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Head-to-head · Email Marketing Software

ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score ActiveCampaign #2 in Email Marketing Software 9.2/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ActiveCampaign
Mailchimp #3 in Email Marketing Software 9.1/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Mailchimp

ActiveCampaign leads on 1 check, Mailchimp on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreActiveCampaign · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly Mailchimp
  • Free trialboth

ActiveCampaign scores higher on our rubric for email marketing software: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

Mailchimp offers free plan; ActiveCampaign doesn't. ActiveCampaign leads on native integrations: 1000 integrations versus 300 integrations.

ActiveCampaign is the better fit for advanced automation and large audiences. Mailchimp is the better fit for broad email marketing at a low starting cost.

  • ActiveCampaign fits best

    Advanced automation and large audiences

  • Mailchimp fits best

    Broad email marketing at a low starting cost

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Side by side

Feature ActiveCampaign 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Mailchimp 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.1
Ranking #2 in Email Marketing Software #3 in Email Marketing Software
Best for Advanced automation and large audiences Broad email marketing at a low starting cost
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 14 days 14 days
Free trial length 14 days · no card needed 14 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Live chat, Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs · 24/7
Compliance SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, 2FA GDPR
Integrations 1,000+ integrations 300+ integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ActiveCampaign 4/4 · Mailchimp 4/4
Email automation ✓ ✓
Audience segmentation ✓ ✓
Landing pages ✓ ✓
A/B testing ✓ ✓
Specs
Subscriber limit Not checked yet 500 contacts
Monthly send limit Not checked yet 5000 emails/mo
Native integrations 1000 integrations (best) 300 integrations
Our review
Pros
  • Multi-step automation with behavior-based customer journeys
  • Up to 25,000 contacts and 10x contact-limit email sending
  • AI builders, analytics, A/B testing, and 1,000 integrations
  • Free plan supports up to 250 contacts and 500 emails monthly
  • Automations, segmentation, landing pages, reporting, and A/B testing
  • Works across web, iOS, Android, and API with 300 integrations
Cons
  • No free plan is available
  • Starter includes limited segmentation
  • Pricing varies with contact volume and feature tier
  • Free plan allows one audience and one seat
  • Contact-based limits can increase monthly plan costs
  • Premium costs $350 per month
Our verdict

ActiveCampaign is a paid email marketing and marketing automation platform for small and midsize businesses. It combines email campaigns, newsletters, contact profiles, custom fields, tags, lists, audience segmentation, landing-page…

Read the review →

Mailchimp is an online marketing platform for small businesses, growing companies, and marketing teams. It brings together email campaign creation, audience management, automated workflows, segmentation, landing pages, reporting, signup…

Read the review →
  1. ActiveCampaignEmail Marketing Software 9.214-day trial
  2. MailchimpEmail Marketing Software 9.1Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ActiveCampaign — where it wins

    • Multi-step automation with behavior-based customer journeys
    • Up to 25,000 contacts and 10x contact-limit email sending
    • AI builders, analytics, A/B testing, and 1,000 integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Starter includes limited segmentation
    • Pricing varies with contact volume and feature tier

  • Mailchimp — where it wins

    • Free plan supports up to 250 contacts and 500 emails monthly
    • Automations, segmentation, landing pages, reporting, and A/B testing
    • Works across web, iOS, Android, and API with 300 integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan allows one audience and one seat
    • Contact-based limits can increase monthly plan costs
    • Premium costs $350 per month

More comparisons

All email marketing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update