Klaviyo vs Mailchimp: Free Plans, SMS, and AI Content Tools Compared
Last updated August 21, 2026
StackVersus may earn a commission from links on this page — see our affiliate disclosure. This never affects our verdict.
Compare Klaviyo and Mailchimp for Your Team
Klaviyo's free plan bundles SMS marketing ($5 of mobile messages/month) and AI content tools (subject line generator, Composer credits) at no cost, capped at 250 profiles and 500 emails/month. This makes it a fit for small teams or early-stage businesses that want to test SMS and AI-assisted email content without upgrading to a paid tier. Mailchimp's free plan also caps out at 250 contacts but only includes core features — SMS requires a paid add-on starting on Essentials ($13/month), and AI content generation is reserved for Standard ($20/month) and Premium ($350/month) plans. Mailchimp does offer a wider range of paid tiers, with Standard adding up to 200 automation flows versus Essentials' 4 flow steps, and Premium removing contact and seat limits entirely. Teams that expect to outgrow a small contact list and need more seats, audiences, or automation flow depth as they scale may prefer Mailchimp's tiered structure, while teams prioritizing free access to SMS and AI features from day one may lean toward Klaviyo.
Review free plan limits, SMS marketing costs, and AI content features side by side before you commit to a platform.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Klaviyo | Mailchimp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS marketing | 4/5 | 3/5 | Klaviyo includes $5 of mobile messages/month on its Free plan. Mailchimp offers SMS only as a paid add-on starting on Essentials, with SMS and MMS on Standard/Premium (MMS limited to US/Canada); not available on Mailchimp's free plan. |
| AI content assistant | 4/5 | 3/5 | Klaviyo includes an AI-powered subject line generator and Composer credits on its Free plan. Mailchimp offers generative AI features at no extra cost, but only on Standard and Premium plans — not on Essentials or the free plan. |
| Free forever plan | 4/5 | 3/5 | Klaviyo's free plan supports up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/month, $5 of mobile messages, and 10,000 Composer credits. Mailchimp's free plan is available for accounts under 250 contacts but is limited to core features only. |
Frequently asked questions
How does Klaviyo's pricing compare to Mailchimp's?
Klaviyo lists a Free plan (up to 250 profiles, 500 emails/month, $5 of mobile messages/month, 10,000 Composer credits). Mailchimp has a Free plan for under 250 contacts, then paid tiers starting at Essentials ($13/month), Standard ($20/month), and Premium ($350/month, with a promotional rate of $297.50/month for 12 months also offered).
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Klaviyo, or the other way around?
The provided vendor data doesn't list migration tools or import processes for either platform, so specific switching steps aren't confirmed here — check current documentation from each vendor for migration details.
Does Klaviyo have a free plan?
Yes. Klaviyo offers a free-forever plan limited to 250 profiles, 500 emails/month, and $5 of mobile messages/month, plus 10,000 Composer credits.
Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
Yes. Mailchimp's free plan is available to businesses with under 250 contacts, but it includes only core features — SMS add-ons and AI content generation are not part of the free tier.
Who is Klaviyo best suited for based on its features?
Based on the listed data, Klaviyo suits smaller teams that want SMS marketing and AI content tools included in a free plan without needing to upgrade, as long as they stay within the 250-profile and 500-email/month limits.
Who is Mailchimp best suited for based on its features?
Based on the listed data, Mailchimp suits teams willing to pay for Standard or Premium plans to unlock AI content tools and higher automation flow limits (up to 200 flows), or teams needing unlimited contacts, users, and audiences on Premium.