HubSpot CRM vs Mailchimp
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of HubSpot CRM and Mailchimp. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
HubSpot CRM edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, Mailchimp (4/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing. Read on for the full breakdown.
HubSpot CRM vs Mailchimp at a Glance
HubSpot CRM
★ 4.5HubSpot offers a free CRM with powerful marketing, sales, and service tools. Popular with small to mid-sized businesses for its generous free tier and intuitive interface.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow
Read full review →Mailchimp
★ 4The world's most recognisable email marketing platform, now owned by Intuit. Mailchimp has expanded into basic CRM, landing pages, and social media management.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing
Read full review →HubSpot CRM vs Mailchimp Feature Comparison
Here is how HubSpot CRM and Mailchimp compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | HubSpot CRM | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | Yes | Yes |
| Starting Price | £0/month | £0/month |
| Best For | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow | Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | Yes | Yes |
| Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
HubSpot CRM vs Mailchimp Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
HubSpot CRM Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓Contact management
- ✓Email tracking
- ✓Deal pipeline
- ✓Live chat
Starter
£18/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Ad management
- ✓Landing pages
Professional
£720/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Automation
- ✓Custom reporting
- ✓Teams
Enterprise
£3,000/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Advanced permissions
- ✓Predictive lead scoring
- ✓Custom objects
Mailchimp Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓500 contacts
- ✓1,000 sends/month
- ✓Basic email templates
- ✓Landing pages
Essentials
£10/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓5,000 sends/month
- ✓A/B testing
- ✓24/7 support
Standard
£15/month
- ✓Everything in Essentials
- ✓Automation
- ✓Retargeting ads
- ✓Custom templates
Premium
£270/month
- ✓Everything in Standard
- ✓Advanced segmentation
- ✓Multivariate testing
- ✓Phone support
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both HubSpot CRM and Mailchimp for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
HubSpot CRM Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Generous free tier with no time limit
- •Excellent user interface and onboarding
- •All-in-one platform (marketing, sales, service)
- •Huge integration marketplace (1,000+)
- •Strong community and learning resources
✗Cons
- •Gets expensive quickly at Professional tier
- •Free plan has HubSpot branding
- •Limited customisation on lower tiers
- •Annual contracts on paid plans
- •Per-seat pricing adds up for larger teams
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Extremely well-known and trusted brand
- •Easy to use email builder
- •Good template library
- •Strong integration ecosystem
- •Useful creative tools and content optimiser
✗Cons
- •CRM features are very basic
- •Free plan has been significantly reduced
- •Pricing increases sharply with contact count
- •Limited automation on lower tiers
- •Contact-based pricing means paying for unsubscribed contacts
Our Verdict: HubSpot CRM vs Mailchimp
Both HubSpot CRM and Mailchimp are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose HubSpot CRM if you need Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow. With a starting price of £0/month and a rating of 4.5/5, it offers generous free tier with no time limit.
Choose Mailchimp if you need Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing. Starting at £0/month with a 4/5 rating, it excels at extremely well-known and trusted brand.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between HubSpot CRM and Mailchimp? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up HubSpot CRM or Mailchimp for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.