Which platform is truly free for the longest time?

ConvertKit (Kit) offers significantly more free value with 10,000 subscribers and unlimited email sends, compared to Mailchimp's 250-contact, 500-email/month cap. For most active creators and marketers, Kit's free plan can remain viable 10-20x longer before requiring an upgrade, making it substantially more generous.

Does Mailchimp or ConvertKit have better email deliverability?

ConvertKit reports superior deliverability rates due to its focus on email-only marketing and lower spam complaint ratios from engaged creator audiences. Mailchimp's broader feature set and less specialized user base sometimes result in lower deliverability, particularly on free and entry-level plans.

Can I use Mailchimp or ConvertKit for SMS marketing?

Mailchimp includes native SMS marketing and multi-channel campaigns. ConvertKit focuses exclusively on email and does not offer native SMS functionality, requiring third-party integrations if SMS is essential to your strategy.

Which platform is easier for beginners with no technical skills?

Both platforms offer intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces. ConvertKit users report slightly faster onboarding due to its simplified feature set (4.4/5 G2 rating vs Mailchimp's 4.3/5), though Mailchimp's broader ecosystem may feel overwhelming initially to non-technical users.

At what subscriber count does ConvertKit become cheaper than Mailchimp?

ConvertKit's fixed, subscriber-based pricing typically becomes 30-50% cheaper than Mailchimp once your list exceeds 1,000-2,000 subscribers, because Mailchimp applies aggressive per-contact multipliers that compound rapidly, while ConvertKit maintains linear, predictable scaling.

Mailchimp vs ConvertKit

Updated May 9, 2026

Mailchimp

Simplified email marketing platform with basic CRM and audience management

E-commerce businesses, B2B companies, and agencies needing integrated marketing automation beyond email

Check Price

ConvertKit (Kit)

Creator-focused email marketing platform with unlimited sends, content tools, and commerce features.

Content creators, bloggers, newsletters, solopreneurs, and email-focused businesses valuing unlimited sends and sustainable pricing

Short Answer

ConvertKit (Kit) dominates for creators and email-focused businesses with unlimited sends on all paid plans and a 10,000-subscriber free tier, while Mailchimp suits small businesses needing broader marketing tools beyond email despite restrictive free plan limits (250 contacts, 500 emails/month).

Our Verdict

Choose ConvertKit if you're a creator, writer, or content marketer prioritizing email marketing, unlimited sends, and sustainable pricing—its 10,000-subscriber free tier and creator-focused features offer 40x more value than Mailchimp's free plan. Choose Mailchimp if you're a small e-commerce business or need integrated CRM, advanced automation, and broader marketing tools beyond email, accepting that costs scale aggressively with list growth.

Mailchimp5

10ConvertKit (Kit)

Choose Mailchimp if

E-commerce businesses, B2B companies, and agencies needing integrated marketing automation beyond email

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Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

Free Plan Subscriber Limit: ConvertKit (Kit) wins (10,000 subscribers vs 250 contacts)

🧠

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends: ConvertKit (Kit) wins (Unlimited vs 500 emails/month)

🧠

Paid Plan Email Sends: ConvertKit (Kit) wins (Unlimited on all paid plans vs Restricted by contact tiers)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Mailchimp	ConvertKit (Kit)	Diff
Core Marketing Channels(channels)	5 channels	—	—
Learning Curve Rating(difficulty (1-10))	7 (moderate to high)	—	—
Starting Price (Monthly)(USD)	$0-$20	—	—
Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts)	250	10,000

Key Differences

Mailchimp

Attribute

ConvertKit (Kit)

250 contacts

Free Plan Subscriber Limit

10,000 subscribers🏆

500 emails/month

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends

Unlimited🏆

Restricted by contact tiers

Paid Plan Email Sends

Unlimited on all paid plans

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Free Plan Subscriber Limit

Mailchimp

250 contacts

ConvertKit (Kit)

10,000 subscribers🏆

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends

Mailchimp

500 emails/month

ConvertKit (Kit)

Unlimited🏆

Paid Plan Email Sends

Mailchimp

Restricted by contact tiers

ConvertKit (Kit)

Unlimited on all paid plans🏆

Primary User Base

Mailchimp

13 million users (broad audience)

ConvertKit (Kit)

600,000 creators (specialized)

G2 Rating

Mailchimp

4.3/5 stars

ConvertKit (Kit)

4.4/5 stars🏆

Price Scaling Model

Mailchimp

Steep with subscriber growth

ConvertKit (Kit)

Predictable subscriber-based🏆

Additional Marketing Tools

Mailchimp

Landing pages, forms, CRM, analytics🏆

ConvertKit (Kit)

Landing pages, forms, content studio, commerce

Full Comparison

Attribute	Mailchimp	ConvertKit (Kit)

Core Marketing Channels(channels)	5 channels	—
SMS Marketing Capability	Yes, with international expansion	—
Landing Page Builder Access	Free on all plans	—
AI Email Generation	Not available	—
SMS Marketing Capabilities	Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion	—
Show 9 more attributes Email Templates(count) 200+ — Free Plan Email Features Limited core features only — Email Template Design Options(variety level) Extensive design variety and customization — Segmentation Capabilities(sophistication level) Standard audience segmentation — Customer Data Integration(depth level) Basic contact data syncing — Email Automation Workflows Basic (simple triggers, 3-5 step sequences) — Native CRM Included No (API integration only) — Landing Page Builder Yes (drag-and-drop, mobile-responsive) — SMS Marketing Support Yes (added 2026, supports international markets) —

Free Plan Available	Yes, up to 500 contacts	—
Starting Price (Monthly)(USD)	$0-$20	—
Starting Price (Entry Tier)(USD/month)	$13/month	—
Cost at 5,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)	$50-70/month	—
Cost at 50,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)	$100/month	—
Show 2 more attributes Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD) $100 — Free Plan Availability Yes (up to 500 contacts, all core features) —

Learning Curve Rating(difficulty (1-10))	7 (moderate to high)	—

Segmentation Depth	Sophisticated data-driven rules	—

24/7 Support Availability	Yes, varies by plan	—

Automation Complexity Level	Basic (Customer Journey Builder)	—

Email Deliverability Testing	A/B testing and design testing (free)	—

eCommerce Platform Support(platforms)	More extensive platform coverage	—
CRM Integration Capabilities	Basic contact management	—

User Skill Level Required	Beginner-friendly	—
Setup Time for First Campaign(hours)	1-2 hours	—
User Learning Curve(difficulty level)	Minimal (intuitive interface)	—

Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts)	250	10,000

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends(emails/month)	500	Unlimited

G2 Aggregate Rating(out of 5)	4.3/5	4.4/5

Built-in E-commerce Features	Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)	Native digital product sales, affiliate tracking, paid newsletter
Paid Plan Email Sending(sends per month)	Capped by contact tier multipliers	Unlimited across all plans
Integrated CRM & Contact Management	Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation	Basic contact management
Built-in E-commerce & Monetization	Limited e-commerce via integrations	Native commerce platform included
CRM Type	Basic add-on CRM	—

Overage Fees on Paid Plans	Yes - charges per contact/send overages	None - unlimited emails

Third-Party Integrations(score/10)	Extensive library with 300+ native integrations	Good selection (Zapier, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe)

Analytics & Reporting Depth	Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights	Creator Pro includes engagement trends, clicks, deliverability, purchases

Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts)	250 (as of 2026)	—
Entry-Level Paid Plan Price(USD/month)	$20	—

Third-Party Integrations Available(integrations)	1,200+	—
CRM Integration	Full native CRM platform integrated	—

AI Personalization Engine	Basic personalization features	—
Trigger-Based Automation Workflows	Available but less intuitive setup	—

User Interface Modernity(rating)	Legacy interface, steep learning curve	—

Monthly Email Send Limit (Entry Plan)(emails/month)	1,000-5,000	—

Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)(contacts)	Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing	—

Free Plan Subscriber Capacity(contacts/subscribers)	250 contacts	10,000 subscribers
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers(relative cost index)	Steep 3-4x multiplier	Linear predictable growth

Free Plan Monthly Email Limit(emails)	1,000 emails/month	Unlimited
Free Plan Contact Capacity(contacts)	500 contacts	—

Global User Base(millions of users)	13 million users	600,000 creators

G2 Review Rating(stars out of 5)	4.3/5 stars	4.4/5 stars

Lead Scoring Capability	Manual segmentation only	—
Marketing Channels Supported(channels)	Email, basic social	Email, landing pages, opt-in forms
Automation Workflow Complexity	Basic linear automation sequences	—

2026 Feature Updates(updates)	Standard quarterly updates	—

Mailchimp

ConvertKit (Kit)

Core Marketing Channels(channels)

5 channels

—

SMS Marketing Capability

Yes, with international expansion

—

Landing Page Builder Access

Free on all plans

—

AI Email Generation

Not available

—

SMS Marketing Capabilities

Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion

—

Show 9 more attributes

Email Templates(count)

200+

—

Free Plan Email Features

Limited core features only

—

Email Template Design Options(variety level)

Extensive design variety and customization

—

Segmentation Capabilities(sophistication level)

Standard audience segmentation

—

Customer Data Integration(depth level)

Basic contact data syncing

—

Email Automation Workflows

Basic (simple triggers, 3-5 step sequences)

—

Native CRM Included

No (API integration only)

—

Landing Page Builder

Yes (drag-and-drop, mobile-responsive)

—

SMS Marketing Support

Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)

—

Free Plan Available

Yes, up to 500 contacts

—

Starting Price (Monthly)(USD)

$0-$20

—

Starting Price (Entry Tier)(USD/month)

$13/month

—

Cost at 5,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)

$50-70/month

—

Cost at 50,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)

$100/month

—

Show 2 more attributes

Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD)

$100

—

Free Plan Availability

Yes (up to 500 contacts, all core features)

—

Learning Curve Rating(difficulty (1-10))

7 (moderate to high)

—

Segmentation Depth

Sophisticated data-driven rules

—

24/7 Support Availability

Yes, varies by plan

—

Automation Complexity Level

Basic (Customer Journey Builder)

—

Email Deliverability Testing

A/B testing and design testing (free)

—

eCommerce Platform Support(platforms)

More extensive platform coverage

—

CRM Integration Capabilities

Basic contact management

—

User Skill Level Required

Beginner-friendly

—

Setup Time for First Campaign(hours)

1-2 hours

—

User Learning Curve(difficulty level)

Minimal (intuitive interface)

—

Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts)

250

10,000

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends(emails/month)

500

Unlimited

G2 Aggregate Rating(out of 5)

4.3/5

4.4/5

Built-in E-commerce Features

Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)

Native digital product sales, affiliate tracking, paid newsletter

Paid Plan Email Sending(sends per month)

Capped by contact tier multipliers

Unlimited across all plans

Integrated CRM & Contact Management

Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation

Basic contact management

Built-in E-commerce & Monetization

Limited e-commerce via integrations

Native commerce platform included

CRM Type

Basic add-on CRM

—

Overage Fees on Paid Plans

Yes - charges per contact/send overages

None - unlimited emails

Third-Party Integrations(score/10)

Extensive library with 300+ native integrations

Good selection (Zapier, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe)

Analytics & Reporting Depth

Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights

Creator Pro includes engagement trends, clicks, deliverability, purchases

Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts)

250 (as of 2026)

—

Entry-Level Paid Plan Price(USD/month)

$20

—

Third-Party Integrations Available(integrations)

1,200+

—

CRM Integration

Full native CRM platform integrated

—

AI Personalization Engine

Basic personalization features

—

Trigger-Based Automation Workflows

Available but less intuitive setup

—

User Interface Modernity(rating)

Legacy interface, steep learning curve

—

Monthly Email Send Limit (Entry Plan)(emails/month)

1,000-5,000

—

Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)(contacts)

Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing

—

Free Plan Subscriber Capacity(contacts/subscribers)

250 contacts

10,000 subscribers

Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers(relative cost index)

Steep 3-4x multiplier

Linear predictable growth

Free Plan Monthly Email Limit(emails)

1,000 emails/month

Unlimited

Free Plan Contact Capacity(contacts)

500 contacts

—

Global User Base(millions of users)

13 million users

600,000 creators

G2 Review Rating(stars out of 5)

4.3/5 stars

4.4/5 stars

Lead Scoring Capability

Manual segmentation only

—

Marketing Channels Supported(channels)

Email, basic social

Email, landing pages, opt-in forms

Automation Workflow Complexity

Basic linear automation sequences

—

2026 Feature Updates(updates)

Standard quarterly updates

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Mailchimp	ConvertKit (Kit)

Core Marketing Channels(channels)	5 channels	—
SMS Marketing Capability	Yes, with international expansion	—
Landing Page Builder Access	Free on all plans	—
AI Email Generation	Not available	—
SMS Marketing Capabilities	Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion	—
Show 9 more attributes Email Templates(count) 200+ — Free Plan Email Features Limited core features only — Email Template Design Options(variety level) Extensive design variety and customization — Segmentation Capabilities(sophistication level) Standard audience segmentation — Customer Data Integration(depth level) Basic contact data syncing — Email Automation Workflows Basic (simple triggers, 3-5 step sequences) — Native CRM Included No (API integration only) — Landing Page Builder Yes (drag-and-drop, mobile-responsive) — SMS Marketing Support Yes (added 2026, supports international markets) —

Free Plan Available	Yes, up to 500 contacts	—
Starting Price (Monthly)(USD)	$0-$20	—
Starting Price (Entry Tier)(USD/month)	$13/month	—
Cost at 5,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)	$50-70/month	—
Cost at 50,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)	$100/month	—
Show 2 more attributes Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD) $100 — Free Plan Availability Yes (up to 500 contacts, all core features) —

Learning Curve Rating(difficulty (1-10))	7 (moderate to high)	—

Segmentation Depth	Sophisticated data-driven rules	—

24/7 Support Availability	Yes, varies by plan	—

Automation Complexity Level	Basic (Customer Journey Builder)	—

Email Deliverability Testing	A/B testing and design testing (free)	—

eCommerce Platform Support(platforms)	More extensive platform coverage	—
CRM Integration Capabilities	Basic contact management	—

User Skill Level Required	Beginner-friendly	—
Setup Time for First Campaign(hours)	1-2 hours	—
User Learning Curve(difficulty level)	Minimal (intuitive interface)	—

Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts)	250	10,000

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends(emails/month)	500	Unlimited

G2 Aggregate Rating(out of 5)	4.3/5	4.4/5

Built-in E-commerce Features	Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)	Native digital product sales, affiliate tracking, paid newsletter
Paid Plan Email Sending(sends per month)	Capped by contact tier multipliers	Unlimited across all plans
Integrated CRM & Contact Management	Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation	Basic contact management
Built-in E-commerce & Monetization	Limited e-commerce via integrations	Native commerce platform included
CRM Type	Basic add-on CRM	—

Overage Fees on Paid Plans	Yes - charges per contact/send overages	None - unlimited emails

Third-Party Integrations(score/10)	Extensive library with 300+ native integrations	Good selection (Zapier, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe)

Analytics & Reporting Depth	Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights	Creator Pro includes engagement trends, clicks, deliverability, purchases

Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts)	250 (as of 2026)	—
Entry-Level Paid Plan Price(USD/month)	$20	—

Third-Party Integrations Available(integrations)	1,200+	—
CRM Integration	Full native CRM platform integrated	—

AI Personalization Engine	Basic personalization features	—
Trigger-Based Automation Workflows	Available but less intuitive setup	—

User Interface Modernity(rating)	Legacy interface, steep learning curve	—

Monthly Email Send Limit (Entry Plan)(emails/month)	1,000-5,000	—

Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)(contacts)	Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing	—

Free Plan Subscriber Capacity(contacts/subscribers)	250 contacts	10,000 subscribers
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers(relative cost index)	Steep 3-4x multiplier	Linear predictable growth

Free Plan Monthly Email Limit(emails)	1,000 emails/month	Unlimited
Free Plan Contact Capacity(contacts)	500 contacts	—

Global User Base(millions of users)	13 million users	600,000 creators

G2 Review Rating(stars out of 5)	4.3/5 stars	4.4/5 stars

Lead Scoring Capability	Manual segmentation only	—
Marketing Channels Supported(channels)	Email, basic social	Email, landing pages, opt-in forms
Automation Workflow Complexity	Basic linear automation sequences	—

2026 Feature Updates(updates)	Standard quarterly updates	—

Mailchimp

ConvertKit (Kit)

Core Marketing Channels(channels)

5 channels

—

SMS Marketing Capability

Yes, with international expansion

—

Landing Page Builder Access

Free on all plans

—

AI Email Generation

Not available

—

SMS Marketing Capabilities

Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion

—

Show 9 more attributes

Email Templates(count)

200+

—

Free Plan Email Features

Limited core features only

—

Email Template Design Options(variety level)

Extensive design variety and customization

—

Segmentation Capabilities(sophistication level)

Standard audience segmentation

—

Customer Data Integration(depth level)

Basic contact data syncing

—

Email Automation Workflows

Basic (simple triggers, 3-5 step sequences)

—

Native CRM Included

No (API integration only)

—

Landing Page Builder

Yes (drag-and-drop, mobile-responsive)

—

SMS Marketing Support

Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)

—

Free Plan Available

Yes, up to 500 contacts

—

Starting Price (Monthly)(USD)

$0-$20

—

Starting Price (Entry Tier)(USD/month)

$13/month

—

Cost at 5,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)

$50-70/month

—

Cost at 50,000 Contacts/Profiles(USD/month)

$100/month

—

Show 2 more attributes

Monthly Cost (10,000 contacts)(USD)

$100

—

Free Plan Availability

Yes (up to 500 contacts, all core features)

—

Learning Curve Rating(difficulty (1-10))

7 (moderate to high)

—

Segmentation Depth

Sophisticated data-driven rules

—

24/7 Support Availability

Yes, varies by plan

—

Automation Complexity Level

Basic (Customer Journey Builder)

—

Email Deliverability Testing

A/B testing and design testing (free)

—

eCommerce Platform Support(platforms)

More extensive platform coverage

—

CRM Integration Capabilities

Basic contact management

—

User Skill Level Required

Beginner-friendly

—

Setup Time for First Campaign(hours)

1-2 hours

—

User Learning Curve(difficulty level)

Minimal (intuitive interface)

—

Free Plan Subscriber Limit(contacts)

250

10,000

Free Plan Monthly Email Sends(emails/month)

500

Unlimited

G2 Aggregate Rating(out of 5)

4.3/5

4.4/5

Built-in E-commerce Features

Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)

Native digital product sales, affiliate tracking, paid newsletter

Paid Plan Email Sending(sends per month)

Capped by contact tier multipliers

Unlimited across all plans

Integrated CRM & Contact Management

Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation

Basic contact management

Built-in E-commerce & Monetization

Limited e-commerce via integrations

Native commerce platform included

CRM Type

Basic add-on CRM

—

Overage Fees on Paid Plans

Yes - charges per contact/send overages

None - unlimited emails

Third-Party Integrations(score/10)

Extensive library with 300+ native integrations

Good selection (Zapier, WordPress, Shopify, Stripe)

Analytics & Reporting Depth

Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights

Creator Pro includes engagement trends, clicks, deliverability, purchases

Free Plan Contact Limit(contacts)

250 (as of 2026)

—

Entry-Level Paid Plan Price(USD/month)

$20

—

Third-Party Integrations Available(integrations)

1,200+

—

CRM Integration

Full native CRM platform integrated

—

AI Personalization Engine

Basic personalization features

—

Trigger-Based Automation Workflows

Available but less intuitive setup

—

User Interface Modernity(rating)

Legacy interface, steep learning curve

—

Monthly Email Send Limit (Entry Plan)(emails/month)

1,000-5,000

—

Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)(contacts)

Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing

—

Free Plan Subscriber Capacity(contacts/subscribers)

250 contacts

10,000 subscribers

Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers(relative cost index)

Steep 3-4x multiplier

Linear predictable growth

Free Plan Monthly Email Limit(emails)

1,000 emails/month

Unlimited

Free Plan Contact Capacity(contacts)

500 contacts

—

Global User Base(millions of users)

13 million users

600,000 creators

G2 Review Rating(stars out of 5)

4.3/5 stars

4.4/5 stars

Lead Scoring Capability

Manual segmentation only

—

Marketing Channels Supported(channels)

Email, basic social

Email, landing pages, opt-in forms

Automation Workflow Complexity

Basic linear automation sequences

—

2026 Feature Updates(updates)

Standard quarterly updates

—

Mailchimp vs ConvertKit

Mailchimp

ConvertKit (Kit)

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Track this comparison

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Software

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Mailchimp

Pros

Cons

ConvertKit (Kit)

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Where to Buy

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Mailchimp vs ConvertKit

Mailchimp

ConvertKit (Kit)

Short Answer

Our Verdict

🔔Track this comparison

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Software

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Mailchimp

Pros

Cons

ConvertKit (Kit)

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Where to Buy

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Track this comparison