Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign. 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
ActiveCampaign edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.4/5. 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.
Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance
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 →ActiveCampaign
★ 4.4ActiveCampaign blends email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM into one platform. Known for its sophisticated automation builder and excellent email deliverability.
Starting from: £12/month
Best for: Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation
Read full review →Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign Feature Comparison
Here is how Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | Yes | No |
| Starting Price | £0/month | £12/month |
| Best For | Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing | Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | 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 |
Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
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
ActiveCampaign Pricing
Starter
£12/month
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Marketing automation
- ✓Inline forms
- ✓Site tracking
Plus
£42/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓CRM
- ✓Lead scoring
- ✓Landing pages
- ✓SMS marketing
Pro
£135/month
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Predictive sending
- ✓Split automation
- ✓Attribution
Enterprise
£225/month
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Custom objects
- ✓Single sign-on
- ✓Dedicated account rep
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
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
ActiveCampaign Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class marketing automation
- •Excellent email deliverability
- •Sophisticated automation builder
- •Good CRM functionality
- •Strong segmentation capabilities
✗Cons
- •CRM is secondary to marketing features
- •Can be complex for beginners
- •Contact-based pricing escalates
- •Reporting could be more visual
- •Limited social media features
Our Verdict: Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Both Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Mailchimp if you need Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing. With a starting price of £0/month and a rating of 4/5, it offers extremely well-known and trusted brand.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you need Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation. Starting at £12/month with a 4.4/5 rating, it excels at best-in-class marketing automation.
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 Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign? 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 Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.