ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Which Is Better in 2026?
Mailchimp is the general-purpose tool and Kit, formerly ConvertKit, the creator’s tool. Mailchimp has better templates and more integrations. Kit has tag-based subscriber management, simpler automations and built-in ways to sell digital products. Businesses with a brand to design for tend to prefer Mailchimp; individuals building an audience tend to prefer Kit.
01Pricing
ConvertKit: paid plans start at $33/mo for 1,000 subscribers. 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. ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers). Mailchimp has a free plan (250 contacts and 500 sends a month).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers | |
| Creator † | $33 | $39 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Full set of core email marketing tools |
| Pro † | $66 | $79 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Advanced reporting; Advanced automation, audience and growth features |
| 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. ConvertKit pricing and Mailchimp pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
ConvertKit
ConvertKit, now called Kit, is email marketing for creators: writers, podcasters, course sellers and newsletter operators. Subscribers are organized with tags instead of lists, automations are drawn as simple visual flows, and you can sell digital products and paid subscriptions from the same account. Emails are plain and text-first by intent.
- Best at
- Growing and selling to an audience without a marketing team.
- Falls short
- Design options and reporting are limited, and it is not built for stores or sales teams.
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 | 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 | Either | ConvertKit: Fits founder-led companies that grow through content and a newsletter. Mailchimp: Familiar to almost any hire, though the price grows with the list. |
| Creators | ConvertKit | Made for creators: tagging, simple automations and built-in ways to sell. |
| Agencies | Mailchimp | Most clients already have an account, which makes it hard to avoid. |
04Verdict
Choose ConvertKit if you are a creator building and monetizing an audience. Choose Mailchimp if you want a familiar general-purpose tool with integrations for everything.
05FAQ
Is ConvertKit or Mailchimp cheaper?
ConvertKit starts at $33/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 ConvertKit and Mailchimp have free plans?
ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers). Mailchimp has a free plan (250 contacts and 500 sends a month).
Which is easier to learn, ConvertKit or Mailchimp?
ConvertKit 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 small business, ConvertKit or Mailchimp?
Mailchimp. The safe default: it does what a small business usually needs and connects to the tools they already use.