stackswitch

Mailchimp

Email marketing and automation platform

Free
Starting price
4.3/5
G2 rating
4
Pricing plans
2001
Founded

Quick verdict

Mailchimp is built for solo founders and small teams who need solid email marketing capabilities. It holds its own against competitors like Klaviyo. You can start for free, which makes it low-risk to test.

Mailchimp is one of the most widely used email marketing platforms, offering email campaigns, automations, landing pages, and basic CRM functionality. Popular with small businesses and e-commerce brands.

What we like

  • Easy to use
  • Generous free plan
  • Good template library
  • Strong e-commerce integrations

Watch out for

  • Pricing jumps steeply
  • Automations less powerful than competitors
  • Contact-based pricing gets expensive

Key features

Email campaignsAutomationsLanding pagesAudience segmentationA/B testingAnalyticsE-commerce integrations

Who should use Mailchimp?

If you are a Solo / freelancer...

The free plan covers the basics. You will probably not need to upgrade until you hit the limits of the Free plan.

If you are a 5-person startup...

Start on the free plan and upgrade when collaboration features become essential. Budget around $65/mo for a team of five on the paid plan.

If you are a 50+ person company...

You will likely need the Standard plan or above. At this scale, check the analytics and e-commerce integrations capabilities — they matter more as teams grow.

Pricing: the honest take

The free plan is genuinely useful for email campaigns and automations — not just a teaser. You can run real work on it. When you outgrow it, the jump to Essentials at $13/mo is reasonable.

See full Mailchimp pricing breakdown →

Top Mailchimp alternatives

Klaviyo Marketing automation platform built for e-commerce
ActiveCampaign Email marketing and CRM automation platform
Kit (ConvertKit) Email platform built for creators and solopreneurs
See all Mailchimp alternatives →

Our verdict

Mailchimp is a well-regarded email marketing tool with 4 pricing plans. The free plan makes it easy to get started with no upfront cost. If the watch-outs above are dealbreakers, see the alternatives below.

Mailchimp: frequently asked questions

Is Mailchimp free?

Yes — Mailchimp offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $13/mo.

How much does Mailchimp cost?

Mailchimp has 4 plans. There is a free tier. Paid plans start at $13/mo. See full pricing →

What are the best alternatives to Mailchimp?

Top alternatives include Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, Kit (ConvertKit). See full comparison →