Klaviyo vs ActiveCampaign
Last updated: 2026-07-15
Klaviyo offers a free tier for up to 250 contacts and is tailored for e‑commerce email with deep Shopify integration; ActiveCampaign starts at $29 /mo and provides a full marketing automation suite across email, SMS, and CRM.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | popular Klaviyo | best ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0/mo (Free) | $15/mo |
| Free trial | Free plan available (250 contacts, 500 emails/mo) | 14-day free trial |
| Best for | E-commerce email and SMS marketing | Marketing automation and CRM combined |
| Free plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo | ✗ |
| Starting paid price | $20/mo (500 contacts), scales with contact count | — |
| Email marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS marketing | Included (US, UK, AU, Canada) | — |
| Automation | Abandoned cart, welcome, post-purchase, win-back | Best in class |
| Predictive analytics | ✓ | — |
| A/B testing | ✓ | — |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, 250+ | 900+ integrations |
| Support | Email + chat (plan dependent) | Email + chat + phone (plan dependent) |
| Starting price | — | $15/mo (Starter, 1,000 contacts), $49/mo (Plus) |
| CRM | — | Built-in |
| Landing pages | — | Basic |
| Lead scoring | — | Plus plan+ |
Klaviyo Pros & Cons
Pros
- Built for e-commerce — deep Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce integration
- Powerful automation — abandoned cart, welcome series, post-purchase, win-back
- Predictive analytics — churn risk, customer lifetime value, next order date
- A/B testing on all plans
- SMS marketing included (US, UK, AU, Canada)
- 250+ pre-built integrations
Cons
- Expensive at scale — pricing based on contact count
- Free plan limited (250 contacts, 500 emails/mo)
- Not suitable for non-e-commerce businesses
- Learning curve for advanced segmentation and flows
- SMS pricing is separate from email pricing
ActiveCampaign Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best marketing automation for the price
- Visual automation builder — complex workflows without code
- Built-in CRM (no separate subscription needed)
- Generous features on lower tiers (site messaging, lead scoring)
- Machine learning features (predictive sending, win probability)
- Affordable starting price ($15/mo for 1,000 contacts)
Cons
- No free plan (14-day trial only)
- Pricing is per contact — scales fast as list grows
- Landing page builder is basic (not a Leadpages replacement)
- No built-in e-commerce (integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce)
- SMS marketing requires third-party integration
Final Verdict
E‑commerce merchants on Shopify, Magento, or BigCommerce will benefit from Klaviyo’s product‑triggered flows, predictive analytics, and granular segmentation without a base fee. ActiveCampaign shines for B2C/B2B businesses that need multi‑channel journeys, lead scoring, and a built‑in sales CRM. While Klaviyo’s pricing scales with contacts (starting at $20 /mo for 500 contacts), ActiveCampaign’s tiered plans add more automation steps and integrations. Choose Klaviyo if your revenue is driven by product‑based email flows; choose ActiveCampaign for broader marketing automation across channels.
Our pick: Klaviyo (e‑commerce email) / ActiveCampaign (full‑stack automation)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Klaviyo support SMS?
Klaviyo added SMS in 2023, but it’s limited to US and Canada and requires a separate add‑on.
Can ActiveCampaign handle e‑commerce workflows?
Yes, ActiveCampaign integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and provides order‑based automations.
Which platform offers better predictive analytics?
Klaviyo’s predictive win‑back and churn models are e‑commerce specific, while ActiveCampaign offers lead scoring across channels.
Ready to try?
Start with a free trial and see which tool fits your workflow.