Mailchimp vs Kit: Which Fits Your List?
Mailchimp is the broadest, most recognized name in email marketing; Kit is built specifically for creators, with the most generous free tier in the category. Here's how they actually compare.
Pricing side by side
| Tier | Mailchimp | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month (up to 250 contacts, ~500 emails/month) | $0/month (up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts) |
| Entry paid tier | Essentials — from $13/month (500 contacts) | Creator — from $33/month (1,000 subscribers) |
| Mid tier | Standard — from $20/month (500 contacts) | Pro — from $66/month (1,000 subscribers) |
| Higher tier | Premium — from $350/month (unlimited contacts) | No higher tier — Pro is the top plan |
Both verified directly on the official pricing pages in September 2026. Kit's free plan is dramatically more generous by contact count (10,000 vs 250), but its paid tiers start higher than Mailchimp's entry-level Essentials plan — the two aren't really pricing the same thing, since Kit's free tier is built to keep creators on it far longer before upgrading.
Go with one over the other if...
Go with Mailchimp if...
- You want the most widely-integrated platform with the biggest template library
- You need an all-in-one toolkit — basic CRM fields, popups, an SMS add-on — under one login
- Your contact list is small enough that Mailchimp's steeper scaling curve doesn't matter yet
Go with Kit if...
- You're a solo creator, newsletter writer, or course seller wanting to start free for longer
- You want native digital-product and course sales built into the platform itself
- You'd rather have unlimited team users on the top plan than pay per seat
Where the real difference shows up
Mailchimp's pitch has stayed consistent for years: the broadest feature set and the most integrations, for a general business audience that wants one tool to cover email, basic CRM fields, popups, and an SMS add-on. Its free tier is comparatively small (250 contacts) and its paid pricing climbs with contact count the same way ActiveCampaign's does.
Kit built its entire pitch around one audience — creators — and it shows: a free tier that goes all the way to 10,000 subscribers, native digital-product and course sales even for free users, and a creator-to-creator recommendation network that has no equivalent in Mailchimp. The tradeoff is less CRM-style depth and a smaller general-business feature set once you do need to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better free plan?
Kit, by a wide margin — 10,000 subscribers versus Mailchimp's 250-contact cap, with unlimited broadcasts included free on Kit.
Which is cheaper once you need to pay?
Mailchimp's entry Essentials tier starts lower ($13/month) than Kit's Creator plan ($33/month), but the comparison isn't apples-to-apples since Kit subscribers spend far longer on the free tier first.
Which is better for selling digital products or courses?
Kit — native digital-product and course sales are built into the platform from the free tier up, which Mailchimp doesn't offer as a core feature.
Our take
If you're running a general business that wants breadth and integrations, Mailchimp's ecosystem is hard to beat. If you're a solo creator or newsletter writer, Kit's free tier alone makes it worth starting there first. Full detail in our Mailchimp review and Kit review.
Sources: pricing cross-checked against our own Mailchimp review and Kit review, each verified directly on the vendor's official pricing page in September 2026 (mailchimp.com/pricing and kit.com/pricing).