Constant Contact vs Mailchimp — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Constant Contact starts at $12/mo. Mailchimp starts at $13/mo. Constant Contact is $1/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Mailchimp.
See price history: Constant Contact · 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.
- Constant Contact (Unknown model) — Constant Contact bills on a fixed plan from $12/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
- Mailchimp (Per Usage) — Mailchimp bills on usage — contacts on top of a paid plan starting at $13/mo. The plan includes an allowance; anything beyond it is metered.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
One of the original email marketing platforms (founded 1995), positioned as the beginner-friendly alternative to Mailchimp for very-small-business and nonprofit segments. Distinctive for its 98% inbox delivery rate and dedicated live-support model — unusual in the SMB email space. Restructured 2026 with 3 published tiers (Lite/Standard/Premium) plus custom Teams tier for franchises and multi-location businesses. Lite starts at $12/mo monthly ($8.40 annual) for 500 contacts scaling by list size. 30% off first 3 months promo currently active. Owned by Endurance International / Newfold Digital.
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 | Constant Contact monthly | Constant Contact annual | Mailchimp monthly | Mailchimp annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free | — | — | Free | — |
| Entry paid | Lite / Essentials | $12 | $10.2 | $13 | — |
| Mid tier | Standard | $35 | $29.75 | $20 | — |
| Pro / power | Premium | $80 | $68 | $350 | — |
| Teams | Teams / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
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
Constant Contact is worth it if… very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers. Lite covers newsletter-only needs with 1 automation template; Standard adds A/B testing and 3 automations; Premium unlocks unlimited automations, SEO recommendations, and Google Ads manager; Teams for multi-location businesses.
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: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Constant Contact over Mailchimp if…
Choose Constant Contact if…
- You're comfortable with Constant Contact's from $12/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Constant Contact is built for: very-small businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers who want email + basic automation + live phone support — particularly if you've outgrown MailerLite's free tier and want more hand-holding than Mailchimp offers.
- 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
| Constant Contact | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $12/mo | $13/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Usage |
| Verification | Verified August 12, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 27, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Constant Contact and Mailchimp
- How much does Constant Contact cost in 2026?
- Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
- How often does Constant Contact change prices?
- What are the best Constant Contact alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Mailchimp cost in 2026?
- Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
- How often does Mailchimp change prices?
- What are the best Mailchimp alternatives in 2026?