Mailchimp vs Drip
Mailchimp vs Drip is one of the most common comparisons in email marketing, and I've run real campaigns on both platforms. While Mailchimp leads with a 9.1/10 rating, the "better" choice depends heavily on your business model and technical comfort level.
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Quick Answer
Mailchimp beats Drip for most users. It scores 9.1/10 vs 8.6/10 and free plan for up to 500 contacts. Choose Drip if you need powerful e-commerce automation.
Mailchimp
WinnerMost popular email platform with powerful automation
Starting from
$13/mo
Drip
E-commerce automation with 50+ prebuilt workflows
Starting from
$39/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $39/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Contacts | 500 (free) | Starts at 2,500 |
| Emails per Month | 1,000 (free) | Unlimited |
| Automation & Testing | ||
| Automation | ||
| A/B Testing | ||
| Segmentation | ||
| Features | ||
| Landing Pages | ||
| Templates | 100+ | 50+ |
| Analytics | ||
| Integrations | 300+ | 50+ |
| 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
Drip
- Powerful e-commerce automation
- 50+ prebuilt workflows ready to use
- Dynamic behavior-based segmentation
- Deep Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce integrations
- Unlimited email sends on all plans
- Revenue dashboards and attribution
- Free migration for 17,500+ contacts
- No free plan (14-day trial only)
- Expensive for larger lists
- Best suited for e-commerce only
- Steep learning curve
Key Difference
The most significant difference is value positioning. Mailchimp offers excellent quality at a lower price point ($0.00/mo), while Drip ($39.00/mo) targets users who want premium features and are willing to pay for them.
Which Should You Choose?
Mailchimp
Choose Mailchimp if you prioritize free plan for up to 500 contacts, want to start with a free tier, or value easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
Drip
Choose Drip if you prioritize powerful e-commerce automation, need unlimited usage, or value 50+ prebuilt workflows ready to use.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, Mailchimp is our winner with a rating of 9.1/10 compared to Drip's 8.6/10. Mailchimp stands out for its free plan for up to 500 contacts and easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor. Mailchimp also offers better value at its price point. However, Drip remains an excellent choice if powerful e-commerce automation is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Moving email lists between Mailchimp and Drip is doable but plan carefully. Export your subscriber data, recreate your templates, and rebuild automations. Give yourself at least a week for a proper migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than Drip?
Mailchimp scores higher in our testing (9.1/10 vs 8.6/10). Mailchimp excels at free plan for up to 500 contacts, while Drip is better for powerful e-commerce automation.
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or Drip?
Mailchimp is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $39.00/mo. Mailchimp offers 100% savings.
Mailchimp vs Drip: which should I choose?
Choose Mailchimp if you prioritize free plan for up to 500 contacts. Choose Drip if you need powerful e-commerce automation. Both are solid email marketing options.
What's the main difference between Mailchimp and Drip?
The main difference is Mailchimp offers most popular email platform with powerful automation, while Drip focuses on e-commerce automation with 50+ prebuilt workflows.