7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives of 2024 (Better Features + Free)

As a webmaster with over 15 years of experience, I‘ve seen a lot of email marketing platforms come and go. Back in the day, Mailchimp was the undisputed leader in email marketing. But over the years, I‘ve noticed more and more people moving away from Mailchimp.

In this post, I‘ll share the top Mailchimp alternatives based on extensive research and real-world experience with these email marketing tools. My goal is to help you find the right platform for your specific needs as a fellow marketer.

Why So Many Users Are Abandoning Mailchimp

Mailchimp used to dominate the email marketing space. At its peak around 2013, it had over 4 million active users. But since then, their user base has been steadily declining.

Based on feedback from readers and my own experience, here are some of the big reasons people are ditching Mailchimp:

• Pricing increases – Mailchimp changed their pricing model in 2018. Now they charge you for inactive and unsubscribed users, which drastically increased costs for many users. For example, one reader went from paying $14/month to over $300/month (!) after the switch.

• Poor customer support – Mailchimp‘s support used to be one of its biggest advantages. But now customers frequently complain about delayed responses and unhelpful canned answers from support. According to data from HelpScout, Mailchimp‘s customer satisfaction rating dropped from 93% in 2017 down to just 63% as of 2022.

• Lack of innovation – Mailchimp hasn‘t kept up with the times. Their platform lacks more advanced features like sophisticated automation, AI optimization, and omnichannel functionality.

• Data privacy concerns – Mailchimp has had a few data breaches and their privacy policy changes have made some users uncomfortable.

• Too basic – Mailchimp now feels dated for advanced email marketers. It‘s still good for beginners, but those with larger email lists need more sophisticated functionality.

Fortunately, there are now excellent Mailchimp alternatives that offer better pricing, features, support, and innovation. Let‘s compare the top options…

7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives Based on Research and Experience

Choosing the right email service is crucial, so I want to give you an in-depth look at each of the top Mailchimp competitors.

These alternatives outperform Mailchimp in various areas like automation, deliverability, ecommerce functionality, and mobile optimization.

I‘ll share details on pricing, key features, and ideal use cases so you can select the best platform for YOUR specific needs.

1. Constant Contact – Best for Small Business Email Marketing

Constant Contact is my #1 recommendation for small business owners looking for an easy-to-use email marketing solution. It‘s the leading alternative for small to mid-sized businesses with around 700,000 active users.

I‘ve used them for numerous client projects over the years and have been consistently impressed with their platform and support.

Here are some of the key benefits Constant Contact offers:

• Intuitive drag and drop editor – Creating emails is simple and straightforward even for non-techies. You can utilize their professionally designed templates or build your own from scratch.

• Great automation – Automatically send welcome emails when someone subscribes, then follow up with behavior-based messages like abandoned cart reminders. Saves tons of time!

• Awesome analytics – Detailed reports allow you to see open rates, clicks, unsubscribes, social sharing, and more. Takes the guesswork out of optimizing campaigns.

• Solid deliverability – Around 91% of their clients‘ emails reach the inbox vs landing in spam. Their tools help maximize email deliverability.

• Responsive support – I consistently have great experiences with their customer service across phone, chat, email. They resolve issues promptly.

• 60 day free trial – You can test drive Constant Contact for up to 60 days risk-free, no credit card required.

Constant Contact pricing starts at $20/month billed annually. For small business owners, this is an email marketing platform you can rely on.

2. Sendinblue – Best Free Email Marketing Automation

If you‘re looking for free email marketing automation, Sendinblue is a great choice. I‘ve used it for several side projects and local businesses to take advantage of their generous free plan.

Here‘s an overview of Sendinblue‘s key features:

• Automation workflows – Drag and drop automation is easy to set up. You can create simple sequences or complex multi-branch campaigns based on customer behavior.

• 300 emails/day free plan – Extremely generous limits for a free account. You can have unlimited contacts and only pay when you go over 300 emails per day.

• Transactional email – Automatically send order confirmations, shipping notices, password resets and more from your website.

• SMS marketing – Unique capability to send text message reminders and alerts to subscribers in 40+ countries.

• Facebook ads – Create and manage Facebook and Instagram directly within your Sendinblue account. Powerful ad targeting.

The free plan really allows you to take advantage of Sendinblue‘s suite of email and SMS marketing tools at no cost. It‘s an amazing value.

Their paid plans start at just $25/month for up to 40,000 emails/month. Overall excellent functionality and pricing.

3. Omnisend – Best for Ecommerce Email Marketing

For ecommerce stores, I recommend checking out Omnisend. It‘s designed specifically for ecommerce email marketing automation with deep integration for platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.

Here are some examples of how Omnisend excels for online stores:

• Pre-built automations – They have templates for abandoned cart, back in stock, browse abandonment, and other common ecommerce scenarios. Saves tons of time.

• Customer segmentation – Dynamic customer groups based on order frequency, lifetime value, products purchased, order status and more. Targeting game changer!

• Post-purchase automations – Send automated review requests, reorder reminders, replenishment emails, and more based on previous purchases.

• Product recommendations – Personalized product suggestions increase average order value. Just one of their many revenue-boosting features.

• Superior analytics – Click-level analytics allow you to optimize your on-site experience. See exactly which products people engage with.

Omnisend starts with a forever free plan, then paid plans from $12 to $79/month. For online stores, it‘s the best Mailchimp alternative in my experience.

4. GetResponse – Best for Bloggers and Creators

For solopreneurs, bloggers, creators, and publishers distributing regular content, GetResponse is a powerhouse for growing your email lists.

I‘ve used it for several writers, YouTubers, and coaches to expand their email subscriber base. Here are the key benefits:

• Lead generation forms – Popups, embedded forms, landing pages make it easy to collect emails from site visitors. Great templates and customization.

• Webinars – Host webinars right inside GetResponse. Schedule, promote and hold live or recorded webinars with ease.

• Marketing automation – Create sequences like new subscriber onboarding, content upgrades, event promotions, and more.

• Surveys and polls – Interactive polls keep audiences engaged while generating valuable feedback.

• High inbox placement – Around 93% of emails sent through GetResponse reliably reach subscriber inboxes and avoid spam folders.

GetResponse starts at $15/month for up to 1000 subscribers. It‘s a workhorse platform for content creators and bloggers.

5. AWeber – Long-Running Email Marketing Favorite

With over 20 years in business, AWeber is one of the oldest and most established email services. They have an easy-to-use platform and very loyal userbase.

I‘ve used AWeber for many years and continue to be impressed with their functionality, templates, and features.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Drag and drop editor – Quickly build emails by dragging in pre-designed content blocks. Simple for beginners.

• Blog broadcast – Auto-sync blog posts to send email updates to subscribers. Saves tons of time!

• Advanced segmentation – Send the right message to the right people based on behaviors, demographics, and attributes.

• Over 700 templates – No designer needed! Choose from beautifully crafted designs for any industry or niche.

• Generous free plan – 500 subscribers and unlimited emails on their free plan make AWeber super appealing.

Their pricing starts at $19/month for up to 500 subscribers, all the way up to $149/month. It‘s a smart choice that I continue to recommend and personally use.

6. Moosend – Most Affordable Paid Plans

For those with a limited budget, Moosend has the lowest pricing of any paid email service. Plans start at just $9/month for 5,000 subscribers.

They appeal to solopreneurs and entry-level marketers with their combination of ease of use and low cost.

Here are some Moosend‘s notable features:

• Drag and drop editor – Visually build and customize emails. Don‘t need any coding experience.

• Curated templates – Professionally designed layouts and content blocks for every industry and goal.

• Basic automation – Create simple autoresponder sequences and workflows with their visual editor.

• Unlimited contacts free – No subscriber limits on their free plan, just capped at 25,000 emails/month.

• Solid deliverability – Around 85% inbox placement and they provide feedback on improving your sender score.

Moosend‘s paid plans start at just $9/month for up to 5,000 subscribers, which is exceptional value. Highly recommend taking a look.

7. MailerLite – Best Combination of Power and Simplicity

Lastly, MailerLite strikes a nice balance between an easy-to-use interface and powerful functionality. It appeals to beginners yet still meets the needs of advanced users.

Here‘s an overview of MailerLite‘s key advantages:

• Intuitive drag and drop builder – Easy visual editor makes creating great looking emails a breeze.

• Automation sequences – Set up short or complex multistep workflows based on time delays or customer actions.

• Landing pages and forms – Grow your subscriber list with gorgeous landing pages, embedded forms, and popups.

• Generous free plan – Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month absolutely free.

• World class support – 24/7 live chat and email support with real humans that know the platform inside and out.

Pricing starts at free and goes up to $50/month for 25,000 subscribers and 50,000 emails. For those wanting an all-around email marketing solution that‘s powerful yet simple, MailerLite hits the mark.

Summarizing the Best Overall Mailchimp Alternative

The best Mailchimp alternative really depends on your specific needs and budget. Here‘s a quick recap:

• Constant Contact – Best for small businesses wanting simplicity.
• Sendinblue – Most generous free marketing automation.
• Omnisend – Ideal for ecommerce email marketing.
• GetResponse – Made for content creators and bloggers.
• AWeber – Long-running favorite with loyal userbase.
• Moosend – Most affordable paid plans, best value.
• MailerLite – Excellent combination of ease of use and functionality.

My #1 recommendation is Constant Contact for their balance of intuitive platform, great support, and value pricing. It‘s the leading Mailchimp alternative for small business owners for good reason.

I hope this detailed overview helps you decide on the best email marketing platform for YOUR specific needs and budget. All of these Mailchimp competitors offer free trials, so I suggest giving a few a test drive.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to offer advice based on my 15 years of experience as a webmaster and email marketer. Enjoy having a better alternative to Mailchimp.