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HubSpot vs Mailchimp
Both have free plans. Mailchimp is an email marketing tool from about $13 a month. HubSpot Marketing Hub is part of a full CRM platform: Starter is about $20 per seat a month, but Professional jumps to $800 a month plus a $3,000 onboarding fee.
Mailchimp is the sensible choice when you need email marketing. HubSpot makes sense when you want marketing, sales and a CRM in one system and have the budget to grow into Professional.
Choose HubSpot Marketing Hub if…
you want a CRM-centred platform that connects marketing, sales and service, and expect to grow into a larger team.
Choose Mailchimp if…
your main need is newsletters and email campaigns at a predictable, low cost.
At a glance
HubSpot Marketing Hub
Mailchimp
Best for
Growing companies that want marketing, CRM and sales in one system
Small businesses that want a familiar, easy email tool with many integrations
Starting price
Free plan; paid from $20/mo
Free plan; paid from $13/mo
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Trial
Free tools for up to 2 users
Free plan (250 contacts, 500 emails a month)
Fees
Extra seats and marketing contacts cost more; onboarding fees on Professional and Enterprise.
No transaction fees; price depends on contact count.
Prices in USD from each provider's pricing page, checked November 2, 2026. Plans and prices change; confirm before you buy.
US starting prices for 500 contacts (Premium starts at 10,000 contacts), compiled from several pricing trackers because Mailchimp shows local currency. Prices rise with list size.
Free
$0/month
✓250 contacts
✓500 emails a month
✓1 user
Essentials
$13/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 10× contacts a month
✓3 users
✓Basic automation (up to 4 steps)
Standard
$20/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 12× contacts a month
✓5 users
✓Up to 200 automation flows
Premium
$350/month
✓From 10,000 contacts
✓Sends 15× contacts a month
✓Unlimited users
✓Phone and priority support
Pricing compared
Level
HubSpot Marketing Hub
Mailchimp (about)
Free
Free tools for up to 2 users
Free plan, 250 contacts
Entry
Starter: about $20 per seat/month, 1,000 marketing contacts
Essentials: $13 (500 contacts)
Mid
Professional: from $800/month, 3 seats, 2,000 contacts, $3,000 onboarding
Standard: $20 (500 contacts)
Top
Enterprise: from $3,600/month, 5 seats, 10,000 contacts, $7,000 onboarding
Premium: from $350 (10,000 contacts)
In the first year, HubSpot Professional costs at least $12,600 ($800 × 12 plus $3,000 onboarding) before extra seats or contacts.
Key differences
Platform vs tool. HubSpot's marketing tools sit on a shared CRM with sales and service products. Mailchimp is focused on email and audience marketing.
Pricing model. HubSpot Starter is priced per seat; higher tiers include seats and add onboarding fees. Mailchimp is priced mainly by contacts.
Send limits. HubSpot Starter allows sends of 5× your marketing contact tier per month; Mailchimp's limits are 10× to 15× contacts depending on plan.
Which should you choose?
A small business that needs newsletters should start with Mailchimp. A company that wants one system for marketing and sales, and can budget for Professional later, will get more from HubSpot. For automation without HubSpot's price jump, compare ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp.
Frequently asked questions
Is HubSpot more expensive than Mailchimp?+
At the top tiers, much more: HubSpot Professional starts at $800 a month plus a $3,000 onboarding fee. At entry level the gap is smaller.
Does HubSpot have a free plan?+
Yes, free marketing and CRM tools for up to 2 users.
Can I use Mailchimp with a CRM?+
Yes, through integrations with CRMs, including HubSpot.
What does HubSpot onboarding cost?+
$3,000 one-time on Professional and $7,000 on Enterprise.
This comparison is based on each provider's official pricing page, documentation and published features, checked on November 2, 2026.
Where a provider shows prices in local currency or loads them dynamically, US prices were cross-checked against several pricing trackers and are labelled as such.
See how we review software.