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Mailchimp vs Klaviyo vs Brevo vs Constant Contact: which should you pick?

A side-by-side look at price, features, quality and value across the leading marketing options — so you can choose the right one in minutes.

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The verdict
Editor's pick
Mailchimp

Generous free tier

Best value
Mailchimp

Free / $13 Essentials / $20 Standard / $350 Premium — lowest sticker price in this comparison.

Best for power users
Klaviyo

Pricing scales fast

Feature & price comparison
Feature
Mailchimpfeatured
Marketing
Klaviyo
Alternative
Brevo
Alternative
Constant Contact
Alternative
Free tier
Free ≤500
Free ≤250
Free ≤300/day
Free trial only
Pricing
Free / $13 Essentials / $20 Standard / $350 Premium
Free / $45 → list-based
Free / $9 / $18 / $69
$12-$80/mo
Audience
SMB newsletters
Scaling DTC $1-50M
SMB ecom + transactional
Local SMBs
Automations
Basic → mid
Best-in-class
Strong (email+SMS+chat)
Basic drip
Best for
Newsletters
DTC scale
SMB+transactional
Small biz email
Why shoppers pick Mailchimp
  • Generous free tier
  • Easy onboarding
  • Wide template library
When to consider an alternative
  • Pricing scales fast
  • Limited automation depth
The short answer

Mailchimp is a marketing option built for small businesses starting at Free / $13 Essentials / $20 Standard / $350 Premium. Shoppers pick it for generous free tier, but it's worth comparing against Klaviyo, Brevo, Constant Contact if pricing scales fast.

Which one should you pick?
Pick if…
Mailchimp

Generous free tier. Pricing: Free / $13 Essentials / $20 Standard / $350 Premium.

Pick if…
Klaviyo

Best when you need scaling dtc $1-50m. Pricing: Free / $45 → list-based.

Pick if…
Brevo

Best when you need smb ecom + transactional. Pricing: Free / $9 / $18 / $69.

Pick if…
Constant Contact

Best when you need local smbs. Pricing: $12-$80/mo.

How to choose
Match the tool to your scale

Mailchimp is positioned for smbs + newsletters. If your team or volume is materially larger or smaller, one of Klaviyo / Brevo / Constant Contact may be cheaper or more capable.

Use the free tier to validate

At least one option in this comparison has a free tier — run a 1–2 week pilot before paying. Confirm the must-have feature actually works on free, not just trial.

Compare total cost, not sticker price

Look past the headline price: add seats, add-ons, integration fees and transaction fees. The cheapest option rarely stays cheapest at scale.

Stress-test the weakness

Known trade-off with Mailchimp: Pricing scales fast. Confirm it isn't a deal-breaker for your specific use case before signing.

What to watch out for
  • Pricing scales fast
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Mailchimp to Klaviyo.
  • Limited automation depth
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Mailchimp to Klaviyo.
Frequently asked
Is Mailchimp worth it in 2026?

For smbs + newsletters, yes — Generous free tier. For very different use cases, compare against Klaviyo, Brevo, Constant Contact.

How much does Mailchimp cost?

Mailchimp pricing is Free / $13 Essentials / $20 Standard / $350 Premium. Competitors in this comparison range from Free / $45 → list-based / Free / $9 / $18 / $69 / $12-$80/mo.

What's the biggest downside of Mailchimp?

Pricing scales fast. Most teams work around it, but verify it isn't a deal-breaker for you first.

Mailchimp vs Klaviyo — which should I pick?

Pick Mailchimp if you want generous free tier. Pick Klaviyo if you need a broader / cheaper / more established alternative — see the comparison table above for the side-by-side.

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See current pricing and plans on their site.

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