ActiveCampaign vs Klaviyo: What You Need to Know
Two per-contact email platforms for different audiences: ActiveCampaign's B2B automation depth vs Klaviyo's ecommerce data model — neither has a voice receptionist.
- ActiveCampaign pricing: ~$15–$145/mo at 1,000 contacts (annual, configurator-gated); climbs with list size
- Klaviyo pricing: Free to 250 profiles; ~$30–45/mo @1k profiles, ~$130/mo @10k; SMS usage on top
- The real trade-off: Two per-contact email platforms for different audiences: ActiveCampaign's B2B automation depth vs Klaviyo's ecommerce data model — neither has a voice receptionist.
- The third option: SeldonFrame ships the whole front office at $29/mo flat — see below
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is an automation-first email marketing platform with a light CRM layer, priced per contact.
- +Segmented email automation is your core deliverable
- +You need deep integration with 900+ marketing tools
- +Your business runs on newsletter and broadcast sequences
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is an ecommerce-focused email and SMS marketing platform with a B2C CRM layer, priced per profile.
- +You're running an ecommerce or Shopify brand
- +Cart-recovery and lifecycle email/SMS are core to your revenue
- +Purchase-data-driven segmentation is what you need
ActiveCampaign vs Klaviyo vs SeldonFrame
| Features | ActiveCampaign | Klaviyo | SeldonFrame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketers running deep automated sequences | Ecommerce/Shopify brands running email + SMS lifecycle marketing | Agencies & builders running AI front offices for clients |
| Pricing model | ~$15–$145/mo at 1,000 contacts (annual, configurator-gated); climbs with list size | Free to 250 profiles; ~$30–45/mo @1k profiles, ~$130/mo @10k; SMS usage on top | From $29/mo flat — unlimited workspaces (agency whitelabel from $99/mo) |
| AI receptionist (calls, SMS, chat) | None — Active Intelligence AI assists with content/predictions, not phone or SMS answering | None — no phone, voice or chat receptionist | Native — AI receptionist answers, qualifies & books across voice, SMS & web chat |
| Website, CRM & booking behind the agent | None — email/CRM only; no website builder, booking calendar or intake forms | None — email/SMS and B2C CRM only; no website, booking calendar or intake forms | Included — multi-page website, CRM, booking calendar, intake forms, review requests in every workspace |
| Whitelabel & client workspaces | None — not built for agency resale | None — not built for agency resale | Included — whitelabel client portal, per-client workspaces, custom domains, one-click multi-client deploy |
| AI usage costs | Bundled into per-contact plan tiers | Not applicable — no native AI agent | BYOK — bring your own AI (and Twilio) keys and pay providers at raw cost, zero markup |
| Sell / resell what you build | No native reseller program | No | Built in — publish agents to the marketplace or rent them via MCP (5% marketplace fee) |
Prices checked July 2026 on ActiveCampaign's pricing page.
Prices checked July 2026 on Klaviyo's pricing page.
The honest take
ActiveCampaign: Choose ActiveCampaign if segmented, deeply automated email marketing is your core deliverable and you need its depth with 900+ integrations.
Klaviyo: Choose Klaviyo if you're running an ecommerce or Shopify brand and need deep cart-recovery, lifecycle email, and SMS flows tied to purchase data.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo?
It depends what you need. ActiveCampaign: Choose ActiveCampaign if segmented, deeply automated email marketing is your core deliverable and you need its depth with 900+ integrations. Klaviyo: Choose Klaviyo if you're running an ecommerce or Shopify brand and need deep cart-recovery, lifecycle email, and SMS flows tied to purchase data.
What does ActiveCampaign cost vs Klaviyo?
ActiveCampaign: ~$15–$145/mo at 1,000 contacts (annual, configurator-gated); climbs with list size. Klaviyo: Free to 250 profiles; ~$30–45/mo @1k profiles, ~$130/mo @10k; SMS usage on top.
Is there an alternative to both?
Yes — SeldonFrame ships the AI receptionist plus the website, CRM and booking calendar it books into, for $29/mo flat with unlimited workspaces. See how it compares: /alternatives.
Can I switch from ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo?
Yes — see the full switching guides for each: /alternative-to-activecampaign and /alternative-to-klaviyo.
Need what both ActiveCampaign and Klaviyo do?
Most people running this comparison actually need the outcome underneath both tools: calls and chats answered, leads qualified, jobs booked into a real calendar and CRM, on a site the client owns. SeldonFrame ships that whole front office from one conversation — $29/mo flat, unlimited workspaces, your own AI keys at raw cost, whitelabel included.