to predict customer lifetime value & future order dates.
When considering various email marketing platforms like Klaviyo vs. Mailchimp, Klaviyo boasts advanced data integration, eCommerce-centric features, and advanced behavioral-based targeting, outshining Mailchimp in driving sales for online brands. Some of the top eCommerce brands worldwide use Klaviyo, including Stanley 1913, Fashion Nova, Patagonia, SKIMS, and Sanrio.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mailchimp also uses the power of AI to enhance its email marketing and automation services. Integrating AI in marketing has many benefits, such as customer insights or creating customized content.
Similarly, Klaviyo leverages high-quality data to power its AI features, ensuring your email marketing campaigns are truly personalized and drive real impact. This new feature offers segment creation, form optimization, predictive insights, and more.
Usability While Klaviyo is powerful, affordable, and packed with various features, the learning curve is quite tricky. Fortunately, Klaviyo has thorough documentation and many tutorials, so you learn how to navigate the platform easily.
Mailchimp has a modern and appealing website, with a straightforward user interface. You can switch between drag-and-drop features and custom HTML code, making it flexible and user-friendly.
Automation Mailchimp might be easier to navigate for starters, but Klaviyo leads in terms of automations. This gap used to be even wider, but Mailchimp's recent efforts have somehow closed the distance.
Klaviyo still reigns supreme in automation thanks to:
A library of ready-to-use premade workflows The ability to trigger automations based on real-time data (something Mailchimp can't do) Mailchimp often restricts advanced automation features to their pricier plans (whereas Klaviyo offers them more broadly) In short, Klaviyo boasts a wider range of automation tools compared to its counterpart.
Integrations Modern ecommerce thrives on integrations. These connections let you add features and functionality to your existing platform, creating a customized powerhouse for your business.
Mailchimp boasts a wider range of integrations: Over 300 and growing, with options for building custom ones using their API. Popular choices include Shopify, Squarespace, and QuickBooks, alongside many specialized tools for forms, customer interaction, and more. Klaviyo currently offers around 220 integrations, focusing on major ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Magento.
Reporting and Analytics Mailchimp offers strong reporting features, but with a catch: You need to upgrade to pricier packages. The Essentials plan ($9.99/month) only provides basic A/B testing. Advanced features like finding the best send times or deeply segmenting your audience require expensive upgrades. However, these can be valuable. The Premium plan unlocks features like ideal send times and in-depth customer segmentation.
Klaviyo provides powerful analytics at a lower cost: Unlike Mailchimp, Klaviyo includes advanced segmentation in all plans, not just premium ones. Additionally, Klaviyo boasts significantly more robust predictive analytics. This lets you explore metrics like click-through rates and open rates for specific customer segments. With this level of detail, you can precisely target demographics, identify areas for improvement, and refine your email marketing strategy.
However, Klaviyo's reporting can be complex for beginners. Consider having someone familiar with the platform guide you through initial data analysis.
Affordability Klaviyo offers a powerful analytics toolkit at a more affordable price point. Unlike Mailchimp, Klaviyo includes advanced segmentation in all their plans, not just the premium ones. Even better, Klaviyo boasts significantly more robust predictive analytics. This lets you delve into specific customer segment metrics like click-through rates and open rates.
With this level of detail, you can efficiently target demographics, pinpoint areas for improvement, and constantly refine your email marketing strategy. However, Klaviyo's reporting tools can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. Consider having someone familiar with the platform guide you through your initial data analysis.
Final Verdict In this comparative guide, we think Klaviyo wins because its comprehensive features help eCommerce brands worldwide. Klaviyo's focus on powerful integrations, in-depth analytics at a lower cost, and robust automation makes it a strong choice for businesses looking to scale their email marketing efforts.
