Is Mailchimp free to use?
Yes. Mailchimp offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 email sends per month. It includes basic templates, a landing page builder, and abandoned cart automation. Paid plans start at $13/month for more contacts, sends, and advanced features.
How does Mailchimp compare to ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign?
Mailchimp is best for small businesses wanting an all-in-one platform with email, landing pages, and basic CRM. ConvertKit (now Kit) targets creators and bloggers with simpler automation. ActiveCampaign offers more advanced automation and CRM features for sales-driven teams. Mailchimp strikes a balance between ease of use and feature depth.
Does Mailchimp support SMS marketing?
Yes. SMS and MMS marketing are available as add-ons on paid plans in select countries including the US and Canada. You can combine email and SMS in automated customer journeys for multi-channel campaigns.
What happens if I exceed my contact limit?
Mailchimp pauses sending if you exceed your plan's contact limit on the Free plan. On paid plans, additional contacts are charged as overages. You can upgrade your plan or clean your list to remove inactive subscribers and stay within limits.
Can Mailchimp integrate with my e-commerce platform?
Yes. Mailchimp integrates natively with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, and other e-commerce platforms. These integrations enable abandoned cart emails, product recommendations, purchase-based segmentation, and revenue tracking.
What is Mailchimp's email deliverability like?
Mailchimp maintains strong deliverability rates, citing 99.99% for transactional emails via its Mandrill add-on. The platform uses dedicated IP addresses (available on higher tiers), domain authentication (DKIM, SPF), and abuse-prevention policies to ensure emails reach inboxes.