Mailchimp and Constant Contact are two of the most established email marketing platforms for US businesses, and they both bill per contact in US dollars. The difference is not the pricing model but the fit. Mailchimp leads with a free plan, the largest template library in the category and a deep integration ecosystem. Constant Contact leads with hands-on US-based phone support and event marketing tools. The right pick depends on whether you value a free starting point and breadth, or live help and simplicity.
Pricing and plans compared
Both platforms charge on the number of contacts you hold, so your bill tracks the size of your audience rather than how many emails you send. Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts toward your total until you remove them, so an uncleaned list quietly costs more, and it offers a permanent free plan plus a low Essentials entry price. Constant Contact has no permanent free plan, only a trial, but it folds strong phone support into its price. The comparison table on this page shows each platform's current pricing in US dollars, and the calculator above folds your real contact count into an estimated figure for each, which is the most reliable way to see which is cheaper at your list size.
As a rough guide, Mailchimp is cheaper to start thanks to its free plan and low entry tier, while at larger list sizes the two land in similar territory. Both bill in US dollars, so this is a like-for-like comparison with no exchange rate to factor in.
Who each one is built for
Mailchimp suits senders who want a free starting point, the widest choice of ready-made templates and a long list of integrations to connect their stack. If you value breadth and a familiar editor, and you are comfortable managing your own setup, Mailchimp gives you the most to work with.
Constant Contact suits small businesses, nonprofits and local organizations that want hands-on help and simple, reliable campaigns. If you would rather pick up the phone and talk to US-based support while you build, or you run events and surveys, Constant Contact is built around that experience.
Deliverability and automation
Both platforms land mail reliably and post solid deliverability, so neither has a meaningful inbox advantage. On automation they are close, with Mailchimp a little deeper on its Standard plan thanks to more behavioral triggers and a larger template library to build from. Constant Contact keeps automation simpler and leans on ease of use. For heavy automation, neither matches an e-commerce specialist, but between these two Mailchimp edges it on workflow depth while Constant Contact edges it on getting started without help.
Ease of use and support
Both are approachable, with drag-and-drop editors that a first-time sender can pick up quickly. The dividing line is support. Constant Contact is known for US-based phone support and is a frequent recommendation for people who want to talk to a person. Mailchimp leans on email and chat, with phone help reserved for higher tiers, but it pairs that with a larger template library and a deeper catalog of guides. If you want maximum self-serve breadth, Mailchimp wins; if you want live phone help, Constant Contact wins.
US considerations
For a US sender, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact bill natively in US dollars, so your invoice is a fixed amount with no exchange rate to track. Both are built to keep you compliant with the CAN-SPAM Act, with one-click unsubscribe, sender identification and a physical mailing address in the footer of every campaign. Both also offer SMS marketing to US mobile numbers as a paid add-on, so you can run text alongside email from the same account if you need to. Constant Contact's US-based phone support is a practical advantage for businesses that want local, real-time help.
Pros and cons for this matchup
Mailchimp wins on a permanent free plan, the deepest template library, the broadest integration ecosystem and slightly deeper automation, all billed in US dollars. Its weak spots are charging for unsubscribed contacts and lighter live support on its lower tiers.
Constant Contact wins on hands-on US-based phone support, beginner-friendly campaigns and strong event and survey tools. Its trade-offs are the lack of a permanent free plan and automation that is lighter than the e-commerce specialists.
The verdict
Choose by what you value most. If you want a free starting point, the widest template choice and the deepest set of integrations, Mailchimp is the broader and more flexible platform. If you would rather have hands-on US-based phone support and a simple, reliable setup for a small business or nonprofit, Constant Contact is built for exactly that. Both bill per contact in US dollars, so map your own list size into the calculator above and the cheaper, better-fitting platform becomes clear.