StackEvalifyEmail marketing · Desk research
Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign: compare plans, costs, and automation
The useful comparison is not “simple newsletters versus advanced automation.” Both products offer marketing automation, but the capabilities and seat limits depend on the plan. Mailchimp publishes a free tier; ActiveCampaign offers a short trial. For a paid decision, compare the plan that meets your automation needs and your full contact count, then include any CRM or messaging add-ons.
Source check: · Desk research only; StackEvalify has not run a hands-on product test for this comparison.
Quick take
Choose a shortlist based on the workflow you actually need. If you are only validating basic campaign creation, Mailchimp’s free tier is available within its published contact and send caps. If you need to trial ActiveCampaign’s Professional-level features, its trial gives 14 days but limits sending to 100 emails and one user. For production, price the relevant paid plan against your full list and check whether sales CRM, SMS, transactional email, or extra seats add to the bill.
Published plan differences
Free access
- Mailchimp
- Free Marketing plan: up to 250 contacts, 500 email sends per month, and 250 per day. It includes one audience and one seat.
- ActiveCampaign
- No ongoing free marketing plan is listed in the current plan overview. Its trial lasts 14 days, allows up to 100 email sends, and is limited to one user.
How paid plans scale
- Mailchimp
- Your Marketing plan and selected contact tier set the base bill and send limit. Subscribed, unsubscribed, and non-subscribed contacts across all audiences count toward the contact total.
- ActiveCampaign
- Plan features and contact volume determine the price. Its current pricing flow asks for business and contact details to provide a tailored plan; check add-ons separately.
Marketing automation
- Mailchimp
- Automation flows start with Essentials or higher. Standard and Premium support up to 3 triggers, 200 steps, and split paths; exact capabilities depend on the selected plan.
- ActiveCampaign
- Starter lists email automation with up to 5 actions per automation. Plus adds a basic suite of triggers/actions; Professional adds advanced triggers/actions and connected automations.
Users and sales CRM
- Mailchimp
- Free includes one seat. Paid plans list additional seats and permissions by tier; evaluate those alongside the contact and send limits.
- ActiveCampaign
- Starter includes one user seat and allows one additional seat. Enhanced CRM and Sales Engagement are separate add-on packages, so include them in a sales-team quote if needed.
Vendor plan descriptions and pricing flows can change and vary by region, contact tier, billing term, and add-ons. No fixed paid starting price is shown here because ActiveCampaign’s current pricing route asks for a tailored quote and Mailchimp calculates price from plan and contact tier. Confirm the live total before buying.
Compare with your own workflow
- 1. Map one real customer journey. Write down the trigger, conditions, branches, messages, sales handoff, and exit rules you need. Check which exact plan supports each step.
- 2. Calculate the billable audience. Include every contact counted by the vendor, expected send volume, users, and any CRM, SMS, or transactional email add-ons.
- 3. Test the handoff and reporting. Trial the same signup, automation, unsubscribe, sales handoff, and campaign-reporting scenario in each platform. Record setup time and any manual work.
Avoid selecting a platform from claims about inbox placement or revenue improvement alone. This comparison does not include a controlled deliverability or conversion test; use a permission-based test list and your own measurement period if those outcomes drive the purchase.
Sources and method
This page summarizes plan limits, contact billing, and automation availability in vendor documentation checked on 29 October 2026. It is desk research, not independent deliverability, usability, or revenue testing. Check the vendors’ live account-specific pricing before committing.