Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: Which Is Better in 2026?
Mailchimp vs Constant Contact is a close fight, and the right winner depends on your list size and how much help you want. Mailchimp is the better pick for small lists that need a free start and deeper automation. Constant Contact is the better pick if you want simple setup, phone support on every plan, and built-in event tools. Neither is the wrong choice for a small business newsletter — but they charge differently, and those differences add up.
Both tools come from the same world as the pair we compared in our pillar guide to Mailchimp vs ConvertKit. If you are also weighing the cheaper options, see Mailchimp vs MailerLite and ConvertKit vs MailerLite for the same head-to-head treatment.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — up to 250 contacts, 500 sends a month | No — free trial only |
| Entry paid plan (500 contacts) | Essentials, $13 a month | Lite, from $12 a month |
| Send limits | Capped at 10–15x your contact count | Unlimited sends on all plans |
| Templates | 130+ (limited on free) | 200+ |
| Automation | Visual journeys, 40+ pre-built flows | Basic paths on Lite; custom builder on Standard and up |
| A/B testing | Subject lines, content, send time (paid plans) | Subject lines (Standard and up) |
| Support | Email and chat; phone on Premium only | Phone and chat on every paid plan |
| Event management | Through integrations | Built in on every plan |
| SMS marketing | Paid add-on | Included on Standard and up |
Prices above are the vendors’ published figures as of October 2026 for 500 contacts on monthly billing. Both tools price by contact count, so check the price at your actual list size before you decide — the cheaper option at 500 contacts may not be cheaper at 5,000.
Pricing in Detail
Mailchimp’s free plan is its biggest advantage for beginners: 250 contacts and 500 sends a month costs nothing, and you only pay when you grow. Essentials at $13 a month for 500 contacts adds more templates, A/B testing, and basic automation. Standard at $20 a month adds deeper automation and better reports. Premium is expensive and aimed at large teams.
Constant Contact has no free plan, only a trial that needs no credit card. Lite starts from $12 a month and covers basic campaigns, social posting, and event tools. Standard at $35 a month adds A/B testing, segmentation, and the custom automation builder. Premium at $80 a month adds advanced automation and ad tools. The headline prices look close, but Constant Contact’s unlimited sends matter if you email often: Mailchimp’s caps can force an upgrade sooner than you expect.
Ease of Use
Constant Contact is the simpler tool. Its editor is more constrained, its menus are shorter, and most users send their first campaign faster. That simplicity is a feature if you send a monthly newsletter and do not want to learn a marketing platform. Mailchimp’s editor is more flexible and more powerful, but it takes longer to learn, and its settings pages hide options in places that frustrate new users. If you will live in the tool every day, Mailchimp’s depth pays off. If you open it once a month, Constant Contact’s simplicity wins.
Automation and Testing
Mailchimp wins here clearly. Its customer journey builder supports multi-step flows with branching, and its 40-plus pre-built automations cover welcome series, abandoned carts, and win-back campaigns. Constant Contact’s automation is basic on Lite — one or three pre-built paths — and only becomes custom on Standard and Premium. For A/B testing, Mailchimp tests subject lines, content, send names, and send times; Constant Contact tests subject lines on Standard and up. If automation drives your sales, Mailchimp is the pick.
Templates and Design
Constant Contact offers 200-plus templates that are clean and ready to send, and its editor keeps you from breaking the layout. Mailchimp’s templates are more modern and more flexible, but free users only get a handful. For a polished monthly newsletter, either library is enough. For pixel-perfect brand control, Mailchimp’s editor gives you more room.
Deliverability and Support
Independent tests put both tools close on deliverability, with Constant Contact slightly ahead in some rounds and Mailchimp slightly ahead in others. In practice, your list hygiene matters more than the tool: clean your list, avoid spammy subject lines, and authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on either platform.
Support is where Constant Contact clearly leads. Phone support is included on every paid plan, which matters when a campaign is stuck an hour before send time. Mailchimp reserves phone support for its top Premium plan; everyone else gets email and chat. If you want to talk to a human, Constant Contact is the safer choice.
Who Should Pick Which?
Pick Mailchimp if: you want a free start, you need deep automation or A/B testing, you sell online and want abandoned-cart flows, or your list will grow past a few thousand contacts and you want the cheaper mid-tier plans.
Pick Constant Contact if: you run events and want registration built in, you want phone support without paying top tier, you send often and want unlimited sends, or you want the simplest tool that still looks professional. Nonprofits also get a discount of up to 30% with Constant Contact, which can settle the price question on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
No. It offers a free trial with no credit card required, but there is no permanent free plan. Mailchimp is the only one of the two with a free tier.
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or Constant Contact?
It depends on your list size and sending frequency. Mailchimp is cheaper at entry and mid tiers for most list sizes, and free for tiny lists. Constant Contact can be cheaper at the top tier and for frequent senders, thanks to unlimited sends.
Can I switch from one to the other later?
Yes. Both tools export and import contacts by CSV, and templates will need rebuilding. Switching is a weekend job, not a migration project, so do not let fear of switching stop you from starting.
Last updated: October 2026
