Brenda Zambrano, Senior Email Marketing Specialist at Hustler Marketing
Klaviyo Elite Partner | 9 Years Retention Marketing Experience | 450+ Brands Scaled
Quick Summary
Klaviyo pricing is based on the number of contacts in your account, with costs increasing as your list grows. It offers a free plan for smaller lists and scalable pricing for email and SMS as your business expands.
- Free plan available up to 250 contacts
- Pricing scales with list size
- Separate costs for email and SMS usage
- Higher cost justified by revenue tracking
- More expensive at scale than basic tools
How Does Klaviyo Pricing Work?
Klaviyo uses a contact-based pricing model.
You pay for:
The number of active profiles (contacts)
Optional SMS usage (credits-based)
You do not pay per email send in the same way some platforms charge, email sending scales with your plan. The more contacts you have, the more you pay, but also the more revenue you can generate.
What Plans Does Klaviyo Offer?
Klaviyo has three main plan types:
- Free plan
- Email plan
- Email + SMS plan
Each tier unlocks more functionality and scale.
What Do You Get on the Free Plan?
Free Plan Overview
- Up to 250 contacts
- 500 email sends per month
- Basic email support
What’s Included:
- Email campaigns
- Basic automation (flows)
- Segmentation
- Reporting
What’s Limited:
- Low send volume
- Limited SMS capabilities
- Branding and feature restrictions
Who It’s For:
- New ecommerce brands
- Testing the platform
- Early-stage stores
The free plan is for testing, not for scaling.
How Much Does Klaviyo Cost as You Grow?
Klaviyo pricing increases with your contact count.
Estimated Email Plan Pricing
| Contacts | Monthly Cost (Email) |
| 500 | ~$20–$30 |
| 1,000 | ~$30–$45 |
| 5,000 | ~$100–$150 |
| 10,000 | ~$150–$200 |
| 25,000 | ~$400–$500 |
| 50,000 | ~$700–$900 |
| 100,000 | $1,500+ |
What You Get at Each Tier:
- Unlimited email sends (within fair use)
- Full automation (flows)
- Advanced segmentation
- Revenue attribution
- A/B testing
You’re not paying for emails. You’re paying for the system that drives revenue.
How Does Klaviyo SMS Pricing Work?
Klaviyo SMS is credit-based.
How It Works:
- You purchase SMS credits
- Each message costs a set number of credits
- Cost varies by country
Key Factors:
- US SMS rates are typically lower
- International SMS costs more
- MMS (images) costs more than SMS
Email + SMS Plans
You can combine:
- Email plan
- SMS credits
This creates a unified system:
- Email for depth
- SMS for urgency
SMS works best when integrated into flows, not as a standalone channel.
How Does Klaviyo Compare on Price?
At first glance, Klaviyo can look more expensive, but context matters.
| Platform | Strength | Pricing Insight |
| Klaviyo | Revenue-focused | Higher cost, higher return |
| Mailchimp | Simplicity | Gets expensive at scale |
| Omnisend | Lower entry cost | Less advanced features |
Key Insight
- Mailchimp and Omnisend may be cheaper upfront
- Klaviyo typically generates more revenue
The real question isn’t cost, it’s return.
👉 See full comparisons:
Is Klaviyo Worth the Cost?
For ecommerce brands, yes.
Klaviyo Is Worth It If:
- You’re generating consistent revenue
- You want to scale retention
- You need accurate attribution
- You’re building flows and segmentation
It May Not Be Worth It If:
- You have a very small list
- You’re not actively using email
- You only need basic newsletters
Klaviyo shows you exactly how much revenue it generates, that’s the justification.
What Happens as You Scale?
As your list grows:
- Costs increase
- Complexity increases
- Opportunity increases
Most brands don’t fail because Klaviyo is expensive. They fail because they’re not using it properly.
→See the Klaviyo Agency Guide if you need help optimizing your setup.
Not sure which Klaviyo plan makes the most sense for your business?
Talk to us for a clear recommendation based on your current setup and growth stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Klaviyo free?
Yes. Klaviyo offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts with limited email sends.
How much does Klaviyo cost per month?
It depends on your contact count. Plans typically start around $30–$45/month and scale as your list grows.
Does Klaviyo charge per email or per contact?
Klaviyo charges based on contacts, not individual emails sent.
What happens if I go over my contact limit?
You’ll need to upgrade your plan or reduce your contact count to stay within limits.
How much does Klaviyo SMS cost?
SMS pricing is credit-based and varies by country and message type.
Is Klaviyo cheaper than Mailchimp?
Not always upfront, but Klaviyo often generates more revenue, making it more cost-effective overall.