MailCheap vs Mailchimp (2026)
Open-source newsletters priced per email sent, not per subscriber — 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.
| MailCheap 🏆 | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes: free plan (500 contacts, basic features) |
| Paid from | From $19/mo for 20,000 emails and 10,000 active subscribers | Paid typically from around $13/mo |
| Free trial | None | 14 days |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✓ |
| Our score | 4/5 | 3.6/5 |
Choose MailCheap if…
- You're primarily newsletters with large, partly inactive lists
- Pay for emails sent, so dormant subscribers cost nothing
- You can live with: no free plan or trial; cloud starts at $19/mo
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
MailCheap vs Mailchimp: FAQ
MailCheap or Mailchimp — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching MailCheap's strengths (newsletters with large, partly inactive lists), MailCheap is the stronger choice — it scores 4/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose MailCheap for newsletters with large, partly inactive lists, and Mailchimp for companies that need one vendor for everything.
Is MailCheap cheaper than Mailchimp?
MailCheap has no permanent free plan (From $19/mo for 20,000 emails and 10,000 active subscribers), 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 MailCheap 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.