Mailchimp vs Mailjet: Essential Showdown

Mailchimp vs Mailjet: The Essential Showdown for Small Businesses. Choose the right email marketing tool to grow your business.

Navigating the world of email marketing can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting. Two big names often pop up: Mailchimp and Mailjet. You might be wondering, “Which one is better for me?” It’s a common question because both offer great features, but they shine in different areas. We’re here to break down Mailchimp vs Mailjet in a way that makes sense, helping you confidently pick the best partner for your email marketing journey.

What is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is one of the most recognized names in email marketing. It started as a simple email service provider but has grown into a full-fledged marketing platform. Think of it as your go-to for sending newsletters, managing contacts, and even building simple websites or online stores. It’s designed to be user-friendly, making it a popular choice for small businesses and individuals who want to start building an email list and communicating with their audience without a steep learning curve.

What is Mailjet?

Mailjet is another powerful email service provider that focuses on transactional emails and marketing campaigns. It’s known for its robust features, especially for businesses that need to send automated emails like order confirmations, password resets, and shipping notifications, alongside their marketing newsletters. Mailjet also offers tools for campaign management and contact segmentation, aiming to provide a flexible and scalable solution for growing businesses and developers who might need more advanced customization.

Key Differences at a Glance

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

• Mailchimp: Generally seen as more beginner-friendly with a strong focus on marketing newsletters and a broader range of marketing tools.
• Mailjet: Stronger in transactional emails, developer-friendly APIs, and often preferred for more complex automation and bulk sending needs.

Features Comparison: Mailchimp vs Mailjet

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

Feature	Mailchimp	Mailjet
Ease of Use	Very user-friendly, intuitive drag-and-drop editor.	User-friendly, but can have a slightly steeper learning curve for advanced features.
Email Editor	Drag-and-drop builder, pre-designed templates, content studio.	Drag-and-drop editor, HTML editor, template language for dynamic content.
Automation	Robust marketing automation workflows, welcome series, abandoned cart emails.	Strong transactional email automation, marketing automation capabilities.
Segmentation	Good segmentation based on contact data, tags, and activity.	Advanced segmentation options, including custom properties.
Deliverability	Generally good deliverability, focuses on best practices.	Strong focus on deliverability with advanced tools and infrastructure.
Transactional Emails	Available, but not its primary focus.	A core strength, designed for high-volume transactional sending.
Integrations	Extensive integrations with many popular apps and platforms.	Good range of integrations, strong API for custom connections.
A/B Testing	Supports A/B testing for subject lines and content.	Supports A/B testing for various campaign elements.
Reporting & Analytics	Clear, visual reports on campaign performance.	Detailed analytics for both marketing and transactional emails.

In terms of the core email building experience, Mailchimp often gets the nod for its sheer simplicity. Its drag-and-drop editor is incredibly intuitive, making it easy for beginners to create visually appealing emails without needing any coding knowledge. Mailjet also offers a drag-and-drop builder, but it also caters to those who want to dive into HTML or use their templating language for more dynamic content, which can be a plus for businesses with specific design needs or developer support.

When it comes to automation, both platforms offer powerful tools. Mailchimp excels at marketing automation, helping you set up welcome sequences, follow-up emails, and even abandoned cart reminders if you have an e-commerce store. Mailjet is particularly strong in transactional emails – those automated messages like order confirmations or password resets that are crucial for customer experience. They also offer marketing automation, but their roots in transactional messaging give them a slight edge if that’s a major part of your strategy.

Integrations are key to a smooth workflow. Mailchimp boasts a vast library of integrations, connecting with almost any tool you can think of, from CRM systems to e-commerce platforms like Shopify and social media. Mailjet also offers a good selection of integrations and a robust API, which is great if you need to build custom connections or have more technical requirements.

Pricing Comparison: Mailchimp vs Mailjet

Cost is a big factor for any small business. Let’s see how Mailchimp and Mailjet compare on price.

Plan/Feature	Mailchimp	Mailjet
Free Plan	Yes, for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month, with Mailchimp branding.	Yes, for up to 200 contacts and 6,000 emails per month (200/day), with Mailjet branding.
Starting Paid Plans	Essentials starts around $13/month for up to 500 contacts.	Essentials starts around $9.65/month for up to 1,000 contacts.
Contact Limits	Contact-based pricing.	Contact-based pricing, with tiered plans based on send volume.
Send Volume	Included in plan, with daily limits on lower tiers.	Included in plan, with daily limits on free and lower paid tiers.
Advanced Features	Available on higher tiers (Standard, Premium) including advanced automation, segmentation, and dedicated IP.	Available on higher tiers (Premium, dedicated plans) including advanced segmentation, support, and dedicated IP.
Transactional Email Pricing	Available via Mailchimp Transactional Email (formerly Mandrill), priced separately per email.	Included within their main pricing structure or via dedicated SendGrid partnership for higher volumes.

Both Mailchimp and Mailjet offer free plans, which is fantastic for beginners. Mailchimp’s free plan is generous with up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month, though it does include their branding. Mailjet’s free plan is also quite capable, allowing up to 200 contacts and a higher daily send limit of 200 emails per day (6,000 per month), also with branding.

When you move to paid plans, Mailchimp’s “Essentials” plan typically starts around $13 per month for up to 500 contacts. Mailjet’s “Essentials” plan often comes in slightly lower, starting around $9.65 per month for up to 1,000 contacts, which can be a significant saving for businesses with a growing list.

It’s important to note that pricing often scales with the number of contacts you have and how many emails you send. Mailchimp’s pricing is primarily based on the number of contacts in your audience. Mailjet, on the other hand, often structures its plans around send volume, which can be more predictable if you have a large list but send emails less frequently. Always check their official Mailchimp pricing page and Mailjet pricing page for the most up-to-date details as these can change.

For transactional emails, Mailchimp uses a separate service called Mailchimp Transactional Email (formerly Mandrill), which is priced per email sent. Mailjet, however, often includes transactional capabilities within its main plans or offers dedicated solutions, making it a more integrated option if you rely heavily on automated transactional messages.

Ease of Use & Customer Support

For beginners, ease of use is paramount. Mailchimp has long been praised for its intuitive interface. Its drag-and-drop editor, clear navigation, and helpful tutorials make it incredibly easy to get started. If you’re not tech-savvy, Mailchimp is likely to feel more comfortable right out of the box.

Mailjet is also designed to be user-friendly, but it can present a slightly steeper learning curve, especially if you want to leverage its more advanced features like custom APIs or its templating language. For those with a bit more technical inclination or a developer on hand, Mailjet’s flexibility is a big plus.

Customer support is another area where differences emerge. Mailchimp offers support via email and live chat on its paid plans, with phone support sometimes available on higher tiers. Mailjet typically provides email and chat support, with dedicated account managers for their enterprise-level clients. Both platforms offer extensive knowledge bases and community forums, which are invaluable resources for troubleshooting and learning.

Pros & Cons of Mailchimp

Pros & Cons of Mailjet

User Reviews & Case Studies

Hearing from real users can provide invaluable insights. Based on reviews from platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot, here’s what people are saying:

Case Study: Shopify Store Owner Using Mailchimp for Growth

Case Study: SaaS Company Leveraging Mailjet for Communication

Which One Should You Choose?

The best tool for you depends on your specific needs and priorities. Here’s a simple guide:

• Choose Mailchimp if:
  • You are an absolute beginner in email marketing and want the easiest possible start.
  • Your primary focus is sending marketing newsletters and promotions.
  • You want an all-in-one platform that includes landing pages, basic CRM, and social posting tools.
  • You need a vast array of integrations with other popular business tools.
  • Your budget is tight, and you want to start with a generous free plan.
• Choose Mailjet if:
  • You need to send a high volume of transactional emails (order confirmations, password resets, etc.).
  • You have a development team or are comfortable with APIs for custom integrations.
  • You are looking for a potentially more cost-effective solution as your contact list grows.
  • You need advanced segmentation and automation capabilities, especially for transactional workflows.
  • You prioritize deliverability for both marketing and transactional messages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is Mailchimp free?

A: Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan for users with up to 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month. It includes basic features but comes with Mailchimp branding.

Q2: Does Mailjet support automation?

A: Yes, Mailjet supports both marketing automation and transactional email automation. It’s particularly strong in sending automated transactional messages like order confirmations.

Q3: Which is better for small businesses?

A: For most small businesses just starting with email marketing and prioritizing ease of use, Mailchimp is often the better choice. If a small business has a strong need for transactional emails or developer resources, Mailjet might be more suitable.

Q4: Can I switch from Mailchimp to Mailjet?

A: 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 the new service. You’ll need to rebuild any automated workflows or email templates.

Q5: Is Mailjet worth it for Shopify stores?

A: Mailjet can be worth it for Shopify stores, especially if you need robust transactional emails or find its pricing more competitive for your contact list size and send volume. Mailchimp also has strong Shopify integrations, so it depends on your primary needs.

Q6: What are the key differences in their email editors?

A: Mailchimp’s editor is widely praised for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it very beginner-friendly. Mailjet also offers a drag-and-drop editor but provides more flexibility for users who want to use HTML or a templating language for advanced customization.

Q7: How do their free plans compare?

A: Mailchimp’s free plan offers up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month. Mailjet’s free plan allows up to 200 contacts and 6,000 emails per month (200 per day). Both include branding.

Conclusion: Making Your Choice

So, as we wrap up this Mailchimp vs Mailjet showdown, the key takeaway is that both are excellent tools, but they cater to slightly different needs.

Choose Mailchimp if: You’re a beginner, value extreme ease of use, want an all-in-one marketing platform, and primarily focus on newsletters and promotional emails. Its user-friendly interface and extensive integrations make it a fantastic starting point for many small businesses.

Choose Mailjet if: Your business relies heavily on transactional emails, you have developers who can leverage APIs for custom solutions, or you’re looking for potentially better value as your email list scales. Its focus on deliverability and robust transactional features make it a strong contender for businesses with more technical requirements.

Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try them out! Both Mailchimp and Mailjet offer free plans, allowing you to explore their features and see which one feels like the right fit for your business. Don’t be afraid to experiment – finding the right tools early on can set you up for success in your email marketing journey!