Choosing the right email marketing platform is one of the most critical decisions a Shopify merchant will make. It’s not just about sending newsletters anymore; it’s about leveraging your data to drive retention and increase Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV).
For years, the debate has centered on two giants: Mailchimp, the accessible, user-friendly champion of small businesses, and Klaviyo, the data-heavy powerhouse built specifically for e-commerce.
According to the latest statistics
73 % of online shoppers are using mobile devices to purchase
At Digismoothie, we help merchants optimize their operations every day, and we often get asked: "Is Klaviyo really worth the extra cost?" or "Can Mailchimp handle my store's automation needs?"
To help you decide, we’ve compiled a deep-dive comparison updated for the 2026 landscape.
Comparison table
data & Architecture
Event-based architecture
Top-tier price (per month)
$299
$160
Unlimited products
Embedded payment gateway
Subscription sales
24/7 free support
Number of apps
7 000+
200+
Number of free apps
3 000+
60+
design
Drag & drop editing
Theme customizations
Theme backups
Global CDN storage
Number of store themes
73
25
global reach & expansion
Multi-language
Paid app
Multi-currency
Paid app
Multi-inventory
Paid app
Automatic translations
Paid app
Local payments
Analytics & reporting
Live dashboard
Marketing reports
Finances reports
Inventory reports
Product analytics
Visitor behavior reports
Google Analytics integration
Payments
Credit & debit cards
Paid app
Google Pay
Paid app
Apple Pay
Paid app
Amazon Pay
PayPal
Paid app
Crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum)
Klarna
iDEAL
Wire transfer
Cash on delivery
Summary
Design
100%
20%
Global reach & expansion
100%
40%
Analytics & reporting
100%
57%
Payments
100%
40%
