Constant Contact vs Mailchimp
Constant Contact and Mailchimp are both popular choices in the all-in-one marketing platform space. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 6-year head start over Mailchimp (founded 2001). Constant Contact is the more affordable option at $12/mo — that's $1 less than Mailchimp's $13/mo entry point. Mailchimp offers a free plan (250 contacts, 500 emails/month), while Constant Contact does not. Both tools work well for small businesses and nonprofits.
Quick Verdict
Constant Contact wins on price, deliverability.
Mailchimp wins on rating, free tier.
Best for most users: Constant Contact (small businesses).
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
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 | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Founded | 1995 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 300 | 100 |
| Integrations | 300 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97% | 96% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- +Excellent event marketing features
- +300+ templates and integrations
- +Strong brand recognition and trust
- +Social media posting included
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Automation is basic on lower tiers
- −Gets expensive with larger lists
- −Interface feels outdated in places
- −Limited advanced features
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
Mailchimp edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating compared to Constant Contact's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.4 vs 4) and ease of use (4.6 vs 4.3). On deliverability, Constant Contact reports 97% compared to 96% for Mailchimp — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $13/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97% | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 300 | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Constant Contact if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You're a event marketing
- + You're a local businesses
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a ecommerce