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Is Mailchimp Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Situational
Mailchimp: Mailchimp is the easiest email platform to start with and the most expensive to scale on.
Rating★ 4.1/5
Starting price$13/mo (Essentials)
Best forSmall businesses starting with email mar
CategoryEmail Marketing
Who Mailchimp Is Worth It For
- ✓Small businesses starting with email marketing who want an all-in-one platform.
- ✓Most beginner-friendly email marketing platform
- ✓Comprehensive beyond email — landing pages, ads, CRM
- ✓Massive integration ecosystem with 300+ apps
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for growing businesses with large lists — per-contact pricing becomes expensive fast.
- ✕Per-contact pricing makes it expensive as lists grow
- ✕Free plan has been significantly limited over time
- ✕Automation features lag behind ActiveCampaign and ConvertKit
Is Mailchimp Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Starter | $13/mo (Essentials) |
| Pro | $20/mo (Standard) |
| Enterprise | $350/mo (Premium) |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How Mailchimp Compares
| Mailchimp | Resend | Beehiiv | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $13/mo (Essentials) | $20/mo (Pro, 50K emails) | $49/mo (Scale) | $15/mo (Starter, 1K contacts) |
| Rating | ★ 4.1 | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.4 |
| Verdict | Situational | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
AICores Verdict on Mailchimp
Mailchimp is the easiest email platform to start with and the most expensive to scale on. The free tier is fine for tiny lists, but costs balloon as contacts grow. For beginners, it is the safest choice. For growing businesses, compare ConvertKit and MailerLite before committing.
AICores Editorial Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp worth the money?▼
Mailchimp is the easiest email platform to start with and the most expensive to scale on. The free tier is fine for tiny lists, but costs balloon as contacts grow. For beginners, it is the safest choice.
Is there a free version of Mailchimp?▼
Yes, Mailchimp offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $13/mo (Essentials) and include additional features and capacity.
What are the best alternatives to Mailchimp?▼
Resend, Beehiiv, ActiveCampaign are the top alternatives. Resend is best for developers who need a modern email api with excellent dx for transactional and marketing email. and has a 4.5 star rating.
Who should NOT use Mailchimp?▼
Mailchimp is not ideal for growing businesses with large lists — per-contact pricing becomes expensive fast.. Common drawbacks include: Per-contact pricing makes it expensive as lists grow. Free plan has been significantly limited over time.
Compare Mailchimp head-to-head
See how Mailchimp stacks up against the top alternatives.
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