Constant Contact vs Mailchimp (2026)
Built for brick-and-mortar small business — against — The household name — but is it still worth it?. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.
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Head-to-head
Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.
| Constant Contact 🏆 | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes: free plan (500 contacts, basic features) |
| Paid from | Paid typically from around $12/mo for small lists | Paid typically from around $13/mo |
| Free trial | 60 days | 14 days |
| Automations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✓ | ✓ |
| Our score | 4/5 | 3.6/5 |
Choose Constant Contact if…
- You're primarily restaurants, salons, local services running events
- Longest free trial in the category (60 days)
- You can live with: no permanent free plan
Choose Mailchimp if…
- You're primarily companies that need one vendor for everything
- Brand everyone recognizes; huge integration library
- You can live with: pricing now expensive for what you get
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp: FAQ
Constant Contact or Mailchimp — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching Constant Contact's strengths (restaurants, salons, local services running events), Constant Contact is the stronger choice — it scores 4/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose Constant Contact for restaurants, salons, local services running events, and Mailchimp for companies that need one vendor for everything.
Is Constant Contact cheaper than Mailchimp?
Constant Contact has no permanent free plan (Paid typically from around $12/mo for small lists), while Mailchimp has a free plan (Paid typically from around $13/mo). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from Constant Contact to Mailchimp (or back)?
Yes. Subscribers export as CSV/JSON from either platform and import into the other. Automation sequences usually need rebuilding — map your tags and forms before migrating.