ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right email marketing tool for your needs.

Our Pick: ConvertKit (by a slight margin)

ConvertKit edges out with a slightly higher rating (8.5 vs 8)

Quick Comparison

Aspect
C
ConvertKit(Winner)
M
Mailchimp
Overall Rating
8.5/10
8/10
Starting Price
$9/mo
$13/mo
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best For
solo
any
Ease of Use
9/10
9/10
Features
8/10
8/10
Value for Money
8/10
6/10
Support
9/10
7/10

Overview

C

ConvertKit

ConvertKit is built specifically for creators, bloggers, and online course sellers. Focuses on simplicity, powerful automations, and subscriber-centric design.

M

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is the most popular email marketing platform, offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features. Known for ease of use and generous free tier.

Pricing Comparison

Better value: ConvertKit
C

ConvertKit

Better Value
Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$9/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier
M

Mailchimp

Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$13/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier

Features Comparison

FeatureConvertKitMailchimp
Automation
Templates
Text-focused
Segmentation
Ab Testing
Landing Pages
Transactional Emails
Paid add-on
Ecommerce Features
Basic
Form Builder
Free Subscribers
1000
500
Emails Per Month
Unlimited
10x contacts

0

features unique to ConvertKit

0

features unique to Mailchimp

Pros & Cons

C

ConvertKit

Pros

  • Built for creators (bloggers, YouTubers)
  • Visual automation builder
  • Tag-based subscriber management
  • Free tier for 1,000 subscribers
  • Great deliverability

Cons

  • Limited email design options
  • No traditional templates
  • Basic reporting
  • Less suitable for e-commerce
M

Mailchimp

Pros

  • Free tier up to 500 contacts
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
  • Huge template library
  • Strong brand recognition
  • All-in-one marketing features

Cons

  • Gets expensive as list grows
  • Limited automation on free plan
  • Support quality varies
  • Pricing changed negatively

The Verdict: ConvertKit Edges Out

This was a close comparison, but ConvertKit edges out Mailchimp with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.5/10 versus 8/10. Both are solid choices, but ConvertKit offers a marginally better overall package.

ConvertKit's advantages include Built for creators (bloggers, YouTubers) and Visual automation builder, though Mailchimp counters with Free tier up to 500 contacts and Intuitive drag-and-drop builder.

Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to ConvertKit, but don't count out Mailchimp if its specific strengths align better with your needs.

Choose ConvertKit if you...

  • • Need bloggers and content creators
  • • Need online course sellers
  • • Need newsletter operators

Choose Mailchimp if you...

  • • Need small businesses starting email
  • • Need beginners needing simplicity
  • • Need those wanting all-in-one platform

Ready to Get Started?

Try ConvertKitTry Mailchimp

Read our full reviews:

ConvertKit Full ReviewMailchimp Full Review

* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.

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ConvertKit vs Mailchimp FAQ

Based on our evaluation, ConvertKit has a slight edge with an overall rating of 8.5/10. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
Yes, ConvertKit is more affordable with plans starting at $9/month, compared to $13/month for the other.
Both tools have similar ease of use ratings at 9/10.
Yes, migration between ConvertKit and Mailchimp is possible. Most tools offer data export features. Check each tool's documentation for specific migration guides and import capabilities.
Both tools can work for small teams. ConvertKit is best for solo teams while Mailchimp suits any teams.
For startups, consider your growth trajectory. ConvertKit offers a free tier which is great for bootstrapped startups.
Yes, each tool has unique strengths. ConvertKit excels at: Bloggers and content creators, Online course sellers. Mailchimp is better for: Small businesses starting email, Beginners needing simplicity. Review our detailed feature comparison above.
ConvertKit rates higher in customer support (9/10) compared to Mailchimp (7/10).
ConvertKit offers better value for money with a rating of 8/10 compared to Mailchimp's 6/10.
Consider switching if Mailchimp's strengths (Small businesses starting email) align better with your current needs. However, factor in migration effort and learning curve before making the switch.