Act-On vs Klaviyo (Marketing): Complete Comparison (2026)

By Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialistยท7 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) in 2026, Klaviyo (Marketing) is the stronger choice for e-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral marketing automation due to unmatched e-commerce data. Act-On excels for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email with good for mid-market b2b. Act-On offers Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages starting at $900/mo. Klaviyo (Marketing) provides Behavioral automation flows, SMS marketing, Segmentation from $20/mo with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Klaviyo (Marketing) delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 76/100. Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) compete in the marketing automation segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading marketing automation tools include HubSpot Marketing, Marketo, Pardot. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users globally (founded 2008) while Klaviyo (Marketing) reports 130K+ orgs active users (founded 2012).

Act-On vs Klaviyo (Marketing) at a Glance

Act-On
Klaviyo (Marketing)
Starting Price
$900/mo
$20/mo
Free Plan
No
Yes
User Rating
4.2/5
4.6/5
Best For
Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketi...
E-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral mark...
Users
4K+ orgs
130K+ orgs
Founded
2008
2012
hiltonsoftware Score
61/100
76/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐ŸŽฏ
Act-On
Marketing Automation
61
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿ›๏ธ
Klaviyo (Marketing)
Marketing Automation
76
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing)?

Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Klaviyo (Marketing) leads in 7 of 7 categories.

Act-OnKlaviyo (Marketing)
72Ease of Use88
77Features82
60Value for Money72
65Customer Support70
54Integrations65
54Scalability66
64Learning Curve78

What are the pros and cons of Act-On vs Klaviyo (Marketing)?

Act-On
+Good for mid-market B2B
+Solid lead scoring
-Expensive for small teams
-Interface needs modernization
Klaviyo (Marketing)
+Unmatched e-commerce data
+Deep Shopify integration
-Expensive for large lists
-Focus is narrow to e-commerce

Which is better, Act-On or Klaviyo (Marketing)?

After evaluating Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Klaviyo (Marketing) earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 76/100 versus Act-On at 61/100. Klaviyo (Marketing) stands out for "unmatched e-commerce data" and "deep shopify integration". Act-On delivers competitive advantages in "good for mid-market b2b", making Act-On a viable alternative.

On pricing, Klaviyo (Marketing) offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier, but justifies the cost with lead nurturing and email marketing and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Act-On for mid-market b2b companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Choose Klaviyo (Marketing) for e-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral marketing automation. Both Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) are established marketing automation platforms.

CHOOSE ACT-ON IF:

Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email.

CHOOSE KLAVIYO (MARKETING) IF:

E-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral marketing automation.

Act-On vs Klaviyo (Marketing): Frequently Asked Questions

Is Act-On better than Klaviyo (Marketing) in 2026?
Klaviyo (Marketing) outperforms Act-On in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 76/100 compared to 61/100. Act-On excels in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, making Act-On the better choice for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Klaviyo (Marketing) is the stronger option for E-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral marketing automation due to unmatched e-commerce data. For teams needing behavioral automation flows, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Klaviyo (Marketing).
How does Act-On pricing compare to Klaviyo (Marketing) in 2026?
Act-On starts at $900/mo with no free tier. Klaviyo (Marketing) starts at $20/mo and offers a free plan. Act-On includes features like Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Klaviyo (Marketing) provides Behavioral automation flows, SMS marketing, Segmentation. Act-On serves 4K+ orgs users while Klaviyo (Marketing) serves 130K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing)?
Act-On specializes in Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages, earning a 61/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Klaviyo (Marketing) focuses on Behavioral automation flows, SMS marketing, Segmentation, scoring 76/100. Act-On is best for Mid-market B2B companies wanting dedicated marketing automation beyond email. Klaviyo (Marketing) is best for E-commerce stores wanting powerful behavioral marketing automation. Both Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) serve the Marketing Automation market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Act-On to Klaviyo (Marketing)?
Migrating from Act-On to Klaviyo (Marketing) is possible since both operate in the Marketing Automation space. Export data from Act-On and verify Klaviyo (Marketing) import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages (Act-On) versus Behavioral automation flows, SMS marketing, Segmentation (Klaviyo (Marketing)). Running both Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Act-On or Klaviyo (Marketing) better for small business?
For small businesses, Klaviyo (Marketing) offers a free plan making Klaviyo (Marketing) more budget-friendly at 76/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. Act-On (starting at $900/mo) is worth considering for Lead nurturing, Email marketing, Landing pages. Both Act-On and Klaviyo (Marketing) scale from SMB to enterprise.

Reviewed by Marcus Johnson, Marketing & Growth Specialist. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

Explore More Comparisons & Tools