Quick Summary: For beginners prioritizing ease of use and excellent support, Constant Contact is often the top choice. Mailchimp excels with advanced features, automation, and integrations, making it ideal for growing businesses needing more power.

Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Your Ultimate Choice Guide

Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel like a big decision, especially when you’re just starting out. Two names that pop up constantly are Constant Contact and Mailchimp. They both help you send emails, but they do it in different ways, with different features, and different price tags. It’s easy to get lost in all the options and wonder which one is truly the best fit for your business.

Don’t worry! This guide is here to break down exactly what Constant Contact and Mailchimp offer. We’ll look at their features, how much they cost, how easy they are to use, and what their biggest strengths and weaknesses are. By the end, you’ll know which tool is your perfect match.

What is Constant Contact?

Constant Contact is a popular email marketing service known for its user-friendly interface and strong customer support. It’s designed to make email marketing accessible for small businesses, even those with no prior experience. Think of it as your friendly guide to building your email list, creating attractive newsletters, and connecting with your audience.

They offer a good range of tools for event marketing, social media posting, and basic e-commerce integration. Their focus is on helping you grow your business by making communication simple and effective.

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp started as a free email service for bloggers and has grown into a powerful marketing platform. It’s famous for its stylish templates, robust automation capabilities, and extensive integrations with other popular business tools. While it has a free plan, it’s often seen as a step up for businesses looking for more advanced features and automation.

Mailchimp is great for businesses that want to send targeted campaigns based on customer behavior, manage their e-commerce sales, and create sophisticated marketing funnels.

Key Differences at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at how Constant Contact and Mailchimp stack up:

• Ease of Use: Constant Contact is generally considered more beginner-friendly. Mailchimp has a steeper learning curve, especially for advanced features.
• Pricing: Both offer free plans with limitations. Paid plans vary based on subscriber count and features. Constant Contact’s paid plans often start at a lower price point for basic features. Mailchimp’s pricing can increase faster as your list grows and you need more advanced features.
• Features: Mailchimp offers more advanced automation, segmentation, and A/B testing. Constant Contact focuses on core email marketing, event management, and simpler campaign creation.
• Support: Constant Contact is renowned for its excellent, accessible customer support, including phone support. Mailchimp’s support is primarily online, with phone support often limited to higher-tier plans.
• Integrations: Mailchimp boasts a wider array of integrations with other business software, especially for e-commerce.

Features Comparison

Let’s dive deeper into the features that matter most for your email marketing.

Feature	Constant Contact	Mailchimp
Email Editor	Drag-and-drop, user-friendly with a good selection of templates.	Drag-and-drop, highly customizable, with a vast library of modern templates.
List Management	Simple and effective for managing contacts.	Advanced segmentation based on various criteria (behavior, demographics, etc.).
Automation	Basic autoresponders (welcome emails, birthdays).	Advanced automation workflows (welcome series, abandoned cart, behavioral triggers). Learn more about Mailchimp automation.
A/B Testing	Limited A/B testing on subject lines.	Robust A/B testing for subject lines, content, and sending times.
Landing Pages	Yes, basic landing page builder.	Yes, more advanced and customizable landing page builder.
E-commerce Tools	Basic integration with platforms like Shopify, Etsy.	Strong integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, etc., including product syncing and purchase tracking.
Event Marketing	Integrated tools for event invitations, registration, and promotion.	Limited built-in event marketing features.
Surveys & Polls	Yes, integrated tools for customer feedback.	Yes, basic survey features.
Reporting & Analytics	Clear, easy-to-understand reports on opens, clicks, etc.	Detailed analytics, including audience insights and campaign performance.

As you can see, Mailchimp often has more bells and whistles when it comes to advanced features like automation and detailed segmentation. Constant Contact keeps things straightforward, focusing on getting the core job done efficiently.

Pricing Comparison

Pricing is a big factor, and both platforms have different structures. It’s important to note that prices can change, so always check their official websites for the most current information.

Plan Level	Constant Contact (Example for ~500 contacts)	Mailchimp (Example for ~500 contacts)
Free Plan	No free plan (offers a free trial).	Yes, includes basic features for up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, Mailchimp branding. Mailchimp Pricing Details.
Entry-Level Paid Plan (e.g., “Core”)	Starts around $20/month for ~500 contacts. Includes unlimited sends, basic automation, social posting, and event marketing.	Mailchimp’s “Essentials” plan (often around $13/month for 500 contacts) includes more contacts, basic automation, and 24/7 email support.
Mid-Tier Paid Plan (e.g., “Plus” or “Standard”)	Constant Contact’s “Plus” or similar tiers offer more advanced features like advanced automation and segmentation, starting around $35/month for 500 contacts.	Mailchimp’s “Standard” plan (around $20/month for 500 contacts) adds more advanced automation, A/B testing, and more sophisticated audience management.
Higher-Tier Paid Plan (e.g., “Premium” or “Advanced”)	Constant Contact’s higher plans might offer more advanced features or higher contact limits, with pricing scaling accordingly.	Mailchimp’s “Premium” plan (around $300+/month for 10,000+ contacts) unlocks all features, including advanced segmentation, predictive analytics, and dedicated support. Constant Contact Pricing Details.

Key Pricing Takeaways:

• Mailchimp: Offers a functional free plan, making it very attractive for absolute beginners or those with very small lists. However, as your list grows and you need more advanced features, Mailchimp’s pricing can increase significantly.
• Constant Contact: Doesn’t have a free plan but offers a free trial. Its paid plans are often seen as more straightforward, with pricing that might be more predictable for small businesses starting out. You get core features like unlimited sends and decent automation earlier on.

When comparing, consider not just the base price but also what features are included at each tier and how many contacts you have. For instance, if you need advanced automation right away, Mailchimp’s “Standard” plan might be necessary, making it more expensive than Constant Contact’s equivalent features.

Ease of Use & Customer Support

This is where the two platforms often show their biggest differences.

Constant Contact: The User-Friendly Champion

Constant Contact is consistently praised for its ease of use. If you’re new to email marketing, you’ll likely find its interface intuitive. Drag-and-drop editors are straightforward, and setting up basic campaigns feels natural. They also offer excellent customer support, which is a huge plus for beginners.

• Support Channels: Phone, live chat, email, and a comprehensive knowledge base.
• What makes it great: You can actually talk to a real person if you get stuck, which can save a lot of frustration and time. Their support team is known for being helpful and knowledgeable.

Mailchimp: Powerful, but with a Learning Curve

Mailchimp is powerful, and with that power comes a bit more complexity. While its drag-and-drop editor is also good, mastering its automation workflows, advanced segmentation, and integration settings can take time. Its support is good but leans more towards online resources and email, with phone support often reserved for higher-tier plans.

• Support Channels: Knowledge base, email, chat (availability depends on plan), limited phone support on higher plans.
• What makes it great: Their online resources are extensive, and the community is large, meaning you can often find answers online.

Verdict on Ease of Use & Support: For absolute beginners who value direct, human support and a simple setup, Constant Contact is usually the winner. If you’re comfortable with a bit of a learning curve and prefer extensive online resources, Mailchimp is still a solid choice.

Pros & Cons of Constant Contact

Pros:

• Extremely user-friendly interface, ideal for beginners.
• Exceptional customer support, including phone assistance.
• Good built-in tools for event marketing and social media posting.
• Clear and easy-to-understand reporting.
• Reliable deliverability rates.
• Generous free trial period to test features.

Cons:

• No free plan available.
• Automation features are less advanced compared to Mailchimp.
• Fewer integration options with other third-party apps.
• Template selection can be less modern or diverse than Mailchimp’s.

Pros & Cons of Mailchimp

Pros:

• Robust automation and segmentation capabilities for advanced targeting.
• Extensive integrations with e-commerce platforms and other tools.
• Vast library of modern, stylish templates.
• Offers a functional free plan for small lists or testing.
• Powerful analytics and reporting for in-depth insights.
• A/B testing options for optimizing campaigns.

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve, especially for advanced features.
• Customer support can be less accessible on lower-tier plans.
• Pricing can become expensive as your list and needs grow.
• Can feel overwhelming for users who only need basic email sending.

Which One Should You Choose?

The “ultimate choice” between Constant Contact and Mailchimp really depends on your specific business needs, technical comfort level, and growth plans.

Choose Constant Contact if:

• You are a complete beginner in email marketing and want the easiest possible start.
• You highly value direct customer support (phone, chat) and want help when you need it.
• Your primary goal is to send regular newsletters and connect with your audience without complex automation.
• You run events and need integrated tools for invitations and RSVPs.
• You prefer a straightforward pricing structure and don’t anticipate needing highly advanced features immediately.

Constant Contact is a fantastic starting point for small businesses, local shops, coaches, and service providers who want to build relationships through email without getting bogged down in technical details.

Choose Mailchimp if:

• You want to leverage advanced automation to send targeted emails based on customer behavior (e.g., welcome series, abandoned cart reminders).
• You need extensive integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, or other business tools.
• You’re comfortable with a bit of a learning curve and enjoy exploring detailed features and analytics.
• You want access to a free plan to start, even with its limitations.
• You have a growing business and anticipate needing sophisticated marketing segmentation and A/B testing in the future.

Mailchimp is often preferred by e-commerce businesses, digital marketers, and growing startups that need powerful tools to segment their audience and automate their sales funnels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Mailchimp free?

Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan. It includes basic features for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month, with Mailchimp branding on your emails. It’s a good way to start if your budget is tight.

Does Constant Contact offer a free plan?

No, Constant Contact does not have a free plan. However, they offer a free trial (typically 60 days) so you can test out their features before committing to a paid subscription.

Which is better for small businesses: Constant Contact or Mailchimp?

For small businesses that are new to email marketing or prioritize ease of use and excellent customer support, Constant Contact is often the better choice. For small businesses that are tech-savvy and want to dive into advanced automation and integrations early on, Mailchimp can be a great fit.

Can I switch from Mailchimp to Constant Contact (or vice versa)?

Yes, you can switch between email marketing platforms. Most platforms allow you to export your contact list (usually as a CSV file) and import it into a new service. You will need to rebuild any automated workflows and campaigns.

Which platform has better email deliverability?

Both Constant Contact and Mailchimp generally have good email deliverability rates, meaning your emails are likely to reach inboxes. However, deliverability can be affected by many factors, including how you manage your list, the quality of your content, and your sending practices, rather than just the platform itself.

Is Mailchimp’s automation worth the complexity?

If your business goals rely on sending personalized, triggered emails based on customer actions (like purchases, abandoned carts, or website visits), then Mailchimp’s advanced automation can be incredibly valuable and worth the learning curve. For simpler needs, Constant Contact’s automation might be sufficient.

What if I need advanced features but want good support?

This is where the decision gets nuanced. If you need advanced features but still want strong support, you might need to consider Mailchimp’s higher-tier plans that often include better support, or look at other platforms known for both power and support, depending on your specific feature needs.

Conclusion: Making Your Final Choice

Deciding between Constant Contact and Mailchimp is a common crossroads for many business owners. Both are excellent tools, but they cater to slightly different needs and preferences.

Constant Contact is your best friend if:

• You’re a beginner looking for simplicity and ease of use.
• You need stellar customer support to guide you.
• Your focus is on straightforward newsletters and event promotion.

Mailchimp is likely your winner if:

• You want to dive into sophisticated automation and audience segmentation.
• You need deep integrations, especially for e-commerce.
• You’re comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve for powerful features.

The best advice I can give is to take advantage of the free trials or free plans. Sign up, play around with the editors, try setting up a simple automation, and see which platform feels more natural and intuitive to you. Your comfort and confidence with the tool will directly impact how effectively you use it to grow your business.