ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
A side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings to help you choose.
Higher rated
4.4 (10,200)
ActiveCampaign
Deep automation with a built-in CRM
$15/mo
From ~$15/mo; CRM add-on tiers cost more
Mailchimp
Approachable email marketing for small businesses
Free plan
Free up to 500 contacts; paid from ~$13/mo
At a glance
| Spec | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | Free plan |
| Budget tier | Mid-range | Budget-friendly |
| Complexity | Advanced | Beginner-friendly |
| Primary category | Marketing Automation | Email Marketing |
| Integrations | 900+ | 300+ |
| Founded | 2003 | 2001 |
Feature comparison
ActiveCampaign offers 9 of 12 tracked features; Mailchimp offers 9.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Email campaigns | ||
| Automation workflows | ||
| Built-in CRM | ||
| Landing page builder | ||
| A/B testing | ||
| Analytics dashboards | ||
| SEO tooling | ||
| Social scheduling | ||
| AI assistant | ||
| API & webhooks | ||
| Priority / 24-7 support |
ActiveCampaign
Pros
- Best-in-class visual automation builder
- Strong segmentation and conditional logic
- Built-in CRM with sales automation
Cons
- No free plan, only a trial
- Interface can overwhelm beginners
- Reporting is functional but not flashy
Mailchimp
Pros
- Famously easy drag-and-drop editor
- Generous-enough free plan to get started
- Solid template library and content studio
Cons
- Automation is shallow versus dedicated platforms
- Pricing counts unsubscribed/archived contacts in some tiers
- Support is thin on lower plans
The verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead on our editorial score, but the right pick depends on your priorities. Choose ActiveCampaign if you value marketers who want enterprise-grade automation without enterprise pricing. Choose Mailchimp if you need small businesses and creators who want email that just works.
Browse all tools →