Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to some of the alternatives (Brevo, Moosend and AWeber). If you sign up through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Mailchimp links are not affiliate links. This guide is based on Mailchimp’s published pricing page and on independent reports, not on hands-on testing.
Mailchimp prices its plans by the number of contacts you store, and each plan carries a monthly email send limit. This guide uses Mailchimp’s own pricing page as shown to a UK visitor on 30 October 2026, so prices are in pounds. Mailchimp’s page lists a price for each contact band, from 0-500 up to more than a million. I could confirm only the smallest band, so the others are not listed here. Use the contacts selector on Mailchimp’s page for your own list size.
Mailchimp plans at a glance
| Plan | Price at 0-500 contacts | Monthly sends | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | £0, for fewer than 250 contacts | Not shown on the page | Not shown on the page |
| Essentials | From £9.83/month | 5,000 | 3 |
| Standard | From £15.12/month | 6,000 | 5 |
| Premium | From £264.62/month | 150,000 | Unlimited |
Mailchimp describes Standard as its best-value plan. The page shows a 15% saving for 10,000+ contacts on the paid plans. On Premium that appears as £224.93 a month for the first 12 months, then £264.62. Independent guides report US prices of $13, $20 and $350 a month for Essentials, Standard and Premium, but check the price for your own region.
The free plan
Mailchimp’s pricing page says: under 250 contacts, it’s free, and it describes the plan as core features for early growth. Sending is paused if you exceed the contact or email limit. The page does not show the free plan’s monthly send limit; independent guides report 500 emails a month, and Mailchimp branding on free-plan emails.
Older guides, including earlier articles on this site, list the free plan as 500 contacts and 1,000 emails a month. That no longer matches Mailchimp’s page.
What each paid plan includes
- Essentials: 5,000 sends at the smallest band, 3 seats, 3 audiences, up to 4 flow steps in automations, custom-coded templates you can create but must upgrade to send, 24/7 email and chat support, and an SMS add-on.
- Standard: 6,000 sends, 5 seats, 5 audiences, up to 200 automation flows, generative AI features at no additional cost, custom-coded templates you can create and send, branded templates, custom reports, dynamic content, one onboarding session, and 24/7 email and chat support.
- Premium: 150,000 sends, unlimited seats and audiences, phone and priority support, enterprise SSO, four onboarding sessions with a dedicated onboarding specialist, and premium migration services through sales.
Mailchimp lists the removal of its branding on all three paid plans, and 300+ integrations. SMS and MMS are add-ons in selected countries, and unused SMS credits expire each month.
How the limits work
Mailchimp sets monthly sends as a multiple of the contacts you store: 10 times for Essentials, 12 times for Standard and 15 times for Premium. Its footnotes say overages apply if you exceed the contact or send limit on a paid plan. That makes your contact count the main driver of cost, so a clean list matters.
Trial, discounts and pay as you go
- Free trial: 14 days of Standard or Essentials for new customers. Mailchimp requires payment details at sign-up and charges you when the trial ends unless you cancel or move plan.
- Premium trial: a one-month trial may be available to qualified customers through sales.
- Nonprofits: a 15% discount, requested through Mailchimp’s billing team.
- Pay as you go: email credits for infrequent senders, instead of a monthly or annual plan.
How it compares
| Platform | Free option | Entry paid price | Price based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Free forever, up to 300 emails a day once approved | Starter £6/month, Standard £13/month | Monthly send volume |
| AWeber | Up to 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails a month | Lite $15/month ($12.50 annual), Plus $30/month ($20 annual) | Subscriber count |
| Moosend | 30-day trial, no credit card | Pro from $9/month for 500 contacts | Contact count |
These use different currencies and billing rules, so compare them at your own list size. Brevo’s automation sits on its Standard plan. Moosend’s Pro plan includes unlimited sends and automation. AWeber’s Lite allows 3 automations and Plus allows unlimited.
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
Is Mailchimp worth it?
It may suit you if you need its 300+ integrations, up to 200 automation flows on Standard, or 24/7 email and chat support on its entry paid plans, and your list is small enough for the contact-based pricing to stay manageable.
Look at alternatives if your list is above 250 contacts and you want to stay free, if you need more than 4 flow steps of automation without paying for Standard, or if you want your costs to follow how often you send rather than how many contacts you hold.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailchimp still free?
Yes, for fewer than 250 contacts, according to Mailchimp’s pricing page. Above that you need a paid plan.
How much does Mailchimp cost per month?
At 0-500 contacts a UK visitor sees Essentials from £9.83, Standard from £15.12 and Premium from £264.62. The price rises with your contact band.
Do I need a card for the trial?
Yes. Mailchimp says valid payment information must be provided when you enrol in the 14-day trial.
What happens if I go over my limit?
On the free plan, sending is paused. On paid plans, Mailchimp says overages apply.
Can I pay only when I send?
Yes, through Mailchimp’s Pay As You Go email credits, which it recommends for infrequent senders.
Verdict
Mailchimp is a capable, well-integrated platform whose cost follows your contact count, and whose free plan is now small. Read the limits for your list size on Mailchimp’s page, then price two or three alternatives at the same size before you commit.
Sources checked
- Mailchimp pricing: mailchimp.com/pricing (30 October 2026, GBP)
- Brevo pricing: brevo.com/pricing (30 October 2026, GBP)
- AWeber pricing: aweber.com/pricing.htm and aweber.com/free.htm (30 October 2026)
- Moosend pricing: moosend.com/pricing (30 October 2026)
Last updated: 30 October 2026. Prices and limits change often, so confirm them on the vendor’s website before buying.
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a commission. It does not change what I recommend.