Mailchimp vs ConvertKit (2026): Best Email Marketing Platform?
Mailchimp and ConvertKit (now Kit) are two of the most popular email marketing platforms, but they target different users. Mailchimp is built for businesses and ecommerce; ConvertKit is designed for creators and bloggers. Here's how they compare.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Mailchimp if you run an ecommerce store or need advanced design templates and multivariate testing. Choose ConvertKit if you're a creator, blogger, or solopreneur who values simplicity, deliverability, and subscriber-first features. ConvertKit's free plan for up to 10K subscribers is hard to beat.
Mailchimp vs ConvertKit: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | ConvertKit |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ 500 contacts | ✅ 10,000 subscribers |
| Starting Price | $13/mo (500 contacts) | $29/mo (1K subs) |
| Email Designer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (drag & drop) | ⭐⭐⭐ (minimal) |
| Automation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Landing Pages | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ecommerce | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Deliverability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Creator Tools | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| A/B Testing | ✅ Multivariate | ✅ Subject line |
| Best For | Businesses, ecommerce | Creators, bloggers |
Pricing Comparison
ConvertKit offers one of the most generous free plans in email marketing — up to 10,000 subscribers with basic email sends and landing pages. Mailchimp's free plan caps at 500 contacts with limited sends. On paid plans, Mailchimp is cheaper per contact for small lists but gets expensive fast as you scale. ConvertKit's pricing is straightforward and subscriber-based.
Email Design & Templates
Mailchimp has a far superior email designer with beautiful templates, drag-and-drop editing, and rich media support. ConvertKit intentionally keeps emails simple and text-focused — research shows plain-text-style emails often get better deliverability and engagement. It depends on your style.
Automation & Sequences
ConvertKit's visual automation builder is excellent — it makes complex sequences intuitive. Mailchimp has automation too, but it's spread across different features (Customer Journeys, automations, triggers) which can be confusing. For creators who rely on drip sequences, ConvertKit is superior.
Deliverability
ConvertKit consistently ranks among the top email platforms for deliverability rates. Its focus on permission-based marketing and clean sending practices pays off. Mailchimp's deliverability is good but has declined in recent years as the platform has broadened its user base.
🏆 Our Verdict
Choose Mailchimp if you run an ecommerce store or need advanced design templates and multivariate testing. Choose ConvertKit if you're a creator, blogger, or solopreneur who values simplicity, deliverability, and subscriber-first features. ConvertKit's free plan for up to 10K subscribers is hard to beat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is ConvertKit better than Mailchimp?
For creators and bloggers, yes. ConvertKit offers better automation, deliverability, and creator-specific features. For ecommerce and design-heavy emails, Mailchimp is better.
Is ConvertKit now called Kit?
Yes. ConvertKit rebranded to Kit in late 2024, though many users still refer to it as ConvertKit.
Which has better deliverability?
ConvertKit generally has higher deliverability rates due to its focus on permission-based email and clean sending practices.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to ConvertKit?
Yes. ConvertKit offers a free concierge migration service for accounts with over 5,000 subscribers. Smaller lists can be exported from Mailchimp and imported via CSV.