ActiveCampaign vs Klaviyo
Two automation heavyweights, each with its own home turf. The CRM against the store data.
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ActiveCampaign
The most powerful automation, for those who mean business.
Klaviyo
The e-commerce standard for email and SMS.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Price | From $15/mo | From $20/mo |
| Free plan | No | |
| Best for | Growing businesses | Online stores |
| Category | All-in-one & automation | All-in-one & automation |
| Provider | ActiveCampaign LLC | Klaviyo Inc. |
| Visit ActiveCampaign | Visit Klaviyo |
Our verdict
Settle this duel with one question: where does your revenue come from? If you sell through an online store, Klaviyo is built for you. Every flow and segment revolves around order behavior. If you sell services or B2B with a sales pipeline, ActiveCampaign wins with its CRM, lead scoring, and deal stages.
Both are champions on their own turf. Pick the turf that is yours.
“The most powerful automation of this line-up, with behavior-driven campaigns and a built-in CRM. Overkill for a simple newsletter, but the professional standard for a growing business.”Editorial team, on ActiveCampaign
“For online stores, nothing else comes close. The segmentation on purchase behavior and the revenue reporting are in a league of their own. Outside e-commerce, you are paying for power you will not use.”Editorial team, on Klaviyo
Frequently asked questions
ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo: which one do I need?
Answer one question first: where does your revenue come from? Sell through an online store and Klaviyo is built for you, with every flow and segment revolving around order behaviour. Sell services or B2B through a sales pipeline and ActiveCampaign wins, with its CRM, lead scoring and deal stages. Both are champions on their own turf, so pick yours.
Which is cheaper, ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo?
ActiveCampaign at entry level. Starter is $15 a month or $180 a year, against $20 a month or $240 a year for Klaviyo's Email plan from 251 contacts (US dollars, checked August 2026). Klaviyo does have a free tier of 250 contacts and 500 emails a month. ActiveCampaign has none, only a 14-day trial. Both bills climb steeply with list size.
Can I use Klaviyo if I do not run a webshop?
You can, but you would be paying for power that sits unused. Klaviyo's segmentation reads purchase behaviour and its reporting counts revenue per email, both of which need order data to mean anything. Without a store behind it, ActiveCampaign gives you more that you will actually touch, starting at $15 a month.
Does either one include a CRM?
ActiveCampaign does, on the Plus plan at $49 a month or $588 a year, with lead scoring and deal stages alongside full automation and landing pages. Klaviyo takes a different route. Instead of a sales pipeline it gives you revenue-based reporting and behaviour segments tied to your store, which is the right tool when nobody is working deals by hand.