Install the Klaviyo for WooCommerce extension from the official WooCommerce extensions store, activate it, then go to Marketing, Klaviyo, Connect Account and approve the permissions. Klaviyo says the integration syncs data in real time. Zapier is the alternative route if you only need specific triggers, such as adding new customers as subscribers.
Six steps from plugin to first synced order
Klaviyo's own help article breaks this into two jobs: install the extension in your store, then enable the integration on the email side. In practice that's six short steps, and the menu labels below are the ones Klaviyo uses.
- In WooCommerce, open Extensions, search for Klaviyo, and open Klaviyo for WooCommerce in the official WooCommerce extensions store.
- Complete the extension checkout flow, then choose Add to Site and enter or select your store.
- In your WordPress admin go to Plugins, find Klaviyo, and click Activate.
- Select Marketing, then Klaviyo, click Connect Account, log in to the right account and click Approve on the permissions.
- On the integration settings page, confirm the account name, tick the email consent checkbox option, pick a list, and set any optional SMS or WhatsApp consent and conversion settings.
- Click Complete setup, then place a test order and look for Started Checkout and Placed Order events under Recent Data.
Before step one, switch off any caching or redirect plugins, and add Klaviyo's IPs to your firewall allow list. Klaviyo highly recommends the allow list to cut down on authentication and configuration problems.
What the extension sends across
| What syncs or appears | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Store data, in real time | Profiles and events land as they happen |
| Started Checkout and Viewed Product data | Abandoned cart and browse follow-ups |
| Placed Order and Ordered Product events | Post-purchase flows and reporting |
| Website activity tracking | Knowing what a shopper looked at |
| Newsletter sign-up form | Growing your list from the shop |
| Email consent at checkout, mapped to a list | Adding buyers who opt in |
| SMS and WhatsApp consent at checkout | Text and WhatsApp marketing, with disclosure language |
The default checkout consent label is 'Sign me up to receive Email updates and news', which you can change. If you collect SMS consent, Klaviyo says you need disclosure language for TCPA compliance. There's also a setting that converts all future Placed Order and Ordered Product events into one chosen denomination. It doesn't touch data that's already synced or your account default.
The extension is compatible with High Performance Order Storage (HPOS), so you don't need to switch that off. You can turn on auto-updates for the plugin from the Plugins tab, and the release notes live in the changelog on the WordPress plugin directory.
Checking it works before you build a single flow
Don't skip the test. Add an item to the cart, check out with an email and a phone number, and submit a test order. Then look under Recent Data for the Started Checkout and Placed Order events, and check a new profile has appeared in your chosen list. If both show up, you're connected.
For abandoned cart emails, the Started Checkout event lets you rebuild a shopper's cart with the URL parameter /cart?wck_rebuild_cart={{ event.extra.CartRebuildKey }}. That one line sends people back to a full basket rather than an empty one, which is the whole point of the email.
Caching plugins, age gates and the order count error
The Klaviyo Help Center article Getting started with WooCommerce flags three things that trip stores up. Caching or redirect plugins can break the connection, which is why Klaviyo advises disabling them during setup. SMS consent won't sync at all if your company is age-gated. And a common failed setup shows the error 'Unable to test API by fetching order count. Invalid count', which has to be fixed inside WooCommerce, not on the email side.
If you see that error, don't keep reconnecting. Go back to the store, check what's interfering, and only then try again.
The Zapier route and two other email tools
Zapier lists templates pairing the two apps, including adding new WooCommerce customers as subscribers and updating subscribers when new orders come in. I'm going on the template list there, not a walkthrough, so check the setup and fields inside Zapier. It won't carry checkout and product view events the way the extension does.
Mailchimp has an official plugin for WooCommerce that syncs customers and purchase data to an audience and supports abandoned cart automations. My side-by-side of the two email platforms covers how they differ for shops.
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My verdict for a WooCommerce store owner
Use the official extension, not a zap, because it's the only route that carries the checkout and product view events your best flows depend on. Turn off caching during setup, add the consent checkbox, and place a test order the same day. If you want a wider view of the platform first, my full review of Klaviyo for small shops is the place to start, and if you're still choosing a store builder, Shopify versus WooCommerce sets out the options.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the Klaviyo WooCommerce integration sync in real time?
Yes. Klaviyo states the integration syncs data in real time.
Can I connect WooCommerce to Klaviyo without the plugin?
Zapier offers templates that pair the two, such as adding new customers as subscribers, but the Klaviyo extension is the direct route and it's what carries checkout and product view events.
Why is my WooCommerce connection failing?
Klaviyo points to caching or redirect plugins and firewall settings. Disable those plugins during setup and allow-list Klaviyo IPs.
How do I check the integration works?
Place a test order, then look for Started Checkout and Placed Order events under Recent Data and a new profile in your list.
Does it work with HPOS?
Yes. Klaviyo says the extension is compatible with High Performance Order Storage.
