7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives in 2026 (Free + Paid)
Mailchimp gutted its free plan, raised prices, and removed automation from lower tiers. Here are 7 alternatives that give you more — including options with genuinely free plans up to 10,000 subscribers.
⚠️ What changed with Mailchimp: In 2023, Mailchimp removed multi-step automations from its free plan, capped free accounts at 500 contacts (down from 2,000), and increased paid plan pricing significantly. Many long-time free users suddenly found themselves forced to pay — or migrate. The alternatives below range from genuinely free to more affordable paid tiers.
Quick Comparison: Mailchimp vs. Top Alternatives
| Tool | Free Plan Contacts | Starting Paid Price | Automation | Affiliate Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | 500 | $13/mo | Paid only | None |
| ConvertKit | 10,000 | $25/mo | ✅ Free tier | 30% lifetime ✅✅ |
| Systeme.io | 2,000 | $27/mo | ✅ Full | 60% lifetime ✅✅ |
| HubSpot | 1,000,000 (CRM) | $45/mo | ✅ Free basic | 30% recurring ✅ |
| MailerLite | 1,000 | $9/mo | ✅ Free tier | 30% recurring |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | Unlimited | $25/mo | ✅ Free tier | 5€/referral |
| ActiveCampaign | ❌ None | $15/mo | ✅ Best-in-class | 20–30% recurring |
Why Mailchimp Users Are Switching
Mailchimp was the default email marketing choice for a decade because it offered a genuinely useful free tier. That era is effectively over. The 2023 changes that frustrated most users:
- Free plan cut from 2,000 to 500 contacts — forcing small businesses off the free plan immediately
- Multi-step automations removed from free tier — welcome sequences now require a paid account
- Pricing increased across all tiers — the Essentials plan (previously $9.99) now starts at $13/mo
- Intuit acquisition effect — since Intuit acquired Mailchimp in 2021, the product has drifted toward enterprise features at the expense of the small business experience
1. ConvertKit Free up to 10,000 subscribers ⭐ Best Free Alternative
Best for: Creators, bloggers, newsletter writers, and course sellers
ConvertKit's free plan is the most generous legitimate free email platform available in 2026: unlimited email sends, unlimited landing pages, and full automation sequences for up to 10,000 subscribers — completely free. No credit card required. Compared to Mailchimp's 500-contact free plan with automations locked, ConvertKit offers 20x the contacts with more functionality at zero cost.
ConvertKit's particular strength is creator monetization: built-in paid newsletter subscriptions, native integrations with Teachable, Podia, Gumroad, and Shopify, and a subscriber tagging system that lets you segment by behavior rather than list. For bloggers and content-first businesses, it is the most purpose-built option on this list.
Try ConvertKit Free — Up to 10K Subscribers →2. Systeme.io Free – $97/mo ⭐ Best All-in-One Alternative
Best for: Small businesses that want email + funnels + courses in one platform
If you're replacing Mailchimp and also want to consolidate your marketing stack, Systeme.io is the strongest option. Its free plan includes 2,000 contacts, unlimited email sends, complete sales funnels, course hosting, and a built-in affiliate management system — all in a single platform. The paid plan at $27/mo removes all contact and funnel limits entirely.
The key differentiator from ConvertKit and Mailchimp: Systeme.io is a complete business platform, not just an email tool. For a business currently paying for Mailchimp + a separate funnel builder + a course platform, Systeme.io consolidates all three at a lower total cost.
Try Systeme.io Free — No Credit Card →3. HubSpot Email Marketing Free – $800/mo 30% Recurring
Best for: Businesses that need email connected to a CRM and sales pipeline
HubSpot's free CRM includes email marketing for up to 2,000 sends/month — enough for most small businesses testing the platform. The key advantage over Mailchimp is that every email interaction is logged against a contact record in the CRM, giving you a full picture of how email engagement connects to sales. For businesses with a sales team that uses email marketing to nurture leads, this connection is invaluable. The Marketing Hub Starter at $45/mo removes the 2,000-send cap and adds more automation flexibility.
Start Free with HubSpot →4. MailerLite Free up to 1,000 subscribers 30% Recurring
Best for: Small businesses that want a simpler, cleaner Mailchimp replacement at a lower price
MailerLite is the most direct interface-for-interface Mailchimp replacement. The drag-and-drop editor is nearly identical in feel, the template quality is comparable, and the automation builder covers the same use cases. At $9/mo for up to 1,000 subscribers (paid plan), it is significantly cheaper than Mailchimp's equivalent tier. The free plan allows 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 monthly sends — more restricted than ConvertKit but a solid Mailchimp comparison.
5. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) Free unlimited contacts Unique Model
Best for: Businesses with large contact lists that send infrequently
Brevo is the only major email platform that charges by sends (not contacts) on its free plan — allowing unlimited contacts with 300 emails/day free. For businesses with a large list that only emails monthly or occasionally, this model is dramatically cheaper than Mailchimp or any contact-based competitor. The paid plans at $25/mo charge by send volume rather than list size, making it structurally different from every other option on this list.
6. ActiveCampaign From $15/mo 20–30% Recurring
Best for: Mid-market businesses that need the most advanced automation available
ActiveCampaign has the most sophisticated automation engine of any email platform tested, including conditional logic, lead scoring, CRM pipelines, and site tracking that trigger automation sequences based on website behavior. There is no free plan, and the entry price at $15/mo is for 1,000 contacts only. But for businesses that have outgrown Mailchimp's automation capabilities, ActiveCampaign is the natural upgrade path.
7. Klaviyo Free up to 250 contacts
Best for: E-commerce businesses on Shopify or WooCommerce
Klaviyo is the dominant email platform for e-commerce, with native Shopify integration, revenue attribution per email, abandoned cart automation, and product recommendation personalization that general email tools don't offer. For non-ecommerce businesses it is overbuilt and overpriced. For Shopify merchants, it is the obvious choice — though the free plan's 250-contact limit means most active stores will immediately need a paid plan starting at $20/mo.
Our Recommendation by Use Case
Replacing Mailchimp free plan (was using it for newsletters/blogging): ConvertKit free — 10,000 subscribers, full automations, designed for creators.
Replacing Mailchimp and want to consolidate your stack: Systeme.io — email + funnels + courses + affiliate management, free plan available.
Need email tied to a CRM for a sales team: HubSpot free — 2,000 sends/month, full CRM included.
Just want the cheapest paid option that feels like Mailchimp: MailerLite at $9/mo — nearly identical UX at half the price.
Large list, infrequent sender: Brevo — unlimited contacts free, pay by send volume.
The Best Free Mailchimp Alternative
ConvertKit's free plan: 10,000 subscribers, unlimited emails, full automation sequences — everything Mailchimp charges $13–$350/month for.
Start Free with ConvertKit →* Affiliate link. We earn a commission if you upgrade to a paid plan.
Try Systeme.io free — includes funnels, email, courses & affiliates
Start Free on Systeme.io → (affiliate link)