Mailgun is a developer-focused email API for transactional emails with advanced technical controls and pay-as-you-go pricing, while Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform emphasizing campaign creation, automation, and user-friendly interfaces with tiered subscription pricing.
Mailgun vs Mailchimp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Developer-focused email API for transactional and bulk emails with advanced technical controls.
Accessible email marketing and automation platform for small businesses, e-commerce, and creators.
Primary Use Case. Pricing Model. Learning Curve. Email Deliverability Rate. Built-in Marketing Automation. Monthly Email Volume (Free Tier). Customer Support Response Time
Choose Mailgun if you're a developer building transactional email into your application and need granular control, advanced deliverability features, and flexible pay-as-you-go pricing. Choose Mailchimp if you're a marketer or small business owner needing an integrated platform for email campaigns, subscriber segmentation, and automation without technical setup.
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: $13 (paid) / $0 (free tier)
Mailgun: 50+ | Mailchimp: 100+ templates
Mailgun: 4-24 (varies by plan) | Mailchimp: Email-based, no SLA
Mailgun: $0.50 | Mailchimp: $2–$7 (plan-dependent)
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: 300 req/s | Mailchimp: 10 calls/second
Mailgun: 10 days | Mailchimp: Unlimited free tier available
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: None (14-day trial) | Mailchimp: 12,000
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: Code-based (HTML/MJML) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: 24 hours (standard) | Mailchimp: N/A
Mailgun: $0.50 per 1K emails | Mailchimp: $20/month
Mailgun: $50 | Mailchimp: $200+ (plan dependent)
Mailgun: 60-120 (requires API setup) | Mailchimp: 5-10 (UI-based)
Mailgun: Basic (webhooks, event triggers) | Mailchimp: Advanced (journey builder, behavioral triggers, A/B testing)
Mailgun: 50+ (via API) | Mailchimp: 300+ (native + Zapier)
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: 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: 300+ (general purpose)
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: 12+ 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: 500 free contacts
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: None (requires third-party solutions)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited basic sequences
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Phone support on paid plans only
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: 5 (Email, SMS, Social Ads, Landing Pages, Postcards)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1-2 (self-service)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (up to 5-10 per plan tier)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01-0.05 per SMS
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01 (SMS add-on)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 day (no-code signup)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 12M+ users (2025)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited steps
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: No (paid add-on)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (SaaS model)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 20 (1K-contact plan)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 500+ templates including AI-generated
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: $20 additional per month
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced abandoned cart, product recommendations, dynamic pricing
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic automation on free plan
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced AI copywriter with subject line optimization
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited - basic integration support only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced visual builder included
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: List management only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - iOS and Android
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Available at higher tiers
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (100+ triggers, unlimited branching)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 0 (Third-party only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 5+ (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Squarespace, others)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact segmentation, limited tagging, no pipeline management
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: None—email-focused platform only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Automations available on free plan with customer journey builder
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Requires API/Zapier connectors
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 4 (email, SMS, ads, landing pages)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited on starter plans
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Premium+ ($350/month minimum)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Not available (segmentation only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: Third-party (Zapier) only
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 (last-click only)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 (free), unlimited (paid)
Mailgun: N/A | Mailchimp: No, not available
How to choose between Mailgun and Mailchimp
Mailgun vs Mailchimp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Mailgun vs Mailchimp. Contains 257 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 sending transactional emails like password resets?
Mailgun is the clear winner for transactional emails. It's specifically designed for this use case with 98.5% deliverability, direct API access, real-time webhooks, and detailed delivery logs. Mailchimp focuses on marketing campaigns and lacks the developer tools needed for reliable transactional email infrastructure.
Which is better for email marketing campaigns?
Mailchimp is far superior for marketing campaigns. It offers a drag-and-drop builder, advanced automation workflows, audience segmentation, A/B testing, and behavioral triggers—none of which Mailgun provides. Mailchimp also includes native e-commerce integrations and customer journey mapping.
Can I use Mailgun for marketing campaigns?
Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Mailgun requires API integration and doesn't include campaign builders, templates, or segmentation tools. It's built for developers sending programmatic emails, not marketers managing subscriber lists. Use Mailchimp instead.
Which offers better value for high-volume senders?
Mailgun offers significantly better pricing for high volume. At 50k emails/month, Mailgun costs ~$25/month on pay-as-you-go, while Mailchimp's Standard plan starts at $20 with lower limits. At 100k emails/month, Mailgun costs ~$50 while Mailchimp jumps to higher tiers. For transactional-heavy use, Mailgun's economics are unbeatable.
Yes, but very differently. Mailgun offers 10,000 free emails/month with full API access (excellent for testing). Mailchimp offers 500 free emails/month for basic marketing (good for startups). Mailgun's free tier is 20x more generous, making it better for development and testing.
How to Choose Between Mailgun and Mailchimp
Primary Use Case: Mailgun has Transactional emails (receipts, password resets, notifications), while Mailchimp has Marketing campaigns and subscriber management.
Pricing Model: Mailgun has Pay-as-you-go: $0.50 per 1,000 emails after 10,000 free/month, while Mailchimp has Tiered plans: Free (500/month) to Pro ($20+/month for 50,000+).
Learning Curve: Mailgun has Steep - requires API integration and developer knowledge, while Mailchimp has Minimal - drag-and-drop builder, no coding required.
Email Deliverability Rate: Mailgun has 98.5% average across industry benchmarks, while Mailchimp has 97.2% average reported by users.
Built-in Marketing Automation: Mailgun has Limited - basic webhooks and event triggers, while Mailchimp has Extensive - customer journey builder, behavioral triggers, A/B testing.
Consider: Monthly Email Volume (Free Tier)
Monthly Email Volume (Free Tier): Mailgun has 10,000 emails/month, while Mailchimp has 500 emails/month.
Consider: Customer Support Response Time
Customer Support Response Time: Mailgun has 24 hours (Standard) / 1 hour (Paid plans), while Mailchimp has 24 hours (Free) / 1 hour (paid tiers).