Software
Mailchimp Price Hikes & Price History (2026)
Updated June 4, 2026 · Researched & fact-checked by Shaheer
Since Intuit acquired Mailchimp in 2021, prices have climbed almost every year. In 2024 the Essentials plan (500 contacts) rose from $11 to $13/month and Standard from $17 to $20/month, and Mailchimp began counting unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts toward your billed contact tier, raising bills even where the plan price looks unchanged.
At a glance
- Current price
- $13.00 (Essentials (500 contacts))
- Last increase
- May 1, 2024 (+18.2%)
- Total change tracked
- +18.2%
- Tracked increases
- 2
Key takeaways
- In 2024 Mailchimp raised Essentials from $11 to $13/month and Standard from $17 to $20/month (at 500 contacts).
- From April 2024 it began counting unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts toward your billed tier, raising costs without a sticker change.
- Paid-plan prices have risen roughly 20–30% since Intuit’s 2021 acquisition.
Mailchimp price increase history
| Date | Plan | Region | Old → New | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2024 | Essentials (500 contacts) | US | $11.00 → $13.00 | +18.2% | Source |
| May 1, 2024 | Standard (500 contacts) | US | $17.00 → $20.00 | +17.6% | Source |
What Mailchimp costs right now
- Essentials (500 contacts): $13.00 (US)
- Standard (500 contacts): $20.00 (US)
Why Mailchimp keeps getting more expensive
Mailchimp’s headline plan prices tell only part of the story. In 2024 Essentials went from $11 to $13/month and Standard from $17 to $20 at the 500-contact tier — but the change that hit hardest was structural: from April 2024, Mailchimp counts every contact in your audience, including unsubscribed and non-subscribed ones, toward the contact count that sets your price.
Because Mailchimp bills by contact tier, a list that quietly grows past a threshold bumps you into the next, more expensive bracket — and now even people who opted out count. Combined with near-annual list-price increases since Intuit bought the company in 2021, many accounts have seen effective costs climb 20–30% in a couple of years.
Usage- and list-based pricing is where bills drift the most, since the number that drives your charge keeps moving even when you do nothing. Tracking the amount you actually pay each month — not the advertised tier — is the only reliable way to catch Mailchimp creeping upward.
Frequently asked questions
Did Mailchimp raise its prices?
Yes. In 2024 Mailchimp raised Essentials from $11 to $13/month and Standard from $17 to $20/month (at 500 contacts), and from April 2024 it began counting unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts toward your billed contact tier.
How much does Mailchimp cost now?
As of 2026, at 500 contacts the Essentials plan is about $13/month and Standard about $20/month in the US. Prices rise as your contact count grows, since Mailchimp bills by audience size.
Why did my Mailchimp bill go up without changing plans?
Mailchimp prices by contact tier, and since April 2024 it counts unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts too. A growing audience can push you into a higher bracket even though the plan name stays the same.