Mailchimp vs Mailgun: The ultimate comparison to help you pick the right email platform. We break down features, pricing, and ease of use for beginners.
Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting your business. You’ve heard of Mailchimp and Mailgun, and they both sound good, but what’s the real difference? It’s easy to get lost in all the features and pricing plans. This guide cuts through the confusion, giving you a clear, simple comparison to help you make the best choice for your business goals. Let’s dive in and find the perfect fit for you!
Contents
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is a super popular all-in-one email marketing and automation platform. Think of it as your friendly assistant for sending newsletters, promoting products, and connecting with your audience. It’s designed to be user-friendly, making it a favorite for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators who want to grow their brand without needing a tech degree.
What is Mailgun?
Mailgun, on the other hand, is primarily a transactional email service provider and email API. This means it’s built for developers and businesses that need to send emails programmatically, like password resets, order confirmations, or welcome emails triggered by user actions on a website or app. While it can also be used for marketing campaigns, its core strength lies in reliable, high-volume email delivery via its API.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at how Mailchimp and Mailgun stack up:
| Feature | Mailchimp | Mailgun |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Marketing Campaigns & Automation | Transactional Emails & Email API |
| Target Audience | Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Marketers | Developers, Tech-Savvy Businesses |
| Ease of Use | Very User-Friendly, Drag-and-Drop Editor | Requires Technical Knowledge, API-Focused |
| Marketing Features | Extensive (Newsletters, Landing Pages, Social Ads) | Limited (Focus on Delivery) |
| Automation | Robust Marketing Automation Workflows | Primarily Transactional Triggers |
| Deliverability | Good, Managed Platform | Excellent, Developer-Controlled |
| Pricing Model | Tiered based on contacts & features, Free Plan available | Usage-based (pay-as-you-go) or plans based on email volume |
Features Comparison
Let’s dive deeper into the features that matter most for your email marketing efforts.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Mailgun | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email Editor | Drag-and-drop visual editor, pre-designed templates, code editor. Very intuitive for beginners. | Primarily template management via API or their web interface. Less visual for marketing content creation. | Mailchimp is far superior for creating visually appealing marketing emails without coding. |
| Audience Management | Segmentation, tagging, customer-data platform (CDP) features on higher plans. Easy to organize contacts. | Manages recipients via lists and address types (e.g., member, suppressions). More technical control. | Mailchimp offers more built-in tools for understanding and segmenting your audience for marketing. |
| Marketing Automation | Advanced workflows for welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, re-engagement campaigns, etc. | Focuses on automated transactional emails based on events. Less equipped for complex marketing funnels. | Mailchimp excels here for nurturing leads and customer relationships. |
| Landing Pages | Built-in landing page builder for lead capture and campaign promotion. | No dedicated landing page builder. | Mailchimp offers a convenient way to create campaign-specific pages. |
| Reporting & Analytics | Detailed reports on opens, clicks, conversions, campaign performance, audience insights. | Focuses on deliverability metrics (sent, delivered, bounced, opened, clicked) and logs. | Mailchimp provides richer marketing-focused analytics out-of-the-box. |
| Integrations | Vast library of integrations with e-commerce platforms, CRM, social media, etc. | Strong API allows for custom integrations, integrates with various development tools. | Both offer integrations, but Mailchimp’s are more geared towards marketing tools, while Mailgun’s are often developer-centric. |
| Deliverability Tools | Managed deliverability, reputation monitoring, spam checker. | Advanced tools for deliverability: dedicated IPs, IP warming, analytics, bypass spam filters for transactional emails. | Mailgun is built for maximum deliverability control, especially for critical transactional messages. |
| Support | Email, chat, knowledge base. Phone support on higher plans. | Email, chat, ticketing system, API documentation. Dedicated support on higher plans. | Mailchimp offers more accessible support for non-technical users. Mailgun’s support is excellent for technical issues. |
In essence, Mailchimp is built for marketers to create and send campaigns easily. Mailgun is built for developers to ensure emails are sent reliably and efficiently, especially transactional ones.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is a big factor, and these two platforms approach it differently.
| Aspect | Mailchimp | Mailgun | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes, with limited contacts and features. Great for starting out. | Offers a free tier for sending a certain number of emails per month. Good for testing or very low volume. | Mailchimp’s free plan is more feature-rich for general marketing. |
| Paid Plans | Starts around $13/month for Essentials (based on contacts). Scales up with more features and contacts. Pricing can increase significantly as your list grows. See Mailchimp Pricing. | Starts with a pay-as-you-go model or dedicated plans. Pricing is based on email volume sent. For example, their “Foundation” plan starts at $35/month for up to 50,000 emails. Check out Mailgun Pricing for details. | Mailchimp is contact-based, which can get expensive for large lists. Mailgun is volume-based, potentially more cost-effective for high-volume transactional emails. |
| Cost Structure for Marketing | Can become costly with large contact lists, even if you don’t email them often. | Less ideal for mass marketing due to per-email costs and lack of marketing-specific features on lower tiers. | Mailchimp is designed for marketing list growth, while Mailgun is optimized for sending volume. |
| Cost Structure for Transactional | Can be more expensive than dedicated transactional services for high volumes. | Generally more cost-effective for sending large volumes of transactional emails. | Mailgun often wins on price for transactional needs. |
For small businesses just starting with newsletters, Mailchimp’s free or lower-tier plans are often more accessible. For businesses needing to send thousands of automated transactional emails daily, Mailgun’s pricing can be much more attractive.
Ease of Use & Customer Support
When you’re starting out, ease of use is crucial. Mailchimp shines here.
Mailchimp: It’s famous for its intuitive drag-and-drop email builder, simple campaign setup, and clear interface. Most users can create and send their first campaign within minutes. Their support resources are extensive, with a large knowledge base, tutorials, and responsive customer service (especially on paid plans).
Mailgun: Mailgun is built for technical users. Setting it up, especially for complex automation or integrating with your website, requires coding knowledge or the help of a developer. While their documentation is thorough, it’s geared towards developers. Customer support is excellent for technical troubleshooting, but less so for marketing strategy advice.
Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
👍 What Users Like (Mailchimp)
- Incredibly easy to use: The drag-and-drop editor is a lifesaver for beginners. (G2)
- Great for small businesses: Affordable starting plans and a good free tier. (Trustpilot)
- All-in-one platform: Offers landing pages, social posts, and automation in one place. (Capterra)
- Good automation features: Easy to set up welcome emails and basic workflows. (Reddit)
- Reliable deliverability: Generally good inbox placement for marketing emails. (Email Marketing Benchmarks)
👎 Common Complaints (Mailchimp)
- Can get expensive: Pricing based on contacts can become very costly as your list grows. (G2)
- Limited customization on lower plans: Advanced features are locked behind higher tiers. (Trustpilot)
- Automation can be basic: Advanced segmentation and complex triggers might require other tools. (Capterra)
- Customer support can be slow: Free plan support is limited. (Reddit)
Pros & Cons of Mailgun
👍 What Users Like (Mailgun)
- Excellent deliverability: Highly reliable for sending critical emails. (G2)
- Powerful API: Great for developers needing to integrate email into applications. (Capterra)
- Cost-effective for volume: Pay-as-you-go pricing is efficient for transactional needs. (Trustpilot)
- Detailed analytics: Provides deep insights into email delivery and engagement. (Reddit)
- Scalability: Handles massive email volumes with ease. (Mailgun Documentation)
👎 Common Complaints (Mailgun)
- Not beginner-friendly: Requires technical expertise to set up and use effectively. (G2)
- Lacks marketing tools: No drag-and-drop editor or landing page builder. (Trustpilot)
- Steep learning curve: Understanding the API and settings can be challenging. (Capterra)
- Customer support focus: Primarily technical, not marketing advice. (Reddit)
User Reviews & Case Studies
Hearing from real users can offer valuable insights.
“Mailchimp is a game-changer for my small business. I’m not a tech person, but I can easily create beautiful newsletters and manage my contacts. The automation is simple enough for me to use, and the pricing is manageable when starting out.”
— Sarah K., Small Business Owner (Trustpilot)
“We switched to Mailgun for our e-commerce transactional emails. The deliverability is rock-solid, and the ability to track every email event through their API is invaluable. It’s technically demanding but worth it for the reliability.”
— John D., SaaS Developer (G2)
Case Study: E-commerce Success with Mailchimp
A small online boutique selling handmade jewelry found Mailchimp to be the perfect solution for nurturing customer relationships. They use Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop editor to create visually appealing product launch emails and abandoned cart reminders. The automation features help them send personalized follow-ups, leading to a 15% increase in repeat purchases within six months.
— Based on common Mailchimp use cases for e-commerce businesses.
Case Study: Reliable Notifications with Mailgun
A growing subscription box service relies on Mailgun to send thousands of order confirmations, shipping notifications, and account update emails daily. By integrating Mailgun’s API into their platform, they ensure these critical transactional messages reach customers instantly and reliably, reducing customer service inquiries about order status.
— Based on common Mailgun use cases for SaaS and e-commerce platforms.
Which One Should You Choose?
The best choice depends entirely on your needs and technical comfort level.
- Choose Mailchimp if:
- You are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer with limited technical skills.
- Your main goal is to send newsletters, promotional campaigns, and build customer relationships.
- You need an easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop editing and pre-designed templates.
- You want built-in tools for landing pages and basic marketing automation.
- You are just starting and need an affordable entry point, possibly with a free plan.
- Choose Mailgun if:
- You are a developer or have technical resources available.
- Your primary need is to send transactional emails (e.g., order confirmations, password resets, verification emails) reliably and at scale.
- You need to integrate email sending directly into your application or website via an API.
- You prioritize deliverability and control over your sending infrastructure.
- You are sending a high volume of emails and need a cost-effective solution based on usage, not just contact list size.
Think of it this way: Mailchimp is like a user-friendly marketing agency in a box, while Mailgun is like a powerful, customizable engine for sending emails.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan. It’s great for beginners and very small businesses, allowing you to send emails to a limited number of contacts with essential features. However, as your list grows or you need more advanced tools, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Does Mailgun support automation?
Mailgun supports transactional automation, meaning it can automatically send emails triggered by specific events within your application (like a new sign-up or a forgotten password). It’s not designed for complex marketing automation workflows like Mailchimp’s, which guide users through nurture sequences or sales funnels.
Which is better for small businesses?
For most small businesses focused on marketing, newsletters, and customer engagement, Mailchimp is generally the better choice due to its ease of use, built-in marketing tools, and beginner-friendly interface. If your small business primarily needs to send automated transactional emails, Mailgun might be more suitable.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Mailgun?
Yes, you can switch. If you’re moving from Mailchimp to Mailgun, you’ll be migrating from a marketing platform to a transactional API. This usually involves re-building your email sending logic within your application using Mailgun’s API, as Mailgun doesn’t have Mailchimp’s visual campaign builders.
Is Mailgun worth it for Shopify stores?
Mailgun can be worth it for Shopify stores if your primary need is to send high-volume transactional emails (like order confirmations, shipping updates) and you want more control and potentially lower costs than Shopify’s default or other integrated services. For marketing campaigns and newsletters, Mailchimp or other dedicated e-commerce email platforms are often more suitable.
What if I need both marketing and transactional emails?
Many businesses use both! You might use Mailchimp for your newsletters and marketing campaigns, and Mailgun for your critical transactional emails. Some platforms also offer services that bridge this gap, but for a clear distinction, using separate tools is common and effective. You could also explore platforms like Sendinblue (now Brevo) or ActiveCampaign, which offer a blend of both.
Conclusion
When comparing Mailchimp vs Mailgun, remember that they serve different primary purposes. Mailchimp is your go-to for engaging marketing campaigns, newsletters, and building customer relationships with an easy-to-use interface. Mailgun excels as a powerful, reliable engine for sending transactional emails and integrating email capabilities into your applications via its robust API.
Here’s a final recommendation framework:
- Choose Mailchimp if: You are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer who needs an all-in-one, user-friendly platform to create and send marketing emails, manage your list, and automate basic customer journeys. It’s perfect for growing your brand through direct communication.
- Choose Mailgun if: You are a developer or a tech-savvy business that requires a highly reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solution for sending transactional emails or integrating email functionality into your software. Your focus is on delivery performance and programmatic control.
The best way to know for sure is to try them out! Mailchimp offers a free plan to get you started, and Mailgun has a free tier for testing. Experimenting with their interfaces and features will give you the clearest picture of which tool aligns best with your business needs and your comfort level.