ActiveCampaign
From ~$15 per mo (annual)
Mailchimp
Free / from ~$13 per mo
ActiveCampaign is a powerful marketing automation and CRM platform with deep workflows. Mailchimp is an approachable, all-purpose email platform for small businesses. ActiveCampaign wins on automation and CRM depth; Mailchimp wins on ease and getting started.
Pick ActiveCampaign if you want advanced marketing automation and a built-in CRM for behavior-driven campaigns.
Pick Mailchimp if you want an approachable, all-purpose platform that is easy to start with a free tier.
ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp are both email marketing platforms, but they sit at different depths. ActiveCampaign is automation-first, with some of the most powerful visual workflows in the category, a built-in CRM, and advanced segmentation that suits businesses wanting sophisticated, behavior-driven marketing. Mailchimp is the approachable all-rounder: easy to start, broad in features, and popular with small businesses that want straightforward email and light automation.
On price, ActiveCampaign starts around $15 a month (annual) and Mailchimp around $13, both scaling with contacts. The choice is mostly advanced automation and CRM (ActiveCampaign) versus approachable, all-purpose email (Mailchimp).
We compare automation, CRM, ease of use, pricing, and scale.
| Quick facts | ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (trial) | Yes |
| Starting paid price | From ~$15/mo (annual) | From ~$13/mo |
| Automation depth | Best-in-class | Good |
| Built-in CRM | Best-in-class | Limited |
| Best for | Advanced automation + CRM | Approachable all-purpose |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | A ActiveCampaign | M Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Visual automation workflows | Best-in-class | Strong |
| Built-in CRM & deals | Best-in-class | Limited |
| Advanced segmentation | Best-in-class | Good |
| Approachable onboarding | Good | Best-in-class |
| Landing pages & broad tools | Strong | Best-in-class |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Deliverability | Best-in-class | Strong |
| SMS marketing | Strong | Good |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed June 2026.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
ActiveCampaign is far more powerful for automation and CRM, but it has a steeper learning curve and no permanent free tier.
Mailchimp is easier and has a free tier, but its automation and CRM depth trail ActiveCampaign.
For sophisticated automation ActiveCampaign wins; for easy, broad marketing Mailchimp wins.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.