Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Constant Contact and Mailchimp comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Mailchimp is our overall pick for email marketing workflows. Pick Constant Contact if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Constant Contact
Established email marketing for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • Affordable email marketing for small businesses
- • Drag-and-drop email builder with templates
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Best for you if:
- • Leading email marketing platform with AI-powered automation, used by millions of businesses worldwide
- • Free plan supports up to 250 contacts and 500 emails/month; paid plans start at $13/month for 500 contacts
| At a Glance |  Constant Contact |  Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Email Marketing | Email Marketing |
Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Constant Contact or Mailchimp?
Choose Constant Contact if
Established email marketing for small businesses
- Easy to use
- Good for beginners
- Event marketing
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
Choose Mailchimp if
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- Comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- Powerful automation workflows rivaling dedicated automation platforms
| Feature | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.2/5 11,849 reviews | ★4.4/5 30,300 reviews |
| Categories | Email MarketingMarketing Automation | Email MarketingMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Constant Contact
Established email marketing for small businesses
Strengths
- +Easy to use
- +Good for beginners
- +Event marketing
- +Templates
- +Phone support
Weaknesses
- -Expensive for features
- -Limited automation
- -Dated interface
- -Competitors better value
- -Per-contact pricing
Key features
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Strengths
- +Intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- +Comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- +Powerful automation workflows rivaling dedicated automation platforms
- +Extensive template library with mobile-responsive designs
- +Strong deliverability rates backed by Intuit infrastructure
Weaknesses
- -Free plan capped at just 250 contacts and 500 sends per month
- -Pricing scales steeply as contact lists grow beyond initial tiers
- -Advanced segmentation and multivariate testing require Standard or Premium
- -Phone support only available on the Premium plan
- -Removing Mailchimp branding requires a paid plan
Key features
Pricing: Constant Contact vs Mailchimp
| Plan | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $12 month Lite | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $35 month Standard | $13 month Essentials |
| Tier 3 | $80 month Premium | $20 month Standard |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $350 month Premium |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Constant Contact pricing and Mailchimp pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Constant Contact
Want the highest-rated option?
Constant Contact: 4.2/5 (11,849 reviews). Mailchimp: 4.4/5 (30,300 reviews).
Go with: Mailchimp
Value user reviews?
Constant Contact: 11,849 reviews (4.2/5). Mailchimp: 30,300 reviews (4.4/5).
Go with: Mailchimp
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are email marketing tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Mailchimp is rated higher: 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5
- Larger review base (30,300 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Constant Contact
- Choose if you want established email marketing for small businesses
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Constant Contact or Mailchimp better?
Mailchimp is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Constant Contact and Mailchimp used for?
Constant Contact: Established email marketing for small businesses. Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing.
What does Constant Contact cost vs Mailchimp?
Constant Contact is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Mailchimp is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.