Mailchimp vs ConvertKit: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Mailchimp and ConvertKit 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 ConvertKit 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:
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 offer various tiers
ConvertKit
Email marketing for creators: newsletters, landing pages, and monetization
Best for you if:
- • Email marketing for creators
- • Automation and sequences
| At a Glance |  Mailchimp |  ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Email Marketing | Email Marketing |
Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Mailchimp or ConvertKit?
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
Choose ConvertKit if
Email marketing for creators: newsletters, landing pages, and monetization
- Built specifically for creators
- Simple automation builder
- Good free tier
| Feature | Mailchimp | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★3.9/5 31,952 reviews | ★4.5/5 4,453 reviews |
| Categories | Email MarketingMarketing Automation | Email MarketingMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Mailchimp was once the default email marketing tool for small businesses, and its free tier was legendary.
Watch out
ALL contacts count: subscribed, unsubscribed, non-subscribed, and 'cleaned' contacts all count toward your plan limit. You pay for contacts who unsubscribed last year unless you manually archive them. This inflates costs by 20-40% for most lists
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 higher tiers
- -Phone support only available on the highest tier
- -Removing Mailchimp branding requires a paid plan
Key features
ConvertKit
Email marketing for creators: newsletters, landing pages, and monetization
ConvertKit's pricing is fair for creators, with a generous free tier up to 10,000 subscribers.
Watch out
Price scales significantly with subscribers
Strengths
- +Built specifically for creators
- +Simple automation builder
- +Good free tier
- +Paid newsletter support
Weaknesses
- -Limited design customization
- -Basic analytics
- -More expensive than competitors at scale
Key features
Pricing: Mailchimp vs ConvertKit
| Plan | Mailchimp | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $0 Newsletter |
| Tier 2 | $13 month Essentials | $33 Creator |
| Tier 3 | $20 month Standard | $66 Pro |
| Tier 4 | $350 month Premium | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Mailchimp pricing and ConvertKit pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Mailchimp
Want the highest-rated option?
Mailchimp: 3.9/5 (31,952 reviews). ConvertKit: 4.5/5 (4,453 reviews).
Go with: ConvertKit
Value user reviews?
Mailchimp: 31,952 reviews (3.9/5). ConvertKit: 4,453 reviews (4.5/5).
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?
ConvertKit is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Larger review base (31,952 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
ConvertKit
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.9/5
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp or ConvertKit better?
Mailchimp is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Mailchimp and ConvertKit used for?
Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing. ConvertKit: Email marketing for creators: newsletters, landing pages, and monetization.
What does Mailchimp cost vs ConvertKit?
Mailchimp is freemium (free tier + paid plans). ConvertKit is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.