7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives in 2025: Features, Pricing & Honest Reviews

Mailchimp alternatives are in high demand. Since Intuit's acquisition, pricing has increased, the free tier has shrunk, and many users report the platform has become bloated. If you're exploring options, you're not alone.

This guide compares the 7 best Mailchimp alternatives based on real-world testing. We cover pricing honestly, highlight genuine pros and cons, and tell you exactly who each platform is best for.

Why People Leave Mailchimp

Before diving into alternatives, here's why teams are switching:

• Price increases: Many report 2-3x price jumps since acquisition
• Shrinking free tier: Now limited to 500 contacts
• Feature bloat: Interface has become cluttered
• Basic automation: Competitors offer more sophisticated workflows
• Template limitations: Designs can feel generic

If these issues resonate, keep reading.

The 7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives

1. Brew — Best for AI-Powered Email Creation

Brew takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of manually building emails, you describe what you want and AI creates complete, on-brand emails in seconds.

Pricing:

• Free: 200 credits, preview only
• Starter: $49/month (1,000 contacts, 500 credits)
• Pro: $199/month (10,000 contacts, 10,000 credits)

Pros:

• Create professional emails 10x faster
• No design skills required
• AI maintains brand consistency
• Simple, modern interface
• Basic CRM included (similar to Mailchimp's)

Cons:

• Newer platform, smaller community
• Less template variety (AI generates custom designs)

Best for: Teams who want professional results without spending hours on design and copy. Ideal for B2B companies and growing startups.

2. ConvertKit — Best for Creators

ConvertKit is purpose-built for bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and course creators.

Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers, then $15-29/month

Pros:

• Creator-focused features
• Excellent deliverability
• Visual automation builder
• Paid newsletter support
• Clean, simple interface

Cons:

• Limited design options
• Basic reporting
• Not built for e-commerce

Best for: Individual creators who prioritize simplicity over design flexibility.

3. Klaviyo — Best for E-commerce

Klaviyo dominates e-commerce email with deep Shopify and WooCommerce integration.

Pricing: Free up to 250 contacts, paid plans from $20/month (scales with contacts)

Pros:

• Best e-commerce data integration
• Predictive analytics
• Revenue attribution
• SMS marketing included
• Advanced segmentation

Cons:

• Expensive at scale ($700+/month at 50k contacts)
• Overkill for non-e-commerce
• Steeper learning curve

Best for: Shopify stores and e-commerce brands serious about email revenue.

4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Best Budget Option

Brevo offers solid features at competitive prices, with unique pay-per-email pricing.

Pricing: Free (300 emails/day), paid from $25/month

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• SMS marketing included
• Transactional emails
• Good automation
• GDPR-compliant (EU-based)

Cons:

• Interface feels dated
• Limited automation in lower tiers
• Email builder less intuitive

Best for: Budget-conscious businesses who need email + SMS.

5. ActiveCampaign — Best for Complex Automation

ActiveCampaign offers the most powerful automation builder on the market.

Pricing: Starting at $29/month (no free tier)

Pros:

• Industry-leading automation
• CRM included
• Site tracking
• Predictive sending
• Deep integrations

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Can be expensive at scale
• Overwhelming for simple needs

Best for: B2B companies with complex sales cycles and nurture sequences.

6. MailerLite — Best Simple Alternative

MailerLite offers a clean, modern interface at affordable prices.

Pricing: Free up to 1,000 subscribers, paid from $10/month

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Affordable pricing
• Good templates
• Website builder included
• Generous free tier

Cons:

• Limited advanced features
• Basic reporting
• Fewer integrations

Best for: Small businesses who want Mailchimp simplicity at lower cost.

7. Customer.io — Best for Product-Led Companies

Customer.io excels at behavior-triggered emails for SaaS and tech companies.

Pricing: Starting at $100/month

Pros:

• Powerful behavioral triggers
• Great for product-led growth
• Flexible data model
• Technical audience focus

Cons:

• Requires technical implementation
• Expensive for small teams
• Visual builder is basic compared to competitors

Best for: SaaS companies with developers who can implement properly.

Mailchimp Alternatives Comparison Table

Platform	Best For	Starting Price	AI Features	CRM
Brew	AI creation	$49/mo	✅ Full	Basic
ConvertKit	Creators	Free	❌	Basic
Klaviyo	E-commerce	Free	Limited	Basic
Brevo	Budget	Free	Limited	Yes
ActiveCampaign	Automation	$29/mo	Limited	Yes
MailerLite	Simplicity	Free	Limited	Basic
Customer.io	SaaS	$100/mo	❌	No

How to Choose the Right Alternative

Choose Based on Your Primary Need

1. Speed and efficiency → Brew
2. Creator business → ConvertKit
3. E-commerce revenue → Klaviyo
4. Tight budget → Brevo or MailerLite
5. Complex automation → ActiveCampaign
6. Product-led SaaS → Customer.io

Consider Your Technical Resources

• No technical team: MailerLite, ConvertKit, or Brew
• Some technical ability: Mailchimp, Brevo, ActiveCampaign
• Developer resources: Customer.io, Klaviyo

Factor in Growth

Choose a platform that scales with you. Switching email platforms is painful—make sure your choice works at 10x your current size.

Migrating from Mailchimp

Switching is easier than you think:

1. Export your subscriber list (CSV from Mailchimp)
2. Download your best templates (or let AI recreate them)
3. Set up your new platform
4. Import contacts
5. Recreate key automations (welcome sequences, etc.)
6. Update signup forms on your website

Most platforms offer migration assistance. Expect 1-2 weeks for a complete transition.

Why Teams Choose Brew Over Traditional Alternatives

Traditional Mailchimp alternatives still require you to manually:

• Design each email
• Write all the copy
• Build automation workflows step by step
• Test across email clients

Brew eliminates this work. Describe your email in plain English, and AI generates:

• Professional, on-brand design
• Compelling copy
• Mobile-optimized layouts
• Ready-to-send emails

What takes hours in Mailchimp takes seconds in Brew.

Ready to Switch?

The best Mailchimp alternative depends on your specific needs. But if you're tired of spending hours building emails manually, try Brew free and experience AI-powered email marketing.

Create your first email in under 60 seconds—no credit card required.

Start your free trial →