Choosing the right email marketing software can make or break your marketing strategy. Two of the most popular platforms — Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign — both offer powerful tools for automation, design, and audience management.
But which one truly fits your business in 2025?
In this guide, we’ll compare ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp across features, pricing, ease of use, and performance — so you can make a confident choice for your next campaign.
Table of Contents
Overview – Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign at a Glance
| Feature | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
| Best For | Beginners & small businesses | Growing & advanced marketers |
| Pricing | Free plan available | No free plan |
| Automation | Basic workflows | Advanced automation & triggers |
| CRM | Basic contact management | Full CRM system |
| Templates | Hundreds of pre-made templates | More flexibility, fewer templates |
| Integrations | 300+ apps | 850+ integrations |
| Reporting | Simple analytics | Deep behavioral insights |
Both platforms are excellent, but Mailchimp focuses on simplicity and usability, while ActiveCampaign delivers depth and automation power.
Ease of Use & Interface
When it comes to usability, Mailchimp wins for beginners. Its drag-and-drop editor and clean dashboard make it easy to design and send your first campaign in minutes.
ActiveCampaign, while still user-friendly, offers a more complex dashboard. Its interface takes a bit more time to master, but that complexity unlocks far greater automation control once you learn it.
Verdict: Mailchimp for simplicity, ActiveCampaign for control.
Email Templates & Design Options
Mailchimp shines with its wide variety of ready-to-use templates and a smooth drag-and-drop builder. It’s perfect for small business owners or creators who want quick results without design skills.
ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, focuses on customization. While it offers fewer built-in templates, its flexibility allows for personalized designs and dynamic content based on user behavior.
Verdict: Mailchimp is better for beginners and fast campaigns, while ActiveCampaign suits marketers who want personalization at scale.
Automation & Workflows – Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Here’s where ActiveCampaign dominates.
Its visual automation builder lets you create advanced workflows triggered by user behavior — such as purchases, link clicks, or website visits. You can build complex, multi-step sequences with precision.
Mailchimp, while improved, still offers limited automation. It handles welcome emails, birthdays, and abandoned carts but lacks conditional logic and CRM-level triggers.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign wins for advanced automation and CRM integration.
CRM & Contact Management
Mailchimp includes basic audience segmentation and contact management — suitable for small lists or simple needs.
ActiveCampaign goes further with full CRM functionality: lead scoring, deal tracking, and sales pipeline management. This makes it a better fit for teams combining marketing and sales.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign takes the lead with its integrated CRM.
Integrations & Third-Party Apps
- Mailchimp: 300+ integrations (Shopify, WordPress, Stripe, and Zapier).
- ActiveCampaign: 850+ integrations (HubSpot, Slack, Salesforce, Calendly, and more).
Both tools connect with major platforms, but ActiveCampaign has a larger ecosystem — and better native connections to CRMs and eCommerce platforms.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign wins for integration variety and depth.
Deliverability & Performance
Both tools perform well, but ActiveCampaign tends to have slightly higher deliverability rates due to better infrastructure and spam management.
Mailchimp performs strongly for newsletters but can struggle when sending complex, segmented campaigns at scale.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign delivers more consistent inbox placement and control.
Analytics & Reporting
Mailchimp provides straightforward analytics — open rates, click rates, and engagement stats.
ActiveCampaign, however, offers deeper insights:
- Automation reports
- Goal tracking
- Lead scoring metrics
- Conversion attribution
If you want campaign-level and revenue-based data, ActiveCampaign wins easily.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign for advanced marketers, Mailchimp for simple reporting.
Pricing & Plans (2025)
| Plan | Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign |
| Free | Yes (up to 500 contacts) | ❌ No |
| Starter | $13/month | $39/month |
| Standard | $20/month | $70/month |
| Premium | $350/month | Custom pricing |
Mailchimp’s free plan is great for startups, but ActiveCampaign’s paid plans offer stronger automation and CRM features.
Verdict: Mailchimp wins for affordability; ActiveCampaign offers better long-term ROI.
Customer Support & Resources
Mailchimp offers live chat and email support for paid users, plus a detailed knowledge base.
ActiveCampaign provides 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support — along with free one-on-one onboarding for new customers.
Verdict: ActiveCampaign wins for customer support and training.
Best Use Cases – Who Should Use Each?
| Use Case | Best Platform |
| Beginners and small businesses | Mailchimp |
| Ecommerce and automations | ActiveCampaign |
| Newsletter creators | Mailchimp |
| Sales-driven marketing teams | ActiveCampaign |
| Budget-conscious marketers | Mailchimp |
In short:
- Use Mailchimp if you want simplicity, templates, and quick setup.
- Use ActiveCampaign if you need automation, CRM, and scaling power.
Final Verdict – Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
The Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign comparison comes down to your goals:
Choose Mailchimp if you want:
- An easy-to-use platform
- Affordable pricing and free plan
- Simple automations for newsletters or startups
Choose ActiveCampaign if you want:
- Advanced marketing automation and CRM tools
- Deeper analytics and integrations
- Scalable solutions for growing teams
Both tools are excellent, but ActiveCampaign is the better choice for businesses focused on personalization, automation, and long-term scalability.
