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Mailchimp vs SendGrid

Mailchimp vs. SendGrid: 2026 Comparison

Updated June 13, 2025 at 5:20 AM

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Written by Shephalii Kapoor

Writer

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Edited by Lindsay Page

Editor

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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Comparison Snapshot
  • Pricing Comparison
  • Reviewers Perspective
  • Key Features Comparison
  • Bottom Line
  • Other Popular Comparisons
Mailchimp

Mailchimp is used by businesses (85%) in the marketing and advertising, IT services, and computer software industries.

Starting Price: $13.00 per month

Pros:

  • Efficient client communication
  • Simplified newsletter creation
  • Effective email blasting

Cons:

  • Restrictive usage limits
Pros & Cons
VS
SendGrid

SendGrid is used by small businesses (84%) in the computer software, IT services, and marketing and advertising industries.

Starting Price: $15.00 per month

Pros:

  • Reliable Email API
  • Easy setup process
  • Seamless API integration

Cons:

  • Issues with IP address management
Pros & Cons
Why You Can Trust Our Comparison

18,268 verified reviews evaluated

218 features analyzed

200 integrations considered

Comparison Snapshot

Mailchimp
Mailchimp
SendGrid
SendGrid

Starting Price

$13.00

per month, flat rate

$15.00

per month, usage based

Overall Rating

4.2
(749)
Integrations
Slack
Slack
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce Sales Cloud
WordPress
WordPress
WordPress
WordPress
Google Analytics 360
Google Analytics 360
Google Cloud
Google Cloud
See All
Top Rated Features
Multi-Channel Communication
5.0
Automated Scheduling
5.0
Search Marketing
5.0
Single Email Verification
5.0
Email Filtering
5.0
Dashboard
5.0
See All

Pricing Comparison

Mailchimp
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
SendGrid
SendGrid

Starting Price

$15.00 / month

This plan lets users send multiple e-mails per day.
Free trial
Free version

Free (For Marketers and developers)

$0.00

Store up to 100 contacts & send 100 emails/day

Basic (Marketing Campaigns Plans)

$15.00 / month

This plan lets users send multiple e-mails per day.

Advanced (Marketing Campaigns Plans))

$60.00 / month

This plan lets you send multiple e-mails per day.

Essentials (Email API Plans)

$19.95 / month

Send 50,000 - 100,000 emails/mo

Pro (Email API Plans)

$89.95 / month

Send 100,000 - 2,500,000 emails/mo

Custom/Premier

Pricing available upon request

For marketers/developers
See All Pricing Plans

Mailchimp and SendGrid have distinct pricing structures catering to different user needs. Mailchimp primarily charges based on the number of contacts in your audience, with varying tiers offering different email send limits and features. SendGrid, on the other hand, largely bases its pricing on the volume of emails sent per month, particularly for its Email API service (for transactional emails). For its Marketing Campaigns product, it also...

considers contacts and email volume. While Mailchimp offers both a free trial and a free forever plan, SendGrid comes only with a free trial of 60 days. ### Mailchimp pricing Mailchimp offers four pricing plans: Free, Essentials, Standard, and Premium. Depending on your plan, it also offers a trial period between 14-30 days, allowing users to explore the features of the paid plan and determine if it meets your business needs before committing to a subscription. The Free Plan for single users includes the following and more: - 1,000 monthly email sends - Support for 500 contacts - Popup forms - Limited email templates - Over 300 integrations - Email support for first 30 days The Essentials Plan starts at $4.48 per month for 12 months, and comes with everything in the Free plan, plus advanced features for teams of up to three people. It offers increased limits on monthly email sends, contacts, plus: - A/B testing - Customer journey builder - Email scheduling - Automated customer journeys - 24/7 email and chat support The Standard Plan starts at $6.69 per month for 12 months and is meant for small teams with up to five people. This plan builds on the Essentials plan and offers: - 6,000 monthly email sends - Personalized onboarding-single session - Creative Assistant: Download designs - Custom-coded templates - Dynamic content - Custom reports Finally, the Premium Plan starts at $133.84 per month for 12 months. This plan does not have a contact limit, offers 15 monthly email sends, and provides unlimited audience and user support. Additionally, you get: - Personalized onboarding-four sessions - Premium migration services - Phone and priority support ### SendGrid pricing SendGrid's pricing is structured around two main offerings: Email API (for transactional and programmatic email) and Marketing Campaigns (for mass email marketing). Both generally scale with email volume and/or contacts, with different features available at each tier. #### Email API Plans These plans are primarily designed for developers to send large volumes of transactional emails. The Essentials Plan starts around $19.95 per month and lets you send 50,000-100,000 emails per month. This plan includes: - Comprehensive client libraries - Two event webhooks ( Allows you to receive real-time notifications about what happens to your emails after they've been sent. - Analytics and deliverability optimization, and more The Pro Plan, starting around $89.95 per month, offers increased limits (100,000-2,500,000) on monthly emails. Other than this, it Includes: - Dedicated IP addresses (crucial for email reputation) - Subuser management - Single sign-on The Premier Plan is a custom plan Custom pricing for very high-volume senders with tailored features and support. This plan includes: - 1,000 additional teammates - Five event webhooks - 5,000 email validations #### Marketing Campaigns Plans These plans offer tools for marketers to design, send, and analyze marketing email campaigns. The Basic Plan starts around $15 per month and lets you store up to 100,000 contacts and send up to 300,000 emails per month.This plan includes: - Design and code editor - Five sign-up forms - 10 email testing credits The Advanced Plan starts around $60 per month. You can store up to 200,000 contacts and send up to 1,000,000 emails per month.This plan offers: - Segmentation - A/B testing - Actionable insights, and more The Custom Plan offers a customized package for larger enterprises needing more than 200,000 contacts or 1,000,000 emails per month. It offers: - Automation - Access to dedicated IPs - 15 sign-up forms, and more ### What are users saying about Mailchimp and SendGrid pricing? Mailchimp's pricing is primarily driven by the number of contacts you store, with escalating costs as your audience grows, and varying email send limits per tier. In contrast, SendGrid's pricing is more bifurcated. Its Email API (for transactional emails) is strictly volume-based (emails sent per month), while its Marketing Campaigns service combines contact count and email volume. In fact, reviewers tend to like or dislike each tool for reasons related directly to pricing. __Positives:__ - Mailchimp users find the free plan particularly beneficial for small businesses, non-profits, and startups, as it provides a cost-effective way to manage email marketing without immediate financial commitment. The free plan also offers essential tools such as landing page builders, survey makers, and basic analytics, making it a good starting point for new users. - SendGrid users like the flexibility of the pricing model, which is based on the number of emails sent, making it cost-effective for low-volume users. The availability of essential features like API and Webhooks across all plans, including the free tier, is highly appreciated. __Negatives:__ - Mailchimp users report that the transition from the free plan to paid plans can be expensive, discouraging list growth due to the increasing costs. - SendGrid users mention that the sudden jumps in pricing tiers can be a concern for scalability. Additionally, the cost of a dedicated IP address can be too high for low-volume users. Overall, users generally view the pricing of both Mailchimp and SendGrid positively for their respective strengths. Your purchasing decision will likely depend on whether your business prioritizes a platform where cost scales with your contact list size, or if your primary need is for high-volume email sending.
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Reviewers Perspective

Ease of Use

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Reviewers Rating

4.4/ 5

"Simple and straightforward, with a neat user interface…"

3.0

Rajat C.
Account Manager
Used for 1-2 years
VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Reviewers Rating

4.1/ 5

"With a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and detailed analytics…"

5.0

Adam S.
Digital Marketer
Used for 6-12 months

Users of both Mailchimp and SendGrid say these tools are user-friendly for businesses. Specifically, customers like:

  • The tools’ user-friendly interfaces, which make setting up campaigns, managing contacts, and analyzing performance straightforward, even for those without extensive technical expertise.
  • Mailchimp’s integration with a wide array of popular third-party tools that simplify marketing workflows.
  • SendGrid’s dashboard and insi...
ghtful analytics that underscore the platform's simplicity and ease of use. At the same time, both tools occasionally receive complaints related to ease of use: - Mailchimp users express dissatisfaction with frequent changes to the user interface, which can disrupt their workflow and require them to relearn the platform. - SendGrid users may find the system to be confusing and a bit clunky. The abundance of options can overwhelm users, making it hard to find the necessary features. Overall, both Mailchimp and SendGrid are recognized for their ease of use and user-friendly interfaces, though Mailchimp receives more positive feedback for its user-friendly and intuitive design.

Value for Money

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Reviewers Rating

4.4/ 5

"I am very happy using Mailchimp for my small non-profit…"

5.0

Tracy M.
BIM Manager
Used for 2+ years
VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Reviewers Rating

4.0/ 5

"My overall experience with SendGrid has been positive…"

5.0

Dylan C.
Software Developer
Used for 6-12 months

Most users agree Mailchimp and SendGrid deliver solid value. Both pack useful features into their plans and are easy to use. But there are key differences.

Features and inclusions

  • Mailchimp goes beyond email—offering landing pages, websites, CRM, and social media posting. Its pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop editor simplify campaign management.
  • SendGrid excels at high-volume email delivery, with dedicated IPs, analytics, and...
webhooks. - Mailchimp’s Transactional Email is an add-on to main plans. SendGrid’s Email API is core to its service, with pricing based on monthly email volume. __Pricing structure and hidden fees__ - Mailchimp charges by total contacts—subscribed or not. - SendGrid prices its Email API by emails sent per month. For Marketing Campaigns, both contacts and email volume matter. - Mailchimp’s add-on for transactional emails can raise costs. SendGrid may charge more if you exceed limits or need a dedicated IP. __Platform-specific limitations__ - Mailchimp’s free plan lacks advanced automation and customization, which can be limiting. - SendGrid’s dedicated IP can be costly for low-volume users. __Real-world fit__ Mailchimp suits businesses and marketers who want easy automation. SendGrid is best for developers, large businesses, and anyone needing high-volume transactional email and robust APIs. For example: - An Ecommerce business with 100,000 contacts could use Mailchimp’s Standard plan (from $6.69/month) for broad campaigns. - The same business sending 100,000 transactional emails monthly may prefer SendGrid’s Essentials plan (about $19.95/month). Overall, Mailchimp earns 72% positive sentiment from 3,796 reviews—users like the free plan and integrations. SendGrid gets 68% positive sentiment from 157 reviews— users value APIs, Webhooks, and Static IPs for deliverability.

Customer Support

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Reviewers Rating

4.2/ 5

"Mailchimp has helped our business grow revenue by 2x…"

5.0

Verified
Reviewer Manager
Used for 6-12 months
VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Reviewers Rating

3.7/ 5

"SendGrid has 24/7 customer support, including chat, email, and phone support…"

5.0

Verified Reviewer
Senior Software Developer
Used for less than 6 months

Mailchimp support varies by plan: Free users get an AI chatbot and 30 days of email help; paid plans add 24/7 chat and email, with Premium offering priority phone support and onboarding. SendGrid gives all users 24/7 email ticket support, plus live chat and phone support for paid plans during set hours. Both offer robust self-help resources.

Reviewers tend to speak positively about both tools’ support, but their hands-on experiences vary:...

- Mailchimp is praised for its customer support team's quick and helpful responses to technical inquiries. Users report feeling well-supported, particularly when facing complex issues, and they appreciate the comprehensive guides and resources Mailchimp offers. - SendGrid is also commended for its readily available and responsive customer service. Users find the support team knowledgeable and helpful, particularly when navigating technical issues or integration complexities. The round-the-clock support options, including chat, email, and phone access for premium subscribers, are frequently highlighted as a major benefit. At the same time, both platforms receive critical feedback around the support experience: - Some Mailchimp users find the support staff unhelpful and report limited availability of customer support for free or lower-tier plans. - Account suspensions and difficulty in reaching customer support are common concerns reported by some SendGrid users. Overall, Mailchimp earns 71% positive sentiment from 1,863 reviews and SendGrid sees 58% positive sentiment across 151 reviews. When deciding which platform to buy, keep in mind how these complaints might relate to your business.

Expert Analysis of Features

Campaign management

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Feature Rating

4.60 / 5

VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Feature Rating

4.60 / 5

Mailchimp and SendGrid offer campaign management features that let users design, send, and track one-time email (and in Mailchimp's case, other digital marketing assets such as landing pages and social posts) messages to their segmented audiences, with tools for personalization, scheduling, and performance analysis.

Here’s what Mailchimp users like about this feature:

  • Comprehensive tools for creating, scheduling, and managing email campaigns. 

  • Ability to customize templates, segment audiences, and automate processes.

  • Analytics and reporting tools that allow for tracking of open rates, clicks, and overall campaign success.

Campaigns dashboard in Mailchimp

Here’s what SendGrid users like about this feature:

  • Templates, HTML editing, and pipeline automation that facilitate email campaign management.

  • Dashboard and analytics functionality

Campaign performance dashboard in SendGrid

Some users experience issues with campaign management on both platforms. 

  • Mailchimp users wish for more AI-driven features to further simplify the campaign creation process.

  • Vagaro users find the email campaign designer to be basic and report issues with the drag-and-drop feature. 

Campaign management for Mailchimp: Among 513 reviewers who gave detailed feedback, 98% rated it important or highly important.

Campaign management for SendGrid: Of 19 reviewers who gave detailed feedback, 95% rated it important or highly important.

Email marketing

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Feature Rating

4.60 / 5

VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Feature Rating

4.0 / 5

Mailchimp and SendGrid offer email marketing features that let users create, send, and analyze email campaigns to engage their audience, build relationships, and drive conversions.

Here’s what Mailchimp users like about this feature:

  • Drag-and-drop builder that allows users to easily create visually appealing and responsive email campaigns, landing pages, and even websites.

  • Pre-defined templates that make it easy for users with varying levels of expertise to create professional emails.

  • Integration with other platforms, including eCommerce, CRM, and lead generation

Analyzing email metrics in Mailchimp

Here’s what SendGrid users like about this feature:

  • Built-in tools for building drip campaigns and automating emails.

  • Customization capabilities and templates that allows users to design and personalize emails, whether for marketing campaigns or transactional purposes.

Visualizing email statistics in SendGrid

Some users experience issues with email marketing on both platforms. 

  • Mailchimp users find the customization options limited and wish for more flexibility in template design.

  • SendGrid users report limitations in scheduling and event-based triggers.

Email marketing for Mailchimp: Out of 197 reviewers who gave detailed feedback, 98% rated it important or highly important. 

Email marketing for SendGrid: Our analysis reveals, 89% users who gave detailed feedback rate this feature as important or highly important.

Contact management

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Feature Rating

4.30 / 5

VS
SendGrid

SendGrid Feature Rating

3.10 / 5

Contact management features let users organize, segment, and maintain their audience lists for targeted communication.

Here’s what Mailchimp users like about this feature:

  • Ability to segment, tag, and organize contacts efficiently.

  • The ease of importing, exporting, and updating contact information.

  • Helps maintain data integrity, ensure compliance, and personalize email content.

Updating contacts in Mailchimp

Here’s what SendGrid users like about this feature:

  • Ability to add contacts directly using CSV files.

  • Integration with MoEngage and other platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Shopify that facilitate customer data sync and helps users automate email triggers based on user behavior.

Creating contact segments in SendGrid

Some users experience issues with contact management on both platforms. 

  • Mailchimp users find it challenging to integrate with existing databases and wish for better re-subscription options for unsubscribed contacts. 

  • SendGrid users report potential duplication or accidental erasure of contacts, which can be confusing.

Contact management for Mailchimp: Of 134 reviewers who gave detailed feedback, 95% rated it important or highly important.

Contact management for SendGrid: As per our analysis, this feature has received an average rating of 3.1 out of 5. 

Bottom Line:

Affordable growth platform

Mailchimp simplifies client communication with automated emails, eCommerce sync, and personalized messaging, ideal for relationship building and large databases. It offers robust features—from templates to reporting, and a generous free plan, benefiting small businesses looking for affordability and scalability. However, challenges include limited free features and confusing list management.

Developer-friendly solution

SendGrid offers a reliable Email API, which is easy to integrate and supports multiple programming languages, making it ideal for developers and startups. Its effective email marketing tools (segmentation, automation, analytics) boost large campaigns and sales. Despite account/IP address management and payment challenges, it's a powerful platform for email deliverability.

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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.