Mailchimp Review & Comparison Hub (2026)

Q: Is Mailchimp still free in 2026?

Mailchimp still offers a free plan but it has become very limited: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, and Mailchimp branding on all emails. The free plan used to be 2,000 contacts. For most growing businesses, you will need the Essentials plan starting at $13/month.

Q: Why are people leaving Mailchimp?

The main reasons are: declining free plan value, pricing that scales steeply with contacts (not sends), limited automation on lower tiers, and the Intuit acquisition raising privacy concerns. Many switch to ConvertKit, Beehiiv, or ActiveCampaign for better value.

Q: Mailchimp vs ConvertKit: which is better for creators?

ConvertKit is better for creators (bloggers, YouTubers, course sellers) with its subscriber-centric approach, landing pages, and commerce features. Mailchimp is better for small businesses needing e-commerce integration and traditional email campaigns.

By ToolVS Research Team · Last Updated April 2026

Share:𝕏 in f r/

4.3/5

Our Rating

Free–$350

Price/mo

Yes*

Free Plan

SMBs

Best For

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is the most recognized email marketing platform, serving 11M+ users. Now owned by Intuit, it offers email campaigns, automation, landing pages, social posting, and basic CRM. While it started as the friendly email tool for small businesses, pricing has increased significantly. The free plan now caps at 500 contacts. Still the most beginner-friendly option with an iconic brand.

Pros

Most beginner-friendly email marketing platform
Beautiful drag-and-drop email builder with templates
300+ integrations with e-commerce, CRM, and more
Good analytics and A/B testing on all paid plans
Strong brand recognition builds sender trust

Cons

Free plan gutted to 500 contacts — barely usable
Pricing based on contacts, not sends — expensive at scale
Advanced automation only on Standard plan ($20+/mo)
Customer support has declined post-Intuit acquisition
You pay for unsubscribed contacts unless you manually clean lists

All Mailchimp Comparisons (23)

Mailchimp is one of our most-compared tools with 23 head-to-head matchups.

Mailchimp Feature Checks

free plan automation landing pages ab testing segmentation Browse all features →

Mailchimp Alternatives

Looking for Mailchimp alternatives? We ranked the best including ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, and Brevo.

See Best Mailchimp Alternatives →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mailchimp still free in 2026?

Mailchimp still offers a free plan but it is very limited: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, and Mailchimp branding. For most growing businesses, you will need the Essentials plan starting at $13/month.

Why are people leaving Mailchimp?

Declining free plan value, pricing that scales steeply with contacts, limited automation on lower tiers, and the Intuit acquisition raising privacy concerns. Many switch to ConvertKit, Beehiiv, or ActiveCampaign.

Mailchimp vs ConvertKit: which is better for creators?

ConvertKit is better for creators with its subscriber-centric approach and commerce features. Mailchimp is better for small businesses needing e-commerce integration and traditional email campaigns.

Editor's Take

Mailchimp was the email marketing tool I recommended to everyone for years. In 2026, I cannot say the same. The free plan shrunk from 2,000 to 500 contacts, pricing jumped, and the Intuit acquisition made the product feel more corporate. That said, the email builder is still the best in the business, and the integration ecosystem is massive. If you are starting fresh today, I would look at ConvertKit (for creators), Beehiiv (for newsletters), or Brevo (for budget email). If you are already on Mailchimp and it works, no rush to switch.

Share:𝕏 in f r/

Last updated: April 13, 2026. Pricing verified monthly.