Mailchimp Review (2026): Pricing, Pros and Cons
We may earn money when you click links on this page. Partner compensation may affect which products we include and where they appear. See how we make money.
Short answer
Mailchimp ranks #5 of 6 in our email marketing tools ranking (79/100). Best for beginners who want a familiar all-rounder. Paid plans start at $13/mo (Essentials, up to 500 contacts; $26.50 up to 1,500; Standard from $20).
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform from Intuit with a drag-and-drop builder, 300+ integrations and plans priced by contacts. Essentials allows automation flows of up to 4 steps; Standard adds up to 200 flows, predictive segments and generative AI; Premium starts at $350 a month.
Who it's best for
Small businesses and first-time email marketers who want a well-known tool with many integrations.
Why we rank it
The editor and reporting are polished and easy to learn, and it connects to almost any tool through 300+ integrations.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Polished editor and reports
- 300+ integrations
- 24/7 email and chat support on paid plans
Watch-outs
- Essentials limits automations to 4 steps
- Free plan has no automation flows and 250 contacts
- Costs more than MailerLite or Brevo at the same list size
Skip it if: Automation is central to your marketing and budget is tight.
Mailchimp pricing
Paid plans start at $13/mo (Essentials, up to 500 contacts; $26.50 up to 1,500; Standard from $20). Free plan or trial: Free plan (250 contacts); 14-day trial.
From Mailchimp's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our email marketing tools pricing overview.
How we scored Mailchimp
Email marketing score: 79/100
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
How Mailchimp compares
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MailerLite | Small businesses that want automation at a low price | $10.80/mo | 85/100 |
| 2 | Klaviyo | Ecommerce brands | $20/mo | 84/100 |
| 3 | ActiveCampaign | Advanced automation | $15/mo | 84/100 |
| 4 | Brevo | High-volume senders on a budget | $8.08/mo | 83/100 |
| 5 | Mailchimp | Beginners who want a familiar all-rounder | $13/mo | 79/100 |
| 6 | Kit | Creators and newsletters | $33/mo | 77/100 |
Alternatives and comparisons
Mailchimp FAQ
How much does Mailchimp cost?
Paid plans start at $13/mo (Essentials, up to 500 contacts; $26.50 up to 1,500; Standard from $20). Free plan or trial: Free plan (250 contacts); 14-day trial.
Is Mailchimp worth it?
Mailchimp scores 79/100 in our email marketing tools ranking, where it is best for beginners who want a familiar all-rounder. It's a weaker fit if: automation is central to your marketing and budget is tight.
Does Mailchimp have a free plan or trial?
Free plan (250 contacts); 14-day trial.
What are the best Mailchimp alternatives?
In our email marketing tools ranking, the closest alternatives are MailerLite, Klaviyo and ActiveCampaign.