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ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
Mailchimp is the easier, cheaper start with a free plan and paid plans from about $13 a month. ActiveCampaign starts at about $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) and is built around advanced automation, segmentation and an optional CRM.
Choose ActiveCampaign if automation is the heart of your marketing: it is designed for complex, behaviour-based journeys. Choose Mailchimp for simpler newsletters, a free starting plan and a gentler learning curve.
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
you want detailed automation, lead scoring-style segmentation, predictive sending and a CRM that connects marketing to sales.
Choose Mailchimp if…
you mostly send newsletters and promotions, want a free plan to start, and prefer a simpler tool.
At a glance
ActiveCampaign
Mailchimp
Best for
Businesses that need advanced automation and segmentation
Small businesses that want a familiar, easy email tool with many integrations
Starting price
From $19/mo
Free plan; paid from $13/mo
Free plan
No
Yes
Trial
14-day free trial, no credit card
Free plan (250 contacts, 500 emails a month)
Fees
No transaction fees; price depends on contact count.
No transaction fees; price depends on contact count.
Prices in USD from each provider's pricing page, checked November 2, 2026. Plans and prices change; confirm before you buy.
US starting prices for 500 contacts (Premium starts at 10,000 contacts), compiled from several pricing trackers because Mailchimp shows local currency. Prices rise with list size.
Free
$0/month
✓250 contacts
✓500 emails a month
✓1 user
Essentials
$13/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 10× contacts a month
✓3 users
✓Basic automation (up to 4 steps)
Standard
$20/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 12× contacts a month
✓5 users
✓Up to 200 automation flows
Premium
$350/month
✓From 10,000 contacts
✓Sends 15× contacts a month
✓Unlimited users
✓Phone and priority support
Pricing compared
Level
Mailchimp (about)
ActiveCampaign (1,000 contacts, about)
Free
$0, 250 contacts
No free plan (14-day trial)
Entry
Essentials $13 (500 contacts)
Starter $19 ($15 yearly)
Mid
Standard $20 (500 contacts)
Plus $59 ($49 yearly)
Advanced
Premium from $350 (10,000 contacts)
Pro $99 ($79 yearly)
Top
—
Enterprise $179 ($145 yearly)
The contact counts differ between the two price lists, so compare at your own list size on each pricing page.
Key differences
Automation depth. ActiveCampaign is known for multi-step, conditional automation; Pro adds predictive sending, conditional content and advanced segmentation. Mailchimp's automation is simpler and grows with Standard.
CRM. ActiveCampaign offers an enhanced CRM from Plus. Mailchimp is primarily an email marketing tool.
Free start. Mailchimp has a free plan; ActiveCampaign has a 14-day trial with no credit card.
Users. ActiveCampaign Starter and Plus include 1 user; Pro includes 3. Mailchimp includes 3 users on Essentials and 5 on Standard.
Which should you choose?
If your business depends on sending the right message at the right time based on what each person does, ActiveCampaign is worth the higher price. If you need dependable newsletters and basic automations, Mailchimp costs less and is easier to learn. Also see ActiveCampaign alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is ActiveCampaign better than Mailchimp?+
For advanced automation, yes. For simple newsletters on a budget, Mailchimp is usually the better value.
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?+
No. It offers a 14-day free trial without a credit card.
Which is cheaper?+
Mailchimp at the entry level, and it has a free plan. ActiveCampaign's advanced plans include more automation per dollar.
Does Mailchimp have a CRM?+
Mailchimp manages audiences and contacts but is not a full sales CRM. ActiveCampaign offers an enhanced CRM from its Plus plan.
This comparison is based on each provider's official pricing page, documentation and published features, checked on November 2, 2026.
Where a provider shows prices in local currency or loads them dynamically, US prices were cross-checked against several pricing trackers and are labelled as such.
See how we review software.