Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Which Is Better in 2026?
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Mailchimp is the email tool most small businesses try first. Constant Contact’s strength is helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand; Mailchimp’s is getting a small business sending good-looking email quickly.
01Pricing
Constant Contact: paid plans start at $10.20/mo for 500 contacts. Mailchimp: paid plans start at $13/mo for 500 contacts. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. Mailchimp has a free plan (250 contacts and 500 sends a month).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite † | $10.20 | $12 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 10x contacts; 1 user; 1 automation template | Basic reporting |
| Standard † | $29.75 | $35 | Monthly sends 12x contacts; 3 users; 3 automation templates | Email scheduling; A/B testing; Advanced reporting |
| Premium † | $68 | $80 | Monthly sends 24x contacts; Unlimited users | Unlimited automations and segments; Dynamic content; Dedicated priority support team |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 250 contacts; 500 email sends per month (250 per day); 1 user seat; 1 audience | |
| Essentials | n/a | $13 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 10x contacts; 3 user seats; 3 audiences | Email scheduling; A/B testing; 24/7 email & chat support; Automation flows up to 4 steps |
| Standard | n/a | $20 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 12x contacts; 5 user seats; 5 audiences | Custom-coded templates; Dynamic content; Up to 200 automation flows; 4 roles |
| Premium | n/a | $350 | Starts at 10,000 contacts; Monthly sends 15x contacts; Unlimited user seats; Unlimited audiences | Phone & priority support; Dedicated onboarding specialist; Predictive segmentation; Multivariate testing |
Prices are per month on annual billing, except Mailchimp (monthly billing; no annual price published). † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. Constant Contact pricing and Mailchimp pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Beyond email it handles event registration, social posting and surveys, and it backs them with phone support and plenty of guidance. Automation is basic, and there is a trial instead of a free plan.
- Best at
- Helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand.
- Falls short
- Automation and segmentation are limited, and you pay from the start.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is the email tool most small businesses try first. It covers campaigns, templates, basic automation, landing pages and forms, and connects to almost everything. It is a generalist: good at getting a newsletter out, less convincing once you need advanced automation, and priced by the size of your audience.
- Best at
- Getting a small business sending good-looking email quickly.
- Falls short
- The price rises with every contact you add, the free plan is small, and automation is shallower than in specialist tools.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Either | Constant Contact: Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers. Mailchimp: The safe default: it does what a small business usually needs and connects to the tools they already use. |
| Ecommerce | Mailchimp | Adequate for a small store, with store integrations and product blocks. |
| Startups | Mailchimp | Familiar to almost any hire, though the price grows with the list. |
| Creators | Mailchimp | Workable and familiar, but you pay as the audience grows and get few creator-specific tools. |
| Agencies | Mailchimp | Most clients already have an account, which makes it hard to avoid. |
04Verdict
Choose Constant Contact if you are a small business or nonprofit that wants hand-holding and event tools. Choose Mailchimp if you want a familiar general-purpose tool with integrations for everything.
05FAQ
Is Constant Contact or Mailchimp cheaper?
Constant Contact starts at $10.20/mo and Mailchimp at $13/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing, except Mailchimp (monthly billing; no annual price published).
Do Constant Contact and Mailchimp have free plans?
Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. Mailchimp has a free plan (250 contacts and 500 sends a month).
Which is easier to learn, Constant Contact or Mailchimp?
Constant Contact is quick to set up; Mailchimp is moderately involved to set up. The price rises with every contact you add, the free plan is small, and automation is shallower than in specialist tools.
Which is better for creators, Constant Contact or Mailchimp?
Mailchimp. Workable and familiar, but you pay as the audience grows and get few creator-specific tools.