Think Mailchimp is the Most Affordable Email Marketing Platform? Think Again.

3 minute read
Think Mailchimp is the Most Affordable Email Marketing Platform? Think Again.

Mailchimp is often considered a budget-friendly email marketing solution, but its recent pricing changes tell a different story. Continuous price hikes, limited features, and underwhelming support have many marketers searching for more powerful, cost-effective alternatives.

Mailchimp Historical Price Changes

Since its acquisition by Intuit, Mailchimp has steadily increased prices. Here are some key pricing updates:

  • November 1, 2023: Average 7% increase on marketing/contact plans. Some users reported up to 14%. Add-on contact blocks also increased significantly.
  • March 10, 2023: Free plans reduced to 500 contacts with limited monthly sends.
  • February 2023: Standard plan increased from $17/month to $20/month.
  • August 29, 2022: Free plan shrinks to 500 contacts with a reduced monthly send limit.
  • February 1, 2022: 11% price hike across all plans.

Looking for the Best Mailchimp Alternative?

If you’re ready to move on from Mailchimp, here are 9 top alternatives to consider—listed in alphabetical order:

9 of the Best Mailchimp Alternatives

  • ActiveCampaign
  • Brevo
  • ConvertKit
  • Constant Contact
  • DailyStory
  • Email Octopus
  • HubSpot
  • Klaviyo
  • MailerLite
  • Mailjet

ActiveCampaign

https://www.activecampaign.com/

  • Pros: Highly customizable, advanced automation, and SMS support
  • Cons: No free plan, steep learning curve

ActiveCampaign offers advanced marketing automation tools, including SMS and web messaging, which go beyond Mailchimp’s capabilities. It’s ideal for businesses looking to graduate to more complex workflows and personalization.

DailyStory

https://www.dailystory.com/

DailyStory offers email, SMS, CRM, automation, popups, and more—all in one platform with contact-based pricing and full marketing support. A modern, scalable solution for businesses that want more than just basic email marketing.
Learn more about how DailyStory compares to Mailchimp

Constant Contact

https://www.constantcontact.com/

  • Pros: 200+ email templates, drag-and-drop builder
  • Cons: Limited automation and testing features

Best for beginners and smaller businesses, with solid support and basic automation features.

HubSpot

https://www.hubspot.com/

  • Pros: Generous free plan, CRM integration, advanced automations
  • Cons: Can be complex and pricey

HubSpot is more than email—it’s a full marketing and sales platform with robust automation and reporting.

Klaviyo

https://www.klaviyo.com/

  • Pros: Excellent for ecommerce, strong segmentation
  • Cons: Pricey and focused on email/SMS only

Klaviyo excels in ecommerce with abandoned cart emails, product recommendations, and advanced analytics.

SendGrid

https://sendgrid.com/

  • Pros: Great for transactional emails, deep deliverability reporting
  • Cons: Technical interface, expensive at scale

Ideal for high-volume senders and transactional messaging with detailed analytics and flexible coding options.

Brevo

https://www.brevo.com/en/

  • Pros: Strong free plan, CRM features, live chat
  • Cons: Limited templates and scattered reporting

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a strong Mailchimp alternative, especially if you’re budget-conscious and want CRM + email in one tool.

MailerLite

https://www.mailerlite.com/

  • Pros: Dynamic content blocks, strong automation
  • Cons: No email templates on the free plan

Great for creators and growing brands that want modern design, automation, and affordable pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there something similar to Mailchimp?

Yes! Top Mailchimp alternatives include Moosend, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Omnisend, GetResponse, Constant Contact, MailerLite, AWeber, and Mailjet.

What is better: Mailchimp or HubSpot?

It depends on your needs. Mailchimp is simpler and cheaper, while HubSpot offers a full CRM and deeper automation capabilities.

Comparison Table

PlatformBest forFree PlanPricing
MailchimpE-commerce, AgenciesYes (very limited)$20/month
DailyStorySMBs, Startups, RetailYes (Try free)$10/month
MoosendSMBs, Startups, BloggersYes$9/month
HubSpotEnterpriseYes$20/month
ActiveCampaignE-commerce, EnterpriseYes (14-day trial)$39/month
OmnisendE-commerceYes$16/month
BrevoPublishersYes$25/month
GetResponsePublishersYes$19/month
Constant ContactGov/EducationYes (60-day trial)$12/month
MailerLiteSMBs, MediaYes$10/month
AWeberMarketingYes$15/month
MailjetSaaSYes$15/month

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