Best Klaviyo Alternatives for SaaS Startups in 2025 (Pricing, Pros & Real-World Picks)

Klaviyo has long been the golden child of email marketing. It’s powerful, data-driven, and packed with automation muscle. But if […]

Klaviyo has long been the golden child of email marketing. It’s powerful, data-driven, and packed with automation muscle. But if you’ve ever opened your Klaviyo invoice after a few months of growth, you’ve probably felt that sting: “Wait… when did this get so expensive?”

For SaaS startups, where margins are tight and automation needs differ from e-commerce, Klaviyo can start to feel like a square peg in a round hole. It’s incredible for Shopify stores—but not always perfect for subscription or product-led SaaS businesses.

So, if you’re asking questions like “Who competes with Klaviyo?”, “What are the weaknesses of Klaviyo?”, or “Which is better, Klaviyo or Omnisend?” you’re in the right place.

I’ve tested most of the leading email automation tools firsthand across multiple SaaS projects, from early MVPs to scaling teams. In this guide, I’ll break down the best Klaviyo alternatives for 2025, their pricing, strengths, and how they stack up in real SaaS scenarios.

Also Read: Best Firebase Alternatives for SaaS Startups

Klaviyo AI

Klaviyo — Quick Take

The Truth About Klaviyo: Strengths & Weaknesses

Before we ditch Klaviyo, let’s understand what makes it great—and what makes it hard to love.

💪 Why People Love Klaviyo

E-commerce favorite
  • ➤

    Deep segmentation

    Build hyper-specific audiences from user behavior, event history, and SKU/purchase triggers.

  • 📊

    Advanced analytics

    Predictive metrics like CLTV and churn risk help prioritize high-value customers and campaigns.

  • 🔗

    Rich integrations

    Top-tier Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce integrations simplify tracking and syncs.

  • ✉️

    Polished email builder

    Modern templates and design flexibility let teams ship attractive emails fast.

⚠️ What Are the Weaknesses of Klaviyo?

Consider alternatives
  • 💸

    Steep pricing curve

    Pricing grows quickly with active profiles—free tier is limited (250 contacts, 500 sends).

  • ⚙️

    Over-engineered for some use cases

    SaaS teams often don’t need cart/SKU depth but still pay for e-commerce features.

  • 📵

    Limited multichannel reach

    Focuses mainly on email + SMS — lacks native in-app, push, or chat channels.

  • 🧭

    Learning curve & support limits

    Complex flows can overwhelm small teams; free plans get limited support after the trial window.

Explore alternatives Download checklist

Checklist

What to Look for in a Klaviyo Alternative for SaaS

Here’s what actually matters when choosing an email & messaging platform for your product.

  • 💬

    Transparent pricing

    Clear, predictable pricing that won’t spike unexpectedly as your active profiles grow.

  • ⚙️

    Automation flexibility

    Triggers from in-app events, onboarding steps, feature usage, or trial lifecycle—customizable and reliable.

  • 🔌

    APIs & integrations

    Robust APIs plus out-of-the-box connectors for CRMs, analytics, product analytics, and billing systems.

  • 📣

    Multichannel messaging

    Email and SMS are table stakes—look for native push, in-app, or chat options for richer user journeys.

  • 📈

    Scalability

    Handles both small and very large lists efficiently, without punishing pricing or throttling performance.

  • ✉️

    Excellent deliverability

    High inbox placement, clear sender reputation guidance, and tools for list hygiene and DMARC/SPF setup.

Tip: prioritize what directly impacts your product experience (in-app triggers, API reliability, deliverability) before nice-to-have features.

Omnisend vs Klaviyo — Which Is Better for SaaS?

If you’ve been comparing tools, you’ve probably wondered: Which is better, Klaviyo or Omnisend? Let’s break it down with facts.

FeatureKlaviyoOmnisend
Best ForE-commerce, large storesSaaS startups, small teams
Free Plan250 contacts, 500 emails/month250 contacts, unlimited features
Pricing (500 contacts)$20/month~$16/month
ChannelsEmail + SMSEmail + SMS + Push
SupportEmail (paid)Email + Chat (even free)
Ease of UseMore complexMore intuitive
Advanced AnalyticsPredictive AI toolsBasic analytics

👉 Verdict

Omnisend wins for pricing, usability, and support—especially for SaaS teams that value simplicity. Klaviyo remains king for data-rich analytics and segmentation but can feel like overkill for lean teams.

Real Example: A SaaS founder with 15,000 subscribers was paying ~$450/month on Klaviyo. After switching to Omnisend, they paid ~$260/month—a 42% reduction with no loss in core functionality.

Klaviyo and Attentive: Are They Rivals or Partners?

Many marketers ask about Klaviyo and Attentive because they overlap in SMS marketing. Here’s the reality:

Klaviyo: Primarily an email-first platform with SMS add-ons.

Attentive: An SMS-first platform with deep personalization and conversational texting.

Some brands use both—Klaviyo for email nurture flows and Attentive for SMS campaigns. But for SaaS startups, that’s usually overkill (and over-budget). If SMS is your main play, Attentive might outperform; otherwise, Omnisend or Brevo can handle both channels in one dashboard.

Top 6 Klaviyo Alternatives for SaaS Startups in 2025

Let’s explore the best competitors that blend automation power, affordability, and SaaS-friendly integrations.

1. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) – Best All-Rounder for Startups

Why it’s great: Brevo strikes a sweet balance between cost and capability. You can send unlimited contacts with volume-based pricing—perfect for SaaS startups.

  • Multichannel (email, SMS, WhatsApp, chat)
  • Transactional email API for SaaS onboarding
  • Built-in CRM and pipeline tracking
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing model

Pricing: Free for 300 emails/day. Paid plans from $25/month.

Weakness: UI feels slightly dated, and automations are less advanced than Klaviyo.

2. ActiveCampaign – Best for Advanced Automation

Why it’s great: Ideal for SaaS businesses needing powerful user journeys and behavioral triggers.

  • Advanced automation builder
  • Integrated CRM and lead scoring
  • Deep integrations (HubSpot, Stripe, Zapier)

Pricing: Starts at $29/month for 1,000 contacts.

Weakness: Takes time to master and pricing scales quickly.

3. MailerLite – Best Lightweight & Affordable Choice

Why it’s great: Clean, minimal interface with automation, landing pages, and analytics—great for fast setup.

Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers, then $15/month.

Weakness: Lacks advanced segmentation and AI analytics.

Best for: Early-stage SaaS teams that want simplicity.

4. Moosend – Budget-Friendly with Strong Deliverability

Why it’s great: Offers modern templates, automation builder, and excellent deliverability at low cost.

Pricing: $9/month for up to 500 contacts.

Weakness: Smaller ecosystem and fewer native integrations.

Bonus: Built-in website tracking triggers custom behavior emails.

5. GetResponse – Great for Webinar-Based SaaS

Why it’s great: Built-in webinar tools and automated funnels make it ideal for demo-based onboarding.

  • Webinar hosting
  • Automated sales funnels
  • Dynamic content personalization

Pricing: Starts at $19/month for 1,000 contacts.

Weakness: Templates can feel less modern than Klaviyo.

6. Iterable – Enterprise-Level Powerhouse

Why it’s great: Designed for scaling SaaS needing cross-channel orchestration (email, SMS, push, in-app).

  • AI-powered optimization
  • Real-time channel syncing
  • Advanced personalization

Pricing: Custom (starting around $500/month).

Weakness: Overkill for small startups but excellent for scaling SaaS.

Quick Comparison Table

ToolIdeal ForStarting PriceChannelsStandout Feature
BrevoAll-round SaaS$25/moEmail, SMS, WhatsAppUnlimited contacts
OmnisendSaaS & SMB$16/moEmail, SMS, PushIntuitive automation
MailerLiteEarly-stage SaaS$15/moEmailSimple, clean UI
ActiveCampaignMid to large SaaS$29/moEmail, CRMDeep automation
MoosendBudget SaaS$9/moEmailSmart tracking
IterableEnterprise SaaS$500+/moMulti-channelAI personalization

Checklist

How to Pick the Right Klaviyo Alternative

A simple checklist to make your decision easier—designed for SaaS founders and small product teams.

✓

List your must-have channels

Decide whether you need email, SMS, push, in-app, or chat—and prioritize accordingly.

✓

Estimate contacts & long-term pricing

Model costs at 6–12 months for growth scenarios—watch for per-active-profile or send-based spikes.

✓

Try automation builders

Recreate your key flows (trial expiry, onboarding, retention) to test flexibility and UX for your team.

✓

Evaluate support & docs

Check response times, deliverability help, and developer docs for API/webhook reliability.

✓

Send test emails & measure deliverability

Run seed lists, check inbox placement, and verify SPF/DKIM/DMARC guidance from the vendor.

Pro Tip: Always run a 30-day test with 1–2 tools before migrating fully. You’ll uncover hidden costs, quirks, and integration gaps early.

Faqs

Who competes with Klaviyo? +
Top competitors include Omnisend, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, Mailchimp, GetResponse, and Iterable.
What are the weaknesses of Klaviyo? +
High pricing, limited support for free users, e-commerce-heavy focus, and complex UI for small teams.
Which is better: Klaviyo or Omnisend? +
Omnisend wins for pricing, usability, and support. Klaviyo wins for data depth and predictive analytics.
How much does Klaviyo cost? +
Pricing starts free for 250 contacts. Paid plans rise quickly—about $60/month for 2,500 contacts, and $450+ for 15K+.
Can Klaviyo integrate with SaaS apps? +
Yes, through Zapier or API, but native integrations are more retail-focused (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce).
Is there a good free alternative to Klaviyo? +
MailerLite and Brevo both offer strong free plans for small lists.
Can I migrate my Klaviyo data easily? +
Most competitors (like Omnisend and Brevo) provide migration support with contact imports and flow recreation.

Conclusion: Choose Tools That Grow With You, Not Against You

Klaviyo remains a powerhouse—but in 2025, SaaS startups have better options that won’t drain their budgets or overwhelm their teams.

If you need deep analytics and AI forecasting, stick with Klaviyo.

If you want affordability and simplicity, Omnisend or Brevo are perfect picks.

And if you’re scaling into enterprise territory, Iterable has the muscle you need.

Remember—tools don’t make great marketing. The strategy and execution do. Pick one that helps you move fast, learn faster, and scale sustainably.

Picture of Khadin Akbar

Khadin Akbar

I am a AI SEO & Marketing Automation Consultant and Udemy instructor with 300,000+ students on Udemy. I am founder @ SaasPedia where we help Startups with AI SEO & Marketing Automation.

I help Saas Founders, Entrepreneurs and Agencies in Branding, PR & SEO to Grow Traffic, Sales & MMR with AI

View on Udemy

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