SFDIFY
At 1,000 contacts on monthly billing, Mailchimp's pricing page starts Essentials at $26.50 a month and Standard at $45 [1]. The closest like-for-like Mailchimp alternatives cost less at that size: Brevo Starter is $17 a month for 10,000 emails and 1,500 contacts [2], MailerLite Comfort is $19 [3] and GetResponse Starter is $19 with unlimited sends [4]. If you want a free plan with room to grow, Kit's Free plan covers "up to 10,000 subscribers" [5].
Small businesses usually look for an alternative to Mailchimp when the list crosses a pricing tier or they need automation the cheaper plan lacks. This guide compares six email marketing platforms, using a 1,000-contact list as the yardstick wherever the vendor's pricing page lets you set it.
What Mailchimp offers, from its own pricing page
Mailchimp's Free plan is for lists "Under 250 contacts" and is capped at "Max of 500/mo or 250/day" email sends [1]. Paid plans are priced by contact tier. At 501 to 1,500 contacts, Essentials "starts at" $26.50 a month and Standard at $45, after a 14-day free trial [1]. Essentials automation is limited to "Up to 4 flow steps", while Standard and Premium allow "Up to 200 flows" [1].
How we chose
We compared each platform's official homepage and pricing page, as published on November 8, 2026. Prices are list prices on monthly billing in US dollars at about 1,000 contacts, unless a vendor only publishes a "starting at" price. We looked at free plans, send limits, automation limits and discounts that matter to small businesses. We did not run hands-on tests, and affiliate status (we earn a commission from GetResponse and Campaign Monitor) did not affect order or wording.
Mailchimp alternatives at a glance
| Product | Best for | Starting paid price at ~1,000 contacts (monthly billing) | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | Small teams that want every feature on a low-cost plan | Comfort $19/mo, 10,000 emails [3] | Free plan: 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails [3] |
| Brevo | Businesses that send to a list less often, or need email plus SMS | Starter $17/mo for 10k emails and 1,500 contacts [2] | Free plan with 300 emails a day [2] |
| GetResponse | Ecommerce and course sellers who want unlimited sends | Starter $19/mo for 1,000 subscribers [4] | Unlimited monthly email sends on Starter [4] |
| Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | Creators and newsletter businesses | Creator $39/mo [5] | Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers [5] |
| Constant Contact | Local businesses that want phone support and social posting | Lite "starting at" $12/mo; price at 1,000 not shown [6] | Live phone and chat support on every plan [6] |
| Campaign Monitor | Design-focused teams that send often | Lite $47/mo at 501 to 2,500 contacts [7] | Essentials includes unlimited email sends [7] |
MailerLite — the closest low-cost swap
MailerLite is the most direct swap for a small business that uses Mailchimp for newsletters, signup forms and simple automations, because its paid plans differ mainly by list size and sending volume rather than by feature gates.
Verified features: The pricing page says "Every paid plan gets our full feature set" [3]; Comfort includes 50 automations and 3 user seats, while Power raises those to unlimited [3].
Pricing: At 1,000 subscribers on monthly billing, Comfort is $19 a month with 10,000 monthly emails and Power is $39 with unlimited monthly emails [3]. The Free plan covers 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails [3].
Strengths: Low entry price at 1,000 contacts and a simple plan structure. A 14-day free trial needs no credit card [3].
Limitations: The Free plan is the same 250-contact size as Mailchimp's, so it is not a way to grow a list for free. Comfort support is email only; live chat starts on Power [3].
Best fit: Small businesses and solo operators who want Mailchimp-style newsletters and automations for less.
Brevo — pay by emails sent, not list size
Brevo prices its plans by monthly email volume, which can suit a business with a large contact list that emails it only a few times a month.
Verified features: Brevo describes itself as a platform covering "email marketing, SMS, WhatsApp, and beyond" [8]. The Standard plan adds marketing automation, A/B testing and AI send time optimization on top of Starter [2].
Pricing: Starter is $17 a month for 10,000 emails and 1,500 contacts, and Standard is $35 at the same 10,000-email tier [2]. The Free plan sends "up to 300 emails per day" and needs no credit card [2].
Strengths: The cheapest paid entry point here at 1,000 contacts, and a pricing model that does not punish large, rarely emailed lists.
Limitations: Marketing automation is a Standard feature, so a like-for-like replacement for Mailchimp Standard costs $35, not $17 [2].
Best fit: Businesses that send occasional campaigns to a large list, or that want email, SMS and WhatsApp in one account.
GetResponse — unlimited sends and selling tools
GetResponse bundles email with landing pages, webinars and a course creator, and it does not cap monthly sends on its standard plans [4].
Verified features: Starter includes "Unlimited monthly email sends", a welcome email series, a landing page builder and signup forms and popups [4]. Marketer adds unlimited automation workflows and abandoned cart recovery [4].
Pricing: Monthly plans start "at $19 per month for unlimited messages to 1,000 subscribers", with 18% off a 12-month plan [4]. Marketer is $59 a month on monthly billing [4]. Nonprofits can get "50% off every monthly plan" [4].
Strengths: Unlimited sends remove the overage worry that comes with send caps, and the nonprofit discount is the largest here.
Limitations: Starter is thin on automation: it "includes 1 automation workflow" and "AI tools are limited to 3 uses" [4]. To match Mailchimp Standard's automation you need Marketer at $59. After the 14-day trial, a free account adds a GetResponse badge to every message [4].
Best fit: Online stores and course or webinar sellers who send often and can justify Marketer.
Kit — free up to 10,000 subscribers for creators
Kit, formerly ConvertKit, is built for creators, newsletter writers and people selling digital products.
Verified features: The Free plan includes unlimited landing pages and forms, unlimited email broadcasts, tagging and segmentation, and selling digital products and subscriptions [5]. Creator adds unlimited visual automations and email sequences, SMS marketing and removal of Kit branding [5].
Pricing: Free is $0 for "up to 10,000 subscribers" [5]. At 1,000 subscribers, Creator is $39 a month billed monthly, with 17% off for paying yearly [5]. Kit lists a 14-day free trial with no credit card and "Free migrations" [5].
Strengths: The most generous free plan here by list size, and migration help for teams moving off Mailchimp.
Limitations: Creator costs more than MailerLite, Brevo or GetResponse at 1,000 subscribers, so the jump from Free to paid is steeper.
Best fit: Creators and newsletter businesses that want to grow a list on a free plan and add automation later.
Constant Contact — phone support and social posting
Constant Contact targets small businesses and nonprofits that want human support and tools beyond email, such as social posting.
Verified features: Every plan includes email marketing, social media tools, live phone and chat support, and 300+ integrations [6]. Its homepage says you can post to "Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok — all from one platform" [9].
Pricing: Lite starts at $12 a month, Standard at $35 and Premium at $80 on monthly billing, and the price "is based on number of contacts and email sends" [6]. The page we checked did not show the exact price at 1,000 contacts. There is a free trial with no credit card required [6].
Strengths: Live phone support on every plan. Nonprofits can get 20% off when prepaying six months or 30% for 12 months [6].
Limitations: Lite has one user and one automation template [6], so automation-heavy teams will need Standard or Premium. Constant Contact calls itself "a paid platform", so there is no free plan to stay on [6].
Best fit: Local businesses, associations and nonprofits that value phone support and social posting in the same tool.
Campaign Monitor — polished design, higher price at 1,000
Campaign Monitor focuses on well-designed campaigns and AI help for writing and improving emails.
Verified features: Marketing Studio can "generate a complete email campaign and custom visuals in one place", including translated versions and Instagram posts [10]. Essentials adds "Unlimited email sends", unlimited automated emails and inbox preview over Lite [7].
Pricing: On monthly billing, Lite is $13 a month at 0 to 500 contacts and $47 at 501 to 2,500; Essentials is $31 and $74 for the same tiers [7]. Nonprofits can get 15% off [7].
Strengths: Unlimited sends on Essentials and strong design and AI tooling for teams that care how emails look.
Limitations: It is the most expensive option here at 1,000 contacts: Lite at $47 a month costs more than Mailchimp Essentials at $26.50 [7] [1]. Its pricing page shows paid plans and a general free trial rather than a free plan you can stay on.
Best fit: Brands and agencies sending frequent, design-heavy campaigns.
How to choose an email marketing platform after Mailchimp
- Count your contacts and sends. Contact-based tools (Mailchimp, MailerLite, Kit, Campaign Monitor) charge for list size. Brevo charges mainly for email volume. If you email a big list once a month, Brevo's model can be cheaper.
- Price the plan with the automation you use. Entry plans often limit automation: Mailchimp Essentials, GetResponse Starter, Constant Contact Lite and Brevo Starter all hold back workflows. Compare the plan that matches your current flows, not the cheapest tier.
- Check send caps and overages. If you send several times a week, unlimited sends (GetResponse, MailerLite Power, Campaign Monitor Essentials) avoid surprise charges.
- Decide whether email lives on its own. If your contacts also sit in a sales CRM, plan the sync before migrating. Our guide to choosing between a custom CRM, Salesforce or off-the-shelf covers that decision, and our HubSpot competitors comparison looks at all-in-one CRMs with email built in.
FAQ
What are the best Mailchimp alternatives free of charge?
Kit's Free plan has the most room, covering up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts [5]. MailerLite's Free plan covers 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails [3], and Brevo's Free plan sends up to 300 emails a day [2]. For comparison, Mailchimp's Free plan is for lists under 250 contacts [1].
Which are the cheaper alternatives to Mailchimp at 1,000 contacts?
On monthly billing, Brevo Starter is $17 for 10,000 emails and 1,500 contacts [2], MailerLite Comfort is $19 [3] and GetResponse Starter is $19 [4]. Mailchimp Essentials is $26.50 at 501 to 1,500 contacts [1].
MailerLite vs Mailchimp: which is better for a small business?
On price, MailerLite Comfort is $19 a month at 1,000 subscribers [3] against $26.50 for Mailchimp Essentials at 501 to 1,500 contacts [1]. MailerLite says every paid plan gets its full feature set [3], while Mailchimp Essentials limits automations to 4 flow steps [1]. Both free plans cover about 250 contacts.
Are there Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits?
Yes. GetResponse offers 50% off every monthly plan for charities and NGOs [4], Constant Contact gives 20% to 30% off on prepaid plans [6], and Campaign Monitor offers 15% [7]. Mailchimp itself offers nonprofits 15% [1].
Our recommendation
For most small businesses leaving Mailchimp, start with MailerLite: it is cheaper at 1,000 contacts and does not lock features by plan. Choose Brevo if you email a large list infrequently, Kit if you are a creator growing a free list, and GetResponse if you need unlimited sends plus selling tools and can pay for Marketer. Constant Contact suits teams that want phone support, and Campaign Monitor fits design-led senders with the budget for it. If your email platform needs to sync deeply with sales data, our team builds custom CRM integrations.
Sources
- Mailchimp Pricing Plans | Get Started Today | Mailchimp — checked 2026-11-08
- Pricing Plans | Brevo — checked 2026-11-08
- Simple, Transparent Pricing - MailerLite — checked 2026-11-08
- Pricing and Service Plans | GetResponse — checked 2026-11-08
- Flexible Pricing Plans for Every Stage of Your Creator Business — checked 2026-11-08
- Marketing Pricing Plans | Constant Contact — checked 2026-11-08
- Email Marketing Pricing & Packages | Campaign Monitor — checked 2026-11-08
- Brevo: Email & SMS Marketing, CRM & Automation Platform — checked 2026-11-08
- Digital and Email Marketing Platform | Constant Contact — checked 2026-11-08
- Campaign Monitor: Email Marketing Platform & Services — checked 2026-11-08
