Mailgun is a developer-focused email API for transactional emails with granular control and pay-as-you-go pricing starting at $0.50/1000 emails, while Mailchimp is a marketing automation platform with visual campaign builders and subscriber management starting free for up to 500 contacts. Mailgun suits technical teams sending triggered emails; Mailchimp suits marketers managing subscriber lists and campaigns.
Mailgun vs Mailchimp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Developer-focused email API for transactional and high-volume sending with flexible pay-as-you-go pricing.
Marketing automation platform with visual campaign builders, audience management, and integrated CRM for subscriber-based marketing.
Primary Use Case. Pricing Model. Setup & Technical Skill Required. Built-in Subscriber Management. Monthly Email Volume at $100/month. A/B Testing & Campaign Analytics. Free Tier Availability
Choose Mailgun if you're building applications requiring high-volume transactional emails (password resets, receipts, notifications) and need cost-efficient pay-as-you-go pricing with developer API control. Choose Mailchimp if you're a marketer or small business managing subscriber campaigns, automations, and audience segmentation without coding—especially with a free tier to start.
Mailgun: $0 (free tier) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Limited (basic scheduling only) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Multiple continents (8+) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: 25 (unlimited) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: 0 (paid separately) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: No (requires integration) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: $0 (pay-as-you-go, $0.50/1K emails) | Mailchimp: $0-$20
Mailgun: 50+ | Mailchimp: 100+ templates
Mailgun: 14+ event types | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: 4-24 (varies by plan) | Mailchimp: 12-24 hours (business hours)
Mailgun: 600 emails/month | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with 10k contacts max)
Mailgun: $0.50 | Mailchimp: Not applicable (subscriber-based)
Starter Tier Monthly Cost (50k contacts)
Mailgun: $25 (pay-as-you-go, ~1M emails) | Mailchimp: $350/month
Mailgun: 0 (code-based only) | Mailchimp: 500+
Automation Workflow Steps (Free/Starter Tier)
Mailgun: 0 (manual via API) | Mailchimp: Unlimited (standard feature)
Mailgun: Unlimited | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with pricing increase)
Mailgun: Syntax, SMTP, catch-all, disposable detection, Risk scoring | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Instant (automatic) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Unlimited (custom throttling available) | Mailchimp: 10 calls/second
Mailgun: 9,000 (300/day) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Automatic suppression lists and bounce categorization | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: 24/7 email/chat, <2hr response on paid plans | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: Third-party integrations, REST API only | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: $0.50 | Mailchimp: $2–$7 (plan-dependent)
Mailgun: None (14-day trial) | Mailchimp: 1,000/month
Mailgun: 4–8 hours | Mailchimp: 0.5–1 hour (UI-based)
Mailgun: Basic (open/click tracking) | Mailchimp: Advanced (subject, send time, content)
Mailgun: Automatic with webhook notifications | Mailchimp: Manual review required
Mailgun: None (API-only, no native CRM) | Mailchimp: Full CRM with segmentation, tagging, custom fields
Mailgun: $50 (pay-as-you-go) | Mailchimp: $200–$350 (based on tier)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (500 contacts)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 7 (moderate to high)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Sophisticated data-driven rules
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, varies by plan
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, with international expansion
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Free on all plans
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (Customer Journey Builder)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: A/B testing and design testing (free)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: More extensive platform coverage
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact management
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Beginner-friendly
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - charges per contact/send overages
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 300+ integrations
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic personalization features
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Available but less intuitive setup
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Legacy interface, steep learning curve
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Full native CRM platform integrated
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited core features only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Extensive design variety and customization
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard audience segmentation
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact data syncing
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: No (API integration only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)
Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000 emails/month
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Capped by contact tier multipliers
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 13 million users
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited e-commerce via integrations
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Steep 3-4x multiplier
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic add-on CRM
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual segmentation only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, basic social
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Minimal (intuitive interface)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard quarterly updates
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, full CRM suite
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, SMS, landing pages, ads
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Moderate, marketing-focused
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 300,000 (based on plan)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $13/month (Essentials)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $800/month (100,000 contacts)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Full-featured free plan
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (up to 500 contacts)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Modern and professional
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced automation included
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Third-party integrations
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Transactional email and small business
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop, AI-assisted)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with customer profiles
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: All paid plans
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 (free) / 5,000 (paid)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.08 months (1 hour)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (Salesforce, HubSpot, custom)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Behavioral segmentation only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (list segmentation only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: ~5 basic automations
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: No (Zapier third-party only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 (beginner-friendly)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $0 (free tier)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 free contacts
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: None (requires third-party solutions)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (all plans)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Business hours (paid plans)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (you handle payments)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (conditional, behavioral triggers)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: No (third-party required)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (subject lines, send time)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Included in paid plans
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 30+ (payment processor + Mailchimp config)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $0 (free tier) or $20 (Pro)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Not offered (email-focused)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (email, SMS via paid add-on, social)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5-2 hours (no code required)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (up to 5-10 per plan tier)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01-0.05 per SMS
How to choose between Mailgun and Mailchimp
Mailgun vs Mailchimp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Mailgun vs Mailchimp. Contains 179 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Mailgun vs Mailchimp — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Mailgun vs Mailchimp.
Which is better for transactional emails like password resets and receipts?
Mailgun is purpose-built for transactional emails with 99.2% deliverability, real-time bounce handling via webhooks, and granular API control. Mailchimp is designed for marketing campaigns, not system-triggered emails, and has higher bounce rates. Use Mailgun for transactional workflows.
Which has a lower total cost of ownership at high volume?
Mailgun is significantly cheaper at scale. At 100,000 emails/month, Mailgun costs ~$50/month (pay-as-you-go), while Mailchimp's Standard plan ($200–$350/month) covers the same volume. At 1 million emails, Mailgun costs ~$500/month vs. Mailchimp's overage-heavy pricing model.
Can I use Mailchimp for transactional emails without coding?
Not effectively. Mailchimp is optimized for batch campaigns sent manually or on schedules. Transactional emails require API integration for real-time triggering. Use Mailchimp for marketing campaigns and Mailgun (or similar services like SendGrid) for transactional needs.
Which one has better audience management?
Mailchimp offers built-in subscriber management with segmentation, tagging, automation workflows, and CRM data. Mailgun has no native audience management—it's email delivery only. For campaign marketing, Mailchimp's audience tools are superior; for API-driven apps, Mailgun's simplicity is an advantage.
What's the learning curve difference between them?
Mailchimp: 30 minutes to send your first campaign (no coding). Mailgun: 4–8 hours to integrate the API and test (requires developer). Mailchimp is marketing-friendly; Mailgun requires technical expertise.
How to Choose Between Mailgun and Mailchimp
Primary Use Case: Mailgun has Transactional & API-driven emails, while Mailchimp has Marketing campaigns & automation.
Pricing Model: Mailgun has $0.50/1000 emails + $0/month base, while Mailchimp has Free tier + $20-$350/month plans.
Consider: Setup & Technical Skill Required
Setup & Technical Skill Required: Mailgun has High (API integration, developer-focused), while Mailchimp has Low (drag-and-drop UI, no coding).
Consider: Built-in Subscriber Management
Built-in Subscriber Management: Mailgun has No (handles individual emails), while Mailchimp has Yes (list segmentation, tagging, CRM).
Consider: Monthly Email Volume at $100/month
Monthly Email Volume at $100/month: Mailgun has 200,000 emails (pay-per-send), while Mailchimp has 5,000-10,000 (limited by plan tier).
Consider: A/B Testing & Campaign Analytics
A/B Testing & Campaign Analytics: Mailgun has Basic (open/click tracking only), while Mailchimp has Advanced (A/B subject lines, send times, revenue tracking).
Free Tier Availability: Mailgun has No (14-day trial only), while Mailchimp has Yes (500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month).