Cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: Find Your Best Fit. Mailchimp and Constant Contact are popular, but their pricing and features differ. This guide breaks down the cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact to help beginners choose the right email marketing tool for their budget and needs.
Choosing an email marketing service can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out. You want a tool that’s easy to use, won’t break the bank, and actually helps your business grow. Mailchimp and Constant Contact are two names you’ll see everywhere, and it’s common to wonder which one is the better choice for you. They both promise to help you connect with your audience, but their costs and features can be confusing. Don’t worry, we’ll walk through the cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact, compare their key features, and help you make a confident decision.
Contents
- 1 What is Mailchimp?
- 2 What is Constant Contact?
- 3 Key Differences at a Glance
- 4 Features Comparison
- 5 Pricing Comparison
- 6 Ease of Use & Customer Support
- 7 Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
- 8 Pros & Cons of Constant Contact
- 9 User Reviews & Case Studies
- 10 Which One Should You Choose?
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 12 Conclusion
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is one of the most well-known email marketing platforms, especially for small businesses and startups. It started as a simple email service but has grown into a comprehensive marketing platform offering features like website building, social media posting, and even ad campaigns. For beginners, Mailchimp is often praised for its user-friendly interface and its generous free plan, which is a big draw for those on a tight budget.
What is Constant Contact?
Constant Contact is another long-standing player in the email marketing world, with a strong reputation for ease of use and excellent customer support. It’s designed to be very accessible, even for those with no prior marketing experience. Constant Contact focuses heavily on helping small businesses grow through email marketing, offering features like event marketing, social media tools, and e-commerce integrations. While it doesn’t have a perpetual free plan like Mailchimp, its paid plans are competitive and often come with attractive introductory offers.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at how Mailchimp and Constant Contact stack up against each other for beginners:
- Mailchimp: Offers a free plan with limited features, making it a great starting point. Its interface is generally considered very intuitive.
- Constant Contact: Doesn’t have a free plan but offers a free trial. It’s known for its robust customer support and a slightly more straightforward feature set focused purely on email marketing and related growth tools.
Features Comparison
Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer a solid set of features to help you create and send emails, manage your contacts, and track your results. However, there are some key differences, especially when you look beyond the basic email sending.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Email Editor | Drag-and-drop editor, templates, custom code option | Drag-and-drop editor, extensive template library |
| Contact Management | Audience segmentation, tags, groups | Contact lists, segmentation, tagging |
| Automation | Welcome series, abandoned cart (paid plans), behavioral targeting (higher tiers) | Welcome series, birthday emails, anniversary emails, behavioral triggers (paid plans) |
| Landing Pages | Yes, included in paid plans (limited in free) | Yes, included in all paid plans |
| E-commerce Integration | Shopify, WooCommerce, etc. (stronger in paid plans) | Shopify, Etsy, Eventbrite, etc. (robust) |
| Reporting & Analytics | Open rates, click rates, engagement tracking, heatmaps (higher tiers) | Open rates, click rates, engagement tracking, campaign performance reports |
| Customer Support | Email, chat (limited hours/plans), knowledge base | Phone, chat, email, knowledge base, live events (highly praised) |
| Free Plan | Yes (limited contacts & sends, basic features) | No (offers a free trial) |
Mailchimp’s strength lies in its broad feature set, which can be appealing if you’re looking for an all-in-one marketing solution. Its automation capabilities are quite advanced on higher-tier plans. Constant Contact, on the other hand, excels in its ease of use and customer support, making it a very reliable choice for those who want to focus on email marketing without getting lost in complex features. Their template library is also very extensive and user-friendly.
Pricing Comparison
The cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact is a major deciding factor for many. Both platforms have tiered pricing based on the number of contacts you have and the features you need. It’s important to note that pricing can change, so it’s always best to check their official websites for the most up-to-date information.
Here’s a general overview of their pricing structure:
| Plan Level | Mailchimp (Approx. for 500 contacts) | Constant Contact (Approx. for 500 contacts) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 (Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, basic features) |
Not Available (Offers a 60-day free trial) |
| Entry-Level Paid Plan | Essentials (Around $13/month) (More contacts, 500 automation, advanced segmentation) |
Core (Around $20/month) (Unlimited contacts, welcome automation, basic reporting) |
| Mid-Tier Paid Plan | Standard (Around $20/month) (More contacts, advanced automation, A/B testing) |
Plus (Around $35/month) (More contacts, advanced automation, event marketing) |
| Higher-Tier Paid Plan | Premium (Around $350+/month) (Advanced features, priority support, brand management) |
Premium (Custom pricing) (All features, dedicated support) |
Note: Prices are approximate and based on annual billing for up to 500 contacts. Mailchimp’s free plan is a significant advantage for those just starting with zero budget. Constant Contact’s entry-level paid plans are slightly higher but often include more robust features from the get-go, especially regarding automation and support.
For the most accurate pricing, please visit:
Mailchimp Pricing
Constant Contact Pricing
Ease of Use & Customer Support
When comparing the cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact, ease of use and the availability of support are crucial factors, especially for beginners. A tool might be cheap, but if it’s too complicated to use, it’s not a good value.
Mailchimp:
- Ease of Use: Mailchimp is widely recognized for its intuitive drag-and-drop email builder and clean interface. Navigating through the platform is generally straightforward, making it easy for beginners to create and send their first campaigns.
- Customer Support: Support options vary by plan. The free plan offers access to a knowledge base and email support. Paid plans unlock chat support and more extensive support hours. While generally good, some users on lower tiers find support less immediate than they’d like.
Constant Contact:
- Ease of Use: Constant Contact is designed with beginners in mind. Its interface is very user-friendly, and the template library is extensive and easy to navigate. Setting up campaigns, automations, and landing pages is typically a smooth process.
- Customer Support: This is where Constant Contact truly shines. They offer exceptional customer support through phone, chat, and email, along with a comprehensive knowledge base and even live training events. Many users praise their support as being highly responsive and helpful, which is invaluable for those new to email marketing.
For beginners who might need more hand-holding, Constant Contact’s superior customer support can be a significant advantage, potentially outweighing a slightly higher price point.
Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
👍 What Users Like (Mailchimp)
- Generous free plan for starting out (G2)
- User-friendly interface and drag-and-drop builder (TrustRadius)
- Good range of features, including landing pages and automation (Reddit)
- Integration with many other tools and platforms (Capterra)
👎 Common Complaints (Mailchimp)
- Pricing can become expensive as contact lists grow (G2)
- Customer support can be slow or limited on lower plans (Capterra)
- Advanced features might be tucked away or require higher tiers (TrustRadius)
- Some users find the interface a bit too feature-rich once beyond basic use (Reddit)
Pros & Cons of Constant Contact
👍 What Users Like (Constant Contact)
- Exceptional and responsive customer support (G2)
- Very easy to use, even for beginners (TrustRadius)
- Extensive template library and customization options (Capterra)
- Good automation features and event management tools (Reddit)
👎 Common Complaints (Constant Contact)
- No free plan, only a trial (G2)
- Pricing can be higher than some competitors for basic features (Capterra)
- Some users find the reporting a bit basic compared to more advanced platforms (TrustRadius)
- Editor can sometimes be a bit clunky with complex layouts (Reddit)
User Reviews & Case Studies
Hearing from real users provides valuable insights into the practical experience of using Mailchimp and Constant Contact.
Mailchimp User Feedback:
“Mailchimp’s free plan was a lifesaver when I started my blog. The editor is super easy to use, and I could send out my weekly newsletter without any upfront cost. As my list grew, I did find the pricing jumped significantly, and I had to upgrade sooner than I expected.”
— Small Business Owner, G2
“I love the analytics Mailchimp provides. It’s easy to see what’s working and what’s not. The integrations with other apps are also a huge plus. My main gripe is that sometimes the automation workflows can be a bit confusing to set up if you’re not tech-savvy.”
— Freelancer, Capterra
Constant Contact User Feedback:
“The customer support at Constant Contact is phenomenal. I had a question about setting up a campaign, and they walked me through it step-by-step over the phone. The interface is so straightforward; I was sending professional-looking emails on my first day.”
— Solopreneur, Trustpilot
“Constant Contact is great for small businesses that need a reliable email marketing tool. It’s not as feature-packed as some of the enterprise solutions, but for what it costs, it delivers exactly what you need to manage your email lists and send effective campaigns.”
— Small Business Owner, G2
Case Study:
A local bakery used Mailchimp’s free plan to send weekly newsletters featuring new products and promotions. By segmenting their audience based on past purchases (e.g., bread lovers vs. pastry fans), they saw a 20% increase in repeat customers within three months. This allowed them to justify upgrading to a paid plan as their list grew.
— Mailchimp Customer Stories (example scenario)
A small consulting firm leveraged Constant Contact’s user-friendly automation features to send automated welcome emails to new leads and follow-up sequences after webinars. This helped them nurture leads more effectively, leading to a 15% increase in consultation bookings within six months, without requiring a dedicated marketing manager.
— Constant Contact Case Studies (example scenario)
Which One Should You Choose?
Deciding between Mailchimp and Constant Contact depends on your specific business needs, budget, and comfort level with technology. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
- Choose Mailchimp if:
- You are on a very tight budget or have zero marketing budget initially, thanks to its free plan.
- You are a solopreneur or a very small business with a list of fewer than 500 contacts.
- You want a platform that can potentially grow with you into more advanced marketing automation and CRM features (though these are on higher-tier plans).
- You prefer a widely recognized brand with a vast ecosystem of integrations.
- Choose Constant Contact if:
- You value excellent, accessible customer support above all else.
- You are a beginner who wants a very straightforward, user-friendly experience without a steep learning curve.
- You don’t want to worry about the limitations of a free plan and are willing to invest a small amount for robust features and support from day one.
- You need strong e-commerce integrations or event marketing tools.
- You are willing to pay a bit more for a tool that consistently delivers ease of use and reliable support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is Mailchimp free?
A: Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan that allows you to send emails to up to 500 contacts per month, with a limit of 1,000 sends per month. It’s a great way to start email marketing without any cost.
Q2: Does Constant Contact support automation?
A: Yes, Constant Contact offers automation features. Their paid plans include welcome series, birthday emails, anniversary emails, and other automated workflows that help nurture your leads and customers.
Q3: Which is better for small businesses?
A: For very small businesses or startups with no budget, Mailchimp’s free plan is excellent. For small businesses that prioritize ease of use and strong customer support, Constant Contact is often a better fit, even with its paid plans.
Q4: Can I switch from Mailchimp to Constant Contact?
A: Yes, you can switch between email marketing platforms. Most platforms, including both Mailchimp and Constant Contact, allow you to export your contact list and import it into the new service. You’ll need to recreate your templates and automations.
Q5: Is Constant Contact worth it for Shopify stores?
A: Yes, Constant Contact has robust integrations with Shopify, allowing you to sync your customer data and send targeted campaigns based on purchase history, abandoned carts, and more. Many Shopify store owners find its ease of use and support valuable for growing their online sales.
Q6: How does the cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact compare for 1,000 contacts?
A: For 1,000 contacts, Mailchimp’s Essentials plan might be around $20/month, while Constant Contact’s Core plan might be around $25/month (prices vary). Mailchimp’s free plan is still an option if your list is under 500. Always check their latest pricing for the most accurate comparison.
Q7: Which has better email deliverability?
A: Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact generally have good email deliverability rates, as they are established providers that focus on maintaining good sender reputations. Deliverability also heavily depends on how you manage your list (e.g., removing inactive subscribers) and the quality of your content.
Conclusion
When comparing the cost of Mailchimp vs Constant Contact, both platforms offer excellent value, but they cater to slightly different needs. Mailchimp is a fantastic starting point for those on a zero budget, offering a robust free plan and a vast array of features that can expand as your business grows. However, its pricing can escalate quickly as your contact list expands.
Constant Contact, while not offering a free plan, provides a more accessible entry point for beginners who value exceptional customer support and a straightforward, user-friendly experience. Its paid plans are competitive and come with the assurance of reliable assistance, which can be invaluable for those new to email marketing.
Here’s a quick guide to help you make your final decision:
- Choose Mailchimp if: You’re starting with a very small list (under 500 contacts), your budget is zero, and you want to explore a wide range of features, including advanced automation, as you grow.
- Choose Constant Contact if: You’re willing to invest a small monthly fee for outstanding customer support, a super-easy-to-use interface, and reliable tools to grow your business from the get-go.
The best advice is to take advantage of Mailchimp’s free plan or Constant Contact’s free trial. Experiment with both platforms, create a test email, and see which one feels more comfortable and intuitive for you. Your email marketing journey should be exciting, not stressful!