Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign: Full Comparison (2026)
Quick Answer
ActiveCampaign wins on automation depth and CRM. Mailchimp wins on ease of use and free plan. For serious email marketing, ActiveCampaign is the better investment — Mailchimp's pricing has crept up since the Intuit acquisition without matching ActiveCampaign's feature depth.
Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance
| Dimension | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease Of Use | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | Mailchimp |
| Features | 7.0/10 | 9.0/10 | ActiveCampaign |
| Overall | 7.5/10 | 8.2/10 | ActiveCampaign |
| Pricing | 7.5/10 | 7.0/10 | Mailchimp |
| Support | 7.0/10 | 8.5/10 | ActiveCampaign |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Starter | $Custom/monthly | $15/monthly |
| Essentials / Plus | $13/monthly | $49/monthly |
| Standard / Pro | $20/monthly | $79/monthly |
| Premium / Enterprise | $350/monthly | $145/monthly |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics/reporting | Yes | Yes |
| AI features | Yes | Yes |
| Automation workflows | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic content | Yes | Yes |
| SMS marketing | Yes (Add-on) | Yes (Add-on) |
| Transactional email | Yes (Transactional via Mandrill) | Yes |
| A/B testing | Yes | Yes |
| CRM/contact management | Yes | Yes |
| Deliverability tools | No | Yes |
| Email builder (drag-drop) | Yes | Yes |
| Email templates | Yes | Yes |
| Forms/popups | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan available | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| List management | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-user/teams | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Ecommerce integrations | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations marketplace | Yes | Yes |
Ease Of Use: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Mailchimp's interface is more intuitive for beginners. ActiveCampaign's power comes with a steeper learning curve, especially for the automation builder.
Features: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign's automation builder, CRM, lead scoring, and conditional content are in a different league. Mailchimp has caught up on basics but can't match ActiveCampaign's workflow depth.
Overall: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is the better tool for businesses that take email seriously. Mailchimp works for casual senders and those who want the easiest possible setup.
Pricing: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Mailchimp's free plan gives it the edge for absolute beginners, but ActiveCampaign's paid plans deliver more value per dollar. Mailchimp's pricing jumps significantly between Standard and Premium tiers.
Support: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign offers live chat on all plans and has highly-rated support. Mailchimp's support quality has declined since the Intuit acquisition — free plan users get no human support.
Our Recommendation
Pick ActiveCampaign if you need real automation and CRM. Pick Mailchimp if you want the easiest setup and a free plan to start. For growing businesses, ActiveCampaign's lower tiers are actually cheaper than Mailchimp's Standard plan once you factor in the features you'd need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ActiveCampaign better than Mailchimp?
For automation and CRM, yes. ActiveCampaign has a more powerful automation builder, built-in CRM, and lead scoring. Mailchimp is better for beginners who want the easiest setup and a free plan.
Why is ActiveCampaign more expensive than Mailchimp?
ActiveCampaign includes CRM, advanced automation, and lead scoring features that Mailchimp either doesn't offer or charges significantly more for on higher tiers. You're paying for depth.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to ActiveCampaign?
Yes. ActiveCampaign has a dedicated migration service and import tools. Most users can migrate contacts, tags, and basic automations within a few hours.