listmonk vs Mailchimp (2026)
Free, self-hosted newsletter and mailing-list manager — 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.
| listmonk | Mailchimp 🏆 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: free software, you pay your own server and SMTP costs | Yes: free plan (500 contacts, basic features) |
| Paid from | Free software; you supply hosting and an SMTP/SES provider | Paid typically from around $13/mo |
| Free trial | None | 14 days |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Landing pages | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Our score | 3.5/5 | 3.6/5 |
Choose listmonk if…
- You're primarily developers and technical teams
- Free and open source with no subscriber limits
- You can live with: you must host it and set up smtp and deliverability yourself
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
listmonk vs Mailchimp: FAQ
listmonk or Mailchimp — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching Mailchimp's strengths (companies that need one vendor for everything), Mailchimp is the stronger choice — it scores 3.6/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose listmonk for developers and technical teams, and Mailchimp for companies that need one vendor for everything.
Is listmonk cheaper than Mailchimp?
listmonk has a free plan (Free software; you supply hosting and an SMTP/SES provider), 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 listmonk 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.