Constant Contact vs Mailchimp

Choosing between Constant Contact and Mailchimp? Here's how they compare on pricing, features, and best-fit use cases.

Quick answer

Choosing between Constant Contact and Mailchimp? Constant Contact is best for small businesses & nonprofits (from $12/mo), while Mailchimp suits small businesses (a free tier, then $13/mo). Both serve the same job — pick on use-case fit and budget.

Constant Contact

4.3 /5

Veteran SMB email & digital marketing platform with an AI copy generator, social posting, events, and SMS in one suite.

Higher rated

Mailchimp

4.4 /5

The best-known all-in-one email marketing platform, now with Intuit Assist generative AI baked into the editor.

Constant Contact Mailchimp
Category AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing
Best for Small businesses & nonprofits, Beginners new to email marketing Small businesses, Ecommerce stores
Top use case Send newsletters and campaigns with a drag-and-drop editor and AI copy generator Send newsletters and automated customer journeys from one suite
Starting price $12/mo Free tier · $13/mo
Free tier Yes
Rating 4.3 4.4

Which should you choose?

Choose Constant Contact if…

  • Small businesses & nonprofits
  • Beginners new to email marketing
  • Event organizers & local services

Edge: All-in-one SMB suite spanning email, social, events, and SMS rather than email alone

Choose Mailchimp if…

  • Small businesses
  • Ecommerce stores
  • Multichannel marketers

Edge: Broadest brand recognition and template/onboarding ecosystem for SMBs

Pros & cons, side by side

Constant Contact

Pros

  • All-in-one suite (email, social, ads, events, SMS) for SMBs
  • Live phone/chat support and 1:1 onboarding for non-technical users
  • 300+ integrations plus a 97% deliverability rate

Cons

  • Contact- and send-based pricing scales up, and overage fees can apply
  • Automation and segmentation are lighter than dedicated automation-first rivals

Mailchimp

Pros

  • Generative AI and content optimizer built into the editor
  • Permanent free plan and huge template/onboarding ecosystem
  • All-in-one suite covering email, automation, and basic multichannel

Cons

  • Contact-based pricing scales quickly and counts non-subscribed contacts
  • Published prices are 12-month intro rates; ongoing cost is higher and less transparent

What to compare them on

Beyond pricing, these are the dimensions where Constant Contact and Mailchimp differ most — weigh each against your own workflow:

  • All-in-one SMB suite spanning email, social, events, and SMS rather than email alone
  • Hands-on onboarding and live phone/chat support aimed at less-technical users
  • Pricing scales with contact count and email sends; overage fees can apply
  • Broadest brand recognition and template/onboarding ecosystem for SMBs
  • Generative AI and content optimization inside the editor
  • Contact-based pricing and 12-month intro rates make true ongoing cost less transparent

Bottom line

Mailchimp scores higher in our rating (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5); Constant Contact has the lower entry price ($12/mo vs $13/mo); only Mailchimp offers a free tier. Constant Contact is built for small businesses & nonprofits and beginners new to email marketing; Mailchimp suits small businesses and ecommerce stores. Both are AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing tools, so it comes down to which job is your priority and your budget. Verify pricing on each vendor's site (info as of June 2026).

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Constant Contact and Mailchimp?

Both are AI Email & Lifecycle Marketing tools. Constant Contact is geared toward small businesses & nonprofits, while Mailchimp suits small businesses — the choice comes down to which job is your priority.

Is Constant Contact or Mailchimp cheaper?

Constant Contact is the cheaper entry point ($12/mo vs $13/mo), and Mailchimp has a free tier to trial first.

Should I choose Constant Contact or Mailchimp?

Choose Constant Contact if your priority is small businesses & nonprofits; choose Mailchimp if small businesses matters more. Both are solid — the decision comes down to your specific use case, not a single score.

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