EmailOctopus vs Mailchimp
EmailOctopus is a email marketing platform while Mailchimp is a all-in-one marketing platform. Mailchimp has been around since 2001, giving it a 13-year head start over EmailOctopus (founded 2014). EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo — that's $4 less than Mailchimp's $13/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Mailchimp has the edge with A/B testing, SMS marketing, ecommerce integrations. Both tools work well for beginners and small businesses.
Quick Verdict
EmailOctopus wins on price, deliverability.
Mailchimp wins on rating, integrations.
Best for most users: EmailOctopus (beginners).
EmailOctopus
Email marketing made easy
EmailOctopus is a stripped-back email marketing tool that focuses on simplicity and affordability. It's ideal for small businesses and creators who want the essentials without paying for features they won't use. Built on Amazon SES for reliable deliverability.
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 | EmailOctopus | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 30 | 100 |
| Integrations | 45 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 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 | ✕ | ✓ |
EmailOctopus: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
- +Very affordable Pro plan
- +Simple and clean interface
- +Good deliverability using Amazon SES
- +Easy migration from other platforms
Cons
- −Limited feature set compared to competitors
- −No A/B testing
- −Small template library
- −Basic automation capabilities
- −No ecommerce 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
EmailOctopus 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, EmailOctopus reports 97.5% compared to 96% for Mailchimp — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | EmailOctopus | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 45 | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a startups
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics