Buffer vs Mailchimp: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Buffer starts at $6/mo. Mailchimp starts at $13/mo. Buffer is $7/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Mailchimp.
Social media scheduling and analytics from a fully-remote 80-person company known for radical transparency (publishes salaries, revenue publicly). Positioned as the alternative to Hootsuite for small businesses and creators. Distinctive for its calm, no-upsell culture. Priced $6-$120/mo across four tiers. Losing ground to Hootsuite (enterprise) and Later (Instagram-first) but still profitable and cash-generative.
The original email marketing platform for SMBs, now owned by Intuit ($12B acquisition, 2021). Distinctive for pricing per subscriber rather than per email sent — which surprises teams with large-but-inactive lists. Free tier up to 500 contacts. Paid tiers get expensive fast as your list grows ($350/mo Premium at 10K+ contacts). Losing SMB share to Beehiiv (creators) and Klaviyo (e-commerce) but still the default for non-technical marketers.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Buffer monthly | Buffer annual | Mailchimp monthly | Mailchimp annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2 | Essentials | 6 | 5 | 13 | — |
| 3 | Team / Standard | 12 | 10 | 20 | — |
| 4 | Premium | — | — | 350 | — |
What each is best for
Social media scheduling and analytics from a fully-remote 80-person company known for radical transparency (publishes salaries, revenue publicly). Positioned as the alternative to Hootsuite for small businesses and creators. Distinctive for its calm, no-upsell culture. Priced $6-$120/mo across four tiers. Losing ground to Hootsuite (enterprise) and Later (Instagram-first) but still profitable and cash-generative.
The original email marketing platform for SMBs, now owned by Intuit ($12B acquisition, 2021). Distinctive for pricing per subscriber rather than per email sent — which surprises teams with large-but-inactive lists. Free tier up to 500 contacts. Paid tiers get expensive fast as your list grows ($350/mo Premium at 10K+ contacts). Losing SMB share to Beehiiv (creators) and Klaviyo (e-commerce) but still the default for non-technical marketers.
At a glance
| Buffer | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $6/mo | $13/mo |
| Enterprise available | — | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Usage |
| Last verified | July 27, 2026 | July 28, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 28, 2026. Tracked daily.