Ultimate Guide to Klaviyo SMS Pricing: Market Confidently in 160 Characters or Less!

SMS marketing has emerged as a powerhouse for direct customer engagement. And when it comes to SMS marketing platforms, Klaviyo is often at the top of the list. But before you dive in, you need to understand the costs involved.

Let’s break down Klaviyo SMS pricing structure and compare it to other platforms in the market. For this blog, we will focus mainly on the prices of sending SMS and MMS to phone numbers in the USA.

SMS, MMS, and Push Notifications

Klaviyo offers three main types of mobile messaging:

SMS (Short Message Service): Text-only messages consume 1 SMS credit for the first 160 characters.
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service): Messages that can include images, videos, or longer text.
Push Notifications: Brief messages sent to users who have your app installed. These are free and unlimited for Klaviyo users.

Each of these has different pricing structures, primarily based on SMS credits.

Klaviyo SMS Pricing: SMS Credits

Klaviyo uses a credit system for SMS and MMS messaging. Here’s a quick breakdown:

1 SMS credit = 1 text message segment (up to 160 characters)
1 MMS credit = 1 multimedia message

The cost per credit decreases as you buy in larger quantities:

12,500 credits: $0.0092 per credit
50,000 credits: $0.0090 per credit
112,000 credits and up: $0.0085 per credit

Pricing Based on Contact Size

While Klaviyo SMS pricing is based on credits, your overall plan (which includes email) is priced based on your number of contacts. This can range from $20/month for up to 500 contacts to $2,300/month for up to 250,000 contacts.

How Does Klaviyo SMS Billing Work?

Klaviyo bills for SMS separately from your main account charges. You’ll be billed for SMS credits on a monthly basis, aligned with your regular Klaviyo plan billing cycle. Credits renew monthly on your billing date, and unused credits do not roll over to the next month.

You can view your billing cycle dates in the Billing section of your account. Klaviyo offers flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan each month to adjust your credit allocation based on your business needs.

Klaviyo offers flexibility in its pricing structure, particularly beneficial for those unsure about their SMS sending needs. You can start with the lowest amount of SMS credits and adjust as you go. Klaviyo provides two options for managing your SMS credit usage:

Automatic Replenishment

You can set up your account to automatically upgrade to a higher plan when your credit usage consistently approaches your current limit. This feature helps ensure you don’t run out of credits mid-campaign.

However, it’s important to note that this will increase your monthly billing amount for SMS. Users should carefully monitor their usage and adjust their plan manually if they prefer more control over their spending.

If you prefer more control over your spending, you can opt to manually upgrade or downgrade your SMS plan as needed. This option is great for businesses with fluctuating SMS needs or those who want to closely monitor their usage. You can adjust your plan monthly based on your anticipated SMS marketing activities.

This flexible approach allows you to scale your SMS marketing efforts in line with your business growth and campaign performance. You’re not locked into a high volume of credits from the start, which is particularly helpful for businesses just beginning to explore SMS marketing or those with seasonal fluctuations in messaging needs.

Remember, if you upgrade your account, the new plan will be billed monthly, so it’s important to regularly review your needs and adjust accordingly.

What are Klaviyo SMS Credits?

SMS credits are Klaviyo’s currency for sending text messages. One credit equals one message segment of up to 160 characters for SMS, or one MMS message regardless of length.

What Factors Affect the Required Number of SMS Credits?

Several factors can influence how many credits you’ll need:

Message length: Longer messages require more credits.
Use of special characters: Some characters count as more than one character.
Type of message: MMS messages use more credits than SMS.

What SMS Messages Cost Credits With Klaviyo?

All outgoing messages cost credits, including:

Campaign messages
Flow messages
Transactional messages
Test messages

However, incoming messages (like customer replies) don’t cost credits.

Does Klaviyo Have a Free Plan for SMS Marketing?

Yes, Klaviyo does offer limited SMS features in its free plan, allowing businesses to test the waters of SMS marketing without any upfront cost.

Klaviyo's Free vs Paid Plans

Free Plan:

0 – 250 active profiles
Up to 500 monthly email sends
150 free monthly SMS/MMS credits
Includes applicable SMS carrier fees
Email support for the first 60 days

Paid Plans:

Start at $35/month
Include 1,250 monthly SMS/MMS credits
Include expanded SMS features
Higher limits on contacts and email sends
Pricing scales with number of contacts

Do I Need to Upgrade to the Klaviyo Paid Plan?

While the free plan does offer some SMS capabilities, upgrading to a paid plan might be necessary if:

You have more than 250 active profiles
You need more than 150 SMS/MMS credits per month
You require advanced SMS marketing features
You want ongoing email support beyond the first 60 days

The investment in a paid plan can be worthwhile, given the high engagement rates of SMS marketing and the additional features and support you’ll receive. However, the free plan provides a great opportunity to test Klaviyo’s SMS features and determine if they meet your business needs before committing to a paid subscription.

Remember, you can always start with the free plan and upgrade as your business grows or your SMS marketing needs expand. This flexibility allows you to scale your investment in line with your results and business growth.

Klaviyo's SMS Pricing VS Other SMS Marketing Platforms

To give you a clear picture of how Klaviyo stacks up against the competition, check out this comparison table:

Please note that the only major SMS providers we included here are the ones with easily accessible information on their pricing. Most other brands have their SMS pricing info available for users only.

Klaviyo’s SMS pricing might seem complex at first glance, but it’s designed to offer flexibility and scalability for businesses of all sizes. By understanding the credit system and how it relates to your messaging needs, you can make an informed decision about whether Klaviyo is the right SMS marketing platform for your business.

While cost is an important factor, it shouldn’t be the only consideration. The potential ROI from a well-executed SMS marketing strategy can far outweigh the costs. Consider factors like ease of use, integration capabilities, and advanced features when making your decision.

Ultimately, the best platform for you will depend on your specific business needs, budget, and growth plans.

Read this next: Connecting Without Overwhelming: How Many Marketing Emails Should You Send Per Week?