When choosing an email marketing platform for your growing business, pricing and features are crucial factors. Klaviyo has established itself as a popular choice, but SelfMailKit offers better pricing for growing businesses and unique features that Klaviyo doesn't provide.
In this comprehensive comparison, we'll explore why SelfMailKit might be the better choice for your business, especially if you're looking to save money while getting superior features.
Pricing Comparison: A Better Deal for Growing Businesses
Klaviyo's pricing is determined by the number of active profiles and can escalate rapidly. With their updated profile compliance policy (starting February 2025), you might incur higher costs even if your contact list remains unchanged. SelfMailKit provides clear and straightforward pricing based on email usage.
Here's how the costs compare when sending one email per month to different audience sizes:
| Send one email/month to: | SelfMailKit | Klaviyo | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 contacts/active profiles | Free | Free | - |
| 1,500 contacts/active profiles | Free | $45 | Save $45 |
| 5,000 contacts/active profiles | Free | $100 | Save $100 |
| 10,000 contacts/active profiles | $21 | $150 | Save $129 |
| 60,000 contacts/active profiles | $44 | $860 | Save $816 |
Based on Klaviyo pricing as of January 2025. SelfMailKit pricing includes all email types.
The savings become significant as your business grows. For a business with 60,000 contacts, you'd save over $800 monthly by choosing SelfMailKit over Klaviyo.
Unique Features You Won't Find in Klaviyo
SelfMailKit offers several unique features that set it apart from Klaviyo and other email marketing platforms:
1. Native Email Inbox
Send, receive, and reply to emails directly from the dashboard. No need for separate email clients. This feature alone can replace multiple tools in your email workflow.
2. All Email Types Included
Transactional, marketing, and newsletter emails all included in one price. Klaviyo charges separately for different email types, adding complexity to your billing.
3. Full Infrastructure Control (Self-Hosted Version)
Self-hosted option available with complete source code access and AWS-based deployment. This gives you complete control over your email infrastructure.
4. Unlimited Domains
Add unlimited domains and manage multiple projects in one place. Klaviyo limits domains on lower-tier plans.
5. Always Free Support
Email support is always free, unlike Klaviyo's 60-day limitation. After 60 days, Klaviyo users need paid plans for support.
6. Cheapest Email Marketing
SelfMailKit is the cheapest email marketing platform. It is 10x cheaper than Klaviyo for most use cases.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here's how SelfMailKit compares to Klaviyo across all major features:
| Feature | SelfMailKit | Klaviyo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Generous free tier, very cheap for growing businesses | Pay per active profile (250 profiles free, then $20+ monthly) | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Email Cost Structure | All email types included (transactional, marketing, newsletters) | Separate pricing for email marketing vs transactional | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Advanced Template Validation | Spam score analysis, link & image validation, performance optimization and more at no cost | No Advanced template validation | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Native Email Inbox | Built-in inbox for receiving and replying to emails | No native inbox functionality | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Template Editors | Notion-like editor with HTML import from other builders, HTML/CSS code editor and drag-and-drop editor | Drag-and-drop editor | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Contact Management | Unlimited contacts, CSV import, API sync | Limited by pricing tiers based on active profiles | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Email Personalization | Dynamic content and personalization | Advanced personalization and dynamic content | 🟰 Tie |
| Analytics & Reporting | Real-time analytics, open/click tracking, bounce reports | Advanced analytics and reporting | 🟰 Tie |
| Team Collaboration | Built-in team features with granular permissions | Team collaboration features | 🟰 Tie |
| Custom Domains | Unlimited domains with easy setup | Limited domains | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Email Authentication | DKIM, SPF, DMARC setup out of the box | Email authentication support | 🟰 Tie |
| Infrastructure Control | Full control with self-hosted option, AWS-based | SaaS-only, no infrastructure control | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| Customer Support | Always free email support, priority support available | Email support free for 60 days only, then paid | ✅ SelfMailKit |
| SMS Marketing | Not available | Built-in SMS marketing | ✅ Klaviyo |
| Ecommerce Integrations | API-first approach, webhook support | Deep ecommerce platform integrations | ✅ Klaviyo |
| UI/UX | Modern interface with dark/light mode | Modern ecommerce-focused interface | 🟰 Tie |
| Transactional Emails | Included in all plans with real-time delivery stats | Separate pricing and limited in lower tiers | ✅ SelfMailKit |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the same email campaigns with SelfMailKit as I'm used to in Klaviyo?
Yes! SelfMailKit supports all the essential email marketing features including marketing campaigns, automation workflows, A/B testing, segmentation, and personalization. Plus, you get unique features like a native inbox and all email types included in one price.
What about SMS marketing? Klaviyo offers that.
Currently, SelfMailKit focuses on providing the best email experience possible. While we don't offer SMS marketing yet, our email-focused approach allows us to provide superior email features at better pricing. SMS functionality is on our roadmap.
What customer support will I get with SelfMailKit vs Klaviyo?
SelfMailKit provides always-free email support for all users, while Klaviyo only offers free email support for the first 60 days. After that, Klaviyo users need paid plans for support. We believe support should always be accessible.
How can I switch from Klaviyo to SelfMailKit?
Switching is easy! You can export your contacts from Klaviyo and import them into SelfMailKit via CSV. Our API-first approach also allows for seamless integrations. Contact our support team at support@selfmailkit.com for migration assistance.
Does SelfMailKit have the same deliverability as Klaviyo?
Yes! SelfMailKit uses AWS SES infrastructure with automatic domain warmup, DKIM, SPF, and DMARC setup out of the box. This ensures excellent deliverability comparable to Klaviyo, often at a fraction of the cost.
The Bottom Line
For growing businesses, SelfMailKit offers:
- Significantly lower costs - Save hundreds or thousands of dollars monthly
- Unique features - Native inbox, all email types included, unlimited domains
- Better support - Always free email support vs Klaviyo's 60-day limitation
- More control - Self-hosted option available with full source code access
- Simpler pricing - Clear, usage-based pricing without hidden fees
While Klaviyo excels in ecommerce integrations and SMS marketing, SelfMailKit provides superior value for businesses focused on email marketing with better pricing and unique features that can replace multiple tools in your stack.
Ready to Make the Switch?
If you're currently using Klaviyo or considering it, SelfMailKit offers a compelling alternative with:
- 5,000 emails free monthly
- Native inbox included
- All email types included
- Always free support
- No credit card required
Start your free account at app.selfmailkit.com and see why growing businesses are making the switch.