Yotpo Email & SMS Retirement: Why Klaviyo Is the Best Alternative
In August 2025, Yotpo announced it would sunset its Email and SMS services by the end of the year, marking a significant shift in its business strategy. This move has left many e-commerce brands seeking alternatives for their marketing needs.
Among the leading options, and the one we would most highly recommend, is Klaviyo – a platform renowned for its handy automations and effective Shopify integration.
Why Yotpo Is Retiring Email and SMS
So, why is Yotpo doing this in the first place? It seems this decision has been part of a broader strategy towards enhancing its core services (Reviews and Loyalty programmes).
Unfortunately, this transition has also led to the layoff of approximately 200 employees, or an estimated 34% of its workforce. CEO Tomer Tagrin stated, "We’ve decided to stop investing in our native Email and SMS products…this is a painful but necessary step".
The company is now focusing on building an "AI-native" operating model and strengthening its position in, as mentioned, the Reviews and Loyalty space.
Why Klaviyo Stands Out
So, if you're now in need of an alternative to Yotpo, what makes Klaviyo the best option for you in a large pool of email marketing tools?
1. Seamless Shopify Integration
Klaviyo offers native integration with Shopify, allowing for effortless syncing of customer data, purchase history, and browsing behaviour. This deep integration enables highly personalised marketing campaigns and automations, which can make for some especially effective campaigns.
2. Advanced Segmentation and Automation
With Klaviyo, you can create sophisticated segments based on customer behaviour and lifecycle stages. Its automation features support a wide range of flows, including welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups – all designed to enhance customer engagement and retention.
3. Comprehensive Analytics and Reporting
Klaviyo provides detailed analytics and reporting tools, allowing brands to track campaign performance, understand customer interactions, and optimise marketing strategies effectively.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
Whether you're a small business or an enterprise-level operation, Klaviyo scales with your needs. Its flexible pricing and feature set cater to a wide range of e-commerce businesses.
5. Powerful AI and Dynamic Content Tools
You can make your emails especially personalised and effective with Klaviyo's AI functions, which allow you to, for instance, add a product block featuring items your customer is likely to be interested in. Other features include editing your written content to "simplify" or change tones, "remixing" images based on your prompt, or building entire draft emails based on your template.
The Migration Process: Transitioning from Yotpo to Klaviyo
Thinking of making the switch? Migrating from Yotpo to Klaviyo involves several key steps to ensure a smooth transition:
1. Export Subscriber Data
Begin by exporting your subscriber lists from Yotpo. Navigate to the 'Audience' section and select 'Customers'. Apply filters to segment your audience as needed, then export the data for import into Klaviyo.
2. Set Up Klaviyo Account
Create a Klaviyo account and integrate it with your Shopify store. Ensure that all necessary data flows, such as customer profiles and order information, are syncing correctly.
3. Recreate Email Templates and Flows
Manually recreate your existing email templates and automation flows in Klaviyo. While this may require some effort, it ensures that your campaigns are optimised for Klaviyo's platform.
4. Test and Optimise
Before launching live campaigns, thoroughly test your emails and flows to ensure they function as intended. Utilise Klaviyo's A/B testing features to optimise subject lines, content, and timing for maximum engagement.
Final Thoughts
Yotpo's decision to retire its Email and SMS services has undoubtedly impacted many e-commerce brands. However, platforms like Klaviyo offer robust alternatives that can not only replace but potentially enhance your marketing efforts. By carefully planning and executing the migration process, brands can continue to engage their customers effectively and drive growth.
What Glaze Can Do To Help
If you need help transitioning from Yotpo to Klaviyo, or even if you're deciding whether Klaviyo is the right tool for you and your online business, get in touch with us today to have a chat - we're always more than happy to help and we also come fully accredited by Klaviyo as Gold Partners.
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