Email marketing has been becoming increasingly more important every single day!
In fact, did you know that 80% of marketers claim email is the best option for customer acquisition?
So it would make sense that you had strong email campaigns for your business wouldn’t it?
It’s no secret that behind every successful email marketing campaign there’s a strong email marketing tool.
There are dozens of different email marketing tools that you can choose from but there are two tools that have been dominating the industry, they are ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
In this ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp comparison article, I will be digging deep into each of these email marketing tools and reveal to you exactly which one is better and why!
Table of Contents
- ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
- Pricing
- Ease of Use
- Email Design & Templates
- Marketing Automation
- Forms
- List Management
- Reports & Analytics
- Deliverability
- Integrations
- Customer Support
- What I like and don’t like about ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp
- Verdict: Which one is better and why
- ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp Alternatives
ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
Before we dive straight into this ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp comparison let’s take a quick look at each of these tools and show you exactly what they really are.
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is an advanced email marketing, marketing automation, and sales CRM platform.
Founded by Jason F. VandeBoom in 2003 ActiveCampaign quickly grew to become a prominent name in the email marketing industry.
Today they have helped over 100,000 businesses reach their goals and they have grown to over 600 employees.
All in all, ActiveCampaign provides a system that helps businesses make meaningful connections with their customers.
Related: Full In-depth ActiveCampaign Review
What is Mailchimp?
If you have heard of email marketing then you have probably heard of Mailchimp. In a nutshell, Mailchimp is a marketing automation tool for small and medium-sized businesses.
Founded in 2001 by Ben Chestnut and Dan Kurzuis, Mailchimp was originally designed specifically for email marketing, however, after the demand increased for a wider range of solutions Mailchimp spread its wings to offer a variety of channels like a Marketing CRM, a landing page and more.
Today the email marketing legend has over 20 million customers worldwide and over 700 employees.
Related: Full in-depth Mailchimp review
Pricing
Pricing is an important factor for me when it comes to choosing an email marketing tool.
After all, having amazing features is great but having a price that matches those features is great!
Let’s take a look at the pricing at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Pricing
The pricing structure is pretty straight-forward and varies depending on the number of contacts that you have.
There are 4 different price plans that you can choose from, the Lite plan, the Plus plan, the Professional plan, and the Enterprise plan.
The following prices are based on the fact that you have at up to 500 contacts in your list.
The Lite plan starts at $15 per month and includes:
- Unlimited Sending
- Email Marketing
- Newsletters
- Subscription Forms
- Marketing Automation
- Chat & Email Support
- Up to 3 Users
The Plus plan starts at $70 per month includes everything in the Lite plan as well as:
- Facebook Custom Audiences
- Lead & Contact Scoring
- Integrations
- SMS Marketing
- Dynamic Content
- Custom User Permissions
- Up to 25 Users
The Professional plan starts at $159 per month and includes everything in the Plus plan as well as:
- Predictive Sending
- Predictive Content
- Customer Attribution & Path to Purchase
- Win Probability
- Conversion Attribution Reporting
- Split Automations
- Site Messaging
- In-Depth Onboarding Consultation
- Automation Strategy Consultation
- 3 One-on-One Training sessions per month
- Up to 50 Users
The Enterprise plan starts at $279 per month and includes everything in the Professional plan as well as:
- Custom Reporting
- Custom Mailserver Domain
- Custom Domain
- Dedicated Account Rep
- Free Design Services
- Free Social Data
- Phone Support
- Uptime SLA
- Unlimited Users
You also get a discounted price if you decide to purchase the plans on an annual basis.
ActiveCampaign also offers a 20% discount to all non-profit organizations.
Mailchimp Pricing
Mailchimp also has a very straightforward pricing structure. Mailchimp offers 4 different pricing plans that you can choose from, the Free plan, the Essentials plan, the Standard plan, and the Premium plan.
The Free plan is, of course, FREE for up to 2000 contacts and includes:
- 7 marketing channels
- 1-Step Automation
- Basic templates
- Marketing CRM
- Surveys
- Websites
- Custom Domains
The Essentials plan starts at $9.99 per month and comes with everything in the Free plan as well as:
- All email templates
- Multi-Step Automations
- A/B testing
- Custom branding
- 24/7 support
The Standard plan starts at $14.99 per month and comes with everything in the Essentials plan as well as:
- Customer Journey Builder + Branching points
- Advanced audience insights
- Retargeting ads
- Custom templates
- Behavioral targeting automation series
The Premium plan starts at $299 per month and comes with everything in the Standard plan as well as:
- Advanced Segmentation
- Multivariate testing
- Unlimited seats and role-based access
- Phone support
Mailchimp is a strong believer in building a secure platform and they offer a 10% discount for 3 months when you add 2-factor authentication to your Mailchimp account.
Mailchimp also offers a 15% discount to nonprofit organizations and charities.
If you do not send out emails on a regular basis then you can purchase email credits through the Pay As You Go plan.
Who has the better price?
Mailchimp is definitely the winner in this round given the fact that their plans are not only cheaper than ActiveCampaign but they also offer a forever free plan.
Ease of Use
What good is an email marketing tool if it isn’t easy to use?
Let’s take a look at the usability of ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Ease of Use
ActiveCampaign is an extremely advanced platform with amazing features so it wasn’t a surprise that it has a bit of a learning curve when it comes to getting the hang of the software.
When you first enter the platform the dashboard can be a bit confusing and can be a bit overwhelming so it takes a bit of time to get used to it.
That being said the more you interact and navigate the platform the easier it gets to use!
Due to its wide range of features and powerful interface, I wouldn’t recommend it to a complete newbie to the email marketing world.
Mailchimp Ease of Use
Mailchimp was designed with the beginner in mind.
From the time that you sign up for the platform, you can tell that it was built for the individual who doesn’t have that much experience with email marketing.
The entire email marketing tool speaks simplicity and this is thanks to the easy to navigate interface and the intuitive drag and drop editor.
The only disadvantage is the fact that building automation isn’t as easy to understand as the other features on the platform. (Keep reading to find out more about this automation)
Which one is easier to use?
All in all, Mailchimp wins this round thanks to its consistent user-friendly platform.
Email Design & Templates
Your email design & template has a significant impact on whether or not your target audience follows through with your call-to-action on not.
Let’s take a look at the email design and templates offered at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Email Design & Templates
ActiveCampaign online offers 30 different mobile-friendly templates that you can choose from.
You are also given the option to import your own templates if that is more convenient for you.
Mailchimp Email Design & Templates
Mailchimp gives you access to over 100 different interactive and mobile-friendly templates. There are plenty of different themes from multiple different niches to choose from.
Moreover, you get a full creative expression to adjust your emails to how you see fit.
They even offer an option to upload your own templates.
Who has better email design & templates?
This round clearly goes to Mailchimp given the fact that they have a wider range of templates.
Marketing Automation
Automation is the backbone of any successful email marketing campaign.
Running an email campaign for your business but not taking advantage of automation is like riding a bicycle, you can get to most destinations but if you want to go the extra mile in a quicker time then you should consider getting a car.
Think of automation as your car.
Let’s take a look at the automation features offered at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Automation
The automation features at ActiveCampaign are truly PHENOMENAL!
When I first saw the automation offered at ActiveCampaign my jaw dropped. I was genuinely shocked by the options that you are presented with.
You can combine triggers, actions, and conditions in order to build highly converting and sophisticated workflows for sending out emails.
The entire interface is also easy to navigate thanks to the map page which allows you to easily navigate your automation and map out new automation.
The best part?
The automation drag and drop builder. This builder makes it incredibly easy to set up your automation in no time at all! It’s pretty impressive.
There are also a variety of pre-built workflows that you can use that will give you a headstart in building your automation campaigns.
They also boast that pre-made engagement automation only take 66 seconds to set up!
Mailchimp Automation
Mailchimp may not be as advanced as ActiveCampaign when it comes to automation but it still provides a solid automation system that gets the job done.
With Mailchimp, you can send automation workflows like welcome series, abandoned cart, purchase confirmation, and even happy birthday messages.
You can even create your own custom automation emails if you would like.
The downside is that there is no visual automation builder like the one offered at ActiveCampaign so it isn’t “fun” to create your automation workflows.
This limits the control you have over the entire automation which can be a real bummer.
Mailchimp also provides advanced automation features but in order to get access to those you have to upgrade to one of the paid plans.
Who has better marketing automation?
ActiveCampaign wins this round hands down! They offer automation features that are completely mind-blowing.
Moreover, the visually appealing automation is the cherry on top!
Forms
50% of marketers say inbound marketing strategies, such as onsite forms, are their primary source of leads.
That means if you aren’t using forms on your website you are losing out on a ton of revenue.
Let’s take a look at the forms offered at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp
ActiveCampaign Forms
ActiveCampaign provides you with 4 different forms that you can choose from. These are the inline, the floating box, the modal popup, and my favorite, the floating bar.
These forms are mobile responsive and can be embedded wherever you want them to.
Mailchimp Forms
Mailchimp also offers the option to create popups and embedded forms.
However, the downside comes from the fact that there’s a separate editor for embedded form fields.
This can be a bit confusing as you navigate the platform.
Which one has better forms?
I have to say that ActiveCampaign comes out on top in this round thanks to its less complicated form building interface.
List Management
List Management allows you to build personalized email campaigns for your contact list.
In fact, did you know that segmented, targeted, and personalized emails generate 58% of all revenue?
In other words, if you aren’t taking advantage of list management then you are leaving money on the table!
ActiveCampaign List Management
ActiveCampaign has a segment builder that makes it easy to create high-converting segmentation in your campaigns.
This allows you to manage your lists, create campaigns, and schedule automation from one central location.
I also like the fact that you have access to a feature called lead scoring which gives you the opportunity to give scores to subscribers based on the actions that they take.
The lead scoring option alone makes this a bang for the buck!
Mailchimp List Management
Now, this is one of the areas that Mailchimp loses a point.
Unfortunately with Mailchimp, you can’t send a message to contacts in more than one list without worrying about duplicate contacts across multiple lists.
In other words, you will be paying for a contact twice!
Moreover, in my opinion, understanding how to use the list management at Mailchimp is very complicated.
Who has better list management?
ActiveCampaign wins this round by a hair thanks to its easy to understand list management features.
Reports & Analytics
Having solid reports is key to building high-converting email marketing campaigns.
Knowing how to analyze your reports will allow you to build better email campaigns and increase your overall return-on-investment.
Let’s take a look at the reporting & analytic features offered at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Reports
ActiveCampaign provides some of the most comprehensive reports I have ever seen offered by an email marketing tool.
You get access to every metric that you need in order to make important decisions on your campaigns. These metrics include opens, clicks, bounce rate, geolocation, social performance, and automation reports.
ActiveCampaign even takes it a step further by providing deal reports which are summaries of the deals in the CRM. This is where you can check reports overtime! Pretty neat right?
The best part?
With ActiveCampaign you can set up campaign goals that give you even more of an opportunity to track your goals.
Mailchimp Reports
If you are looking for detailed reporting then you will be content with Mailchimp.
Mailchimp provides every single metric that you need in order to make smart decisions about your email campaigns.
These metrics include open-rate, click-through rate, unsubscribe rate, geographical data, hourly performance, social performance, and much more.
I like the fact that Mailchimp compares your reports to industry benchmarks so you know exactly how you’re doing compared to your competitors.
Moreover, with Mailchimp, you get access to a click map that shows you exactly where your subscribers are clicking and interacting in your email.
Who has better reports?
This is definitely a tie. If you are looking for an email marketing tool that has excellent and detailed reports then you would have no problem with any of these two email marketing tools.
Deliverability
Email deliverability refers to the ability of your emails to reach your subscriber’s inboxes each and every time.
So if you are using an email marketing tool that has low deliverability rates then the chances of your email reaching that subscribers’ inbox is extremely low.
What are the deliverability rates at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp like?
A test ran by Email Tool Testers indicated that ActiveCampaign has maintained a deliverability rate of 90.2%
Mailchimp has built an extremely strong reputation for itself over the years and thanks to its partnerships with various Internet Service providers it has maintained a consistently high deliverability rate.
The same email deliverability test revealed that Mailchimp has a deliverability rate of 84.6%.
All in all, ActiveCampaign provides an overall higher deliverability rate than Mailchimp. Both of these platforms have a consistently high deliverability rate so I wouldn’t base my buying decision only on this factor.
Integrations
Regardless of if this is your first online business or you have built multiple online businesses I can positively say that an email marketing tool isn’t the only tool that you’re going to use.
This is where integrations come into play!
Both ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp have a wide range of integrations that you can choose from.
ActiveCampaign integrates with over 280 different apps including some of my favorites like Shopify and Salesforce.
Mailchimp has over 800 different integrations that you can take advantage of including some of the most popular ones like WooCommerce and Calendy.
Also, it’s also worth noting that if you are a Shopify store owner then unfortunately you can’t integrate with Mailchimp.
The best part is that both ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp integrate with Zapier which gives you access to a wide range of additional apps.
That being said, it was extremely difficult choosing a winner in this round since both tools do an excellent job in providing the standard integrations that you need.
Customer Support
Customer Support is a huge factor that I take into consideration when choosing an email marketing tool.
After all, regardless of if you’ve sent out 1 million emails or this is your first time sending an email, there will come the time when you will need additional help.
Let’s take a look at the customer support options offered at ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp.
ActiveCampaign Support
ActiveCampaign has a HUGE knowledge base that contains a wide range of topics about the platform from setting up automation to contact management.
You also get access to One-on-one training, videos & guides, webinars, and an interactive community.
In order to get in contact with the customer support at ActiveCampaign, you have to submit a ticket and wait for a customer service representative to reach out to you.
ActiveCampaign also gives you access to LiveChat and phone support. However, the phone support is only available if you are on the Enterprise plan.
Mailchimp Support
It’s no secret that Mailchimp has amazing customer support.
In fact, in the last 2 years, Mailchimp has won 9 Stevie awards for their superb customer service, 4 of those awards were gold!
Mailchimp offers live chat support, email support, and phone support.
The best part?
This support is available 24/7! So if you are having trouble building your email campaigns at 4 am on a Sunday morning you can easily reach out to the Mailchimp support and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
Mailchimp also has a huge knowledge base that is filled with everything you need to know about how to navigate the email marketing tool correctly.
Mailchimp also equips you with marketing tips and a marketing glossary.
Unfortunately, there are no video tutorials that I found as a huge disadvantage as I am a visual learner.
The downside comes from the fact that in order to get full access to the customer support you have to be on one of the paid plans.
So if you want phone support you have to sign up to the Premium plan which can set you back $299 per month.
Who has better customer support?
This round was definitely a tough decision since both email marketing tools offer the same level of customer support. However, ActiveCampaign won by a hair due to the fact that they offer video guides.
What I like and don’t like about ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp
Like every email marketing tool in the market, ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp have their fair share of pros and cons.
Let’s take a look at what I like and don’t like about the two email marketing tools.
What I like about ActiveCampaign
- It provides an amazing level of automation
- Has a high deliverability rate
- Offers integrations with the best software tools
- The reports are incredibly detailed and comprehensive
What I don’t like about ActiveCampaign
- There is no forever free plan
What I like about Mailchimp
- The interface is extremely beginner-friendly
- They have a forever free plan.
- There are hundreds of integrations to choose from
What I don’t like about Mailchimp
- You have to be on one of the higher plans to access phone support
- They don’t integrate with Shopify
- They don’t do a very good job of list management
Verdict: Which one is better and why
These are both great email marketing platforms but they weren’t built for the same audience.
So in order to determine which one is better, we need to take a look at who these platforms are really for.
Who is ActiveCampaign for? ActiveCampaign is perfect for the business owner who has some experience with email marketing but is looking for a proven way to scale their email marketing efforts.
Who is Mailchimp for? Mailchimp is for the small business owner who is looking for a simple yet effective way to run email marketing campaigns. It was designed with the beginner in mind.
All in all, if you are looking for an easy way to begin sending out emails then Mailchimp would definitely be your best bet.
On the other hand, if you run a business that needs advanced automation features and a powerful email marketing platform then ActiveCampaign is for you.
ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp Alternatives
Here is a list of the best ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp alternatives.
If you are looking for a cheap email marketing tool then check out my review on MailerLite.
If you run a blog then the best email marketing tool would be ConvertKit. Click here to check out our review on ConvertKit.
If you run a small business and you’re looking for a marketing automation tool then you should definitely check out my review on GetResponse.
Looking for an email marketing tool that has award-winning customer support? Check out my review on Ontraport.
If you run an eCommerce business then you may want to check out my review on Drip.
Check out these other comparisons:
- ConvertKit vs Mailchimp
- GetResponse vs ActiveCampaign
- Constant Contact vs Mailchimp
- Drip vs ConvertKit
- Mailchimp vs MailerLite
