Mailchimp
Email marketing platform with AI-driven automation and segmentation
4.3
/5
(16400 reviews)
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is the world's most widely used email marketing platform, with over 13 million users. It offers AI-powered content suggestions, send-time optimization, audience segmentation, and multi-channel campaigns including email, SMS, and social ads.
The free plan covers the basics for getting started. As you scale, Mailchimp's automation builder, landing pages, and e-commerce integrations make it a solid all-in-one for SMBs — though it gets expensive compared to alternatives like Brevo or ActiveCampaign at higher contact counts.
Key Features
- AI Subject Line Helper
- Send-Time Optimization (AI)
- Email Automation Builder
- Audience Segmentation
- Landing Page Builder
- A/B Testing
- SMS Marketing
- Social Media Ads Integration
- E-commerce Integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce)
- Reporting & Analytics
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free plan to get started (250 contacts, 500 sends/mo)
- Very easy to use — beginner friendly
- Large template library
- Strong e-commerce integrations
Cons
- Free tier cut sharply in 2026 — now 250 contacts, not enough for most lists
- Gets expensive quickly vs Brevo or Klaviyo
- Automation is less powerful than ActiveCampaign
- Pricing based on contacts, not emails sent
Pricing
Model: Freemium + subscription (monthly)
| Plan | Price | Key Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo (cut from 500 contacts/1,000 emails in Jan 2026), basic templates |
| Essentials | $13/mo | 500 contacts, 5,000 emails/mo, A/B testing, custom branding |
| Standard | $20/mo | 500 contacts, 6,000 emails/mo, automation journeys, retargeting |
| Premium | $350/mo | 10,000 contacts, advanced segmentation, phone support |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Mailchimp free forever?
- Mailchimp has a free plan, but it was cut to 250 contacts and 500 sends per month in January 2026 (down from 500 contacts/1,000 sends). It has no automation journeys, Mailchimp branding on emails, and limited A/B testing.
- Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign — which should I choose?
- Mailchimp is better for beginners and e-commerce. ActiveCampaign is better for advanced automation, CRM features, and B2B lead nurturing, and now starts lower too ($15/mo). If you run complex drip sequences, ActiveCampaign wins.
- Why is Mailchimp getting expensive?
- Mailchimp prices by contact count, not email volume, and its free tier shrank in 2026. If your list grows past 5,000 contacts, tools like Brevo (prices by emails sent) or Klaviyo (better ROI for e-commerce) often become cheaper alternatives.