ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Both prices below were read from each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown.
Pricing side by side
| Plan | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| tier 1 | $15/mo — 1 user | Free — Up to 250 contacts, 500 sends a month |
| tier 2 | $49/mo — 1 user | $11.05/mo — From $11.05/mo for 12 months, 500 contacts included |
| tier 3 | $79/mo — 3 users | $17/mo — From $17/mo for 12 months, 500 contacts included |
| tier 4 | $145/mo — 5 users | $297.5/mo — From $297.50/mo for 12 months, 10,000 contacts included |
read from both vendors' pricing pages · 20 Aug 2026 · how we verify
Choose ActiveCampaign if
- Small businesses wanting automation and CRM from one vendor
- Anyone who wants a stated refund path rather than a trial that quietly converts
Choose Mailchimp if
- Small lists — the free tier covers 250 contacts indefinitely
- Teams that want templates and automation without an implementation project
Where each one disappoints
ActiveCampaign
- Teams above five people — every tier bundles a fixed seat count
Mailchimp
- Anyone budgeting past year one — the listed prices are twelve-month introductory rates, and the bill scales with contacts, not sends
Compiled by Stepan Noianov from both vendors' own sites. Something wrong? Report an inaccuracy.