Best Mailchimp Alternatives 2026
Mailchimp's free plan caps at 500 contacts and paid plans charge per contact — even unsubscribed ones. The good news: Brevo sends 300 emails/day free with no contact limit. We compare all the top Mailchimp alternatives for email marketing in 2026.
💡 Free Pick: Brevo sends up to 300 emails/day free with no contact limit — a major upgrade over Mailchimp's restrictive free tier.
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Why People Leave Mailchimp
The Dealbreaker: Per-Contact Pricing That Penalises Growth
Mailchimp's free plan is capped at 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month, which is extremely limiting. Once you exceed those limits, prices jump sharply — the Essentials plan starts at $13/month for 500 contacts and scales quickly. Many marketers are frustrated by Mailchimp's pricing model that charges per contact, including unsubscribed contacts. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) changed the game by charging per email sent rather than per contact — their free plan allows 300 emails/day with no contact limit at all. Use Web Reveal to discover which email platform your competitors are using on their websites right now.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Brevo | MailerLite | ConvertKit | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (300 emails/day) | Free / From $9/mo | Free limited / From $25/mo | From $15/mo |
| Free Plan | ✅ Unlimited contacts | ✅ 1,000 subscribers | ✅ 10,000 subscribers (no automation) | ❌ 14-day trial only |
| Contacts | Unlimited on all plans | By subscriber count | By subscriber count | By contact count |
| Automation | ✅ Yes (paid plans) | ✅ Yes (paid plans) | ✅ Visual builder | ✅ Best-in-class |
| Key Strength | Unlimited contacts, SMS too | Clean UI, landing pages | Built for creators | Advanced automation + CRM |
Individual Reviews
Brevo
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is the standout free Mailchimp alternative. It charges per email sent rather than per contact, meaning you can store unlimited contacts and send 300 emails/day free — far more generous than Mailchimp's free tier.
Pros
- Free plan with 300 emails/day and unlimited contacts
- Charges per email sent, not per contact
- Includes SMS marketing and transactional emails
Cons
- Daily send limit on free plan
- Template builder less polished than Mailchimp
MailerLite
MailerLite is a clean, intuitive email marketing platform with a generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month. It includes landing pages and a drag-and-drop builder on the free tier.
Pros
- Generous free plan (12,000 emails/month, 1,000 subscribers)
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Landing pages included
Cons
- Automation limited on free plan
- Slower approval process for new accounts
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is built for creators, bloggers, and online course sellers. It features a powerful visual automation builder, subscriber tagging, and commerce tools for selling digital products directly from emails.
Pros
- Built for creators and bloggers
- Visual automation builder
- Commerce features for selling digital products
Cons
- No free plan with automation
- More expensive for large lists
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is the most powerful marketing automation platform on this list. It combines email marketing, CRM, and automation in one platform with excellent deliverability and deep e-commerce integrations.
Pros
- Best-in-class marketing automation
- CRM built-in
- Excellent deliverability
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- No free plan (only 14-day trial)
Loops
Loops is an email platform purpose-built for SaaS products. Rather than traditional campaigns, it uses event-triggered loops tied to product actions — making it ideal for transactional and lifecycle emails in product-led growth companies.
Pros
- Purpose-built for SaaS product emails
- Simple loop-based automation
- Clean, developer-friendly API
Cons
- Not suitable for newsletters or e-commerce
- Smaller ecosystem
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free Mailchimp alternative?
Yes — Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers a free plan with 300 emails/day and unlimited contacts. MailerLite is also free for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month. Both are significantly more generous than Mailchimp's 500-contact free plan.
Why do people switch from Mailchimp?
Mailchimp charges per contact — including unsubscribed ones — which drives up costs quickly. Its free plan caps at 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month. Brevo and MailerLite charge per email sent, not per contact, which is far more cost-effective for growing lists.
How does Mailchimp compare to Brevo?
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is generally more affordable for large contact lists because it charges based on emails sent rather than contacts stored. Brevo also includes SMS and transactional emails in the same platform. Mailchimp has a richer template library and brand recognition, but Brevo wins on value.
What is Loops, and who is it for?
Loops is an email platform purpose-built for SaaS companies. Instead of traditional campaigns, it uses event-triggered loops tied to product actions (like sign-up, upgrade, or churn). It's ideal for product-led growth teams who want clean transactional and lifecycle emails without the complexity of a full marketing automation tool.
What is the best Mailchimp alternative for e-commerce?
ActiveCampaign is the best Mailchimp alternative for e-commerce due to its powerful automation, CRM, and deep integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce. MailerLite is a great budget option with e-commerce integrations. Brevo also supports e-commerce workflows with transactional email and SMS capabilities.
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