Mailjet vs Mailchimp: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Mailjet 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 wins this matchup. Omnisend ranks #1 on our Email Marketing list. Omnisend is the highest-listed Email Marketing tool with a free plan. Pick Mailjet if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Mailjet
Email marketing and transactional email
Best for you if:
- • You want good email delivery
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Best for you if:
- • You want intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
| At a Glance | Mailjet | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free Free plan | Free Free plan |
Category | Email Marketing Transactional Email | Email Marketing Marketing Automation |
Rating | 4.1/5 Capterra 4.2 · G2 3.9 630 reviews | 3.9/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.3 · Trustpilot 2.6 31,997 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | 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 |
Choose Mailjet or Mailchimp?
Choose Mailjet if
- You want good email delivery
- You want fair pricing
Choose Mailchimp if
- You want intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- You want comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- Budget matters (Free vs Free)
In-Depth Analysis
Mailjet
Email marketing and transactional email
Mailjet's Free tier is quite generous with 6,000 emails per month, making it a good starting point.
Strengths
- Pro: Good email delivery
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Good API
- Pro: Email editor
- Pro: EU-based
Weaknesses
- Con: Support varies
- Con: UI could improve
- Con: Limited automation
- Con: Better alternatives exist
- Con: Deliverability varies
Key features
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
- Pro: Intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- Pro: Comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- Pro: Powerful automation workflows rivaling dedicated automation platforms
- Pro: Extensive template library with mobile-responsive designs
- Pro: Strong deliverability rates backed by Intuit infrastructure
Weaknesses
- Con: Free plan capped at just 250 contacts and 500 sends per month
- Con: Pricing scales steeply as contact lists grow beyond initial tiers
- Con: Advanced segmentation and multivariate testing require higher tiers
- Con: Phone support only available on the highest tier
- Con: Removing Mailchimp branding requires a paid plan
Key features
Pricing: Mailjet vs Mailchimp
| Plan | Mailjet | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $17 month Essential | $13 month Essentials |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $20 month Standard |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $350 month Premium |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Mailjet pricing and Mailchimp pricing.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Larger review base (31,997 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Mailjet
- Higher user rating: 4.1/5 vs 3.9/5
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp wins this matchup. Omnisend ranks #1 on our Email Marketing list. Omnisend is the highest-listed Email Marketing tool with a free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailjet or Mailchimp better in 2026?
Mailchimp wins this matchup. Omnisend ranks #1 on our Email Marketing list. Omnisend is the highest-listed Email Marketing tool with a free plan. Pick Mailjet for email marketing workflows (main strength: good email delivery). Pick Mailchimp for email marketing workflows (main strength: intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users).
What are Mailjet and Mailchimp used for?
Mailjet: Email marketing and transactional email. Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing.
What does Mailjet cost vs Mailchimp?
Mailjet's paid plans start at Free (Essential). Mailchimp's paid plans start at Free (Essentials).
What's the main difference between Mailjet and Mailchimp?
Mailjet's main strength: good email delivery. Mailchimp's main strength: intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users.