Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Mailchimp comes out ahead of ActiveCampaign on 4 of the 8 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Mailchimp takes it, 4–3 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Mailchimp takes 4 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose Mailchimp if…
- • You want Mailchimp's edge on trying it before you pay and what the next plan up costs
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- • You want ActiveCampaign's edge on how well it connects and what customers say on trustpilot
Round by round
- Round 1Trying it before you payMailchimp winsActiveCampaign5/10
14-day free trial
no free plan; no credit card needed
- 14-day free trial, against Free plan
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
Mailchimp wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2How well it connectsActiveCampaign winsMailchimp5/10
300+ integrations
stated in its navigation menu
- 300+ integrations, against 1,000+ apps
Source: mailchimp.com ↗
ActiveCampaign wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotActiveCampaign winsMailchimp5/10
2.5 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,534 reviews on Trustpilot
- 2.5 out of 5, against 2.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
ActiveCampaign wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Who picks up when you are stuckTieActiveCampaign7/10
Email and chat
basic-priority support on the Starter plan
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5What it costs to startActiveCampaign winsMailchimp5/10
$26.50/mo monthly (501-1,500)
Essentials at 501-1,500 contacts (select it in 'Contacts'), monthly billing (annual only for 10,000+ contacts); next plan = Standard
- $26.50/mo monthly (501-1,500), against $15/mo billed annually (1,000)
Source: mailchimp.com ↗
ActiveCampaign8/10$15/mo billed annually (1,000)
Starter at 1,000 contacts (default 'Email Contacts' setting, Email tab), billed annually (the only basis shown); next plan = Plus
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
ActiveCampaign wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6What the next plan up costsMailchimp winsMailchimp8/10
Standard $45/mo monthly
Essentials at 501-1,500 contacts (select it in 'Contacts'), monthly billing (annual only for 10,000+ contacts); next plan = Standard
Source: mailchimp.com ↗
ActiveCampaign5/10Plus $49/mo billed annually
Starter at 1,000 contacts (default 'Email Contacts' setting, Email tab), billed annually (the only basis shown); next plan = Plus
- Plus $49/mo billed annually, against Standard $45/mo monthly
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
Mailchimp wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7How many emails you can sendMailchimp winsMailchimp8/10
10x contacts (15,000 at 1,500 tier)
Essentials at 501-1,500 contacts (select it in 'Contacts'), monthly billing (annual only for 10,000+ contacts); next plan = Standard
Source: mailchimp.com ↗
ActiveCampaign5/1010x contacts = 10,000/mo
Starter at 1,000 contacts (default 'Email Contacts' setting, Email tab), billed annually (the only basis shown); next plan = Plus
- 10x contacts = 10,000/mo, against 10x contacts (15,000 at 1,500 tier)
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
Mailchimp wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 8How many people can log inMailchimp winsMailchimp8/10
3 seats
Essentials at 501-1,500 contacts (select it in 'Contacts'), monthly billing (annual only for 10,000+ contacts); next plan = Standard
Source: mailchimp.com ↗
ActiveCampaign5/101 user
Starter at 1,000 contacts (default 'Email Contacts' setting, Email tab), billed annually (the only basis shown); next plan = Plus
- 1 user, against 3 seats
Source: activecampaign.com ↗
Mailchimp wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- Standard for 0 to 500 contacts, at the 50% introductory rate for the first 12 months
- Essentials for 0 to 500 contacts, at the 50% introductory rate for the first 12 months
- 300+ integrations, against 350+ integrations
- 2.5 out of 5, against 3.9 out of 5
- $26.50/mo monthly (501-1,500), against $8.08/mo billed yearly (5k emails)
- Standard $45/mo monthly, against Standard $16.17/mo billed yearly
- 14-day free trial, against Free plan
- 2.7 out of 5, against 3.9 out of 5
- $15/mo billed annually (1,000), against $8.08/mo billed yearly (5k emails)
- Plus $49/mo billed annually, against Standard $16.17/mo billed yearly