VS

Mailchimp vs Instantly

Mailchimp: Email marketing platform with AI tools that help write campaigns, pick send times and segment lists. Instantly: Cold email outreach platform with inbox warm-up, a lead database and AI-written sequences. Here is how they compare on features, pricing, platforms, pros and cons.

Quick verdict

Mailchimp

Best for: Small businesses that want a familiar, all-round email marketing tool.

Stands out for: Easy to start; Lots of templates and integrations.

Instantly

Best for: Agencies and sales teams running cold email campaigns.

Stands out for: Built for deliverability; Scales to many inboxes.

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Mailchimp, Instantly
Mailchimp
Visit mailchimp.com (opens in a new tab)
Instantly
Visit instantly.ai (opens in a new tab)
What it isEmail marketing platform with AI tools that help write campaigns, pick send times and segment lists.Cold email outreach platform with inbox warm-up, a lead database and AI-written sequences.
Pricing
Free + PaidFree plan; paid plans add more contacts and features
Free trial
Free to useYesNo
CategoryAI Email & InboxAI Email & Inbox
Editor rank#1 in category#9 in category
Made byIntuitInstantly
Best forSmall businesses that want a familiar, all-round email marketing tool.Agencies and sales teams running cold email campaigns.
Key features
  • Drag-and-drop email builder
  • Automated customer journeys
  • AI help with copy and send times
  • Audience segments and reports
  • Unlimited sending accounts
  • Automatic inbox warm-up
  • AI sequence writer and reply sorting
  • B2B lead database
Pros
  • Easy to start
  • Lots of templates and integrations
  • Built for deliverability
  • Scales to many inboxes
Cons
  • Free plan is limited and costs rise as your list grows
  • Cold email needs care to stay within anti-spam rules
Use it to
  • Send a monthly newsletter to customers
  • Set up a welcome email series
  • Write a subject line that gets opened
  • Launch a cold email sequence to prospects
  • Warm up a new sending domain
  • Sort interested replies automatically
Web app
iPhone & iPad
Android

Mailchimp vs Instantly: questions

Is Mailchimp better than Instantly?

Neither wins for everyone. Our editors rank Mailchimp slightly higher overall in AI Email & Inbox, but Instantly can be the better fit: Agencies and sales teams running cold email campaigns.

Which is free, Mailchimp or Instantly?

Mailchimp can be used for free (free + paid), while Instantly is free trial.

Can I use Mailchimp and Instantly together?

Yes. Many people keep both and pick per task, for example send a monthly newsletter to customers with Mailchimp, and launch a cold email sequence to prospects with Instantly.

More comparisons