Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: Marketing Giant vs Small Business Veteran
Comparing Mailchimp and Constant Contact for email broadcasting. Feature breadth versus simplicity and support.
Overview
Mailchimp and Constant Contact are two of the most established names in email marketing. Both have been around for decades, but they have evolved to serve slightly different audiences.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 1995 |
| Starting Price | $13/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Tier | 500 contacts | Trial only |
| Phone Support | Premium plans only | All plans |
| Automation | Advanced | Moderate |
| Template Library | Extensive | Extensive |
| Additional Features | Many (landing pages, sites) | Moderate |
Key Differences
Feature Breadth vs Focus
Mailchimp has expanded beyond email to become an all-in-one marketing platform. Landing pages, websites, social posting, postcards, and more. It can feel overwhelming, but the capabilities are there.
Constant Contact stays more focused on core email marketing with some additions like event management. Less feature bloat, but also fewer advanced capabilities.
Support Approach
Constant Contact offers phone support on all paid plans. For small businesses who want to talk to a human when they have questions, this is genuinely valuable.
Mailchimp reserves phone support for premium plans. Most users rely on email and chat support, which can feel impersonal.
Pricing Comparison
| Contacts | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $13/mo | $12/mo |
| 2,500 | $45/mo | $35/mo |
| 10,000 | $110/mo | $80/mo |
| 25,000 | $270/mo | $180/mo |
Constant Contact is generally more affordable, especially at higher subscriber counts.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Mailchimp if:
- You want an all-in-one marketing platform
- You need advanced automation capabilities
- You value the extensive template library
- You want a free tier to start
- You need e-commerce integrations
Choose Constant Contact if:
- Phone support is important to you
- You prefer a simpler, more focused platform
- You are a small business or non-profit
- Budget matters and you have a larger list
- You host events and need event management
The Bottom Line
Both platforms are proven and reliable. Mailchimp offers more features and a free tier; Constant Contact offers better support and simpler pricing at higher volumes.
For businesses wanting modern features like revenue attribution, consider alternatives like Sequenzy. Neither Mailchimp nor Constant Contact offers native billing integration for SaaS or subscription businesses.
Looking for more comparisons?
Check out our full comparison of 15+ email broadcast services.
View Full Comparison