Buffer vs Mailchimp — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Buffer starts at $6/mo. Mailchimp starts at $13/mo. Buffer is $7/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Mailchimp.
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- Buffer (Per Seat) — Buffer bills on a fixed plan from $6/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
- Mailchimp (Per Usage) — Mailchimp bills purely on usage — contacts. There is no fixed per-seat fee, so the monthly cost depends entirely on how much you consume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
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
| Tier role | Plan | Buffer monthly | Buffer annual | Mailchimp monthly | Mailchimp annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free | Free | Free | Free | — |
| Entry paid | Essentials | $6 | $5 | $13 | — |
| Mid tier | — / Standard | — | — | $20 | — |
| Pro / power | — / Premium | — | — | $350 | — |
| Teams | Team / — | $12 | $10 | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Buffer is worth it if… solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing. Free plan covers 3 channels; Team adds analytics and collaboration.
Mailchimp is worth it if… SMBs and solo creators who want email marketing + light e-commerce + landing pages — the household-name option with generous templates and easy setup. Free covers up to 500 contacts; Essentials adds automations; Standard adds journeys and A/B testing; Premium adds advanced segmentation.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Buffer is per seat, Mailchimp is per usage.
Choose Buffer over Mailchimp if…
Choose Buffer if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $6/mo).
- You match the profile Buffer is built for: solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Mailchimp if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $13/mo).
- You match the profile Mailchimp is built for: SMBs and solo creators who want email marketing + light e-commerce + landing pages — the household-name option with generous templates and easy setup.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Buffer | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $6/mo | $13/mo |
| Enterprise available | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Usage |
| Last verified | September 17, 2026 | September 17, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 17, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Buffer and Mailchimp
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- How much does Mailchimp cost in 2026?
- Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
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