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 2026-06-26.
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.