ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
ActiveCampaign rates 4.5/5 and starts at $19/mo. Mailchimp rates 4.3/5 and starts at Free. Mailchimp is the cheaper entry point. ActiveCampaign is the higher rated. Only Mailchimp has a free tier.
ActiveCampaign rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5). Mailchimp is cheaper to start (Free vs $19/mo). ActiveCampaign suits Automation-heavy teams, while Mailchimp is aimed at Small businesses & beginners.
ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp at a glance
| Measure | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 9,100 | 14,200 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Starting price | $19/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Automation-heavy teams | Small businesses & beginners |
| Visual automation builder | ||
| Sales CRM | ||
| Predictive sending | ||
| Segmentation | ||
| Site tracking | ||
| Drag-drop email builder | ||
| Automations | ||
| Landing pages | ||
| Audience segmentation | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
ActiveCampaign
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19/mo | $228 |
| Plus | $49/mo | $588 |
| Pro | $79/mo | $948 |
Mailchimp
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Essentials | $13/mo | $156 |
| Standard | $20/mo | $240 |
Which should you choose?
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- Best-in-class automations matters to you.
- Strong CRM matters to you.
- Deep segmentation matters to you.
- Gets expensive as lists grow would be a problem.
Choose Mailchimp if…
- Very easy to start matters to you.
- Good templates matters to you.
- All-in-one features matters to you.
- Steeper learning curve would be a problem.
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Best-in-class automations
- Strong CRM
- Deep segmentation
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- No free plan
Mailchimp
Pros
- Very easy to start
- Good templates
- All-in-one features
Cons
- Gets expensive as lists grow
- Automation limited on low tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is ActiveCampaign better than Mailchimp?+
ActiveCampaign rates higher (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5). Mailchimp is cheaper to start (Free vs $19/mo). ActiveCampaign suits Automation-heavy teams, while Mailchimp is aimed at Small businesses & beginners.
Which is cheaper, ActiveCampaign or Mailchimp?+
Mailchimp — it starts at Free, versus $19/mo for ActiveCampaign.
Do ActiveCampaign or Mailchimp have a free plan?+
Mailchimp has a free tier; ActiveCampaign does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, ActiveCampaign or Mailchimp?+
ActiveCampaign, at 4.5/5 across 9,100 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for Mailchimp.
What is ActiveCampaign best for, and what is Mailchimp best for?+
ActiveCampaign is aimed at Automation-heavy teams (complex automations, marketing + sales). Mailchimp is aimed at Small businesses & beginners (beginner newsletters, SMB marketing).