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Kit (ConvertKit) vs Mailchimp
Kit's free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers; Mailchimp's covers 250. Kit is built for creators who sell digital products and newsletters, while Mailchimp is a general email tool for businesses of all kinds.
For creators, bloggers and newsletter writers, Kit is the stronger choice: a far larger free plan, creator-focused automation and built-in selling. Mailchimp fits businesses that want a general-purpose email tool with a vast integration list.
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
you are a creator or newsletter writer who wants to grow a list, automate sequences and sell digital products or subscriptions.
Choose Mailchimp if…
you run a store or service business, want deep integrations and templates, and only need a small free plan to start.
At a glance
Kit (ConvertKit)
Mailchimp
Best for
Creators and newsletter writers who sell digital products
Small businesses that want a familiar, easy email tool with many integrations
Starting price
Free plan; paid from $39/mo
Free plan; paid from $13/mo
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Trial
Free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers
Free plan (250 contacts, 500 emails a month)
Fees
No platform transaction fee listed on the plans; payment processing applies to sales.
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.
Prices for the smallest subscriber tier. Creator is $390 a year billed yearly. Pro is shown at $66 a month billed yearly, with a first-year promotion at the time of checking.
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
Kit
Mailchimp
Free plan
Up to 10,000 subscribers
250 contacts, 500 emails a month
Main paid plan
Creator: $39/month or $390/year
Standard: from about $20/month (500 contacts)
Advanced
Pro: $66/month billed yearly
Premium: from about $350/month (10,000 contacts)
Prices rise with list size on both. Kit's Creator plan includes unlimited automations and sequences; Mailchimp's automation grows with Standard.
Key differences
Free plan size. Kit's free plan can hold 40 times more subscribers than Mailchimp's.
Selling. Kit's free plan already lets you sell digital products and paid subscriptions. Mailchimp relies more on store integrations.
Automation. Kit Creator adds unlimited visual automations and email sequences. Mailchimp Essentials has basic automation; Standard unlocks up to 200 flows.
Growth features. Kit Pro adds a newsletter referral system, engagement scoring and deliverability reporting.
Which should you choose?
If you are a creator building an audience, start with Kit's free plan and upgrade when you need automations. If you are a small business with a store or local customers, Mailchimp's integrations may matter more. See also MailerLite vs Mailchimp.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kit free?+
Yes, for up to 10,000 subscribers, with unlimited landing pages, forms and broadcasts.
Is Kit the same as ConvertKit?+
Yes. ConvertKit rebranded as Kit.
Which is better for newsletters?+
Kit, for most creators: a much larger free plan, built-in paid subscriptions and a referral system on Pro.
How much is Kit Creator?+
$39 a month, or $390 a year billed yearly, at the smallest subscriber tier.
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.