Mailchimp vs Kit (ConvertKit) (2026 comparison)
Mailchimp and Kit (ConvertKit) are both email marketing tools. Mailchimp is best for small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email (free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts). Kit (ConvertKit) is best for individual creators and newsletter writers who want landing pages and automations built for solo publishing, not team marketing (free Newsletter plan for up to 10,000 subscribers; paid Creator from about $33 per month for 1,000 subscribers, raised from $15 per month in September 2026).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-12. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Mailchimp | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing from | Free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts | Free Newsletter plan for up to 10,000 subscribers; paid Creator from about $33 per month for 1,000 subscribers, raised from $15 per month in September 2026 |
| Best for | small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email | individual creators and newsletter writers who want landing pages and automations built for solo publishing, not team marketing |
| Founded | 2001 | 2013 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Mailchimp for small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email. Choose Kit (ConvertKit) for individual creators and newsletter writers who want landing pages and automations built for solo publishing, not team marketing. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Mailchimp or Kit (ConvertKit) cheaper?
- As published, Mailchimp starts at Free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts and Kit (ConvertKit) starts at Free Newsletter plan for up to 10,000 subscribers; paid Creator from about $33 per month for 1,000 subscribers, raised from $15 per month in September 2026. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
- Yes, Mailchimp has a free plan as of 2026-09-12.