ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Best Email Platform for Creators

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Choosing the right email tool is key for your creator business. We'll compare ConvertKit and Mailchimp for you in 2025. You'll learn which platform best helps you grow and connect with your audience.

Introduction

Picking an email tool is a big choice for creators. You need a service that grows with you. It should turn followers into fans and fans into customers.

We tested the top two options for you. This guide compares ConvertKit and Mailchimp for 2025. We will show you which one fits a creator's needs best.

How We Tested

We didn't just read the ads. We made real accounts and used them. We built sign-up forms and sent email campaigns.

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We checked how easy each tool was to learn. We also tracked the performance of the emails we sent. Our tests ran for over 30 days to get clear results.

What You'll Learn

You'll see a direct feature-by-feature breakdown. We'll talk about pricing, design tools, and automation. These are key for saving you time.

For example, one service lets you send 1,000 emails for free. The other has much better sign-up form designs. We'll help you see the real-world difference.

By the end, you'll know which platform is your best fit. Let's find the right tool for your creative work.

Quick Comparison Table

Here’s a quick look at how ConvertKit and Mailchimp stack up. This table shows the key facts to help you choose.

Key Features Side-by-Side

Feature	ConvertKit	Mailchimp
Best For	Bloggers, creators, and small businesses.	General small business and online stores.
Free Plan	Up to 1,000 subscribers.	Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month.
Core Tool	Easy email automations and landing pages.	All-in-one marketing with ads and posts.
Ease of Use	Very simple for sending emails and growing a list.	Can feel busy with many extra features.
Pricing Start	About $9/month for 300 subscribers.	About $13/month for 500 contacts.

What This Means for You

Look at your main goal right now. Do you just need a simple way to talk to your audience? ConvertKit is built for that.

However, you might want to manage social media ads too. Mailchimp packs in more tools from the start.

Check their free plans first. You can try both systems without paying. See which one feels better for your daily work.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Now let's get into the details. We will look at each major feature side-by-side. This will show you which tool is better for different jobs.

We will name a winner for each category. Remember, the best choice depends on what you need most for your own work.

Email Editor & Templates

The email editor is where you write your messages. You want it to be simple and powerful. A good editor saves you time and stress.

ConvertKit uses a visual editor that is very clean. It feels like a simple document. You drag and drop elements like text boxes or buttons.

This is perfect for creators who just want to write. There are no fancy, confusing options. Their templates are built for action, like selling a product.

Mailchimp’s editor is more like a design studio. It has hundreds of colorful templates. You can change almost every part of how they look.

This is great if brand style is very important to you. However, all those choices can slow you down. It’s easy to waste time on design.

Winner: ConvertKit. For most creators, writing fast is the goal. ConvertKit’s simple editor helps you get emails done without fuss. Mailchimp has more design power, but that’s not always better.

Automation & Customer Journeys

Automation sends emails for you based on rules. For example, a welcome series for new people. Good automation feels personal and saves you days of work.

ConvertKit calls these “Visual Automations.” You map out the journey with a simple flowchart. It’s easy to see where people go if they click a link or buy something.

You can tag people based on their actions. This keeps your list organized. The system is built for creators selling digital items or courses.

Mailchimp has very strong automation too. Their customer journey builder is also visual. It can handle complex paths with many different steps.

However, it can feel a bit more technical to set up. The interface has more small buttons and settings. It is made for general business, not just creators.

Winner: ConvertKit. The visual builder is just easier to understand at a glance. It’s made for the common jobs creators do every day. You will spend less time setting it up.

Forms & Landing Pages

You need forms to gather email addresses on your site. Landing pages are standalone pages made for one goal, like a sign-up. These are your main tools for growth.

ConvertKit gives you simple, good-looking forms. They are easy to add to any website. Their landing page builder is also very straightforward.

You pick a template, change the text and colors, and publish. It’s not for complex design. It’s for making effective pages fast, and they work well on phones.

Mailchimp offers a lot more design control here. Their form and page builder is very flexible. You can create almost any look you can imagine.

But again, with more power comes more complexity. You might need more time to build what you want. Some templates look a bit dated.

Winner: ConvertKit. Speed and ease win for creators. Your job is to create content, not to learn web design. ConvertKit gets your sign-up tools live in minutes.

Reporting & Analytics

You must know how your emails perform. Good reports show open rates, click rates, and sales. This data helps you improve.

ConvertKit’s reporting is clean and focused. You quickly see your key numbers. It tracks how much money each email or automation makes for you.

This revenue tracking is a huge advantage. You learn which content actually drives sales. The charts are simple and answer your main questions.

Mailchimp’s reports are more detailed. They have more data points and longer-term trends. You can see things like social media activity or where people are.

For a beginner, it can be a bit overwhelming. It takes more time to find the simple answer to “How did my last email do?”

Winner: ConvertKit. The direct link to revenue is the key point. As a creator, your email list is a business tool. ConvertKit shows you the money, plain and simple.

Pricing & Value

Your budget matters, especially when starting. You need good value for your money. Both have free plans, but they are very different.

ConvertKit’s free plan lets you have up to 1,000 people. You get most core features, including automation and selling. It’s a true starter plan for a creator.

Paid plans start at about $29 per month. This is for 1,000 people. The price goes up as your list grows, but the features stay strong.

Mailchimp’s free plan is for 500 people. Key features like automation are locked. To get the good tools, you must upgrade to a paid plan.

Their paid “Standard” plan starts at about $20 monthly. However, you pay extra if you go over 500 contacts. The costs can add up in a tricky way.

Winner: ConvertKit. You get more useful features for free. The paid plans are clearer and built for a creator’s growth path. You often get more for your money.

Support & Learning

You will have questions. Good help can save you hours. The best companies teach you how to succeed, not just fix problems.

ConvertKit is famous for its customer support. They answer fast and are very helpful. They also have a huge library of free courses and guides.

This learning content is all about helping creators grow. It’s practical advice on using email to build a real audience and make money.

Mailchimp has a large help center with many articles. You can find answers to most technical questions there. Their support is good but can be slower.

Their learning content is more general business focused. It is less tailored to the specific needs of a writer, artist, or podcaster.

Winner: ConvertKit. The support feels personal, and the learning is made for you. They act like a partner in your creative business, which is very valuable.

Pricing Comparison

Your budget is a big deal. Both tools have free plans, but they work in very different ways.

ConvertKit Pricing

ConvertKit's free plan is built for creators. You can have up to 1,000 subscribers and use key features. This includes email sequences and basic forms.

Paid plans start at $15 per month. This is for up to 300 subscribers. You then pay more as your list grows. For example, 5,000 contacts costs about $66 monthly.

You get all features on every paid plan. There are no hidden limits on emails or features.

Mailchimp Pricing

Mailchimp also has a free plan. You can have 500 contacts and send 1,000 emails a day. But you don't get key tools like automation on the free plan.

Their paid “Standard” plan starts at $13 per month. This is for 500 contacts. The cost jumps a lot as you grow. For 5,000 contacts, the price is about $90 per month.

You must check the plan details. Some advanced features cost extra on lower tiers.

Which Offers Better Value?

For a creator, ConvertKit often gives more value. You get powerful features at a lower price as you grow. Mailchimp can get expensive fast for bigger lists.

Think about your subscriber count now. Then, look at where you'll be in a year. Try both free plans to see which system you like best.

Use Case Recommendations

Now you know their features and prices. But which one is truly right for you? Let's look at specific examples.

Choose ConvertKit If…

You are a solo creator who makes money online. This includes bloggers, podcasters, and course teachers. Your main goal is to grow a loyal audience and earn from them.

ConvertKit is perfect if you sell digital products. For example, a $50 ebook or a $300 video course. Its tools are built to turn readers into buyers. You can easily tag people who click a product link.

Use it if your list is under 1,000 subscribers. You'll get the best free plan here. The visual automation builder is also a key win. It helps you map out customer journeys without confusion.

Choose Mailchimp If…

You run a small online store or local business. Maybe you sell handmade goods or have a physical shop. You need to send beautiful newsletters and sell products in one place.

Mailchimp fits if you need a full marketing toolkit. This includes basic social media ads and a simple website builder. Its free plan is strong for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month.

Pick it if design is very important for your brand. You want many email templates to choose from. It's also good if you plan to grow past email into other marketing areas later.

Quick Decision Check

Still unsure? Ask yourself one main question. Is your focus on audience growth and sales (ConvertKit) or brand presence and product sales (Mailchimp)?

Try their free plans to feel the difference. Use ConvertKit's free plan to test a simple automation. Check Mailchimp's free plan to design a campaign. Your own experience will give you the best answer.

Final Verdict

So, which tool should you pick? For most creators, ConvertKit is the winner. It's built just for you, with features that make your work flow smoothly.

It's the best for selling digital products and building a real audience. The free plan is also much more generous for starting out.

The Overall Winner: ConvertKit

Choose ConvertKit if you are a serious creator. This means bloggers, podcasters, or artists who want to make money online. Its automation and landing pages are top quality.

You can try it for free with up to 1,000 subscribers. That's a huge advantage for testing your ideas without any cost.

The Strong Runner-Up: Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a great choice for small businesses or local shops. It's better if you sell physical items and need a full online store.

However, its free plan only allows 500 contacts. You also get just 1,000 sends per month, which can run out fast.

The Budget Pick

Start with ConvertKit's free plan if your budget is tight. You get powerful features at no cost. This lets you grow your list and learn the system.

Switch to Mailchimp only if you need its specific e-commerce tools. For pure content creation, ConvertKit is the clear leader in 2025.

Content Notice: This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy, quality, and compliance. We use AI to help research and structure content, but all recommendations are based on thorough evaluation.

ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Best Email Platform for Creators