Keila vs Mailchimp (2026)
Privacy-first open-source newsletters, hosted in the EU or self-hosted — 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.
| Keila 🏆 | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes: free plan (500 contacts, basic features) |
| Paid from | From €8/mo for 2,000 emails, unlimited contacts | Paid typically from around $13/mo |
| Free trial | None | 14 days |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Landing pages | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Our score | 3.8/5 | 3.6/5 |
Choose Keila if…
- You're primarily privacy-conscious senders in the eu
- Open source (AGPLv3) with a hosted cloud option
- You can live with: no 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
Keila vs Mailchimp: FAQ
Keila or Mailchimp — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching Keila's strengths (privacy-conscious senders in the eu), Keila is the stronger choice — it scores 3.8/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose Keila for privacy-conscious senders in the eu, and Mailchimp for companies that need one vendor for everything.
Is Keila cheaper than Mailchimp?
Keila has no permanent free plan (From €8/mo for 2,000 emails, unlimited contacts), 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 Keila 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.