Mailchimp Review
Email Marketing · Email & CRM
The most approachable email platform, with AI-assisted content and send-time optimisation.
Our take
Fine to start on, expensive to stay on. Once your list passes a few thousand, look hard at Brevo or beehiiv before renewing.
At a glance
- Category
- Email & CRM
- Type
- Email Marketing
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Free option
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best for
- Small business newsletters
What Mailchimp does
Mailchimp is rarely the most powerful option and is often the right one anyway. The learning curve is gentle, the templates are good, it integrates with everything, and its AI features are enough for a business sending a weekly newsletter and a handful of automations.
How marketers actually use it
Import the list, pick a template, write the newsletter, schedule it. Send-time optimisation picks the hour, and the AI helps with subject lines. It is the least friction between having something to say and having said it.
Best for
- Small businesses sending regular newsletters
- Teams with no dedicated email marketer
- Simple automations without a steep learning curve
- Getting started without a technical setup
Watch out for
Pricing counts unsubscribed and inactive contacts on some plans, and it gets expensive relative to its capability as lists grow.
Mailchimp pricing
Free plan for a small contact list; paid plans scale with contacts and sends.
Checked August 2026. Pricing changes constantly — confirm on the official site before you buy. There are no affiliate links on this page.
Check current Mailchimp pricingMailchimp FAQ
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, for a small contact list. Paid plans scale with contacts and sends.
Is Mailchimp still good in 2026?
For simple newsletters and beginners, yes. It has been overtaken on capability by Klaviyo for ecommerce and on price by Brevo for large lists.
Why is my Mailchimp bill increasing?
Some plans count unsubscribed and inactive contacts towards your total. Clean the list, or check whether Brevo’s send-based pricing suits you better.
Why is Mailchimp more expensive than it used to be?
Pricing tiers tightened and some plans count unsubscribed and inactive contacts toward your total. Cleaning your list regularly is the simplest way to control it.
What is the best Mailchimp alternative?
Brevo if you have a large list you mail infrequently, beehiiv if the newsletter is the product, Klaviyo if you sell products online.
Mailchimp alternatives
Other email & crm tools worth comparing before you commit: