ConvertKit vs Mailchimp

What ConvertKit is built to do

Visual Automations

Build complex marketing sequences that change based on subscriber actions.

Landing Page Builder

Create high-converting sign-up pages for your newsletters in minutes.

Creator Network

Get discovered and grow your list by partnering with other influencers.

Subscriber Tags

Organize your audience with flexible tags instead of rigid, messy lists.

What Mailchimp is built to do

Customer Journeys

Intelligent automation maps that change based on your customers' behavior.

Predictive Analytics

Use AI to predict which customers are most likely to purchase again.

Creative Assistant

Get design suggestions that automatically use your brand's colors and logos.

Content Optimizer

Receive text and layout suggestions to improve your email open and click rates.

Choose ConvertKit if

• Creators starting a list — the free plan runs to 10,000 subscribers, which is unusually generous
• Newsletter writers who want automation without an enterprise marketing suite
• Annual billing: Creator drops from $33/mo to $32.50 ($390/year)

Skip ConvertKit if

• You need automation and integrations on the free plan; the free tier is about sending, not sequences
• You are past 10,000 subscribers — that is where the free plan ends
• You want a cheap entry above free; the first paid tier is $33/month

Choose Mailchimp if

• Very small lists: up to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month on Free with 1 seat
• Small businesses starting on Essentials at $13/month for 500 contacts with 3 seats and 10x sends
• Marketing teams that want templates, automations and reporting in one familiar product

Skip Mailchimp if

• Your list grows fast — prices step up with contact count, and the listed prices are for 0–500 contacts
• You need more than 5 seats without Premium, which starts at $350/month
• You mainly send transactional email; Mailchimp's marketing plans are priced for campaigns

ConvertKit: pros & cons

• Simple Automations: The most intuitive visual funnel builder in the market.
• Creator Network: Benefit from an internal network of other creators who can recommend you.
• High Deliverability: Known for making sure your emails actually land in the inbox.
• Commerce Ready: Sell digital products and subscriptions directly within your emails.
• Basic Editor: Its email designer is very minimalist and not meant for highly visual layouts.
• Pricing: Can be expensive compared to MailerLite or Beehiiv as your list grows.
• Reporting: Analytical dashboards are less detailed than some enterprise competitors.

Mailchimp: pros & cons

• Ease of Entry: The most user-friendly interface for starting with email marketing.
• Ready Templates: Includes hundreds of professional designs for every industry.
• AI Support: Benefit from an AI assistant for design and copywriting advice.
• Huge Integration: Speaks directly with Shopify, WordPress, and hundreds of other apps.
• Price Hikes: Costs rise quite aggressively as your subscriber list grows.
• Advanced Automation: May not be as deep as ActiveCampaign for very complex funnels.
• Free Tier Shrinkage: Sending limits on the free plan have been reduced in recent years.