AWeber vs Mailchimp
AWeber is a email marketing platform while Mailchimp is a all-in-one marketing platform. Mailchimp is the more affordable option at $13/mo, which is $2 less than AWeber's $15/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Mailchimp has the edge with SMS marketing. Both tools work well for small businesses.
Quick Verdict
AWeber wins on deliverability, integrations.
Mailchimp wins on price, rating.
Best for most users: Mailchimp (small businesses).
AWeber
Powerfully simple email marketing
AWeber is one of the original email marketing platforms, serving small businesses since 1998. It offers the largest template library (600+) and an impressive integration ecosystem. While its automation isn't as advanced as newer competitors, its reliability and excellent affiliate program make it a solid choice.
Mailchimp
Turn emails into revenue
Mailchimp is the most widely recognized email marketing platform, used by millions of businesses worldwide. Acquired by Intuit in 2021, it offers a full suite of marketing tools but has become increasingly expensive compared to alternatives.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AWeber | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Founded | 1998 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 600 | 100 |
| Integrations | 750 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.8% | 96% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | Yes |
| Web Push Notifications | Yes | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
AWeber: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + 600+ email templates (largest library)
- + 750+ integrations
- + Established and reliable (since 1998)
- + Free plan available
- + Excellent affiliate program (up to 50% recurring)
Cons
- − Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- − Automation capabilities lag behind competitors
- − Free plan is limited
- − Lite plan restricts automations to 3
- − No SMS marketing
Mailchimp: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Most recognized brand in email marketing
- + Excellent drag-and-drop editor
- + 300+ integrations with third-party tools
- + Strong analytics and reporting
- + Good for beginners with guided setup
Cons
- − Free plan severely limited (500 contacts, 1,000 sends)
- − Premium plan is expensive ($350/mo)
- − Charges for unsubscribed contacts
- − Affiliate marketing restricted
- − Deliverability has declined in recent years
The Verdict
AWeber and Mailchimp are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, AWeber reports 97.8% compared to 96% for Mailchimp — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | AWeber | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo | $13/mo Winner |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.8% Winner | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 750 Winner | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose AWeber if…
- + You're a solopreneurs
- + You're a bloggers
- + 600+ email templates (largest library)
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($13/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a ecommerce