Mailchimp offers a free plan with unlimited contacts and lower paid pricing, making it ideal for startups and budget-conscious businesses, while Constant Contact provides superior customer support, more advanced automation, and better small business features at a premium price point.
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Email marketing and CRM platform focused on small business support and integrated SMS marketing.
All-in-one marketing platform offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features.
Free Plan Contact Limit. Starting Paid Plan Cost (Monthly). Phone Support Availability. Marketing Automation Workflows. SMS Marketing Included. AI-Powered Email Assistant. E-commerce Integration
Choose Mailchimp if you're budget-conscious, starting small, or need AI-powered content creation and unlimited free contacts—it's the clear winner for cost and scalability. Choose Constant Contact if you prioritize white-glove customer support, need SMS marketing built-in, and value advanced automation for small business growth—it's better for service-based businesses willing to invest in premium support.
Constant Contact: 3 channels | Mailchimp: 5 channels
Constant Contact: No | Mailchimp: Yes (500 contacts)
Constant Contact: 3 (very beginner-friendly) | Mailchimp: 7 (moderate to high)
Constant Contact: Standard list-based segmentation | Mailchimp: Sophisticated data-driven rules
Constant Contact: Yes, all plans included | Mailchimp: Yes, varies by plan
Constant Contact: Yes, core feature | Mailchimp: Yes, with international expansion
Constant Contact: $20+ | Mailchimp: $0-$20
Constant Contact: Not offered | Mailchimp: $0.01-0.05 per SMS
Constant Contact: Standard email-based | Mailchimp: Basic (Customer Journey Builder)
Constant Contact: Basic segmentation | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Unlimited | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: 500 contacts | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: $35/month (Standard) | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: No | Mailchimp: Yes, full CRM suite
Constant Contact: Not available | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Basic automation sequences | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: 250+ | Mailchimp: 300+
Constant Contact: Very easy - beginner-friendly | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: $12/month | Mailchimp: N/A
Professional/Standard Plan Monthly Price
Constant Contact: $80/month | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: 17% of average | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Email-centric, limited CRM | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Solo to small business (1-50 employees) | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Trial only (60 days) | Mailchimp: 500 free contacts
Constant Contact: Near-instantaneous (seconds to minutes) | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: 1,000+ | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: 24/7 (phone, email, live chat) | Mailchimp: Email-based, no SLA
Constant Contact: $300/month | Mailchimp: $145
Constant Contact: 500 contacts | Mailchimp: 500 contacts
Constant Contact: 12 pre-built templates | Mailchimp: ~5 basic automations
Constant Contact: 500+ templates | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Constant Contact: Add-on ($30-$60/month extra) | Mailchimp: No (add-on only)
Constant Contact: Basic contact management only | Mailchimp: N/A
Annual Cost Savings vs Constant Contact (10K contacts)
Constant Contact: Baseline ($3,600/year) | Mailchimp: N/A
Constant Contact: Unlimited | Mailchimp: Unlimited
Constant Contact: Limited on basic tiers | Mailchimp: Limited basic sequences
Constant Contact: Unlimited (on request) | Mailchimp: 10 calls/second
Constant Contact: Yes (template-based) | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop, AI-assisted)
Constant Contact: Unlimited | Mailchimp: 500 (free) / 5,000 (paid)
Constant Contact: 300+ professionally designed templates | Mailchimp: 500+ templates including AI-generated
Constant Contact: 24/7 phone support on all plans | Mailchimp: Phone support on paid plans only
Constant Contact: Included in all plans | Mailchimp: $20 additional per month
Constant Contact: Basic product recommendations and catalog sync | Mailchimp: Advanced abandoned cart, product recommendations, dynamic pricing
Constant Contact: Limited automation on free plan | Mailchimp: Basic automation on free plan
Constant Contact: Basic AI content suggestions | Mailchimp: Advanced AI copywriter with subject line optimization
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Free on all plans
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Not available
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: A/B testing and design testing (free)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: More extensive platform coverage
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact management
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Beginner-friendly
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 4.3/5
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - charges per contact/send overages
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,200+
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic personalization features
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Available but less intuitive setup
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Legacy interface, steep learning curve
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full native CRM platform integrated
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $13/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $50-70/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $100/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited core features only
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Extensive design variety and customization
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard audience segmentation
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact data syncing
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000-5,000
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: No (API integration only)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1-2 hours
Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 250 contacts
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000 emails/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Capped by contact tier multipliers
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 13 million users
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 4.3/5 stars
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited e-commerce via integrations
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Steep 3-4x multiplier
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 contacts
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic add-on CRM
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual segmentation only
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, basic social
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Minimal (intuitive interface)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard quarterly updates
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, SMS, landing pages, ads
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Moderate, marketing-focused
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 10-20 minutes
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 300,000 (based on plan)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $13/month (Essentials)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $800/month (100,000 contacts)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full-featured free plan
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (up to 500 contacts)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Modern and professional
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced automation included
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Third-party integrations
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Transactional email and small business
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with customer profiles
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1000+
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: All paid plans
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 3.8/5
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.08 months (1 hour)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (Salesforce, HubSpot, custom)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Behavioral segmentation only
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 2/10 (simple)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (list segmentation only)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: No (Zapier third-party only)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 (beginner-friendly)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 7.8/10
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: None (requires third-party solutions)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with 10k contacts max)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Not applicable (subscriber-based)
Starter Tier Monthly Cost (50k contacts)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $350/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 250ms
Automation Workflow Steps (Free/Starter Tier)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (standard feature)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with pricing increase)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $50-100
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (you handle payments)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (conditional, behavioral triggers)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: No (third-party required)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (subject lines, send time)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Included in paid plans
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 30+ (payment processor + Mailchimp config)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $0 (free tier) or $20 (Pro)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Not offered (email-focused)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Not offered
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 96–98%
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (email, SMS via paid add-on, social)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5-2 hours (no code required)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $70/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (up to 5-10 per plan tier)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 100+ templates
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 4-6 weeks
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $2–$7 (plan-dependent)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 12,000
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5–1 hour (UI-based)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (subject, send time, content)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual review required
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with segmentation, tagging, custom fields
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $200–$350 (based on tier)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01 (SMS add-on)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 45+ countries
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 100+ professional templates
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 day (no-code signup)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 99.99%
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 12M+ users (2025)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited steps
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: No (paid add-on)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (SaaS model)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 30-60 minutes
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 20 (1K-contact plan)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 20M+ users
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: $20/month
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Not included
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited - basic integration support only
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced visual builder included
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 15-20 minutes
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: List management only
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - iOS and Android
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop)
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: Available at higher tiers
Constant Contact: N/A | Mailchimp: 97-98%
How to choose between Constant Contact and Mailchimp
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Constant Contact vs Mailchimp. Contains 195 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Constant Contact vs Mailchimp.
Which email marketing platform is truly free forever?
Mailchimp offers a genuinely free plan with unlimited contacts indefinitely, while Constant Contact limits free users to 500 contacts with a 60-day trial period. Mailchimp's free tier is best for building an initial list, though automation features are restricted. Constant Contact's free option expires, forcing paid subscription after 60 days.
Does Mailchimp or Constant Contact include SMS marketing?
Constant Contact includes SMS marketing in all plans at no extra charge, while Mailchimp charges $20/month as an add-on. If SMS is essential to your strategy, Constant Contact provides better value. Mailchimp users should budget an extra $240/year for SMS functionality.
Which platform has better customer support?
Constant Contact offers 24/7 phone support on all plans, making it superior for businesses needing immediate assistance. Mailchimp restricts phone support to paid plan customers and emphasizes email/chat support. For small business owners who prefer talking to humans, Constant Contact is the clear winner.
Is Mailchimp or Constant Contact better for e-commerce?
Mailchimp has advanced e-commerce features including abandoned cart automation, product recommendations, and dynamic content personalization. Constant Contact offers basic e-commerce tools. E-commerce businesses should choose Mailchimp for sophisticated cart recovery and revenue optimization, though they'll pay extra for SMS.
What's the actual cost difference at scale?
At 10,000 contacts: Constant Contact costs ~$50/month + $20 SMS = $70/month, while Mailchimp costs ~$30/month + $20 SMS = $50/month. Mailchimp saves $240/year at this scale. At 50,000 contacts, Constant Contact costs ~$335/month vs Mailchimp's ~$180/month—a $1,860 annual savings with Mailchimp.
How to Choose Between Constant Contact and Mailchimp
Free Plan Contact Limit: Constant Contact has 500 contacts, while Mailchimp has Unlimited contacts.
Consider: Starting Paid Plan Cost (Monthly)
Starting Paid Plan Cost (Monthly): Constant Contact has $20, while Mailchimp has $13.
Phone Support Availability: Constant Contact has 24/7 phone support included, while Mailchimp has Phone support only on paid plans.
Consider: Marketing Automation Workflows
Marketing Automation Workflows: Constant Contact has Unlimited automation workflows, while Mailchimp has Limited on lower tiers, unlimited on higher.
SMS Marketing Included: Constant Contact has Yes, included in all plans, while Mailchimp has Add-on feature, extra cost.
AI-Powered Email Assistant: Constant Contact has Limited AI features, while Mailchimp has Advanced AI for copywriting and optimization.
E-commerce Integration: Constant Contact has Basic integration, while Mailchimp has Advanced e-commerce tools and automation.