Mailchimp review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Intuit-owned email marketing platform with a 250-contact free tier and contact-based paid plans.
Verdict at a glance
An Intuit-owned email platform with a free tier for 250 contacts and contact-based paid plans from $13 per month. It suits small lists that start free and move to paid tiers as they grow.
What is Mailchimp?
Intuit-owned email marketing platform with a 250-contact free tier and contact-based paid plans. It is built for small lists that start free and grow into paid tiers.
Category: Email Marketing Software, Marketing Automation Software
Mailchimp key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Automation workflows | Free: none; Essentials: up to 4 steps per flow; Standard and Premium: up to 200 flow points. |
| Workflow and journey builder | Standard and Premium: up to 200 flow points. |
| Reporting and attribution | Custom reports on Standard and up. |
Mailchimp pricing
Mailchimp prices by contact tier. Free covers 250 contacts and 1 user. Essentials ($13 a month, 3 users), Standard ($20, 5 users, automation up to 200 flow points) and Premium ($350, unlimited users, Enterprise SSO, phone support) are shown as 12-month discounted rates, about 15% off, and the contact tier behind each is not labeled. Plans run monthly. An SMS add-on and a pay-as-you-go option for infrequent senders exist. Overage beyond contact or send limits is charged automatically.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | month | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month or 250/day, 1 user |
| Essentials | $13 | month | 12-month discounted rate; 3 users |
| Standard | $20 | month | 12-month discounted rate; 5 users; automation up to 200 flow points |
| Premium | $350 | month | 12-month discounted rate; unlimited users; Enterprise SSO; phone support |
Prices shown in the USD view are the 12-month discounted rates; the contact tier each applies to was not labeled. 14-day trial on Standard and Essentials.
Who Mailchimp is best for
Best for
- Small lists that start free and grow into paid tiers.
Not ideal for
- Teams that need SSO below the Premium price point.
Mailchimp alternatives
BrevoEmail, SMS and CRM platform (formerly Sendinblue) with Free, Starter, Standard, Professional and Enterprise plans.
KlaviyoEcommerce brands that want email and SMS driven by store data (vendor positioning)
ActiveCampaignSmall and mid-size teams that want automation plus a light CRM.
HubSpot Marketing HubTeams already on HubSpot CRM that want marketing, forms and reporting in one system.
Constant ContactSmall businesses that want a single vendor for email, SMS and basic campaigns (vendor positioning, not confirmed by the vendor here)
Campaign MonitorSmall marketing teams and business owners who run their own email.
What Mailchimp really costs
- Billing
- Monthly; discounted 12-month rate shown.
- Annual discount
- 15% off shown on 12-month rate.
- Renewal terms
- Overage beyond contact or send limits is charged automatically; Mailchimp may move you to a higher tier if the list grows.
Add-ons and extras to budget for
- SMS add-on.
- Pay-as-you-go option for infrequent senders.
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Mailchimp worth the price?
Good value for small lists that start free and grow into paid tiers, with a pay-as-you-go option for infrequent senders. It gets expensive when your list grows, since overage is billed automatically and you can be moved up a tier, and when you need SSO, because that sits on Premium at $350 per month.
Worth it if
- Small lists that start free and grow into paid tiers.
Look elsewhere if
- Teams that need SSO below the Premium price point.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Enterprise SSO only on Premium.
- Premium includes four onboarding sessions and a dedicated specialist; Standard one session.
- Free plan has no role-based access and no automation.
- Annual billing on Standard and Premium over 10,000 contacts requires contacting sales.
- Going over contact or send limits triggers automatic extra charges.
Mailchimp compared
Our verdict on Mailchimp
Mailchimp is an Intuit-owned email marketing platform with a free tier for up to 250 contacts (500 emails a month or 250 a day, 1 user) and paid plans that grow by contact count. Essentials starts at $13 per month, Standard at $20 and Premium at $350, all shown as 12-month discounted rates. The contact tier each price applies to is not labeled on the pricing page, so your real entry price depends on list size.
Overage is the catch. Going over contact or send limits triggers automatic extra charges, and Mailchimp may move you to a higher tier if your list grows. Annual billing on Standard and Premium above 10,000 contacts requires contacting sales. On G2, Mailchimp has 4.3 from 12,866 reviews. Compare the discounted 12-month rate with what you would pay at your actual list size.
Mailchimp FAQ
What is Mailchimp used for?
An Intuit-owned email platform with a free tier for 250 contacts and contact-based paid plans from $13 per month. It suits small lists that start free and move to paid tiers as they grow. It suits small lists that start free and grow into paid tiers.
Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
Yes. Free covers 250 contacts, 500 emails a month or 250 a day, and 1 user. It has no automation and no role-based access.
Which Mailchimp plan includes SSO?
Only Premium, which includes Enterprise SSO. It is shown at $350 per month at the 12-month discounted rate.
What happens if I exceed my Mailchimp contact limit?
Overage is charged automatically, and Mailchimp may move you to a higher tier if the list grows. Annual billing on Standard and Premium above 10,000 contacts requires contacting sales.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Mailchimp's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.