SendPulse vs Mailchimp: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between SendPulse 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. Our overall Marketing Automation pick is HubSpot. Our free Marketing Automation pick is SendPulse. Pick SendPulse if you need marketing automation.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
SendPulse
Multi-channel marketing automation platform for email, chatbots, CRM, and online courses.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Mailchimp requires payment)
- • You want comprehensive suite of integrated marketing tools on one platform
- • You want offers a generous free plan with significant features
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
- • You want comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
| At a Glance | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Marketing Automation | Email Marketing |
Rating | 4.6/5 | 3.9/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose SendPulse or Mailchimp?
Choose SendPulse if
Multi-channel marketing automation platform for email, chatbots, CRM, and online courses.
- You want a fully free tool (Mailchimp requires payment)
- You want comprehensive suite of integrated marketing tools on one platform
- You want offers a generous free plan with significant features
- Your work is marketing automation-shaped, not email marketing-shaped
Choose Mailchimp if
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
- You want intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- You want comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- Your work is email marketing-shaped, not marketing automation-shaped
| Feature | SendPulse | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.6/5 4,303 reviews | ★3.9/5 31,997 reviews |
| Categories | Marketing AutomationEmail Marketing | Email MarketingMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
SendPulse
Multi-channel marketing automation platform for email, chatbots, CRM, and online courses.
SendPulse's Free tier is incredibly generous, offering a vast array of features including email, chatbots, CRM, and even an online course builder, which is rare for a free plan.
Strengths
- +Comprehensive suite of integrated marketing tools on one platform.
- +Offers a generous free plan with significant features.
- +User-friendly drag-and-drop editors and pre-made templates.
- +AI-powered tools for content creation and refinement.
- +24/7 multi-language customer support and extensive knowledge base.
Weaknesses
- -Advanced features like unlimited emails and users are only available on higher-tier paid plans.
- -Pricing for larger subscriber lists can increase significantly.
- -Some features like SMS campaigns are not included in the free plan.
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
- +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
Pricing: SendPulse vs Mailchimp
| Plan | SendPulse | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $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 SendPulse pricing and Mailchimp pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
SendPulse is free. Mailchimp is freemium.
Go with: SendPulse
Want the highest-rated option?
SendPulse: 4.6/5 (4,303 reviews). Mailchimp: 3.9/5 (31,997 reviews).
Go with: SendPulse
Value user reviews?
SendPulse: 4,303 reviews (4.6/5). Mailchimp: 31,997 reviews (3.9/5).
Go with: Mailchimp
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
SendPulse is free. Mailchimp is freemium. Go with SendPulse if free matters most.
What's your use case?
SendPulse is a marketing automation tool. Mailchimp is in email marketing. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
SendPulse is rated higher: 4.6/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Larger review base (31,997 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
SendPulse
- Completely free
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 3.9/5
- Better fit for marketing automation
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp wins this matchup. Our overall Marketing Automation pick is HubSpot. Our free Marketing Automation pick is SendPulse. That said, SendPulse is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SendPulse or Mailchimp better?
Mailchimp is rated in our evaluation. SendPulse is free and Mailchimp is freemium.
What are SendPulse and Mailchimp used for?
SendPulse: Multi-channel marketing automation platform for email, chatbots, CRM, and online courses.. Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing.
What does SendPulse cost vs Mailchimp?
SendPulse is completely free. Mailchimp is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.