Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Which One is Right For You?

Written by: Garin Hobbs

Published on: 12-04-2024

In this article, we’ll compare two popular email marketing tools: Sendlane and Klaviyo.

We’ll break down their features, pricing, and benefits in detail, giving you all the necessary insights to make an informed decision.

Let’s get started.

Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Which One is Right For You?

klaviyo vs Sendlane which one to choose?

In this comparison of Klaviyo vs Sendlane, we covered their features, functionalities, and pricing plans.

Both these tools bring unique strengths and capabilities to the table.

Choose Klaviyo if:

You are an established e-commerce business looking for comprehensive, hyper-personalized, data-driven marketing campaigns. It is suited for data-nerd marketers looking for advanced capabilities at a premium price.

Choose Sendlane if:

You are an e-commerce startup looking for simple yet comprehensive email marketing tool. Sendlane offers most features that a small business owner need to drive successful marketing campaigns without breaking the bank.

So evaluate your priorities, try out both platforms, and choose the one that best supports your needs and business goals.

Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Email Marketing Platform Overview

Let’s first take a look at high level view of each platform’s capabilities:

1. Sendlane

sendlane

Launched in 2013, Sendlane was designed for small to medium-sized ecommerce businesses.

It is designed to provide marketing automation tools for email, SMS, reviews, and forms, all under one roof.

Sendlane offers features that support personalized email marketing campaigns and comprehensive marketing strategies.

sendlane personalized email marketing capabliities

Sendlane offers behavior-based automation and seamless communication across channels, making it accessible to non-tech business owners.

Key Features

  • Behavior-Based Automation: Create workflows based on customer actions, such as website visits or product views.
  • Real-Time Tracking: See customer journeys in real-time across various channels.
  • Personalization: Dynamically change messaging for different segments of your audience.
  • Build Multi-Channel Automation: Get a unified view of customer activity across email, SMS & reviews to make more data-driven decisions.

2. Klaviyo

klaviyo image

Launched in 2012, Klaviyo is built for medium-to-large e-commerce businesses.

Klaviyo co-founders Andrew Bialecki and Ed Hallen observed ecom store owners are unable to get actionable insights from customers data. They decided to solve this problem and created Klaviyo – a platform that combines data, analytics, and marketing.

It integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.

klaviiyo integrated with almost everyone

Today, over 157,000 top brands use Klaviyo’s email and SMS tools to be in control of their marketing.

Known for its integrations and analytics capabilities. Klaviyo allows you to create personalized email marketing campaigns based on real-time customer data.

Klaviyo’s Key Features

  • Segmentation and Personalization: Advanced audience segmentation allows the targeting of specific audience groups based on their browsing behavior, purchase history, etc.
  • Pre-built Automation Flows: Templates for cart abandonment, welcome emails, and post-purchase follow-ups are available.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Provides detailed reports on email performance, customer lifetime value, and revenue attribution.
  • Extensive Integration Ecosystem: Seamlessly integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and 200+ other tools.

Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Features and Multi-Channel Marketing Capabilities

Sendlane and Klaviyo, both platforms share similar goals. However, their approach, features, and functionalities are different.

Let’s take a closer look at the multi-channel marketing capabilities of both these platforms.

1. Email Automation Workflows

Klaviyo has a vast library of pre-built automation workflows like welcome emails, cart abandonment, post-purchase follow-up, back-in-store reminders, and other email campaigns.

Email Automation Workflows in klaviyo

Email Automation Workflows in klaviyo part 2Email Automation Workflows in klaviyo part 2

You can also build complex workflows using Behavior-Based Triggers like—“viewed a product” or “placed an order.” This helps in creating branching conditions (“split logic”) for more relevant customer journeys.

Sendlane has email automation workflows for everyday use cases like cart abandonment and product recommendations.

Email Automation Workflows in sendlane

Sendlane’s behavior-based automation tracks customer actions in real time but doesn’t have the advanced customization options like Klaviyo.

2. Personalization Options

Personalization in Klaviyo is powered by its segmentation and predictive analytics. You can use customer behavior, past purchases, and even predicted lifetime value to personalize emails.

Personalization Options in klaviyo

Sendlane is not as advanced as Klaviyo but you can personalize with dynamic fields (e.g. name, location, recent purchases).

Email Automation Workflows in sendlane

However, Sendlane excels at real-time data syncing, so your personalized messages are up to date for each recipient.

3. Analytics and Reporting

Klaviyo offers an analytics dashboard that provides deep insights into your email marketing efforts.

Both platforms can integrate with Google Analytics to enhance customer insights and improve marketing strategies.

Analytics and Reporting in klaviyo

You can use these reports to check—email open rates, revenue per recipient, click-through rate, and conversion rate.

The best part is that you can compare your performance metrics with similar brands to optimize your efforts for better results.

performance metrics comparison in klaviyo

Sendlane’s analytics includes all essential metrics like open rates, click rates, and conversions in their reports.

Sendlane’s analytics

Plus, Sendlane has cross-channel analytics to compare channels like Emails, SMS, and Forms.

cross-channel analytics in Sendlane

4. Learning Curve and Usability

Klaviyo has a steep learning curve. Experienced marketers may enjoy the depth of its usability, but beginners may find the user experience overwhelming.

On the contrary, Sendlane’s user interface makes it easy for non-technical users to set up automation with just a few clicks.

Its workflow builder is great for small teams and solo entrepreneurs who want to implement email marketing with minimal effort.

5. Customer Behavior and Journey Tracking

  • With Klaviyo’s real-time tracking, you can see how customers interact with your emails and website and get actionable data to optimize your campaigns.
  • Features like RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary Value) analysis help you prioritize high-value customers.
  • Whereas, Sendlane has a real-time customer journey tracking pixel-based tool, “Sendlane Beacon,” which shows how your customers travel through your website.
  • This tracking tool collects customer activity on-site so you can hit them with timely messages regarding the products they’re interested in.

real-time customer journey tracking pixel-based tool, “Sendlane Beacon

6. Third-Party Integrations

Klaviyo integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Type form, and over 350+ other platforms including, payment gateways, CRMs, and analytics tools. Both platforms offer multi-channel marketing capabilities, allowing you to create targeted campaigns across various channels like email and SMS.

klaviyo's 350+ integrations

Sendlane also integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Zapier. While their integrations are growing, they have a smaller library than Klaviyo.

sendlane integrations

7. API and Custom Development Support

Klaviyo Developers provides extensive API documentation and customization options. You can use this to create custom integrations to bring data into Klaviyo to create personalized user experiences. Both platforms provide robust reporting tools that assist users in tracking key metrics and optimizing their marketing strategies.

klaviyo's API documentation and customization support

Sendlane also offers API access but is more limited in terms of customization.

Here’s a comparison table summarizing the features and functionalities of Sendlane vs Klaviyo:

Feature Sendlane Klaviyo
Email Automation Workflows ✔️ ✔️
Advanced Personalization ✔️ ✔️
Predictive Insights ✔️
Learning Curve and Usability ✔️
Customer Journey Tracking ✔️ ✔️
Integration with Shopify ✔️ ✔️
Integration with WooCommerce ✔️ ✔️
API Support ✔️
  • ✔️ indicates the feature is available on the platform.
  • indicates the feature is either unavailable or less advanced compared to the competitor.

Now let’s turn our attention to another critical factor: pricing.

Sendlane vs Klaviyo: Pricing

Let’s see how Sendlane and Klaviyo price their platforms:

1. Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Pricing Structures

Klaviyo has a tiered pricing structure based on the number of active profiles (contacts) and the services you need—email only, SMS only, or both.

They have flexibility with an email-only starting plan at $45/month for 1,001–1,500 active profiles and additional pricing for SMS credits.

Sendlane has a usage-based pricing model that is email credits based rather than contacts. This means you don’t pay for inactive contacts, which is a big cost saver for businesses with large email lists.

2. Klaviyo vs Sendlane: Pricing based on Number of Contacts

Klaviyo‘s pricing increases as the number of active profiles grows.

Here are the plans:

  • Free Plan: $0/month for 500 monthly email sends.
  • Email-Only Plan: $45/month for 1,001–1,500 active profiles.
  • Email & SMS Plan: $60/month for 1,001–1,500 active profiles with 1,250 SMS/MMS credits.

klaviyo pricing plans

Klaviyo also provides other plans to suit additional business needs like:

  • Reviews Pricing: To send review requests to customers with confirmed deliveries.
  • CDP Pricing: To store, manage, analyze, and activate customer data on one vertically integrated platform.

klaviyo reviews pricing

Klaviyo provides personalized onboarding to help new users get started seamlessly.

They regularly host webinars and offer comprehensive training materials to empower professionals to maximize the platform’s potential.

Additionally, they give you access to a strong support system, including a detailed knowledge base, live chat, email support, and an active community forum for resolving queries and sharing insights.

Moving on to Sendlane.

Sendlane’s pricing scales based on email volume. Their 500,000 email plan is priced at $500/month with unlimited contacts.

This makes Sendlane a more cost-effective option for businesses with large subscriber lists.

In case you want to combine email and SMS campaigns, simply select “I’m Interested in SMS,” and a custom plan will be created for you.

sendlane pricing

Their support includes 24/7 live chat so you get help immediately for any issues or questions.

Sendlane has a knowledge base full of articles, guides, and video tutorials to help you navigate the platform and troubleshoot common issues.

For more personalized support Sendlane’s higher-tier plans have dedicated account managers who give you strategic advice and hands-on support.

Sendlane also hosts webinars and training sessions to keep you up to date on new features and best practices.

Full support means businesses of all sizes can use Sendlane to enhance their marketing efforts and achieve their goals.

So far, we’ve compared the features, functionality, and pricing of Sendlane and Klaviyo

Now, it’s time to answer the big question: Which platform is the right choice for your business?

Klaviyo vs Sendlane: How to Choose the Right Platform?

Choosing between Sendlane and Klaviyo ultimately comes down to your business needs, goals, and budget.

Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Criteria Sendlane Klaviyo
Business Goals Best For: Automation with personalization. Ideal for scaling with simple tools. Best For: Hyper-personalized campaigns with deep customer insights using granular segmentation and predictive analytics.
Budget and Contact Volume Pricing is based on email volume, making it ideal for businesses with large subscriber lists and less frequent sending needs. Pricing scales with active profiles. Cost-effective for smaller businesses but may become expensive as contacts grow.
Feature Needs Strengths: Simple automation setup, seamless ecommerce integrations, multi-channel marketing (SMS, Forms, Reviews). Strengths: Advanced analytics, customization, API support, and 350+ third-party integrations. Great for real-time data-driven decisions.
Ease of Use Simple user interface and minimal learning curve. Suitable for small teams or those with limited technical resources. Extensive features with a steeper learning curve. Ideal for experienced professionals with technical expertise.
Scalability and Growth Flexible pricing, unlimited contacts, and strong customer support. Excellent for small-to-medium businesses expecting steady growth. Real-time data analytics, robust automations, and advanced personalization features. Ideal for businesses investing in long-term, data-driven growth.

Still unsure which platform is right for your business? InboxArmy is here to help!

Contact us today to learn more about email marketing platforms and find the perfect growth tool for your business.

FAQs

1. Can Klaviyo integrate with Shopify?

Yes, Klaviyo integrates with Shopify. The integration allows you to sync customer data, purchase history, and behavior in real time.

Klaviyo’s Shopify integration also supports:

  • Dynamic Segmentation: Build segments based on browsing behavior, purchase frequency, and customer lifecycle stages.
  • Customizable Templates: Get pre-built templates for email flows for Shopify stores.
  • Revenue Tracking: Track revenue flow from emails and SMS campaigns that are connected to your Shopify store.

2. How to Integrate Shopify and Sendlane?

Connecting Shopify to Sendlane is easy. Here’s how:

  1. Log in to Sendlane: Log in to your Sendlane account or create a new one if you don’t have one.
  2. Go to Integrations: Go to the Integrations tab in your Sendlane dashboard.
  3. Choose Shopify: Find Shopify in the list and click Connect.
  4. Grant Access: Enter your Shopify store URL and grant Sendlane access.
  5. Sync: Once connected, Sendlane will sync customer data, order history, and product info from your Shopify store.
  6. Automate: Use Sendlane’s automation to create workflows for abandoned carts, welcome emails, and product recommendations for Shopify customers.

This integration enables real-time data syncing, so you can create personalized campaigns and track customer journeys seamlessly.

3. Do Sendlane & Klaviyo offer free trials?

Yes, both Sendlane and Klaviyo offer free trials:

  • Sendlane Free Trial: Sendlane has a “Move Now, Pay Later” plan where you get access to all the core features, including email automation, behavior-based workflows, and multi-channel marketing.
  • Klaviyo Free Plan: Klaviyo doesn’t have a limited free trial but instead offers a free plan for up to 500 monthly email sends and 250 email contacts. This plan is suitable for someone just starting out but it does not include SMS.

Both platforms allow you to test their strengths, so take advantage of these offers to evaluate which one aligns better with your needs.

4. Sendlane vs Klaviyo: which platform is better for small ecommerce businesses?

Sendlane would be a better choice for small ecommerce business looking for ease of use, affordability, and straightforward marketing tools.

About Author

Garin Hobbs

Garin Hobbs is a seasoned Martech and Marketing professional with over 20 years of successful product marketing, customer success, strategy, and sales experience. With a career spanning across ESPs, agencies, and technology providers, Garin is recognized for his broad experience in growing email impact and revenue, helping launch new programs and products, and developing the strategies and thought leadership to support them. Understanding how to optimally align people, process, and technology to produce meaningful outcomes, Garin has worked to deliver sustainable improvements in consumer experience and program revenue for such brands as Gap, Starbucks, Macy’s, Foot Locker, Bank of America, United Airlines, and Hilton Hotels. For more information, follow him on Linkedin

Let Us Help Take You To The Next Level Of Email Marketing

Get in touch to start a conversation.

Get in touch
Multi-ESP Support

We support 50+ ESP vendors. Be it enterprise platforms such as SalesForce and Oracle Marketing Cloud or small and medium sized business platforms such as Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Aweber, and ActiveCampaign, we’ve got you covered.

Top