Hubspot Marketing vs Mailchimp: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Hubspot Marketing 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 Hubspot Marketing if you need marketing automation.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Hubspot Marketing
Marketing automation by HubSpot
Best for you if:
- • You need marketing automation features specifically
- • HubSpot Marketing Hub is an all-in-one marketing platform for inbound marketing
- • It provides email, landing pages, automation, and analytics for marketing teams
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Best for you if:
- • You need email marketing features specifically
- • 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 |  Hubspot Marketing |  Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $20/monthStarter | $13/monthEssentials |
Best For | Marketing Automation | Email Marketing |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Hubspot Marketing or Mailchimp?
Choose Hubspot Marketing if
Marketing automation by HubSpot
- Complete inbound marketing platform
- Excellent CRM integration
- Powerful marketing automation
- Your work is marketing automation-shaped, not email marketing-shaped
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
- Budget matters ($13/month vs $20/month)
- Your work is email marketing-shaped, not marketing automation-shaped
| Feature | Hubspot Marketing | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 18,427 reviews | ★4.4/5 30,300 reviews |
| Categories | Marketing AutomationEmail Marketing | Email MarketingMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Hubspot Marketing
Marketing automation by HubSpot
Strengths
- +Complete inbound marketing platform
- +Excellent CRM integration
- +Powerful marketing automation
- +Great for content marketing
- +Comprehensive analytics
Weaknesses
- -Very expensive ($800+/month for Marketing Hub)
- -Steep learning curve
- -Contracts are inflexible
- -Can be overkill for small businesses
- -Some features feel basic individually
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: Hubspot Marketing vs Mailchimp
| Plan | Hubspot Marketing | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free Tools | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $20 month Starter | $13 month Essentials |
| Tier 3 | $890 month Professional | $20 month Standard |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $350 month Premium |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Hubspot Marketing pricing and Mailchimp pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Hubspot Marketing
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Hubspot Marketing
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
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?
Hubspot Marketing is a marketing automation tool. Mailchimp is in email marketing. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Larger review base (30,300 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Hubspot Marketing
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5
- Better fit for marketing automation
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hubspot Marketing or Mailchimp better?
Mailchimp is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Hubspot Marketing and Mailchimp used for?
Hubspot Marketing: Marketing automation by HubSpot. Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing.
What does Hubspot Marketing cost vs Mailchimp?
Hubspot Marketing is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Mailchimp is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.