Why look for a Mailchimp alternative?
Mailchimp is the name most people reach for first, and for good reason, it’s well known, polished, and covers the basics. But it isn’t the right fit for everyone, and a few recurring frustrations send people looking elsewhere.
The first is price, and how quickly it climbs. Mailchimp’s plans scale steeply with your contact count, and once your list grows into the tens of thousands the monthly bill can outpace cheaper rivals offering the same features. Worse, Mailchimp counts unsubscribed and inactive contacts toward your total on some plans, so you can end up paying for addresses you can’t even email.
The second is automation depth. Mailchimp’s automation has improved, but it still feels boxed-in next to tools like ActiveCampaign, where multi-branch, behavior-triggered workflows are the whole point. If your sequences are getting more sophisticated, you’ll likely hit Mailchimp’s ceiling.
The third is fit. Creators and newsletter publishers often prefer a tag-based, subscriber-first model like ConvertKit’s, while businesses with big but quiet lists save money on Brevo’s send-based pricing. Mailchimp tries to serve everyone, which means it’s rarely the sharpest tool for any one job.
How we picked these alternatives
We focused on tools we’ve tested hands-on against real campaigns, weighing them on ease of use, automation power, deliverability, price relative to Mailchimp at realistic list sizes, and whether there’s a free plan to start on. We ordered the list to lead with the best all-round swap, but each entry flags who it suits best, because the right answer changes depending on whether you’re a solo creator, a lean team, or a business scaling automation.
Every pick is a tool we’d recommend to the right user. MailerLite leads on value and simplicity, while the others win on creator workflows, send-based pricing, automation depth, or breadth of marketing features. For the wider field, see our best email marketing software roundup.
Pricing note: email pricing scales with list size, verify current pricing on each tool’s site before subscribing.
MailerLite
Best for Best value all-rounder
The easiest like-for-like swap. MailerLite covers the same core ground as Mailchimp, campaigns, automation, landing pages, forms, with a cleaner interface and lower prices as your list grows. The free plan is generous, making it a low-risk place to start.
ConvertKit
Best for Creators and newsletters
Now branded Kit, this is the better choice if you publish a newsletter or sell digital products. Tag-based subscribers, simple visual automations, and built-in commerce tools beat Mailchimp's list-centric model for creators. The free plan runs up to 10,000 subscribers.
Brevo
Best for Large lists emailed occasionally
Brevo bills by emails sent rather than contacts stored, so if you hold a big list but mail it infrequently it can cost a fraction of Mailchimp. It also bundles SMS and transactional email, making it a fuller marketing toolkit.
ActiveCampaign
Best for Serious automation
If you've outgrown Mailchimp's automation, ActiveCampaign is the step up. Its visual automation builder and lightweight CRM are far more capable for behavioral, multi-branch sequences. There's no free plan, but the power justifies the price for growing businesses.
GetResponse
Best for Marketing beyond email
GetResponse pairs email and automation with extras Mailchimp charges more for or lacks, including webinars, landing pages, and conversion funnels. It's a good fit if you want a broader marketing platform rather than a pure email tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Mailchimp alternative?
MailerLite is the best all-round alternative for most people, it's cheaper than Mailchimp, easier to use, and has a generous free plan. For heavier automation, ActiveCampaign is stronger; for creators, ConvertKit is the better home.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Mailchimp?
Yes. MailerLite, Brevo, and ConvertKit all start free and have paid plans that often cost less than Mailchimp at the same list size. Brevo also bills by emails sent rather than contacts, which can be far cheaper for large lists you email occasionally.
Why switch away from Mailchimp?
The most common reasons are price and how fast it climbs with list size, an automation builder that feels limited next to rivals, and a contact-counting model that charges you for unsubscribed and inactive addresses. Many users also find the interface has grown cluttered.
Which Mailchimp alternative has the best free plan?
MailerLite and Brevo have the most generous free tiers. MailerLite gives you a clean free plan with automation, while Brevo's free plan allows unlimited contacts and caps you on daily sends instead.