Overview
Klaviyo and MailerLite represent opposite ends of the email marketing spectrum. Klaviyo is the premium choice for e-commerce with advanced features and pricing to match. MailerLite is the budget-friendly option that covers basics well without breaking the bank. See our detailed Klaviyo comparison and MailerLite comparison.
E-commerce vs Simplicity
Klaviyo was built for e-commerce businesses. Deep Shopify integration, product recommendations, predictive analytics, and CLV tracking are core features. Every aspect of the platform is designed to help online stores generate more revenue from email.
MailerLite was built to be simple and affordable. It has basic e-commerce integrations, but its real strength is providing reliable email marketing at a low price. Small businesses, bloggers, and content creators love it for this reason.
The Price Difference
At 10,000 subscribers, Klaviyo costs $150/month. MailerLite costs $50/month. That is a 3x difference. For businesses that do not need e-commerce features, this savings is significant and ongoing.
MailerLite also offers a generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. Klaviyo's free plan only covers 250 contacts. For small operations just getting started, MailerLite's free tier is more useful.
Feature Comparison
Klaviyo has more sophisticated features: predictive analytics, browse abandonment, native SMS, and deep behavioral segmentation. These features help e-commerce stores optimize their email programs.
MailerLite has features Klaviyo lacks: landing page builder, website builder, paid newsletter subscriptions, and digital product sales. For content creators and bloggers, these extras add genuine value.
Ease of Use
MailerLite is simpler. The interface is clean, the drag-and-drop builder is intuitive, and you can be up and running quickly. There is less to configure and fewer features to learn.
Klaviyo has a steeper learning curve. The power comes with complexity. E-commerce businesses benefit from investing time to learn the platform, but it takes longer to master.
When Each Makes Sense
Choose Klaviyo if you run an e-commerce store and want the best tools to maximize revenue from email. The investment pays off through better targeting and automation.
Choose MailerLite if you need reliable email marketing on a budget. It handles newsletters, basic automation, and landing pages well without the premium price tag.
For SaaS Companies
Neither is ideal for SaaS. Klaviyo is e-commerce focused. MailerLite is too basic for sophisticated SaaS automation. Sequenzy is built specifically for SaaS with Stripe integration, AI-powered sequences, and pricing similar to MailerLite but with features designed for software businesses.