Kit (ConvertKit) vs Klaviyo
Kit (ConvertKit) and Klaviyo are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Klaviyo is the more affordable option at $20/mo — that's $13 less than Kit (ConvertKit)'s $33/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Klaviyo has the edge with SMS marketing, a drag-and-drop editor.
Quick Verdict
Klaviyo wins on price, deliverability, integrations.
Best for most users: Klaviyo (ecommerce).
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Klaviyo
The platform for unified customer data
Klaviyo is the gold standard for ecommerce email and SMS marketing, particularly for Shopify stores. Its deep integration with ecommerce platforms enables sophisticated automated flows like abandoned cart, post-purchase, and win-back sequences based on real purchase data.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $33/mo | $20/mo |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | 250 subscribers |
| Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 100 |
| Integrations | 90 | 350 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98.2% | 99% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✕ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✕ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- +Intuitive visual automation builder
- +Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- +Strong deliverability rates
- +Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- −Limited email template design options
- −Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- −No SMS marketing capabilities
- −Basic reporting compared to competitors
- −No drag-and-drop email editor
Klaviyo: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Best-in-class ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce)
- +Powerful segmentation with predictive analytics
- +Excellent deliverability (99%+)
- +Revenue attribution for every email and SMS
- +Deep customer data platform capabilities
Cons
- −Expensive for large lists
- −Steep learning curve
- −Free plan very limited (250 contacts)
- −SMS credits sold separately
- −Can be overkill for non-ecommerce businesses
The Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) and Klaviyo are closely matched — both score within 0.0 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, Klaviyo reports 99% compared to 98.2% for Kit (ConvertKit) — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $33/mo | $20/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98.2% | 99% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 90 | 350 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a creators
- + Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
Choose Klaviyo if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($20/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a shopify