Home › Compare › ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp

ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp: cost by list size

At 1,000 subscribers ActiveCampaign is cheaper: $180/yr vs $318/yr billed monthly. At 5,000 subscribers Mailchimp is cheaper: $900/yr billed monthly vs $948/yr.

Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.

The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from ActiveCampaign ↗ and Mailchimp ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-18. Base plans only; features differ between plans.

Subscribers	ActiveCampaign	Mailchimp
500	Starter: $180/yr	Essentials: $156/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
1,000	Starter: $180/yr	Essentials: $318/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
2,500	Starter: $468/yr	Essentials: $540/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
5,000	Starter: $948/yr	Essentials: $900/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
10,000	Starter: $1,788/yr	Essentials: $1,320/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
25,000	Plus: $4,668/yr	Essentials: $3,240/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
50,000	Plus: $7,308/yr	Essentials: $4,620/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
100,000	no plan / pending	Standard: $9,600/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated)
250,000	no plan / pending	no plan / pending

Visit ActiveCampaign ↗ · Visit Mailchimp ↗

Disclosure: the beehiiv and AWeber sign-up links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you subscribe through it. Prices, tiers and the cheapest-first ordering are calculated identically for every platform and never depend on affiliate status. Other platform links are plain.

See the per-plan tiers with sources on the ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp pages. Alternatives: ActiveCampaign · Mailchimp

Frequently asked questions

Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than Mailchimp?

At 1,000 subscribers ActiveCampaign is cheaper: $180/yr vs $318/yr billed monthly. At 5,000 subscribers Mailchimp is cheaper: $900/yr billed monthly vs $948/yr.

Is ActiveCampaign free?

No. ActiveCampaign's pricing page lists the Starter, Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans and a free trial, not a free plan.

Is Mailchimp free?

Yes, up to 250 contacts.