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Constant Contact and Mailchimp are the two most recognised names in small business email marketing — and for good reason. Both have been helping businesses send emails for decades, both are beginner-friendly, and both are trusted by millions of users worldwide.
But they’re not the same platform — and choosing the wrong one could mean paying more than you need to, or missing features your business genuinely needs.
In this comparison I’ll break down exactly how Constant Contact and Mailchimp stack up across every key area — features, pricing, ease of use, automation, and value for money — so you can make the right decision for your business in 2026.
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Quick Verdict
| Constant Contact | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners wanting phone support and event management | Very small businesses wanting a permanent free plan |
| Starting price | $12/month | Free |
| Free plan | ⚠️ 60-day trial only | ✅ Up to 500 contacts |
| Automation | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Templates | 200+ | 100+ |
| Phone support | ✅ All plans | ❌ |
| Event management | ✅ | ❌ |
| SMS marketing | ✅ Paid plans | ✅ Paid plans |
| AI tools | ✅ Strong | ✅ Growing |
| Value for money | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Overall rating | ⭐ 4.2/5 | ⭐ 4.0/5 |
Bottom line: Choose Constant Contact if you’re a complete beginner who wants phone support, runs events, or needs the most guided experience available. Choose Mailchimp if you need a permanent free plan to start with no time pressure. But honestly — if budget and features are your priority, there are better value alternatives to both. More on that at the end.
Who Is Each Platform Built For?
Constant Contact is built for small business owners who want the most hand-held, supported experience available. It prioritises simplicity, guidance, and accessibility — with phone support on all plans and an onboarding process that’s more thorough than any competitor. It’s particularly strong for businesses that run events — workshops, classes, or local networking — thanks to its built-in event management tools.
Mailchimp is built for very small businesses and freelancers who want to start for free and scale up gradually. Its free plan is one of the most recognised entry points in email marketing, and its brand recognition means there’s no shortage of tutorials, community support, and third-party integrations. It’s a generalist platform that does most things adequately without excelling at any one area.
Feature by Feature Comparison
Email Marketing
| Feature | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Email templates | 200+ | 100+ |
| Drag-and-drop editor | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI email writer | ✅ | ✅ |
| A/B testing | ✅ Standard+ | ✅ Paid plans |
| Send time optimisation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Resend to non-openers | ✅ | ✅ Paid plans |
| Dynamic content | ✅ | ✅ Paid plans |
Constant Contact leads on templates — 200+ versus Mailchimp’s 100+ — and includes resend to non-openers on all plans, which Mailchimp locks to paid tiers. Both have AI email writing tools, though Constant Contact’s implementation is more developed.
Winner: Constant Contact — more templates and more features available at lower price points.
Marketing Automation
| Feature | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome sequences | ✅ | ✅ |
| Behaviour-based triggers | ✅ | ✅ Paid plans |
| Abandoned cart | ✅ Standard+ | ✅ Paid plans |
| Birthday emails | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pre-built templates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Visual automation builder | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Basic |
| Lead scoring | ❌ | ❌ |
Neither platform excels at automation — this is an area where both Constant Contact and Mailchimp lag behind dedicated automation tools like ActiveCampaign and Moosend. Both cover standard needs — welcome sequences, abandoned cart, birthday emails — but neither offers the visual automation depth that growing businesses often need.
Winner: Tie — both are adequate for basic automation, neither is impressive.
Pricing
Constant Contact Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $12/month | Email marketing, 1 user, 10x contact limit sends |
| Standard | $35/month | Automation, SMS, A/B testing, social posting, 3 users |
| Premium | $80/month | Advanced automation, custom reporting, 5 users |
Mailchimp Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, basic templates |
| Essentials | $13/month | 500 contacts, 5,000 emails/month, A/B testing, 24/7 support |
| Standard | $20/month | 500 contacts, 6,000 emails/month, automation, retargeting |
| Premium | $350/month | Unlimited contacts, advanced segmentation, multivariate testing |
Which Is Better Value?
Mailchimp wins on entry price — its free plan for up to 500 contacts is a genuine advantage for businesses just starting out. However, Mailchimp’s pricing scales steeply and becomes expensive quickly as your list grows. Constant Contact’s pricing is more predictable and transparent, though it starts higher with no permanent free option.
Neither platform offers exceptional value compared to alternatives like Brevo (free, unlimited contacts) or Moosend ($9/month with more automation features than either). For the price both platforms charge, you can get considerably more elsewhere.
Winner: Mailchimp — the free plan is a genuine advantage at the entry level.
Ease of Use
Constant Contact is the most beginner-friendly major email marketing platform available — full stop. The guided onboarding, clean interface, and accessible support make it the easiest option for business owners with no prior email marketing experience. Everything is clearly labelled, help is always one click away, and the learning curve is minimal.
Mailchimp is also beginner-friendly but has become more complex over the years as it has added features. New users occasionally find the interface cluttered and the navigation less intuitive than it used to be. It’s still accessible, but noticeably less polished than Constant Contact for complete newcomers.
Winner: Constant Contact — the clearest market leader for ease of use.
Customer Support
| Support Type | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Phone support | ✅ All paid plans | ❌ |
| Live chat | ✅ All paid plans | ✅ Paid plans only |
| Email support | ✅ | ✅ Paid plans only |
| Free plan support | ✅ During trial | ❌ Email only for 30 days |
| Help centre | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Extensive |
| Community forum | ✅ | ✅ |
Constant Contact wins this category clearly. Phone support on all paid plans is rare in the email marketing space and genuinely valuable for small business owners who prefer speaking to a real person. Mailchimp offers no phone support at any price point — free plan users get email support for 30 days only, after which they’re limited to the help centre and community forums.
Winner: Constant Contact — phone support alone makes this a clear win.
Unique Features
Constant Contact unique features:
- Event management — create event pages, sell tickets, manage registrations, and send automated reminders. No other major email platform includes this
- Phone support — available on all paid plans
- Social media scheduling — post to Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn from within the platform
- QR code generator — for offline list building at events or in-store
Mailchimp unique features:
- Permanent free plan — up to 500 contacts with no time limit
- Website builder — basic website creation included
- Appointment scheduling — book client appointments through Mailchimp
- Largest third-party integration library — 300+ native integrations
- Postcards — send physical direct mail postcards to contacts
Deliverability
Both platforms have strong deliverability records built over decades of operation. Constant Contact consistently achieves inbox placement rates above 97% in independent testing. Mailchimp performs similarly, though its deliverability has faced more scrutiny in recent years due to the volume and variety of senders on its platform — including the free tier, which attracts some lower-quality senders that can affect shared IP reputation.
Winner: Constant Contact — marginally stronger deliverability track record.
Which Should You Choose?
Do you need a permanent free plan with no time limit?
If yes → Mailchimp. Constant Contact’s 60-day trial is generous but not permanent.
Do you want phone support?
If yes → Constant Contact. Mailchimp offers no phone support at any price.
Do you run events — workshops, classes, or local networking?
If yes → Constant Contact. Its event management tools are unique in the email marketing space.
Are you a complete beginner wanting the most guided experience?
If yes → Constant Contact. It’s the most accessible major platform available.
Do you need the largest integration library?
If yes → Mailchimp. Its 300+ integrations cover more third-party tools than Constant Contact.
Is value for money your top priority?
If yes → Neither. Both platforms are more expensive than alternatives offering better features. See below.
The Honest Truth: Are There Better Options?
Constant Contact and Mailchimp are trusted, reliable platforms — but they’re not the best value options available in 2026. Both charge premium prices for features that newer platforms deliver at a fraction of the cost.
If budget and features matter more than brand recognition, these alternatives are worth considering:
| Platform | Free Plan | Paid From | Why It Beats Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | ✅ Unlimited contacts | $9/month | No contact limit on free plan, SMS included, stronger automation than both |
| Moosend | ⚠️ 30-day trial | $9/month | Far more powerful automation, heatmaps, e-commerce features at entry price |
| AWeber | ✅ 500 subscribers | $12.50/month | Unlimited emails on free plan, excellent deliverability, beginner friendly |
👉 Try Brevo for free (unlimited contacts): https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9
👉 Try Moosend free for 30 days: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha
👉 Try AWeber free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: Use Cases
Choose Constant Contact if you are:
- A complete beginner who wants maximum guidance and support
- A small business that runs events, workshops, or classes
- A business owner who wants phone support included as standard
- A local business wanting to combine email with social media scheduling
- A business wanting the most generous free trial (60 days) to properly test before committing
Choose Mailchimp if you are:
- A very small business or freelancer wanting a permanent free plan
- Someone who needs the widest range of third-party integrations
- A business that wants a basic website included alongside email
- Someone already familiar with Mailchimp who doesn’t want to switch
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Constant Contact better than Mailchimp?
For ease of use, support, and feature breadth at paid tiers, yes — Constant Contact is the stronger platform. Mailchimp has the advantage of a permanent free plan and a larger integration library. Neither is the best value option in 2026 compared to alternatives like Brevo or Moosend.
Which is cheaper — Constant Contact or Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is cheaper at entry level thanks to its permanent free plan. At paid tiers, Mailchimp’s Essentials plan starts at $13/month versus Constant Contact’s Lite at $12/month — so they’re comparable. Both become expensive as your list grows, with prices scaling steeply based on contact count.
Does Mailchimp have better automation than Constant Contact?
Neither platform has strong automation compared to dedicated tools. Both cover basic sequences — welcome emails, abandoned cart, birthday emails — but neither offers the visual automation depth of ActiveCampaign or Moosend. If automation is your priority, both are the wrong choice.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Constant Contact?
Yes — switching is straightforward. Export your contact list from Mailchimp as a CSV file and import it into Constant Contact. Your email templates and automations won’t transfer automatically and will need to be recreated, but the contact migration itself takes minutes. Constant Contact’s onboarding team can assist with the process.
Which is better for e-commerce?
Both offer e-commerce integrations and abandoned cart sequences, but neither is the strongest choice for e-commerce compared to dedicated tools. Mailchimp has slightly more e-commerce integrations. For serious e-commerce automation — product recommendations, purchase tracking, cross-sell sequences — Moosend at $9/month is a significantly stronger and cheaper option than either.
Does Constant Contact own Moosend?
Yes — Constant Contact acquired Moosend in 2025. Moosend continues to operate as a separate product with its own pricing and features. The acquisition gives Constant Contact a stronger automation and e-commerce offering via Moosend, while Constant Contact itself remains focused on ease of use and multi-channel marketing for small businesses.
Final Verdict
Constant Contact and Mailchimp are both solid, reliable platforms that have served small businesses well for decades. But in 2026, neither represents the best value in the market.
Choose Constant Contact if you’re a complete beginner who wants phone support, runs events, or simply wants the most guided and accessible email marketing experience available.
Choose Mailchimp if a permanent free plan is your priority and you’re happy to live without phone support and with more basic automation.
Consider the alternatives if budget and features matter. Brevo gives you unlimited contacts for free. Moosend gives you more powerful automation from $9/month. AWeber gives you a free plan with unlimited sends. All three outperform Constant Contact and Mailchimp on value at comparable price points.
👉 Try Brevo for free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9
👉 Try Moosend free for 30 days: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha
👉 Try AWeber free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741
Last updated: July 2026
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.