Mailchimp vs ConvertKit
Mailchimp vs ConvertKit represents two philosophies: Mailchimp's all-in-one marketing platform versus ConvertKit's creator-focused simplicity. I've run campaigns on both. Mailchimp does more things; ConvertKit does the creator-specific things better. Your business model should guide this choice.
Some products are sponsored. Rankings reflect our honest assessment. See our affiliate disclosure
Quick Answer
Mailchimp beats ConvertKit for most users. It scores 9.1/10 vs 8.9/10 and free plan for up to 500 contacts. Choose ConvertKit if you need designed specifically for creators.
Mailchimp
WinnerMost popular email platform with powerful automation
Starting from
$13/mo
ConvertKit
Email marketing built for creators and bloggers
Starting from
$9/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $9/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Contacts | 500 (free) | 1,000 (free) |
| Emails per Month | 1,000 (free) | Unlimited |
| Automation & Testing | ||
| Automation | ||
| A/B Testing | ||
| Segmentation | ||
| Features | ||
| Landing Pages | ||
| Templates | 100+ | 50+ |
| Analytics | ||
| Integrations | 300+ | 90+ |
| API Access | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Mailchimp
- Free plan for up to 500 contacts
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
- Extensive template library
- Powerful automation features
- Detailed analytics and reporting
- Integrates with 300+ apps
- Pricing increases quickly with list size
- Limited features on free plan
- Customer support can be slow
ConvertKit
- Designed specifically for creators
- Powerful visual automation builder
- Excellent subscriber tagging
- Beautiful landing page templates
- Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
- Sells digital products natively
- Limited email template options
- No drag-and-drop email editor
- Fewer integrations than competitors
Key Difference
Mailchimp started as email but became a marketing platform. ConvertKit was built specifically for creators from day one. This DNA shows in everything from pricing (ConvertKit charges by subscribers, not contacts) to automation builders.
Which Should You Choose?
Mailchimp
Choose Mailchimp if you sell physical products, need advanced segmentation, want landing pages and websites included, or prefer a familiar interface you've probably seen before.
ConvertKit
Choose ConvertKit if you are a content creator, want automations that feel intuitive rather than overwhelming, appreciate subscriber-centric features, or value simplicity over feature count.
Our Verdict
Mailchimp wins for e-commerce and SMBs with its broader feature set and integrations. ConvertKit wins for creators - bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters - with its intuitive automation and subscriber-first approach.
Thinking of Switching?
Export your subscriber list with all custom fields intact. Recreate your key automations (they won't transfer). Give yourself a full week to rebuild and test before sending to your list from the new platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than ConvertKit?
Mailchimp scores higher in our testing (9.1/10 vs 8.9/10). Mailchimp excels at free plan for up to 500 contacts, while ConvertKit is better for designed specifically for creators.
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or ConvertKit?
ConvertKit is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $0.00/mo. ConvertKit offers NaN% savings.
Mailchimp vs ConvertKit: which should I choose?
Choose Mailchimp if you prioritize free plan for up to 500 contacts. Choose ConvertKit if you need designed specifically for creators. Both are solid email marketing options.
What's the main difference between Mailchimp and ConvertKit?
The main difference is Mailchimp offers most popular email platform with powerful automation, while ConvertKit focuses on email marketing built for creators and bloggers.