Klaviyo vs Mailchimp
Free-plan headroom and true monthly cost as the list grows. Paid columns use Email vs Essentials. At 10k: Klaviyo $150 · Mailchimp $110.
Free plans
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free available | Yes | Yes |
| Contacts | 250 | 250 |
| Sends / mo | 500 | 500 |
| Automations on free | true | false |
| Remove branding | No | No |
Monthly cost by list size
| Subscribers | Klaviyo | Mailchimp | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $20 | $13 | Mailchimp |
| 1k | $30 | $26.50 | Mailchimp |
| 2.5k | $60 | $45 | Mailchimp |
| 5k | $100 | $75 | Mailchimp |
| 10k | $150 | $110 | Mailchimp |
| 25k | $400 | $270 | Mailchimp |
| 50k | $720 | $385 | Mailchimp |
| 100k | $1380 | $800 | Mailchimp |
Klaviyo gotchas.
- Active-profile billing can spike cost
- Best fit is Shopify/ecommerce, not creators
Mailchimp gotchas.
- Free plan cut to 250 contacts / 500 sends — poorly suited for real newsletters
- Unsubscribed contacts still count toward paid tiers
- Often more expensive than MailerLite/Kit at same list size
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp FAQ
Which is cheaper at 10,000 subscribers — Klaviyo or Mailchimp?
On the plans we track (Email vs Essentials), the cheaper verified bill at 10k is Mailchimp ($110 vs $150). Unknown cells stay blank.
Which has the better free plan — Klaviyo or Mailchimp?
Klaviyo: free contacts 250. Mailchimp: free contacts 250.
Should I switch from Klaviyo to Mailchimp?
Use free-plan headroom and the cost table on this page — not feature star ratings. Read gotchas on each tool page and confirm live vendor pricing before migrating.