10 Best Mailchimp Alternatives in 2026 (Cheaper and Better)
Mailchimp raised prices again. We tested and compared 10 email marketing tools that offer more features, better automation, and lower monthly costs.
Bottom line: MailerLite is the best overall Mailchimp alternative for most users, offering a free plan for 1,000 subscribers and paid plans starting at $10/month. For advanced automation, ActiveCampaign wins. For ecommerce, Klaviyo and Omnisend are superior. Every tool below beats Mailchimp on price, features, or both.
Why Consider a Mailchimp Alternative?
Mailchimp has been the default choice for email marketing for over two decades. But in recent years, competitors have caught up and, in many cases, surpassed it. Price hikes, reduced features on lower tiers, and stricter compliance policies have pushed thousands of users to explore alternatives.
Whether you are frustrated by Mailchimp's pricing structure, need better automation, or want SMS and CRM features included, there is an alternative on this list that fits your needs.
Rising Costs
Mailchimp's pricing scales steeply. At 5,000 contacts, you are paying $80+/mo while alternatives charge $30–$50 for the same volume.
Limited Automation
Advanced automation workflows are locked behind expensive tiers. Tools like ActiveCampaign offer far more at lower prices.
Account Suspensions
Mailchimp is known for aggressive compliance enforcement that can freeze accounts without warning.
Missing Features
SMS, CRM, and advanced segmentation are missing or cost extra. Many alternatives bundle these by default.
Top 10 Mailchimp Alternatives Compared
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the best Mailchimp alternatives on the metrics that matter.
| Tool | Price | Free Tier | Standout Feature | Automation | SMS | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | $9/mo | 300 emails/day | EU-based | Good | Yes | GDPR compliance |
| MailerLite | $10/mo | 1,000 subs | Best value | Good | Yes | Small businesses |
| ConvertKit | $9/mo | 1,000 subs | Creator-focused | Basic | No | Creators |
| ActiveCampaign | $29/mo | 100 contacts | CRM + automation | Best | No | Sales teams |
| Klaviyo | $20/mo | 500 emails | Ecommerce | Advanced | Yes | Online stores |
| Omnisend | $16/mo | 500 emails | Ecommerce | Advanced | Yes | Shopify stores |
| Moosend | $9/mo | 30-day trial | General | Good | No | Budget users |
| Campaign Monitor | $9/mo | No free plan | Templates | Basic | No | Design-focused |
| GetResponse | $15/mo | No free plan | Webinars | Good | No | Webinar marketers |
| HubSpot | $20/mo | 1,000 emails | CRM | Basic | No | CRM integration |
Detailed Reviews
1. Brevo — Best Free Mailchimp Alternative
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a French-based email marketing platform that offers one of the most generous free plans on the market. Instead of limiting contacts, it limits daily sends to 300 emails per day, making it ideal for growing lists.
Pros
- • Generous free tier (300 emails/day)
- • Built-in SMS marketing
- • Strong GDPR compliance
- • Transactional email API
Cons
- • Template builder less polished
- • Reporting is basic
- • Fewer integrations than Mailchimp
Pricing: Free for 300 emails/day. Paid plans start at $9/month.
2. MailerLite — Best Overall Value
MailerLite consistently tops lists of Mailchimp alternatives because it delivers 90% of Mailchimp's features at a fraction of the cost. Its free plan covers 1,000 subscribers, and the paid plans scale gently.
Pros
- • 1,000 subscribers on free plan
- • Excellent automation builder
- • Built-in landing pages and forms
- • Clean, intuitive interface
Cons
- • Limited ecommerce features
- • No native CRM
- • Fewer advanced reporting options
Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $10/month.
3. ActiveCampaign — Best for Automation
If automation is your priority, ActiveCampaign is the clear winner. It offers conditional branching, lead scoring, site tracking, and a built-in CRM that Mailchimp's automation simply cannot match.
Pros
- • Industry-leading automation
- • Built-in CRM and sales pipelines
- • Site and event tracking
- • 900+ integrations
Cons
- • Steeper learning curve
- • More expensive at scale
- • No SMS on lower tiers
Pricing: Starts at $29/month. Free trial for 100 contacts.
How to Migrate from Mailchimp
Switching email platforms can feel daunting, but the process is straightforward if you follow these steps. Most migrations take 1–3 days.
Export Your Audience
From Mailchimp, export your audience as a CSV including email addresses, first name, last name, tags, and segments. Keep the file organized for easy importing.
Import to Your New Platform
Use the import tool in your new platform. Most tools like Brevo, MailerLite, and ActiveCampaign offer step-by-step wizards that map CSV columns to contact fields automatically.
Rebuild Your Templates
Email templates cannot be exported from Mailchimp in a usable format for other platforms. Recreate your most important templates using the new platform's drag-and-drop builder. This usually takes 1–2 hours.
Recreate Automation Workflows
Automation logic does not transfer between platforms. Document your existing Mailchimp journeys, then rebuild them in your new tool. Most alternatives have more capable builders, so you may improve them in the process.
Update Forms and Integrations
Replace any embedded Mailchimp signup forms on your website with forms from your new platform. Reconnect integrations with Shopify, WordPress, or other tools.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Mailchimp?
Brevo offers the best free alternative to Mailchimp with 300 emails per day and no contact limit. MailerLite and ConvertKit both offer free plans for up to 1,000 subscribers. Klaviyo provides 500 emails per month free with ecommerce features.
Why are people switching from Mailchimp?
Users switch from Mailchimp due to aggressive price increases at higher contact tiers, limited automation on lower plans, declining support quality, and stricter policies that can lead to account suspensions. Alternatives often offer better value and more generous free tiers.
Is MailerLite better than Mailchimp?
MailerLite is better than Mailchimp for most small businesses. It offers a more generous free plan (1,000 subscribers), lower paid pricing, better automation workflows, built-in landing pages, and SMS marketing. However, Mailchimp still has a larger template library and more third-party integrations.
Which Mailchimp alternative has the best automation?
ActiveCampaign has the best automation among Mailchimp alternatives. It offers conditional branching, lead scoring, CRM integration, and complex multi-step workflows that surpass both Mailchimp and most competitors. For ecommerce-specific automation, Klaviyo and Omnisend are the strongest choices.
How do I migrate from Mailchimp to another tool?
To migrate from Mailchimp, export your audience as a CSV file including contact details, tags, and segments. Import this file into your new platform. Most alternatives including Brevo, MailerLite, and ActiveCampaign offer migration wizards. Rebuild your email templates and automation workflows manually, as automation logic does not transfer between platforms.