Mailchimp vs HubSpot: The ultimate decision for your business. Mailchimp excels at straightforward email marketing with great automation, while HubSpot is a powerful all-in-one CRM and marketing platform. Choose based on your growth stage and needs.

Mailchimp vs HubSpot: The Ultimate Decision for Your Business

Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel overwhelming. You’ve likely heard of Mailchimp and HubSpot, two giants in the digital marketing space. They both help businesses connect with customers, but they do it in very different ways. It’s easy to get lost in all the features and pricing plans, wondering which one is truly the best fit for your small business or startup.

Don’t worry, I’m here to help you cut through the confusion. We’ll break down exactly what each platform offers, compare their key features and costs, and figure out which one will best support your business goals. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear picture to make the right choice.

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp started as a simple email marketing service, and it’s still fantastic for that. Think of it as your friendly, go-to tool for sending out newsletters, promotions, and automated welcome emails. It’s known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to get started with email campaigns. Over the years, Mailchimp has added more features, including landing pages, social media posting, and basic CRM capabilities, but its core strength remains email marketing and automation.

What is HubSpot?

HubSpot is much more than just an email marketing tool. It’s a comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that includes marketing, sales, and customer service hubs. If you’re looking for a single system to manage all your customer interactions, from the first website visit to ongoing support, HubSpot is designed for that. Its email marketing features are powerful, but they are part of a much larger ecosystem that aims to manage your entire customer journey.

Key Differences at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at the main distinctions:

• Focus: Mailchimp is primarily an email marketing and automation platform. HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM with integrated marketing, sales, and service tools.
• Complexity: Mailchimp is generally easier to learn and use for email marketing. HubSpot offers more depth and features, which can have a steeper learning curve.
• Target User: Mailchimp is great for small businesses and entrepreneurs focused on email. HubSpot is ideal for businesses looking to grow and manage all aspects of their customer relationships in one place.
• Pricing: Mailchimp often has more accessible entry-level pricing for email marketing. HubSpot’s costs can scale up significantly as you add more features and contacts.

Features Comparison: Mailchimp vs HubSpot

Let’s dive into how their features stack up side-by-side. This will help you see where each platform shines.

Feature	Mailchimp	HubSpot (Marketing Hub)
Email Marketing	Drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, segmentation, A/B testing.	Drag-and-drop editor, extensive template library, advanced segmentation, smart content, A/B testing.
Automation	Welcome series, abandoned cart emails, birthday emails, custom workflows.	Multi-channel workflows (email, SMS, social), lead nurturing, customer journeys, trigger-based automation.
CRM Capabilities	Basic contact management, tagging, simple audience segmentation.	Full-featured CRM (contact records, deal tracking, company records, task management), sales pipeline management.
Landing Pages	Included, with templates and drag-and-drop builder.	Included, robust builder with dynamic content options.
Forms	Embeddable and pop-up forms for lead capture.	Customizable forms, pop-ups, slide-ins, integrate directly with CRM.
Website/Blog Builder	Basic website builder.	Integrated website builder, blog, and landing page tools.
Reporting & Analytics	Campaign performance, open rates, click rates, revenue tracking.	Comprehensive marketing analytics, ROI tracking, custom reports, lead flow analysis.
Integrations	Wide range of e-commerce and business app integrations.	Extensive marketplace, strong integration with its own Sales and Service Hubs.
Social Media Management	Basic posting and monitoring.	Integrated social media scheduling and monitoring.

As you can see, Mailchimp offers a solid suite of tools focused on email and basic marketing. HubSpot, on the other hand, provides a much broader platform. If your primary goal is just sending emails and setting up some automated sequences, Mailchimp is very capable. However, if you want to connect your email marketing directly to your sales pipeline, track leads more effectively, and manage your entire customer journey, HubSpot’s integrated approach is more powerful.

Pricing Comparison: Mailchimp vs HubSpot

Pricing is a crucial factor, especially for small businesses. Both platforms offer free plans, but their paid plans and how they charge can differ significantly.

Mailchimp Pricing

Mailchimp offers a free plan that’s great for beginners, allowing up to 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month, with a daily send limit. Paid plans scale based on the number of contacts and features needed, starting with their Essentials plan.

Mailchimp’s paid plans are generally structured around the number of contacts you have. You can explore their official pricing page for the most up-to-date details:

Mailchimp Pricing

HubSpot Pricing

HubSpot offers a free CRM that’s incredibly robust. For marketing tools, they have a Marketing Hub with different tiers: Starter, Professional, and Enterprise. The Starter tier includes basic email marketing, landing pages, and forms, but it can become expensive quickly as your contact list grows or if you need more advanced features like automation and A/B testing.

HubSpot’s pricing is often based on the number of marketing contacts and the tier of their Marketing Hub. It’s worth noting that HubSpot’s paid plans are typically priced higher than Mailchimp’s for comparable email marketing features, reflecting its broader CRM and marketing automation capabilities.

HubSpot Marketing Hub Pricing

Plan Type	Mailchimp (Example)	HubSpot (Example)
Free Plan	Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, 1-audience, basic automation.	Free CRM, basic email marketing (limited sends), forms, landing pages, live chat.
Entry-Level Paid Plan (e.g., ~1,000 contacts)	Essentials: ~$13/month (billed annually) – More automation, A/B testing.	Starter: ~$20/month (billed annually) – 1,000 marketing contacts, email marketing, forms, landing pages.
Mid-Tier Paid Plan (e.g., ~2,500 contacts)	Standard: ~$20/month (billed annually) – Advanced automation, segmentation, multi-user access.	Professional: ~$800/month (billed annually) – Advanced automation, reporting, SEO tools, social media tools (for 1,000 contacts, then additional fees apply).
Key Pricing Factor	Number of contacts.	Number of marketing contacts & Marketing Hub tier.

Important Note: Pricing can change, and HubSpot’s Professional and Enterprise tiers are significant investments. Always check the official websites for the most current pricing. Mailchimp is generally more budget-friendly for businesses solely focused on email marketing, while HubSpot’s pricing reflects its comprehensive CRM and marketing suite.

Ease of Use & Customer Support

When you’re starting out, ease of use is paramount. Let’s see how Mailchimp and HubSpot fare:

Mailchimp Ease of Use

Mailchimp is widely praised for its intuitive interface. The drag-and-drop email builder is straightforward, and setting up basic automations is relatively easy. For beginners, Mailchimp feels very accessible. Their knowledge base is extensive, and they offer email and chat support on paid plans.

HubSpot Ease of Use

HubSpot, with its vast array of features, can be a bit more complex to navigate initially. The free CRM is user-friendly, but unlocking the full power of the Marketing Hub, especially advanced automation and reporting, requires a bit more time to learn. They offer extensive educational resources, including HubSpot Academy, and customer support varies by plan, with higher tiers receiving more dedicated support.

For sheer simplicity in getting started with email campaigns, Mailchimp often wins. If you’re willing to invest time in learning a more powerful, integrated system, HubSpot is a strong contender.

Pros & Cons of Mailchimp

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: Very easy to learn and use, especially for beginners.
• Excellent for Email Marketing: Robust features for newsletters, campaigns, and basic automation.
• Affordable Entry-Level Plans: Free plan is generous, and paid plans are competitive for email-focused needs.
• Good for E-commerce: Strong integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
• Built-in Templates: Plenty of attractive templates to get started quickly.

Cons:

• Limited CRM Functionality: Basic contact management, not a full-fledged CRM.
• Less Advanced Automation: While good, it doesn’t match the multi-channel, deeply integrated automation of HubSpot.
• Can Get Expensive: As your contact list grows, costs can increase significantly.
• Reporting Can Be Basic: Lacks the in-depth ROI and customer journey analytics of more comprehensive platforms.

Pros & Cons of HubSpot

Pros:

• All-in-One Platform: Integrates CRM, marketing, sales, and service for a unified view.
• Powerful Automation: Sophisticated marketing automation and customer journey mapping.
• Robust CRM: Excellent for managing leads, deals, and customer interactions.
• Scalability: Grows with your business, offering tools for every stage.
• Extensive Integrations: Connects with a vast number of other business tools.
• Excellent Free CRM: A powerful starting point for any business.

Cons:

• Steeper Learning Curve: More complex due to its comprehensive feature set.
• Higher Cost: Paid plans, especially for Marketing Hub Professional and Enterprise, can be significantly more expensive.
• Email Marketing is Part of a Larger System: If you only need email, it might feel like overkill.
• Contact-Based Pricing: Marketing contacts can become a costly factor as your list grows.

Which One Should You Choose?

The best tool for you depends entirely on your current business needs and future goals. Here’s a simple guide:

Choose Mailchimp If:

• You’re primarily focused on email marketing: Newsletters, promotions, and straightforward automated sequences are your main focus.
• You’re a small business or solopreneur on a budget: Mailchimp’s free and lower-tier paid plans are very accessible.
• You need an easy-to-use platform: You want to get started quickly without a steep learning curve.
• You run an e-commerce store: Mailchimp has excellent integrations with e-commerce platforms.
• You don’t need a full CRM: Basic contact management is sufficient for your current needs.

Choose HubSpot If:

• You need an all-in-one solution: You want to manage your CRM, email marketing, sales, and customer service from one platform.
• You’re focused on growth and lead nurturing: You want to build sophisticated marketing automation to guide leads through the sales funnel.
• You need robust CRM capabilities: You want to track leads, manage deals, and have a 360-degree view of your customers.
• You have the budget for a comprehensive platform: You’re willing to invest more for integrated tools and advanced features.
• You plan to scale significantly: HubSpot can support your business as it grows in complexity and size.

Think about where your business is right now. Are you happy sending emails and managing contacts manually? Mailchimp is likely your best bet. Are you looking to grow, automate more complex customer journeys, and integrate marketing with sales? HubSpot offers that power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Mailchimp free?

Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan that allows up to 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month, with certain limitations. It’s a great way to start.

Does HubSpot support email automation?

Yes, HubSpot offers robust email automation capabilities, especially in its Marketing Hub Professional and Enterprise plans. You can create complex workflows based on customer behavior.

Which is better for small businesses?

For most small businesses just starting with email marketing, Mailchimp is often a better choice due to its ease of use and lower initial cost. If a small business needs to integrate marketing with a robust CRM from the start, HubSpot’s free CRM and Starter Marketing Hub could be considered, but it can become pricier.

Can I switch from Mailchimp to HubSpot?

Yes, you can migrate your contact list from Mailchimp to HubSpot. Both platforms provide tools and guides to help you export and import your subscriber data.

What are the main differences in their free plans?

Mailchimp’s free plan focuses on email marketing with contact and send limits. HubSpot’s free offering includes a powerful CRM and basic marketing tools like forms and landing pages, but with more restricted email sending capabilities.

Which has better email deliverability?

Both Mailchimp and HubSpot generally have good email deliverability rates. Deliverability depends heavily on list quality, content, and sender reputation, which are managed by the user on both platforms. Industry benchmarks suggest that well-managed lists on either platform can achieve high deliverability.

Conclusion

Choosing between Mailchimp and HubSpot is a decision about your business’s current needs and future ambitions. Mailchimp is a fantastic, user-friendly platform for businesses that need excellent email marketing and basic automation without the complexity of a full CRM. It’s affordable and gets the job done efficiently.

HubSpot, on the other hand, is a powerhouse. It’s ideal for businesses that want to integrate their marketing, sales, and customer service efforts into one cohesive system. While it has a steeper learning curve and can be more expensive, its capabilities for growth and comprehensive customer management are unmatched.

Here’s a final thought: Don’t be afraid to test the waters. Both Mailchimp and HubSpot offer free plans or trials. Sign up for both, play around with their interfaces, and see which one feels more natural and aligns best with how you want to run your business. Your perfect tool is out there!