ConvertKit vs Mailchimp
Marketing Automation pricing comparison · 2026
ConvertKit pricing ranges from $0–$189/month, while Mailchimp ranges from $0–$350/month. These products use different pricing models ( vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
Both ConvertKit and Mailchimp offer free plans, but they differ dramatically in scope. Mailchimp's free plan covers up to 500 contacts with 1,000 email sends per month. ConvertKit's free Newsletter plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends — a much more generous starting point. On paid plans, Mailchimp's Standard plan costs $20/month for 500 contacts while ConvertKit's Creator plan is $33/month for 1,000 subscribers. At 5,000 contacts, Mailchimp charges $100/month versus ConvertKit's $79/month for the equivalent tier.
The real difference is audience focus. Mailchimp targets small businesses with a complete marketing suite including SMS, social scheduling, and ecommerce. ConvertKit targets creators with paid newsletter tools, digital product sales, and a simpler, writing-first experience.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | ConvertKit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter | Free /month | Free /month |
| Creator | $39 /month | $13 /month |
| Pro | $79 /month | $20 /month |
| Premium | — | $350 /month |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
ConvertKit
2 scenariosMailchimp
12 scenariosContract Terms
| Term | ConvertKit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | 30 days from charge date (applied inconsistently per user reports) | — |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly or annual | Monthly billing standard; annual commitment available for Premium plan |
| Price escalation | Multiple users report mid-contract price increases of 50% or more; some report prices tripling without adequate advance notice | No published mid-contract price escalation schedule; pricing scales automatically when contacts are imported past current tier limits, with users reporting immediate bill increases without prior notice |
| Can downgrade | No | Yes |
Continue researching
Our Verdict
Choose ConvertKit if you're a creator, author, or newsletter publisher who wants to monetize your audience with digital products and paid subscriptions — and you want automation without a steep learning curve. Choose Mailchimp if you're a small business or ecommerce brand that needs a full marketing suite with SMS campaigns, social scheduling, and deep Shopify/WooCommerce integrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Which is cheaper: ConvertKit or Mailchimp?
It depends on list size. Mailchimp is cheaper at very small lists (under 500 contacts), where its Essentials plan starts at $13/month. ConvertKit is free up to 10,000 subscribers on its Newsletter plan, making it significantly cheaper for mid-sized lists that don't need automation. At 5,000 contacts with automation, Mailchimp's Standard plan ($100/month) is more expensive than ConvertKit's Creator plan ($79/month).
02 Is ConvertKit or Mailchimp better for beginners?
ConvertKit is generally considered easier for email-first creators because its interface is simpler and focused on sending and automating emails. Mailchimp has a broader feature set that can feel overwhelming for beginners who only need email marketing. However, Mailchimp's drag-and-drop email builder is more visually flexible.
03 Does ConvertKit have better automation than Mailchimp?
ConvertKit's automation is simpler but more intuitive for creators, with a visual flow builder built around subscriber tags and events. Mailchimp's automation is more limited on the free and Essentials tiers (max 4-step sequences) and requires the Standard plan for advanced workflows. For complex multi-branch automation, neither competes with ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo.
04 Which platform is better for ecommerce?
Mailchimp is better for ecommerce. It has deep integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms, plus native abandoned cart emails, product recommendation blocks, and purchase behavior segmentation. ConvertKit can sell digital products directly but is not designed for physical product retail workflows.
05 Can I switch from Mailchimp to ConvertKit easily?
Yes. ConvertKit offers a free migration service on paid plans where their team will move your lists, sequences, and tags from Mailchimp. The main adjustment is ConvertKit's tag-based subscriber model versus Mailchimp's list-based model — subscribers exist once in ConvertKit and are tagged, rather than duplicated across lists.
06 What are the hidden costs of Mailchimp vs ConvertKit?
Mailchimp's hidden costs include the steep price jump from Essentials ($13/month for 500 contacts) to Standard ($20/month) once you need more than 4-step automations. Contacts are counted even if unsubscribed on some plans, inflating your bill. ConvertKit charges a 3.5% + $0.30 transaction fee on digital product sales, which can be significant for high-volume sellers.