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Email Marketing

Mailchimp Pricing

The most recognized name in email marketing — free plan, simple builder, and a brand that every small business knows.

Usage-BasedVerified March 8, 2026Visit Mailchimp →
$0Starting price
4Plans available
YesFree option
2Hidden cost warnings

Pricing Plans

as of March 8, 2026
Mailchimp is profiled here as a pure email marketing tool. It is also listed under Marketing Automation. This entry covers email campaigns, newsletters, and list management. See the Marketing Automation entry for automation workflows and full platform pricing. Free plan cut from 500 to 250 contacts in January 2026. Unsubscribed contacts count toward your billing limit unless manually archived.
Free
$0
250 contacts, 500 sends/month. Mailchimp branding on all emails. No scheduling.
  • 250 contact limit
  • 500 email sends/month
  • Basic templates
  • Mailchimp branding
Essentials
$13
/mo · for 500 contacts. Scales: 2,500 = $45/mo, 5,000 = $75/mo. Remove branding, scheduling, A/B testing.
  • Remove Mailchimp branding
  • Email scheduling
  • A/B testing
  • Custom templates
  • 24/7 email and chat support
Standard
$20
/mo · for 500 contacts. Scales: 5,000 = $100/mo, 25,000 = $230/mo. Multi-step automations, dynamic content.
  • Multi-step automations
  • Dynamic content
  • Predicted demographics
  • Send-time optimization
  • Up to 5 users
Premium
$350
/mo · for 10,000 contacts. Advanced segmentation, phone support, unlimited users.
  • Advanced segmentation
  • Comparative reporting
  • Phone support
  • Unlimited users

Prices shown reflect first-hand vendor research, third-party procurement data, and publicly available information as of the date noted. Actual pricing may vary based on contract size, negotiation, and vendor discretion. How we research pricing →

Hidden Costs

2 items
Why this matters
The advertised starting price is rarely the price you pay at scale. These are the costs buyers most commonly encounter after signing — ones that aren't prominently disclosed on the pricing page.
Unsubscribed contacts count toward your limit
Mailchimp charges for subscribed, unsubscribed, and non-subscribed contacts equally. You must manually archive unsubscribed contacts or you pay for them.
Transactional email is a separate add-on
Order confirmations and password resets require Mandrill, billed in blocks of 25,000 emails at $20/block.

Negotiation Reality

What we know

Mailchimp is non-negotiable at standard tiers. The main cost control lever is list hygiene — archive unsubscribed contacts before your billing cycle. Consider MailerLite or Brevo for better value at similar list sizes.

Negotiation intel is based on first-hand vendor research conducted by the SBB team, third-party procurement data, and community-reported contract outcomes. Individual results vary. Discounts are not guaranteed.

General tips
  • —Ask at end-of-quarter — sales reps have monthly and quarterly targets
  • —Get competing quotes before your first call
  • —Ask specifically about first-year discounts vs. renewal rates
  • —Request a multi-year rate even if you plan to buy one year

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