# ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp - 2026 Comparison - Software Advice > ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp - See how these products stack up against each other with real user reviews, product feature comparisons and screenshots. Find out which one is best for your organization. Source: https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/vs/mailchimp --- 1 million+ businesses helped. Get advice Get Free Advice [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / [Distribution CRM Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/category/3846-distribution-crm/) / ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. # ActiveCampaign vs. Mailchimp: 2026 Comparison Updated June 10, 2026 Written by [Alejandra Aranda](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/author/alejandra-aranda/) Content Analyst Edited by [Lindsay Page](https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/author/lindsay-page/) Editor Talk with us for a free 15-min consultation Expert advisors like Jacqueline, who have helped 1,000+ companies, can find the right software for your needs. On this page - Introduction - Comparison Snapshot - Pricing Comparison - Reviewers Perspective - Key Features Comparison - Bottom Line - Other Popular Comparisons [ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/) 4.6 [(2561)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/reviews/) Recent verified reviews come from small businesses (89%) in the marketing, health, and computer software industries. **Starting Price:** $15.00 per month Pros: - Comprehensive sales funnel creation - Supports business growth Cons: - Frequent performance issues - Basic landing page builder Pros & Cons VS [Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/) 4.5 [(17624)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/reviews/) Recent reviews come from small businesses (87%) in industries such as marketing and advertising, IT services, and health/wellness. **Starting Price:** $13.00 per month Pros: - Efficient client communication - Comprehensive email marketing Cons: - Spam filtering issues - Restrictive usage limits Pros & Cons Why You Can Trust Our Comparison 20,185 verified reviews evaluated 241 features analyzed 365 integrations considered ## Comparison Snapshot ActiveCampaign Mailchimp Starting Price $15.00 per month, flat rate Starting Price $13.00 per month, flat rate Overall Rating 4.6 [(2561)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/reviews/) Overall Rating 4.5 [(17624)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/reviews/) Integrations Google Docs Dropbox Business WordPress Integrations See All Slack Salesforce Sales Cloud WordPress See All Top Rated Features Shared Contacts 5.0 Search Marketing 5.0 Real-Time Data 5.0 Top Rated Features See All Reminders 5.0 Multiple User Accounts 5.0 Unsubscribe Database 5.0 See All ## Pricing Comparison ActiveCampaign Starting Price $15.00 / month Get started with personalized marketing campaigns. For up to 25,000 contacts. Free trial Free version Starter $15.00 / month Get started with personalized marketing campaigns. For up to 25,000 contacts. Plus $49.00 / month Go further with automation and powerful customer insights. Pro $79.00 / month Unlock full omnichannel marketing automation. Enterprise $145.00 / month Run campaigns at scale with enterprise-level support. See All Pricing Plans Mailchimp Starting Price $13.00 / month Up to 500 contacts. Free trial Free version Free $0.00 / month Easily create email campaigns and learn more about your customers. Essentials $13.00 / month Up to 500 contacts. Standard $20.00 / month Up to 500 contacts. Premium $350.00 / month Up to 10,000 contacts. See All Pricing Plans ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp both offer free trials and tiered pricing plans but differ in approach. Mailchimp provides a completely free plan that is ideal for beginners, while ActiveCampaign does not offer a free plan and focuses on advanced features with their starting plan. ActiveCampaign starts at $15/month, emphasizing automation and CRM features even in lower tiers. Mailchimp begins at $13/month for the Essentials plan, expanding on... its Free plan with A/B testing, catering to gradual scaling. Mailchimp's higher-tier plans start at $20/month, offering advanced features as businesses grow. ActiveCampaign's plans start at $49/month, providing automation, with the Enterprise plan at $145/month for large organizations. Users appreciate Mailchimp's free plan for small businesses but note costs can rise quickly. ActiveCampaign is praised for comprehensive features at competitive prices, though users mention rising costs with larger contact lists and price hikes without added features. Confused about pricing? We've got you covered. Get a personalized pricing breakdown tailored to your specific needs—no guesswork, no generic estimates. ## Reviewers Perspective ### Ease of Use ActiveCampaign Reviewers Rating 4.2/ 5 "user interface is fantastic and simplifies accessing various tools and reports" 5.0 Waleed K. Senior Procurement Engineer Used for 2+ years VS Mailchimp Reviewers Rating 4.4/ 5 "managing your campaigns and analysing reports is a breeze" 3.0 Rajat C. Account Manager Used for 1-2 years Both ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp's positive reviews mention the software's intuitive and user-friendly interface, which simplifies campaign creation. Users are also satisfied with both platforms' ease of navigation and integration capabilities. In addition, ActiveCampaign users appreciate different platform elements: - Customization options - In-depth triggers for automations - Helpful support and training resources On the other hand, Ma... ilchimp reviewers highlight, regarding its ease of use: - Campaign designer - Customizable templates - Detailed analytics and reporting tools - Continuous updates and improvements On the negative side, some users of both ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp find the interfaces not very intuitive, making it difficult to navigate through the platforms. ActiveCampaign users mention that the interface can be slow, laggy, which can hinder productivity. On the other hand, Mailchimp users report that they feel frustrated by frequent changes to the user interface, and they also say that the initial setup and learning curve can be challenging. ### Value for Money ActiveCampaign Reviewers Rating 4.3/ 5 "All-in-one platform for email marketing, automation, and sales" 4.0 Verified Reviewer Marketing & Advertising Used for 2+ years VS Mailchimp Reviewers Rating 4.4/ 5 "their pricing can become expensive as your business grows" 5.0 Alexei M. Movavi Vlog Used for less than 6 months ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp have received mixed reviews from users regarding the affordability and features available in each pricing plan. In general, reviewers from both platforms value the flexibility of the pricing plans. However, there are some differences that set the tools apart in terms of value. **ActiveCampaign's value for money** Some of the elements that reviewers appreciate the most are: - **Comprehensive suite of tools:**... All-in-one platform with email marketing, CRM, automation, AI content creation, and multichannel campaign tools. - \_\_High return on investment:\_\_ Users report saving time and increasing conversions through advanced automation and personalization. - \_\_Scalability:\_\_ Businesses can start with essential tools and expand to advanced features as they grow. - \_\_Flexible pricing options:\_\_ Multiple plans tailored to different business sizes, with the ability to upgrade or downgrade based on contact volume and feature needs. \_\_Mailchimp's value for money\_\_ What reviewers appreciate most about Mailchimp’s value for money is the free plan. Users say the free plan is ideal for small businesses and startups, offering up to 2,000 subscribers and 10,000 monthly emails along with essential tools like automation, sign-up forms, and basic analytics. What users dislike about ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp value for money: - \_\_Rising costs with growth:\_\_ Both platforms are criticized for escalating prices as contact or subscriber lists grow, which can strain small business budgets. - \_\_Expensive upgrades:\_\_ There are shared concerns about being forced into higher-tier plans with features that may not be needed, leading to unnecessary expenses. ### Customer Support ActiveCampaign Reviewers Rating 4.4/ 5 "Support told us it was working, yet there was no warning that we were at risk..." 2.0 Tim W. President Used for 2+ years VS Mailchimp Reviewers Rating 4.2/ 5 "good customer support team that are answerable to all questions in a short time" 5.0 Naomi N. Journalist Used for 6-12 months ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp offer users multiple customer support channels. Both platforms have a live chat available, email support, phone support (exclusive to Premium users in the case of Mailchimp, and only for sales inquiries in case of ActiveCampaign), onboarding services, and self-service resources, such as articles, tutorials, and FAQs. **Positive reviews about customer support:** Both ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp positive user fee... dback mention the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, as well as the comprehensive guides and resources the platforms offer, which aid in resolving issues and learning how to use both tools effectively. - ActiveCampaign users value the onboarding process, training materials, and the integration service that helps migrate templates and automations from other email providers. The support team is also praised for their attentiveness and assistance in setting up automations. - Mailchimp users find the support team to be very supportive, especially when dealing with complex issues, and is seen as a key factor in helping businesses grow. \_\_Negative reviews about customer support:\_\_ Some users are less satisfied with the platforms’ support quality. They complain about the lack of phone support and find the support team unhelpful sometimes. - ActiveCampaign users experience long wait times for live chat support, which is inefficient sometimes, as well as some bugs and inconsistencies within the platform that the support team is slow to fix or communicate about. - Mailchimp users complain about slow response times, especially for time-sensitive issues, difficulties in resolving issues related to account suspensions and technical problems, and the lack of immediate and effective customer support. ## Expert Analysis of Features ### Email campaign management ActiveCampaign Feature Rating 4.53 / 5 VS Mailchimp Feature Rating 4.60 / 5 ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp have tools for users to manage multiple email marketing campaigns. Here’s what **ActiveCampaign** users like about this feature: - Segment, track, and automate follow-ups - The visual editor and pre-built templates ActiveCampaign email campaign management Here’s what **Mailchimp** users like about this feature: - Customization, segmentation, and automation options - Analytics and reporting tools for campaigns - Integration with other platforms - Multiple mailing lists Mailchimp email campaign management Some users experience issues with email campaign management on both platforms: - ActiveCampaign users note that reporting and analytics could be more detailed, and there are occasional issues with deliverability and customer support responsiveness. - Mailchimp users wish for more AI-driven features to further streamline campaign creation. **Email campaign management for ActiveCampaign:** Of the 125 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of email campaign management, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important. **Email campaign management for Mailchimp:** Of the 513 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of email campaign management, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important. ### Email marketing ActiveCampaign Feature Rating 4.70 / 5 VS Mailchimp Feature Rating 4.66 / 5 ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp offer robust email marketing capabilities to help users with customer communications and campaigns. Here’s what **ActiveCampaign** users like about this feature: - Drag-and-drop email builder - Pre-made templates and sequences ActiveCampaign email marketing Here’s what **Mailchimp** users like about this feature: - Automated sequences - Integration with other platforms - Drag-and-drop builder - Pre-defined templates - Platform's analytics Mailchimp email marketing Some users experience issues with email marketing on both platforms: - ActiveCampaign users mention the limited design templates and occasional issues with campaign delivery timing. - Mailchimp users find the customization options limited and wish for more flexibility in template design. **Email marketing for ActiveCampaign:** Of the 51 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of email marketing, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important. **Email marketing for Mailchimp:** Of the 197 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of email marketing, 98% rated this feature as important or highly important. ### Contact database ActiveCampaign Feature Rating 4.36 / 5 VS Mailchimp Feature Rating 4.37 / 5 ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp offer tools to organize their contact data, which allows segmentation and targeting. Here’s what **ActiveCampaign** users like about this feature: - Import, organization, and update contact information functions - Essential for maintaining customer relationships ActiveCampaign contact database Here’s what **Mailchimp** users like about this feature: - Easy segmentation and targeting - Import and export functions - Custom fields creation - List management - Data integrity and compliance Mailchimp contact database Some users experience issues with contact database on both platforms: - ActiveCampaign users find the automation workflows complex and the CRM functionality somewhat limited. - Mailchimp users prefer to maintain their own databases due to concerns about account access and data security. **Contact database for ActiveCampaign:** Of the 62 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of contact database, 97% rated this feature as important or highly important. **Contact database for Mailchimp:** Of the 239 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of contact database, 94% rated this feature as important or highly important. ## Bottom Line: [ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/) Deep marketing automation ActiveCampaign excels in automation, CRM, and email marketing capabilities. Users like its powerful workflows, segmentation, and campaign tools. Downsides include a clunky interface, limited reporting, and rising costs. It's ideal for growing teams needing advanced automation, but may overwhelm beginners. [Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/) Free and intuitive Mailchimp offers an intuitive interface and strong email marketing, automation, and analytics. Users love its ease of use and free plan, but criticize limited customization, support, and scalability. It’s powerful for beginners, though growing businesses may face pricing and feature constraints. ## Other Popular Comparisons [Brevo vs ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/vs/brevo/)[MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/vs/mailerlite/)[EmailOctopus vs ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/vs/emailoctopus/)[Constant Contact vs ActiveCampaign](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/activecampaign-profile/vs/constant-contact/)[Brevo vs Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/scheduling/brevo-profile/vs/mailchimp/)[MailerLite vs Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/vs/mailerlite/)[Constant Contact vs Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/marketing/constant-contact-profile/vs/mailchimp/)[Systeme.io vs Mailchimp](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/mailchimp-profile/vs/systeme-io/) Stuck Between Options? Our experts can help you compare top options, so you can find the best fit for your needs. ## See what companies are saying about Software Advice ## Sources 1. Our independent and objective research is based on market demand signals along with analysis of our proprietary data, including product information, verified user reviews, and advisor conversations with buyers. We did not consider client status when selecting products in this list. 2. **Product descriptions:** In our descriptions of each featured product, we included the following details: - **Most valued features:** Our research team analyzed verified email marketing software reviews on Software Advice to identify each product’s highest-rated features (among features with at least 5 reviews). We then summarized user sentiment using real reviews for each feature. - **Review excerpts:** Review excerpts are passages extracted from longer reviews written by verified reviewers. We obtain these excerpts by applying an algorithm that considers factors including, but not limited to, length, sentiment, topic coverage, and thematic relevance. Excerpts represent user opinion and do not represent the views of, nor constitute, an endorsement by Software Advice or its affiliates. Excerpts are trimmed for brevity. ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp - 2026 Comparison - Software Advice