Enter your business details to see what each option would cost you. Prices are live from our database and shown in US dollars.
Most businesses look for a Mailchimp alternative for one reason: the bill grows faster than the list is worth. Mailchimp prices by total contacts and, on paid plans, counts people who have unsubscribed or gone cold, so you pay to store an audience you can no longer email. The alternatives below either bill only your active subscribers or charge by the emails you actually send. Here are our ranked picks, then a live calculator so you can cost each at your own list size.
What are the best Mailchimp alternatives?
The best alternatives to Mailchimp in the United States are Brevo, Kit, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign and AWeber. Brevo has the most generous free tier and bills by send volume, Kit is built for creators, Klaviyo is the e-commerce leader, ActiveCampaign is the automation heavyweight, and AWeber is the simple, well-supported option. Each covers the core of what most senders use Mailchimp for, so the decision comes down to how you are billed, the free tier and whether you sell online.
Why merchants leave Mailchimp
The switch is almost always about the cost model. Mailchimp bills per contact, and its entry Essentials plan starts at $13/mo (Essentials). Crucially, it counts All contacts including unsubscribed, so unsubscribed and unengaged people keep adding to your bill. Kit and AWeber instead bill only active subscribers, Klaviyo bills active profiles and excludes suppressed contacts, and Brevo bills by the number of emails you send while letting you hold an unlimited list. For a list carrying dead weight, that difference alone can halve the monthly cost. Plans and pricing checked July 2026
How we chose
We ranked these on the things that matter when you leave Mailchimp: how you are billed (active subscribers or send volume beats billing every contact), the strength of the free tier, the depth of automation and segmentation, deliverability in independent tests, and fit for the way you send, from newsletters to e-commerce. Pricing is pulled live from our database, and the calculator below costs each option at your own list size. We are independent and not owned by any provider, so these picks weigh price, features and fit, not commercial relationships.
Other options worth knowing
Beyond the five ranked picks, one platform suits a narrower case. Constant Contact is a veteran US email tool with strong event and nonprofit features and phone support, but it bills by contacts like Mailchimp and tends to price higher than the picks above, so it wins mainly on hand-holding rather than value. For most businesses leaving Mailchimp for cost, automation or e-commerce, the five picks above are the stronger comparison.
The verdict
For most businesses leaving Mailchimp, Brevo is the best value swap: a generous free tier and billing by send volume rather than by every contact you hold. Kit is the pick for creators and newsletters, and Klaviyo is the clear choice if you sell online and want email and SMS tied to order data. Choose ActiveCampaign if automation is the reason you are switching, or AWeber if simple setup and always-on support matter most. Use the calculator above to see which lands cheapest for your list.