Round 1: Features Face-Off
If Klaviyo was a fighter, it’d be a quick, agile puncher. Designed for ecommerce from the ground up, it’s all about performance: personalised flows, purchase-triggered automations, and SMS that actually gets opened.
HubSpot? More of a heavyweight with a long reach. It’s got the full stack: CRM, email marketing, content tools, SEO support, landing pages, social scheduling, analytics — you name it. If your team wants everything under one roof, HubSpot brings the arsenal.
Here’s how the main features compare:
Feature | Klaviyo | HubSpot |
Email Marketing | ✅ eComm-focused, behaviour-driven | ✅ Advanced, with testing tools |
CRM | ❌ Minimal, relies on integrations | ✅ Built-in, robust CRM |
Automation Workflows | ✅ Built for purchases & behaviour | ✅ Ideal for B2B lead nurturing |
SMS Marketing | ✅ Native, powerful | ❌ Requires integrations |
A/B Testing | ✅ Subject lines & email content | ✅ Across email, forms, landing pages |
Lead Scoring | ❌ Nope | ✅ Available in Pro+ plans |
Reporting | ✅ Revenue-focused for ecommerce | ✅ Full-funnel, custom dashboards |
Verdict:
Klaviyo’s a knockout for ecommerce brands that live and breathe email and SMS. But if you need full-funnel, B2B-style muscle? HubSpot wins on depth.
Round 2: Pricing Punch-Up
Now let’s talk dollars.
Klaviyo keeps it clean. You only pay based on your number of contacts. Fewer than 250? It’s free. More than that? You scale as you go. Perfect for lean teams who like to keep things predictable.
HubSpot starts with a generous free CRM, but advanced marketing features live behind the Starter, Pro, and Enterprise paywalls. If you’re serious about automation and reporting, expect to climb tiers fast, and pay accordingly.
Platform | Starting Price | What You Get |
Klaviyo | Free for 250 profiles | ~$20/month for 500 contacts |
HubSpot | Free CRM | Starter at $25/month; Pro at $800+ |
Verdict:
If you want predictable costs as you grow, Klaviyo’s model is your friend. But if you’re after enterprise-grade tools under one roof, HubSpot’s value kicks in, just budget accordingly.
Round 3: Onboarding & Support
No one wants to feel like they’re learning how to fly a plane just to send a welcome email.
Klaviyo offers smooth onboarding for ecommerce, especially if you’re on Shopify. They’ll help you get your feet under you, but if you want more support, you’ll need to pay for it.
HubSpot? Let’s just say they roll out the welcome mat and offer you a free course on how to walk on it. Between HubSpot Academy (seriously good content) and 24/7 support on higher plans, they’ve made sure no one gets left behind.
Verdict:
HubSpot wins this round. It’s like having a personal trainer for your marketing stack. Klaviyo’s solid, just a bit more DIY.
Round 4: Reporting & Analytics
Let’s be real. All the automation in the world means nothing if you can’t prove what’s working.
Klaviyo shines in ecommerce-specific reporting: revenue per campaign, order attribution, list performance, and customer lifetime value. It’s intuitive and action-oriented, especially if you live in the world of product launches and sale events.
HubSpot, meanwhile, is a full data nerd’s dream. From lead source tracking to multi-touch attribution and CRM-connected dashboards, you can slice and dice your data in more ways than most teams ever use.
Verdict:
HubSpot wins if you need deep, cross-channel insight. But Klaviyo is faster for eComm teams who want to know which campaigns are driving dollars right now.
Final Verdict: So… Who Wins?
It depends on what kind of business you’re running, and what you care about most.
Go with Klaviyo if:
- You’re an ecommerce brand that wants email and SMS marketing that actually moves product.
- You care more about conversions and lifetime value than lead scoring and custom dashboards.
- You want clear, scalable pricing and fast implementation.
Choose HubSpot if:
- You need a full-service CRM + marketing suite in one place.
- You’re managing longer buyer journeys (B2B, services, SaaS).
- You want to invest in a tool your whole team, from marketing to sales, can grow with.
Need Help Choosing?
Still unsure? That’s what we’re here for.
At Impressive, we help businesses cut through the tech fog and choose tools that actually support growth, not slow it down. Whether you’re leaning toward Klaviyo, HubSpot, or something in between, we’ll help you connect your stack and turn it into performance.
Book your free strategy session and let’s make sure your marketing platform works as hard as you do