Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: Which Email Platform Should You Use in 2026?

Mailchimp

Mailchimp lets you start for free with up to 250 contacts and 500 emails per month. The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and setup takes minutes. The interface can feel cluttered with upsells, but the core experience is straightforward.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact has no free plan, but offers a 60-day free trial with no credit card required. The editor is simple and beginner-friendly. Fewer features on screen means less confusion, but also less power. Cancellation requires a phone call, which is frustrating.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's Customer Journey Builder supports multi-step automations with if/else branching, time delays, and behavioral triggers. The Essentials plan limits you to 4 journey steps, but Standard and Premium unlock full automation. Pre-built journeys cover welcome series, abandoned carts, and re-engagement.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact's automation is basic. You get 3 pre-built templates (welcome, birthday, anniversary) on the Standard plan. Custom automation workflows require the Premium plan ($80/mo). There's no visual automation builder comparable to Mailchimp's.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp offers 100+ templates with a flexible drag-and-drop editor. The Creative Assistant AI can generate designs based on your brand. Dynamic content lets you personalize blocks for different segments. The editor is powerful but has a learning curve for advanced features.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact has 200+ templates and one of the simplest editors in the market. Drag-and-drop editing is easy. But customization options are limited compared to Mailchimp, and there's no AI design assistant. Templates look clean but tend to follow similar layouts.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's deliverability is solid but inconsistent in third-party tests. Some independent tests place it in the 85-90% range. Mailchimp offers domain authentication (DKIM, SPF) and content optimization suggestions, but deliverability can vary by sender reputation and list hygiene.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact consistently scores well in deliverability tests, averaging 88% in independent benchmarks. Their long track record (since 1995) and strict anti-spam policies contribute to strong sender reputation. For businesses where inbox placement is critical, this is a real differentiator.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp provides detailed campaign reports including open rates, click rates, revenue attribution, and audience growth. The Standard plan adds comparative reporting across campaigns and send time optimization. The reporting dashboard is visual and easy to read.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact's reporting covers the basics: opens, clicks, bounces, and unsubscribes. Heat maps show where people click in your emails. But there's no revenue attribution, no comparative reporting across campaigns, and the analytics feel dated compared to Mailchimp's.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's free plan is a real starting point. Paid plans start at $13/mo for 500 contacts. But pricing scales steeply: 10,000 contacts costs $100/mo on Essentials. Unsubscribed contacts still count toward your limit, which frustrates users as lists grow.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact starts at $12/mo (or $10/mo annually) for 500 contacts. The 60-day trial is generous. But the base Lite plan is very limited (1 user, basic templates, 1 automation). To get useful features like A/B testing and segmentation, you need Standard at $35/mo, which is poor value compared to what Mailchimp offers at $20/mo.