Mailchimp vs Constant Contact (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Wins?
By ToolVS Research Team · Updated April 9, 2026 · Based on 30+ hours of testing
Quick verdict: Mailchimp wins 7-5 overall. It has a free plan, stronger automation, better analytics, and more templates. Constant Contact is the pick for beginners who want live phone support and built-in event marketing tools — but it costs more and does less.
Our Verdict
Mailchimp
- Free plan (500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo)
- Advanced automation journeys
- 100+ email templates
- Free plan is limited (no scheduling)
- Pricing jumps at higher tiers
- Customer support on free plan is email only
Deep dive: Mailchimp full analysis
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price (500 contacts) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo, basic templates |
| Essentials | $13/mo | 5,000 sends, A/B testing, 24/7 support |
| Standard | $20/mo | Advanced automation, send-time optimization |
| Premium | $350/mo | Advanced segmentation, multivariate testing |
Constant Contact
- Live phone support on all plans
- Built-in event marketing & RSVP
- Easier for complete beginners
- No free plan (only 14-day trial)
- Automation is basic compared to Mailchimp
- Fewer templates and design options
Deep dive: Constant Contact full analysis
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price (500 contacts) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/mo | 1 user, basic email, 500 sends/mo |
| Standard | $35/mo | 3 users, automation, A/B testing, scheduling |
| Premium | $80/mo | Unlimited users, advanced automation, SEO |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes — 500 contacts | No (14-day trial) | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $12/mo | ✔ Constant Contact |
| Templates | 100+ modern templates | ~50 templates | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Automation | Multi-step journeys, branching | Basic sequences | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Analytics | Detailed — opens, clicks, revenue | Basic open/click rates | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Phone Support | Paid plans only (no phone on free) | Live phone on all plans | ✔ Constant Contact |
| Event Marketing | Via integration | Built-in RSVP and event tools | ✔ Constant Contact |
| Landing Pages | Included on all plans | Included on Standard+ | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Integrations | 300+ integrations | ~200 integrations | ✔ Mailchimp |
| E-commerce | Product recommendations, abandoned cart | Basic e-commerce emails | ✔ Mailchimp |
| Deliverability | ⭐ 95%+ | ⭐ 95%+ | Tie |
| Ease for Beginners | Good — intuitive editor | Slightly easier + phone support | ✔ Constant Contact |
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Mailchimp if:
You want the most features per dollar, need a free plan to start, or run an e-commerce store that needs product recommendations and abandoned cart emails.
→ Choose Constant Contact if:
You are a complete beginner who values live phone support, or you run events and need built-in RSVP management. Good for local businesses and nonprofits.
→ Consider neither if:
You are a creator or newsletter writer — try ConvertKit or Beehiiv. For advanced e-commerce email, Klaviyo is the better pick.
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Our Methodology
We tested Mailchimp and Constant Contact across email templates, automation, analytics, deliverability, and customer support. 30+ hours of testing with real email campaigns and 18,700+ user reviews analyzed.
Ready to choose?
Mailchimp has a free plan. Constant Contact offers a 14-day trial.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.