Klaviyo Alternatives: Omnisend, Mailchimp & MailerLite Compared

Last Updated: February 2026

Evaluating Klaviyo competitors for your ecommerce business? This article compares three Klaviyo alternatives — Omnisend, Mailchimp, and MailerLite — on automation, pricing, and features. We use Klaviyo exclusively at our agency, so we'll be upfront about where it wins and where these competitors have their own strengths.

Klaviyo Alternatives at a Glance

Finding the right email marketing tools can be challenging. Here are three Klaviyo alternatives that excel in different areas:

1. Best for Multichannel Marketing: Omnisend
2. Best for Beginners: Mailchimp
3. Best for Low Budget: MailerLite

Overview of Top Klaviyo Competitors

We work exclusively with Klaviyo at our agency, so we have strong opinions here. We've evaluated each of these platforms — some we've used directly, others we've researched extensively. Below is our honest assessment of where each one stands relative to Klaviyo for ecommerce.

The short version: Klaviyo wins on ecommerce integration depth, automation flexibility, and reporting. These alternatives each serve a purpose — budget constraints, simplicity, or multichannel basics — but most growing ecommerce brands will eventually need what only Klaviyo provides. For detailed head-to-head breakdowns, also check out our articles on Klaviyo vs Mailchimp and Klaviyo vs Omnisend.

Omnisend - Best for Multichannel Marketing

Price: Free plan available; Standard plan at $16/month; Pro plan at $59/month.

Omnisend excels in multichannel marketing, letting businesses manage email, SMS campaigns, and web push notifications from a single platform. This flexibility makes it an excellent choice for businesses aiming to enhance their marketing efforts across multiple channels. Omnisend’s integration with major ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento further adds to its appeal.

Pros

One significant advantage of Omnisend is its extensive third-party integrations, facilitating seamless connectivity with other platforms. The platform supports multichannel automations, including email, SMS, and push notifications, significantly enhancing marketing campaigns.

Omnisend also offers a unique Customer Lifecycle Map feature, enabling businesses to segment users based on purchasing behavior.

Cons

Despite its benefits, Omnisend has some drawbacks. Premium features can be pricey, which may not be justified for all users. There are also limitations in Omnisend's advanced segmentation capabilities compared to Klaviyo, which can hinder more sophisticated marketing strategies.

Review

Omnisend, established in 2014, has grown to support over 100,000 ecommerce brands. The platform is highly rated by Shopify users, boasting a score of 4.7/5 on the Shopify app store. Omnisend’s free plan allows unlimited contacts but caps email sending at 500 per month, making it a viable option for businesses just starting out. The platform’s multichannel automation workflows are tailored specifically for ecommerce needs, providing a comprehensive marketing solution.

Our take: Omnisend is fine. It works at a basic level, and the multichannel features are genuinely useful. But when you need advanced trigger automations, deep ecommerce integration, or serious reporting, you'll feel the limitations quickly. The savings on your bill don't offset the revenue you lose from a platform that just can't do as much as Klaviyo where it matters — automation flexibility, segmentation depth, and data granularity.

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 5/5
• Customer Support: 4/5

Mailchimp - Best for Beginners

Free plan available (250 contacts, 500 sends/month). Essentials starts at $13/month. Standard starts at $20/month.

Mailchimp is a popular choice for beginners in email marketing due to its user-friendly interface and extensive template library. The platform offers key features like email list management, advanced segmentation, and automated workflows, making it accessible for users at all levels.

Mailchimp includes tools for email customization, such as visual email editors and template editing tools.

Pros

Mailchimp is renowned for its user-friendly design, catering to users with varying levels of experience. The platform boasts an extensive template library, providing users with a variety of options. Additionally, Mailchimp integrates AI tools, such as a subject line generator and landing page builder, to enhance the template creation process.

The availability of a free plan enables users to start their email marketing journey without initial costs.

Cons

One of the main drawbacks of Mailchimp is that its pricing increases significantly as subscriber lists grow, making scaling more costly. The platform also lacks several advanced features that users may expect from a comprehensive email marketing tool, which can be a limitation for businesses with more sophisticated needs.

Review

Mailchimp includes a drag-and-drop email editor, making it easy for users to design campaigns. Its intuitive design and extensive template library make it a top choice for beginners. However, as your subscriber list grows, the costs can quickly escalate, which may be a concern for budget-conscious users.

Our honest take: we've used Mailchimp and the experience was frustrating. The biggest issue isn't the templates or the UI — it's the reporting and ecommerce integration. Mailchimp barely shows you your real metrics. It doesn't integrate deeply with your ecommerce platform, so you genuinely don't know what's driving revenue and what isn't. That makes it nearly impossible to make informed decisions about your email program. For a brand-new business sending its first newsletter, sure, it works. For anything beyond that in ecommerce, you'll outgrow it fast — and then face the pain of migrating everything to a platform like Klaviyo.

Rating:

• Price: 3/5
• Design: 5/5
• Features: 4/5
• Customer Support: 4/5

Mailerlite - Best for Low Budget

Price: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $10/month.

Mailerlite offers a cost-effective solution for small businesses and startups needing basic email marketing functionalities. The free plan provides essential tools for effective email campaigns, making it suitable for those with limited budgets.

MailerLite is recognized for its affordability and user-friendly design, making it an appealing choice for budget-conscious users.

Pros

MailerLite ensures emails reach recipients effectively with a high deliverability rate. The platform supports multiple languages, accommodating a diverse user base. This cost-effective solution is ideal for small businesses and startups.

The platform’s user-friendly design simplifies creating and managing email campaigns. Additionally, MailerLite offers reliable customer support to assist users in their email marketing endeavors.

Cons

Despite its affordability, MailerLite has some limitations. It lacks advanced features, which may not satisfy businesses looking for robust email marketing tools. Additionally, MailerLite offers fewer integration options compared to other tools, which may limit its functionality and versatility for users.

Review

Users appreciate MailerLite for its affordability, making it suitable for small businesses and startups. Its simple user interface enhances user experience and accessibility. However, some users desire more advanced features to enhance email marketing campaigns. The platform’s fewer integration options compared to other email marketing tools can also be a limitation for some businesses.

Our take: MailerLite has the same fundamental problem as Mailchimp — the ecommerce integration is weak and you can't really tell what's working. It's very basic. If you need a cheap tool to send newsletters for a non-ecommerce business, it's perfectly fine. But for an ecommerce brand trying to build automated flows, segment by purchase behavior, or track revenue attribution, MailerLite doesn't give you what you need. At $10/month it's tempting, but the value gap compared to Klaviyo isn't about price — it's about the revenue you're not generating because the platform can't support a real program.

Rating:

• Price: 5/5
• Design: 4/5
• Features: 3/5
• Customer Support: 4/5

Key Factors in Choosing an Email Marketing Tool

Selecting the right email marketing platform involves considering several key factors that can significantly impact your marketing efforts. One primary consideration is the pricing structure. For instance, Mailchimp’s pricing is based on the number of contacts stored, while Omnisend’s pricing is tied to the size of the email list. Understanding these pricing models is crucial to determine which platform offers the best value for your budget.

Features are another critical aspect to examine. Look for platforms that offer A/B testing options, automation capabilities, and integration with popular ecommerce platforms. These features can enhance your campaign performance and streamline your marketing processes. If you're sticking with Klaviyo but want to optimize costs, try our free Klaviyo Bill Reducer.

Responsive and helpful customer support can make a significant difference in your experience. Finally, consider the platform’s user interface and ease of use, especially if you’re new to email marketing. Tools like MailerLite are known for their user-friendly design, making them accessible to users of all skill levels.

How to Evaluate Your Needs

The most important question isn't "which platform is cheapest?" — it's "will I need to switch later?" If you're in ecommerce and plan to grow, starting on a basic platform creates tech debt. You'll build flows, set up segments, import contacts, and get comfortable — then realize you need to migrate everything to a more capable platform. That costs real time and money.

Our general advice: if you're running an ecommerce business, get on Klaviyo from the start so you can grow into it. If you're not in ecommerce — services, coaching, digital products — Klaviyo doesn't make sense. The platform is built for ecommerce, and that's where it shines. For non-ecommerce businesses, Mailchimp or MailerLite will do what you need just fine.

Summary

Each of these platforms has its use case, but for serious ecommerce businesses focused on revenue growth, Klaviyo's automation depth, segmentation power, and analytics are hard to beat. The alternatives listed here work well for specific scenarios — tight budgets, simple needs, or multichannel basics — but most growing brands will outgrow them. If you want to understand Klaviyo better, check out our guide to what Klaviyo does and try our free Klaviyo Flow Builder tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Omnisend considered the best for multichannel marketing?

Omnisend is the best for multichannel marketing because it allows you to effortlessly manage email, SMS, and push notifications all in one place, making your campaigns more streamlined and effective. This centralized approach helps you reach your audience wherever they are!

Is Mailchimp really beginner-friendly?

The interface is easy to use, yes. But "beginner-friendly" can be misleading — it's easy to get started, but the reporting and ecommerce integration are weak. You won't struggle to send emails; you'll struggle to understand whether they're working. For ecommerce brands, that's a bigger problem than a steep learning curve.

How cost-effective is Mailerlite for small businesses?

MailerLite is genuinely cheap — free plan available, paid starting at $10/month. For non-ecommerce businesses (services, consulting, newsletters), it's a solid value. For ecommerce, the "savings" are deceptive — the weak integration and limited automation mean you're leaving revenue on the table that would more than cover Klaviyo's higher price.