Klaviyo SMS Pricing: Credits, Costs, and When SMS Pays for Itself
Klaviyo charges for SMS through a credit system separate from your email plan. Credits are purchased in monthly packages ranging from $15/mo (1,250 credits) to $700/mo (100,000 credits). One domestic SMS costs 1 credit, one MMS costs 3 credits, and international messages cost 3-12 credits depending on the country.
Updated 9 April 2026
How the Credit System Works
1 credit
Domestic SMS (US)
Up to 160 characters
3 credits
Domestic MMS (US)
Image or GIF message
3-12 credits
International SMS
Varies by country
Credits are consumed when a message is sent, not when it is delivered. Long messages (over 160 characters) are split into multiple segments and charged accordingly - a 320-character SMS costs 2 credits domestically. MMS messages include an image or GIF and always cost 3x the SMS rate for that country. Credits do not roll over to the next billing cycle, so unused credits are lost.
SMS Credit Packages
| Credits/Month | Monthly Price | Cost Per Credit | Domestic SMS Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,250 | $15 | $0.012 | $0.012 |
| 2,500 | $25 | $0.010 | $0.010 |
| 5,000 | $40 | $0.008 | $0.008 |
| 10,000 | $70 | $0.007 | $0.007 |
| 25,000 | $150 | $0.006 | $0.006 |
| 50,000 | $350 | $0.007 | $0.007 |
| 100,000 | $700 | $0.007 | $0.007 |
The best value per credit is at the 25,000 credit tier ($0.006/credit). Above that, the cost per credit actually increases slightly.
International SMS Rates by Country
| Country | SMS Credits | MMS Credits | Effective Cost/Message |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | 3 | $0.007-0.012 |
| Canada | 3 | 6 | $0.021-0.036 |
| United Kingdom | 5 | 10 | $0.035-0.060 |
| Australia | 6 | 12 | $0.042-0.072 |
| France | 8 | 16 | $0.056-0.096 |
| Germany | 8 | 16 | $0.056-0.096 |
Effective cost range is based on the cheapest (25K credits at $0.006/credit) to most expensive (1,250 credits at $0.012/credit) packages. If you have significant international subscribers, SMS costs can multiply quickly - a 5,000-subscriber campaign to UK numbers at 5 credits each uses 25,000 credits ($150 at the best rate).
SMS vs Email: ROI Comparison
SMS costs significantly more per message than email, but the engagement metrics tell a different story. The question is not which channel is cheaper, but which generates more revenue per dollar spent.
- Cost per message: $0.001-0.002 (included in plan)
- Open rate: 15-25% average
- Click rate: 2-5% average
- Revenue per recipient: $0.10-0.30
- Best for: Newsletters, content, product launches, nurture sequences
SMS
- Cost per message: $0.007-0.012
- Open rate: 95-98%
- Click rate: 15-30%
- Revenue per recipient: $0.30-0.80
- Best for: Flash sales, abandoned cart, back-in-stock, time-sensitive offers
Despite costing 5-10x more per message, SMS generates 2-4x more revenue per recipient due to its dramatically higher open and click rates. A store sending 5,000 abandoned cart SMS messages at $0.01/each spends $50 but can recover $1,500-4,000 in abandoned revenue. The same 5,000 emails might cost $5-10 but recover only $500-1,500.
SMS Flow Examples with Cost Projections
Here are four high-impact SMS flows with estimated costs and revenue for a mid-size Shopify store (25K contacts, $1.5M annual revenue).
Abandoned Cart SMS
Send 1 SMS at 30 minutes after cart abandonment. Expected volume: 2,000-3,000 messages/mo. Cost: $14-21/mo. Expected revenue recovery: $3,000-8,000/mo. ROI: 150-400x.
Welcome SMS
Send 1 SMS with a discount code immediately after SMS opt-in. Expected volume: 500-1,000 messages/mo. Cost: $3.50-7/mo. Expected conversion: 10-15% of recipients, average order $60. Revenue: $3,000-9,000/mo.
Flash Sale Alert
Blast to full SMS list during sales events. Expected volume: 5,000-10,000/mo (2-4 sales). Cost: $35-70/mo. Expected revenue: $5,000-20,000 per sale. ROI: 70-285x.
Back in Stock
Notify subscribers when a previously out-of-stock item returns. Expected volume: 200-500/mo. Cost: $1.40-3.50/mo. Expected conversion: 15-25%. Highly targeted, high intent. Revenue: $1,200-5,000/mo.
SMS Platform Comparison
| Platform | SMS Cost | MMS Cost | Integration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klaviyo | $0.007-0.012 | $0.021-0.036 | Native email+SMS | Unified email+SMS |
| Attentive | $0.01-0.02 | $0.025-0.05 | SMS-first | SMS-focused brands |
| Postscript | $0.01-0.015 | $0.02-0.04 | Shopify SMS | Shopify SMS only |
| Omnisend | $0.015 | $0.045 | Native email+SMS | Budget email+SMS |
| Twilio | $0.0079 | $0.02 | API only | Custom builds |
Klaviyo's SMS is competitively priced and its biggest advantage is native integration with email. If you want to manage both channels in one platform with unified analytics and customer profiles, Klaviyo is the clear choice. For SMS-only strategies, dedicated platforms like Attentive offer more advanced SMS-specific features.
When SMS Is Not Worth the Investment
SMS is not universally beneficial. There are situations where the cost does not justify the return, and you are better off focusing your budget on email optimization.
Low AOV stores
If your average order value is under $30, the cost per SMS ($0.007-0.012) needs a very high conversion rate to be profitable. Email is almost always more cost-effective for low-AOV products.
Older demographics
SMS marketing performs best with audiences aged 18-45. Older demographics tend to have lower SMS opt-in rates and are more likely to view marketing texts as intrusive rather than helpful.
Low engagement rates
If your SMS opt-in rate is below 5% of your email list, the audience is too small to justify the setup and management effort. Focus on growing your SMS list before investing in credit packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Klaviyo SMS credits roll over to the next month?
How much does an international SMS cost on Klaviyo?
Is Klaviyo SMS worth it compared to Attentive or Postscript?
Can I use Klaviyo SMS without an email plan?
Calculate Your Total Klaviyo Cost
Include email, SMS credits, and add-ons in one estimate.