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There was once a time when Mailchimp was the first name that came to mind when you thought about email marketing services. It was affordable, easy to use, and very, very popular.
However, times change, and there are plenty of reasons that you might be frustrated with Mailchimp these days. Here are just a few off the top of my head:
- It’s expensive
- No email automations on the free plan
- It doesn’t handle multiple mailing lists well
- Landing pages are very basic
- CRM features are very limited
- Data protection is not the strongest for EU-based businesses
But luckily, there’s good news for small business owners looking for a different email marketing platform: there are plenty of alternatives to Mailchimp that do a better job for a lower price.
And we’ve tested a load of them extensively to find out which are the best options for each particular circumstance.
First, a quick summary, and then below we go into much more detail…
- MailerLite – Same quality but cheaper
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) – Better email automation and cheaper
- Omnisend – Better for ecommerce
- GetResponse – Better for content monetization
- Moosend – More generous with features and emails
- ActiveCampaign – Better marketing automation
- EmailOctopus – More affordable
- EngageBay – Much better CRM features
- Zoho – Better automations
- Hubspot – Better CRM features
- Mailjet – More affordable (but basic)
- Kit – Better free tier, better targeting
- Beehiiv – Better for newsletters
- Benchmark – Better for multilingual teams
- AWeber – Better support
If you don't have time to read the whole article right now, check out our 5-minute video, which summarizes the main points:
Or, you could also answer the 6 questions in the quiz below to find a personalized Mailchimp alternative recommendation:
Smart Quiz: Find the Best Mailchimp Alternative in 1 Minute
An Overview of the Top Mailchimp Competitors
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Paid plans start from $12.99/month |
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Paid plans start at $5 per month |
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Best Mailchimp Alternatives by Use Case
Free and Cheap Alternatives (Best for Beginners)
The best Mailchimp alternatives for cost-conscious beginners are Kit, EmailOctopus, and MailerLite.
If you’re a beginner to email marketing, then you’re probably looking for something that’s initially free and then relatively affordable when (and if) you decide to upgrade. Plus, something that’s simple to understand and easy to use.
On Mailchimp’s free plan, you’re limited to 250 contacts, to whom you can send a total of 500 emails per month (with a daily limit of 250 emails). And when you need more, prices go up quickly (especially since you have to pay for unsubscribed contacts).
There are alternatives to Mailchimp that offer much more for much less:
Free forever?
If you have no intention of ever paying for your email marketing and just want a solid free option, then I recommend Kit over Mailchimp.
Kit has the most generous free email marketing plan, allowing for up to 10,000 subscribers and unlimited emails! What's great is that you'll also have access to landing pages and monetization features, although you're restricted to a single email sequence/automation.
Excellent free tier with cheap upgrade options?
If you want a great free option that stays affordable when you decide to upgrade, then I recommend EmailOctopus.
The EmailOctopus free plan is much more generous than Mailchimp: up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month. And as you upgrade, each tier (based on subscriber count) is usually less than half the price of the Mailchimp equivalent.
EmailOctopus is also easier to use, making it much more beginner-friendly than Mailchimp.
Best overall for beginners (cheap and easy)?
While Kit and EmailOctopus are excellent Mailchimp alternatives for those on a budget, I think the best option for most beginners will be MailerLite.
MailerLite's free tier provides up to 500 subscribers and 1,200 emails per month, so it’s twice as generous as Mailchimp (but less so than Kit and EmailOctopus). And the paid tiers are slightly more expensive than EmailOctopus but still half the price of Mailchimp.
What we really like about MailerLite is what you get for your money. Compared to Mailchimp, it’s much easier to use, has a better landing page builder, and has a wider range of decent features.
Related articles:
Best Alternative for Ecommerce
The best Mailchimp alternative for ecommerce email marketing is Omnisend.
While Mailchimp does have some decent ecommerce features and integrations, it’s very much designed as a general email marketing platform and lacks some of the specialized features of a platform specifically designed for selling online.
Omnisend is primarily focused on ecommerce, integrates perfectly with Shopify and WooCommerce, etc., and has a range of features you won’t find in Mailchimp (or will only find in Mailchimp's higher price tiers).
Omnisend beats Mailchimp with: advanced automations on all plans, conditional branching logic, better forms, gamification (wheel of fortune, gift boxes, etc.), and better support.
Prices (determined by number of contacts and number of emails) are roughly the same, but crucially, advanced ecommerce features are only available on Mailchimp's higher tiers, whereas they are available on all the Omnisend tiers.
Another ecommerce focused option is Klaviyo, but it’s more expensive and more complicated than Omnisend.
Related articles:
Best Alternative for Bloggers
The best Mailchimp alternative for bloggers is Beehiiv.
Unlike Mailchimp, Beehiiv is specifically designed for bloggers and content creators and focuses on helping you build, grow, and monetize your content. It includes features that are not available with Mailchimp such as podcasts, webinars, digital products, and subscriptions.
Behiiv’s free plan is far more generous than Mailchimp's (2,500 subscribers and unlimited emails vs 250 subscribers and 500 emails). Once you move up to paid plans, the prices are similar, but Mailchimp imposes monthly sending limits, while Beehiiv doesn’t.
Crucially, the advanced features on Beehiiv’s paid plans are far more suitable for bloggers (I particularly like Boosts, a referral marketplace that will help you grow your audience) than Mailchimp's.
Related articles:
Best Alternative for Newsletters
The best Mailchimp alternative for newsletters is Kit.
Kit is a bit easier to use than Mailchimp, has simpler registration forms and contact management, and has novel monetization and promotion features (such as paid subscriptions, ads, and collaborations) that are particularly useful for newsletter publishers but that aren't available with Mailchimp.
The free Kit tier is more generous than Mailchimp’s, providing 10,000 subscribers and unlimited emails (compared to 250 subscribers and 500 emails with Mailchimp). However, on the paid plans, Kit can be more pricey.
We especially like the subscriber management features and have been happily using Kit for our own Tooltester newsletter.
Related articles:
Best Alternative for Landing Pages
The best Mailchimp alternative for landing pages is Hubspot.
While Mailchimp offers 100+ basic landing page templates, HubSpot gives you access to a much larger library of 400+ templates, with more advanced customization and personalization options.
The Hubspot landing page builder is more feature rich than Mailchimp’s, offering stylesheets, content personalization, multi-device previews, and more, on top of the standard drag and drop editor.
Hubspot’s free plan is also more generous than Mailchimp’s: 1,000 contacts and 2,000 emails (vs 250 contacts and 500 emails with MailChimp). While Hubspot's free plan limits you to 30 landing pages (there’s no limit with Mailchimp), it should be more than enough for most people.
Related articles:
Best Alternative for Nonprofits
Mailchimp offers a 15% discount for nonprofit organizations. However, some of the better platforms offer bigger discounts…
GetResponse: 50% off. Cheaper than Mailchimp, with better marketing automation features.
ActiveCampaign: 20% off. This is one of the most expensive email marketing providers, and for those who are really serious about marketing automation.
MailerLite: 30% off. Its plans are much cheaper than Mailchimp's and many other providers. It's very easy to use for beginners and includes good-looking templates and simple automation features.
Related articles:
The Best Mailchimp Alternatives
1. MailerLite: Same quality but cheaper
Our favorite Mailchimp alternative is MailerLite. We’ve used it for our own newsletters and automated emails at EmailTooltester, and we like how easy it makes it to run email marketing on autopilot.
MailerLite is especially strong on ease of use, multilingual options, landing pages, and clean email designs. It also offers a decent free plan, although email templates are only available on paid plans.
Like Mailchimp, it has started adding AI features too, including an assistant for writing emails, subject lines, and calls to action.
Where MailerLite is better than Mailchimp:
- More generous free plan (500 subscribers, 12,000 emails vs Mailchimp’s stricter limits)
- Significantly cheaper paid plans, better suited for small budgets
- Easier to use, with a more intuitive interface overall
- Stronger landing page builder than Mailchimp’s
- Built-in tools for selling digital products and appointments – something not offered by Mailchimp
- Includes additional tools like a website builder and iOS app
- Available in multiple languages (5), making it more accessible for non-English users
Where Mailchimp is better than MailerLite:
- More advanced reporting and tracking (including social tracking)
- Better tools for campaign optimization and performance analysis
- More sophisticated automation features
- Supports advanced targeting, such as triggering emails based on website visits
Related articles:
2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Better email automation and cheaper
Brevo is one of the most affordable Mailchimp alternatives, with some of the cheapest plans available.
It’s also surprisingly strong for marketing automation and list management and can be used for transactional emails and SMS marketing too.
For a deeper look, check out our Brevo vs Mailchimp comparison or watch our video:
Where Brevo is better than Mailchimp:
- More affordable pricing across plans
- More advanced automation workflows, including A/B testing within automations
- SMS marketing available without needing an ecommerce setup (unlike Mailchimp)
- Competitive SMS pricing
- EU-based servers, making it a strong choice for European businesses and data compliance
Where Mailchimp is better than Brevo:
- More polished and flexible email editor
- Stronger reporting, especially for social media tracking
3. Omnisend: Better for ecommerce
Omnisend is another strong Mailchimp alternative, especially for ecommerce businesses.
It combines email and SMS marketing with conversion-focused automation, segmentation, and some clever ecommerce extras that give it an edge over Mailchimp.
It also integrates well with Shopify, as well as platforms like BigCommerce, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Magento.
Where Omnisend is better than Mailchimp:
- Stronger ecommerce focus, with prebuilt automations like cart and browse abandonment
- Visual automation workflows that are easy to customize
- Unique conversion features (e.g., wheel of fortune popups, gift boxes, product recommendations, live website tracking)
- More advanced ecommerce segmentation (e.g., by specific products purchased or discount codes used)
- Modern, conversion-focused landing page templates
- SMS marketing included and easy to use
Where Mailchimp is better than Omnisend:
- More versatile for non-ecommerce use cases
- Wider range of email templates
- More flexible automation options outside ecommerce
- Higher sending limits on the free plan
Related articles:
4. GetResponse: Better for content monetization
GetResponse is a strong Mailchimp alternative if you need more than basic email marketing.
It stands out for its powerful marketing automation features, landing page builder, course creator, and webinar tools. You also get extras like free iStock images and mobile apps for managing campaigns on the go.
In most cases, we’d say it offers more than Mailchimp!
Where GetResponse is better than Mailchimp:
- More advanced automation workflows, including list management and complex triggers
- Built-in webinar functionality (not offered by Mailchimp)
- Includes monetization tools including AI-powered course creator, paid newsletters, and digital products
- Conversion funnel feature for creating end-to-end sales funnels
- Wide language support (25 languages), ideal for international teams
- Includes extra tools like a multimedia center (stock images, QR codes, etc.)
Where Mailchimp is better than GetResponse:
- More advanced analytics (e.g., click heatmaps for deeper insights)
- Key features available on lower-tier plans (e.g., tagging, abandoned cart emails)
- No storage limits for media files, unlike GetResponse’s 1 GB cap
Related articles:
5. Moosend: More generous with features and emails
Moosend may not be as well known as some other Mailchimp alternatives, but it’s worth considering if you want strong features at an affordable price.
It offers responsive email templates, advanced segmentation, and excellent marketing automation, including ready-made workflow templates and an intuitive automation editor.
Where Moosend is better than Mailchimp:
- More affordable pricing, especially for larger lists
- All emails are ad-free, even on lower-tier plans
- Advanced segmentation included
- Strong landing page builder
- Visual automation builder that is easy to use
Where Mailchimp is better than Moosend:
- More reliable deliverability performance overall
- Wider range of native integrations
- Stronger ecosystem, with less reliance on third-party tools like Zapier
6. ActiveCampaign: Better marketing automation
ActiveCampaign is a strong Mailchimp alternative if marketing automation is your priority (it has some of the best marketing automation features we’ve ever tested).
It lets you build advanced email sequences with conditions, wait steps, split tests, and other automation options. Compared with Mailchimp, it gives you more control over personalized customer journeys.
Where ActiveCampaign is better than Mailchimp:
- Industry-leading automation, with highly advanced workflows, tagging, and A/B testing
- More powerful segmentation and list management capabilities
- Built-in CRM with strong sales and pipeline features
- Additional tools like live chat, site messages, and personalized on-site content
- Better suited for agencies (white labeling and reseller program)
- Strong customer support
- Often better value for money at higher tiers despite being a premium tool
Where Mailchimp is better than ActiveCampaign:
- Easier to use and more beginner-friendly
- Offers a free plan (ActiveCampaign is paid after the trial)
- Stronger ecommerce tracking overall
- Broader ecommerce integrations, with fewer plan restrictions (e.g., WooCommerce available on free plan)
Related articles:
7. EmailOctopus: More affordable
EmailOctopus is a lightweight, budget-friendly Mailchimp alternative for simple newsletters and basic automation.
It’s a good fit for bloggers, nonprofits, small businesses, and creators who want an easy-to-use tool without lots of extra complexity.
Its free plan is particularly generous, providing up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month!
While Mailchimp offers a wider range of advanced features, EmailOctopus stands out for its simplicity, affordability, and ease of use.
Where EmailOctopus is better than Mailchimp:
- Much more affordable, especially as your list grows. EmailOctopus’ pricing remains low even at higher subscriber counts.
- Cleaner, more intuitive interface, which makes creating newsletters and basic automations quick and beginner-friendly.
- More generous free plan for anyone starting a newsletter or small project.
- Better focus on deliverability; offering list cleaning services, full authentication setup, and they even manually review emails and automations before you can activate them.
- Data hosted on servers located in the European Union (important for GDPR compliance).
Where Mailchimp is better than EmailOctopus:
- Far more advanced automation options for multi-step or behaviour-based workflows.
- Better native integrations, especially for ecommerce platforms and CRMs.
- More polished email and landing page editors with richer customisation.
- Deeper reporting and analytics, including comparative benchmarks and customer journey insights.
- Additional features like multivariate testing, predictive segments and advanced scheduling, which EmailOctopus doesn’t offer.
Related articles:
8. EngageBay: Much better CRM features
EngageBay is an affordable Mailchimp alternative if you’re looking for more than email marketing.
It combines CRM with email marketing, automation, customer service, and social media management in one platform.
To our surprise, its free plan is also feature-rich, making it worth considering for small businesses that want an all-in-one tool.
Where EngageBay is better than Mailchimp:
- Much more affordable pricing, especially as your contact list grows
- Better value plans (e.g., high contact limits at lower cost)
- Generous discounts on long-term plans (annual and biennial)
- More generous free plan (more contacts and email sends)
- Free plan includes email and chat support (vs limited support on Mailchimp)
- Built-in CRM with pipelines and deal management
- All-in-one platform with separate areas for marketing, sales, and service
Where Mailchimp is better than EngageBay:
- Offers a desktop app for Windows and Mac
- Includes search marketing features (SEO and PPC for platforms like Google and Instagram)
- Allows basic automation on the free plan (EngageBay restricts workflows to paid plans)
9. Zoho Campaigns: Better automations
Zoho offers an impressive suite of services, which of course includes email marketing.
We've always been impressed by their ever-growing product range, which goes beyond sales and marketing tools to include helpdesk software, online conferencing, project management, and collaboration tools.
Considering how much ground they cover and the fact that they offer a free plan (capped at 2,000 contacts and 6,000 emails per month), Zoho is a comprehensive Mailchimp alternative that could be very well suited to your small business needs.
Where Zoho is better than Mailchimp:
- Stronger automation, with workflows for nurturing, ecommerce, and re-engagement
- Built-in CRM enables advanced sales and marketing workflows
- More advanced segmentation options (e.g., based on activity, lead scores, tags)
- Good range of email and form templates
- Handy extras like direct image integration from Unsplash
Where Mailchimp is better than Zoho:
- Larger ecosystem of native integrations (250+ vs a more limited selection)
- Easier to use, with a more intuitive interface for beginners
- More responsive and polished overall platform performance
Related articles:
10. HubSpot: Better CRM features
HubSpot is a powerful Mailchimp alternative for businesses that need both marketing and sales tools.
Its email marketing features sit within a much larger CRM platform, with tools for contact management, automation, live chat, sales, customer service, SEO, and more.
HubSpot also offers free tools, although many advanced features are reserved for its paid hubs.
Where HubSpot is better than Mailchimp:
- More advanced automation capabilities
- Stronger reporting and analytics
- More powerful, fully integrated CRM
- Better suited for managing marketing, sales, and contacts in one platform
- More comprehensive all-in-one solution overall
Where Mailchimp is better than HubSpot:
- More affordable, especially for small businesses
- Easier to get started with
- Better suited for simple email marketing needs
- Offers a strong feature set at a lower entry cost
Related articles:
11. Mailjet: More affordable (but basic)
Mailjet is an affordable Mailchimp alternative, especially for teams working together on email campaigns.
One neat feature we really like: its drag-and-drop editor lets multiple team members collaborate on emails in real time, which can make the design and approval process quicker and more flexible.
Where Mailjet is better than Mailchimp:
- Stronger deliverability performance based on recent tests
- Well-suited for transactional emails via SMTP
- More affordable pricing overall
- Generous free plan (daily sending allowance)
- Paid plans allow unlimited contacts at lower cost
Where Mailchimp is better than Mailjet:
- More advanced automation features
- Supports behavioral triggers (e.g., opens, clicks)
- Better suited for marketing-focused automation overall
Related articles:
12. Kit: Better free tier, better targeting
Kit is another good Mailchimp alternative for creators, bloggers, and newsletter publishers.
It focuses on audience building and monetization, with features like creator recommendations (through the nifty Content Creator network), digital product sales, and a tip jar.
Mailchimp is still the more well-rounded email marketing tool, but Kit can be a better fit if your main goal is growing and monetizing an audience.
Note: Kit and Beehiiv are very similar, and although I think that Kit is the best Mailchimp alternative for newsletters and Beehiiv is the best Mailchimp alternative for bloggers, it could work the other way round! Read our Kit vs Beehiiv to find out more.
Where Kit is better than Mailchimp:
- More flexible list management with tagging for better targeting
- Custom domain support for landing pages, even on the free plan
- More responsive customer support
Where Mailchimp is better than Kit:
- More flexible email and landing page editors
- Supports multiple users and team collaboration
- More advanced reporting and analytics
Related articles:
13. Beehiiv: Better for newsletters
Beehiiv is a strong Mailchimp alternative for bloggers, newsletter creators, independent writers, and media brands.
It focuses heavily on audience growth and monetization, with features like Boosts (which helps you grow your audience through paid promotions), paid subscriptions, digital products, podcasts, and built-in sponsorship options.
Mailchimp is the more established all-in-one platform, but Beehiiv may be a better fit if your main focus is growing and monetizing a blog or newsletter.
As I mention above, Beehive and Kit are very similar platforms targeting very similar users. If you like the sound of both but are unsure which to go for, our Beehiiv vs Kit article will help you decide.
Where Beehiiv is better than Mailchimp:
- Built specifically for newsletters, with a simpler, more intuitive writing and publishing workflow
- Strong monetization features (paid subscriptions, sponsorships, referral programs, podcasts)
- More generous free plan (higher subscriber limit)
Where Mailchimp is better than Beehiiv:
- More advanced automation and segmentation
- Wider range of email templates and design flexibility
- Larger integration ecosystem with more third-party apps
Related articles:
14. Benchmark: Better for multilingual teams
Benchmark is a decent Mailchimp alternative if you need multilingual support and strong customer support.
Its paid plans are not the cheapest, and its advanced features are less impressive than some competitors. However, Benchmark is still worth considering for its free plan and straightforward email marketing features.
Where Benchmark is better than Mailchimp:
- More generous free plan sending limits
- Better suited for multilingual teams
- Stronger customer support
Where Mailchimp is better than Benchmark:
- More advanced automation and reporting features
- Unlimited media storage
15. AWeber: Better support
AWeber is a long-standing Mailchimp alternative with a solid set of email marketing features.
It offers A/B testing, email analytics, conversion tracking, and mobile apps for managing campaigns on the go.
There’s also a free plan, and although it’s limited to 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails per month, that’s more than you’ll get with Mailchimp!
Where AWeber is better than Mailchimp:
- Solid list segmentation and subscriber management
- Automation rules for managing subscribers
- Good customer support and educational resources
Where Mailchimp is better than AWeber:
- Broader feature set and more advanced functionality overall
- Includes additional tools like built-in ad campaign management (e.g., Facebook ads)
Related articles:
Why we don’t recommend Constant Contact
Constant Contact is probably Mailchimp’s biggest competitor. However, there are a load of reasons to not recommend it as an alternative to Mailchimp:
- No free plan
- Lack of advanced features
- Feels dated in key areas (much like Mailchimp)
- Expensive for what it offers
Instead, we think that the email marketing services listed above provide much better value for money.
And if you’d like to explore why further, you can check out our Constant Contact alternatives post. We also have a detailed comparison of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact that you may want to check out.
When to stick with Mailchimp
Although this article may seem a bit down on Mailchimp, there are circumstances when it might be the best option for your small business.
Here's a quick summary of Mailchimp's Pros:
Mailchimp Pros
- Excellent reports
- Fast, easy-to-use email editor
- Freemium plan
And three reasons why Mailchimp might be the right choice for you:
1. You need detailed reporting
Mailchimp has one of the most detailed reporting systems for tracking your newsletters’ performance, offering robust options such as Google Analytics integration, geotracking, social media, and click maps.
2. You have a very small email list (and I mean really small!)
Mailchimp’s pricing model imposes new limits on their free plan. Now, you are limited to only 250 contacts. If you know your total contact count will be less than this, then Mailchimp’s free plan has a pretty good selection of features available.
3. You want to easily design good-looking emails
Their drag and drop email builder is fast, simple, and drag and drop. It’s very easy to create stunning emails that will stand out from the rest and engage your audience.
They also have plenty of modern, well-designed email templates (though be aware that the templates available for free are very limited and not very modern-looking).
When to look at Mailchimp alternatives
You are reading this article for a reason, though, so let’s not forget that there are plenty of things Mailchimp does badly.
Here's a quick summary of Mailchimp's Cons:
Mailchimp Cons
- Expensive paid plans
- Missing advanced automation features
- Poor list management
- Basic landing pages
- Basic CRM features
- Very low contact (250) and sending (500) limits on the free plan
And six reasons why you might need an alternative to Mailchimp:
1. You’re on a tight budget
As soon as you leave the freemium plan, things quickly get pricey at Mailchimp, especially now that they charge based on total number of contacts rather than just subscribed contacts.
Note: comparing the costs of different email marketing services can be complicated due to variations in the way the prices are structured. Luckily, we’ve created a handy cost calculator to help you get a clearer idea.
Cheaper alternatives to Mailchimp: MailerLite, Brevo, EmailOctopus.
2. You need complex email marketing automation
Mailchimp offers no email marketing automation features on the free plan.
That’s a huge disadvantage, especially compared to its more generous competitors. If you need campaigns based on user behavior (e.g., on your website), split tests, and advanced workflows, you might want to look elsewhere.
Learn more about why we don't recommend Mailchimp for automation in our video:
Good Mailchimp alternatives for automations: ActiveCampaign, GetResponse.
3. You want to manage multiple mailing lists
Because Mailchimp keeps every contact list isolated from each other, it limits the amount of flexibility, creativity, and precision you can have for your complex email marketing campaigns.
For example, if user X belongs to 2 of your mailing lists, they will appear as subscribers twice. There is no good way to merge lists or create interdependencies between them.
Good Mailchimp alternatives for multiple lists: ActiveCampaign, Brevo, Omnisend.
4. You want to set up dynamic landing pages and A/B test them
Mailchimp's landing pages are a bit basic and don’t offer A/B testing or personalized dynamic content.
Good Mailchimp alternatives for advanced landing pages: GetResponse, ActiveCampaign, MailerLite, Omnisend
5. You need robust yet affordable CRM software
Though Mailchimp claims to offer CRM features, these just scratch the surface, and no pipeline management features are included.
Good Mailchimp alternatives for CRM software: EngageBay, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, Zoho
6. You need strong data privacy
Mailchimp isn't the most data protection-conscious company.
For example, a short while back they suddenly announced that they were about to deactivate the double opt-in feature for all customers. After an outcry from (mainly) EU-based customers, they retracted the change.
Customers from Europe also usually prefer to have their data stored inside an EU country, which Mailchimp doesn't offer.
Mailchimp alternatives with better data protection: Brevo, MailerLite
Mailchimp Alternatives: Conclusion
While Mailchimp was once the #1 choice for cost-effective email marketing, recent price changes have made it a lot less affordable than it once was.
Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to Mailchimp that will work just as well or better; it's just a case of establishing what you need.
For users with small subscriber numbers who just want a simple and free solution, Mailchimp remains one of the better platforms.
However, with no scheduled emails or automations on the free plan and dated looking email templates, a free Mailchimp alternative may be a better choice. We like Kit best if you’re determined to not pay!
If you want quality features with a smaller price tag, it’s worth investigating platforms such as MailerLite, Brevo, and EmailOctopus. They are the best value-for-money email marketing platforms.
However, if you’re a power user, you should really look into ActiveCampaign or GetResponse, as they will allow you to create complex automations that react to the way your subscribers behave.
Omnisend is probably the best for ecommerce. But if you're using Shopify, make sure to check out these Shopify email marketing tools.
Finally, if you also need a CRM, ActiveCampaign and Zoho are good options.
Hopefully, this overview has helped you save time in choosing your next solution! And don’t forget to add comments or questions if you need any more information.
P.S. Our team can also find a personal recommendation for you! Learn more here.
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We keep our content up to date
14 May 2026 - General update
09 Mar 2026 - Top table changed
26 Jan 2026 - Reduced limits on Mailchimp's free plan
20 Jan 2026 - Small updates and corrections
09 Dec 2025 - Added EmailOctopus
10 Nov 2025 - Added Mailchimp pricing video
16 Sept 2025 - Updated Mailerlite
28 May 2025 - Small update in the Brevo profile
19 Feb 2025 - Added Brevo vs Mailchimp video
17 Jan 2025 - Added Beehiiv
27 Jun 2024 - Increased allowances on Kit's free plan
28 Feb 2024 - Added Hubspot vs Mailchimp video
19 Feb 2024 - Added Mailchimp Automation video
13 Dec 2023 - Automations no longer included in Mailchimp's free plan
10 Jul 2023 - Added FAQs
02 Mar 2023 - Added section "Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits"
18 Jan 2023 - ActiveCampaign & Benchmark Pricing update
11 Jan 2023 - Added new video
12 Dec 2022 - Added Moosend review video
01 Dec 2022 - Omnisend video added
09 Nov 2022 - Moved Omnisend up
01 Aug 2022 - Mailchimp changed plans and pricing
01 Aug 2022 - Moosend removed free plan, moved down
21 Jul 2022 - Added HubSpot
20 Jun 2022 - Moved Omnisend up
11 May 2022 - Updated GetResponse video review
13 Apr 2022 - Added Mailchimp video review
05 Apr 2022 - Added Free Mailchimp Alternatives section
10 Feb 2022 - Moved Activecampaign down and Moosend up
11 Jan 2022 - Added Constant Contact section
15 Nov 2021 - Updated Kit profile
08 Nov 2021 - Updated GetResponse profile
22 Sept 2021 - Added note about Intuit's purchase of Mailchimp
26 Aug 2021 - Added pros & cons table
20 Jul 2021 - General update & moved Omnisend up
21 Jun 2021 - Added EngageBay
20 May 2021 - General update
11 May 2021 - Table edited
4 May 2021 - General update
15 Feb 2021 - Added Zoho
14 Nov 2020 - Added AWeber
8 Sept 2020 - Added Mailjet and removed Newsletter2Go
28 Apr 2020 - Added updated MailerLite video
22 Apr 2020 - Changes to Benchmark's free plan & pricing
9 Mar 2020 - Added Smart finder
17 Feb 2020 - Moved Brevo up in light of excellent deliverability
27 Nov 2019 - Added Mailchimp alternatives video
23 Oct 2019 - Added Moosend to list
21 May 2019 - Updated information about Mailchimp's new pricing structure
15 May 2019 - Update about Mailchimp's Shopify integration
20 Sep 2018 - Added Omnisend to list
Our Methodology
This article has been written and researched following our EmailTooltester methodology.
Our Methodology