Pick ActiveCampaign if automation is the reason you're buying and you're happy to pay from day one. Pick Mailchimp if you want a free plan to start or month-to-month billing. On the entry plans, ActiveCampaign Starter costs $15 a month for 1,000 contacts billed yearly and allows 5 actions per automation. Mailchimp Essentials costs $26.50 a month for up to 1,500 contacts and allows flows of up to 4 steps.
- Automation is the main reason you need an email tool
- You want predictive sending and conditional content (Pro)
- You're happy to commit to a year for the listed prices
Plain link.
- You want a free plan to start (250 contacts, 500 emails a month)
- You want month-to-month billing on a small list
- You want 300+ integrations and a well-known tool
Plain link.
Key facts side by side
Source: ActiveCampaign pricing, Mailchimp pricing, checked 2026-10-21 · Bars show size only. Entry plans are ActiveCampaign Starter and Mailchimp Essentials. ActiveCampaign's page shows yearly-billed prices only.
Free plan and trial
| ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 250 contacts, 500 emails a month (250 a day) |
| Trial | 14 days, no card, 100 email sends, 1 user | 14 days of Essentials or Standard, card required |
| Automations without paying | Trial only | None (preview only) |
| Free footer address | No | No |
Sources: ActiveCampaign free trial, ActiveCampaign physical address, Mailchimp pricing, Mailchimp pricing plans, Mailchimp address ideas.
Prices as your list grows
USD. ActiveCampaign prices are per month billed yearly (its page doesn't show month-to-month prices). Mailchimp prices are monthly.
| Contacts | ActiveCampaign Starter | ActiveCampaign Plus | Mailchimp Essentials | Mailchimp Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $15 | $49 | $26.50 (up to 1,500) | $45 (up to 1,500) |
| 2,500 | $39 | $95 | $45 | $60 |
| 5,000 | $79 | $145 | $75 | $100 |
| 10,000 | $149 | $189 | $110 | $135 |
Source: www.activecampaign.com/pricing · mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing, checked 2026-10-21. Prices change; the vendor's page is the final word.
Sends a month: ActiveCampaign Starter and Plus 10 times your contacts, Pro 12 times. Mailchimp Essentials 10 times, Standard 12 times. ActiveCampaign Pro is $79, $149, $205 and $375 at the same sizes.
Catches on each side
- ActiveCampaign: unsubscribed contacts count on new accounts (created on or after November 3, 2025) (contact limit).
- ActiveCampaign: overage fees. $0.005 per email over your monthly limit; at three times the limit, sending stops until next month (send limits).
- ActiveCampaign: downgrades go through support, and refunds only come through the 30-day guarantee for first-time customers (cancel your account, guarantee terms).
- Mailchimp: unsubscribed contacts count toward your bill (your contacts).
- Mailchimp: overages are billed automatically on paid plans (additional charges).
- Mailchimp: no refunds on a downgrade (compare plans FAQ).
Verdict
Pick ActiveCampaign if you need automation beyond a short welcome series and will pay yearly. At 1,000 contacts, Starter billed yearly is cheaper than Mailchimp Essentials monthly; above that, Mailchimp's entry plan costs about the same or less.
Pick Mailchimp if you want to start free, pay month to month, or mainly send newsletters with a short welcome flow.
Full reviews: ActiveCampaign review and Mailchimp review.
FAQ
Is ActiveCampaign more expensive than Mailchimp?
It depends on size. At 1,000 contacts, ActiveCampaign Starter is $15 a month billed yearly against Mailchimp Essentials at $26.50 monthly. At 10,000 contacts, Starter is $149 and Essentials $110 (checked 2026-10-21).
Does either have a free plan?
Mailchimp does (250 contacts, 500 emails a month). ActiveCampaign has only a 14-day trial with 100 email sends.
Do unsubscribed contacts count?
On Mailchimp, yes. On ActiveCampaign, yes for accounts created on or after November 3, 2025.
What changed
- 2026-10-21: Rewritten from both vendors' official pricing and help pages. Replaces an older draft.
Sources
All accessed 2026-10-21 (America/New_York).
- ActiveCampaign pricing and FAQ: https://www.activecampaign.com/pricing
- ActiveCampaign, "Free trial capabilities": https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/218789987-Free-trial-capabilities
- ActiveCampaign, "About email send limits and overage fees": https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/10918125380764-About-email-send-limits-and-overage-fees
- ActiveCampaign, contact limit counting: https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000337324-Do-unsubscribed-unconfirmed-or-bounced-contacts-count-against-my-contact-limit
- ActiveCampaign, "How do I cancel my account?": https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/218790117-How-do-I-cancel-my-account
- ActiveCampaign, "Money Back Guarantee Terms and Conditions": https://www.activecampaign.com/legal/money-back-guarantee-terms-and-conditions
- ActiveCampaign, "Add a physical address": https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006817360-Add-a-physical-address-to-your-ActiveCampaign-account
- Mailchimp pricing, trial terms and FAQ: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/
- Mailchimp compare plans: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/compare-plans/
- Mailchimp, "About Mailchimp Pricing Plans": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/
- Mailchimp, "About Your Contacts": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-your-contacts/
- Mailchimp, "About Additional Charges": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-additional-charges/
- Mailchimp, "Alternative Physical Address Ideas": https://mailchimp.com/help/alternative-physical-address-ideas/