Best Mailchimp Alternatives for Small Business 2026
The best Mailchimp alternative depends on your priority. For pure email marketing, Brevo (free, 300 emails/day) gives you more than Mailchimp's free tier. For email + CRM + automation, ActiveCampaign ($29/month) is the gold standard. For email as part of a full business platform, Dewx ($49/month) includes email alongside CRM, invoicing, and AI.
Key Takeaways
- Mailchimp's problem: Free plan now limited to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends/month — down from 2,000 contacts in 2023
- Best free alternative: Brevo — 300 emails/day (9,000/month) with no contact limit
- Best automation: ActiveCampaign ($29/month) — most powerful email automation builder
- Best all-in-one: Dewx ($49/month) — email + CRM + AI + invoicing
- Best for e-commerce: Klaviyo (free for 250 contacts) or Omnisend (free for 250 contacts)
8 Best Mailchimp Alternatives
1. Brevo — Best Free Option ($0)
Free plan: 300 emails/day (9,000/month), unlimited contacts. Includes SMS, WhatsApp campaigns, and basic automation.
2. ActiveCampaign — Best Automation ($29/month)
Industry-leading automation builder with 900+ automation recipes. CRM included from $49/month.
3. Dewx — Best All-in-One ($49/month)
Email marketing is part of a complete business platform. Draft campaigns with Dew AI, send to segmented lists, track results — alongside CRM, messaging, and invoicing.
4. ConvertKit — Best for Creators ($9/month)
Visual automation builder designed for creators, bloggers, and newsletters. Free plan for 300 subscribers.
5. MailerLite — Best Value ($9/month)
Clean interface, drag-and-drop builder, landing pages, and automation. Free for 1,000 subscribers.
6. Klaviyo — Best for E-commerce (Free-$20/month)
Deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration. Predictive analytics, product recommendations, and abandoned cart flows. Free for 250 contacts.
7. Omnisend — Best for Multi-Channel E-commerce (Free)
Email + SMS + push notifications for e-commerce. Free for 250 contacts and 500 emails/month.
8. Loops — Best for SaaS ($49/month)
Email for product-led companies. Event-triggered emails, product updates, and onboarding flows.
Comparison Table
| Platform | Free Plan | Contacts | Emails/mo | Automation | Landing Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | 500 contacts | Paid from 500+ | 1,000 free | Basic | Yes |
| Brevo | Unlimited | Unlimited | 9,000 | Yes | Yes ($65+) |
| ActiveCampaign | No | From 1,000 | Unlimited | Advanced | Yes |
| Dewx | Trial | Unlimited | Included | AI-powered | Yes |
| ConvertKit | 300 subs | From 300 | Unlimited | Visual | Yes |
| MailerLite | 1,000 subs | From 1,000 | 12,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Klaviyo | 250 contacts | From 250 | 500 | Advanced | Yes |
| Omnisend | 250 contacts | From 250 | 500 | Yes | Yes |
FAQ
Why are people leaving Mailchimp?
Three reasons: rising prices (30%+ increases since Intuit acquisition), shrinking free plan (500 contacts, down from 2,000), and the removal of features from lower tiers. Alternatives now offer more for less.
What's the best Mailchimp alternative for beginners?
MailerLite. Clean interface, drag-and-drop editor, generous free plan (1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month), and a gentler learning curve than most alternatives.
Can I migrate my Mailchimp list easily?
Yes. Export your contacts as CSV from Mailchimp, then import into any alternative. Most tools also offer direct Mailchimp import wizards. Expect 30-60 minutes for a typical migration.