ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
ActiveCampaign leads Mailchimp by 0.3 points overall (7.7 vs 7.4).
7.7/10, Very good
7.4/10, Good
Criterion by criterion
Where each one wins
ActiveCampaign6.0
No free plan and pricing climbs with contacts and tier.
Free plan & value
25% weight
Mailchimp6.2
Free plan exists but is limited, and paid tiers cost more per contact than many rivals.
ActiveCampaign9.4
One of the most capable workflow builders, with conditions and goals.
Automation
20% weight
Mailchimp7.6
Customer journey builder with pre-built flows on paid plans.
ActiveCampaign6.8
Powerful but takes time to learn.
Ease of use & templates
15% weight
Mailchimp8.2
Polished editor and a large template library.
ActiveCampaign8.6
Large integration catalogue including CRMs and stores.
Integrations & ecommerce
15% weight
Mailchimp9.0
Very large catalogue of native integrations.
ActiveCampaign7.8
Chat and email support for paid users, with onboarding on higher plans.
Support & compliance tools
15% weight
Mailchimp6.8
Free users get limited help; chat and email come with paid plans.
ActiveCampaign8.4
CRM, lead scoring and multi-user features for growing teams.
Scalability
10% weight
Mailchimp7.2
Scales to large lists, but pricing steps up steeply.
Published facts
Side by side
| Fact | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial on paid plans | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan limits | No free plan | Not published |
| Priced by | Contacts | Contacts |
| SMS built in | Not published | Yes |
| Support channels | Email and chat; phone on higher tiers | Email and chat on paid plans; phone on top tier |
| Company base / data region | United States | United States |
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
You want something best for B2B and service businesses using detailed automations.
- + Very deep automation
- + Built-in CRM on higher tiers
- + Free trial to evaluate
Choose Mailchimp if…
You want something best for small businesses wanting a familiar all-rounder.
- + Huge integration library
- + Easy, well-designed editor
- + Free tier to get started
Checked 1 Nov 2026.
Questions
ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp: quick answers
Is ActiveCampaign better than Mailchimp?
ActiveCampaign leads Mailchimp by 0.3 points overall (7.7 vs 7.4). ActiveCampaign scores higher on automation, support & compliance tools, scalability. Mailchimp scores higher on free plan & value, ease of use & templates, integrations & ecommerce.
Who should choose Mailchimp over ActiveCampaign?
Mailchimp is best for small businesses wanting a familiar all-rounder. ActiveCampaign is best for B2B and service businesses using detailed automations.
How were ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp scored?
Both were scored on the same 6 weighted criteria for email marketing platforms, using public information such as published plans and terms. We do not lab-test products.