In today’s digital-first world, email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for businesses and organizations to connect with customers, build relationships, and drive sales. For any business, regardless of size, staying in touch with customers via email is an essential aspect of modern marketing.
However, the effectiveness of an email marketing campaign is highly dependent on the platform you use to manage it. Among the various email marketing platforms available, two names stand out — Mailchimp and Constant Contact.
Both platforms offer a wide array of features, including email design, automation, list management, analytics, and integrations. Mailchimp and Constant Contact are widely known and trusted, but each has distinct advantages and potential limitations that make them suited for different types of users.
While Mailchimp has evolved into a more comprehensive marketing solution, offering deep analytics and automation, Constant Contact has remained a strong contender, especially for small businesses, thanks to its user-friendly interface, robust customer support, and strong event management features.
In this article, we will dive deep into a comparative analysis of Mailchimp and Constant Contact. We’ll cover their key features, followed by the pros and cons of each platform. This guide aims to give businesses a clear understanding of which platform may be the best fit, depending on their specific needs, goals, and budgets.
What Is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is one of the most well-known email marketing platforms, often recognized for its user-friendly design and powerful automation tools. Initially launched as a simple email marketing tool, Mailchimp has since evolved into an all-encompassing marketing platform that goes beyond email to include social media marketing, landing pages, ad management, and more.
With features such as customer journey mapping, A/B testing, and advanced segmentation, Mailchimp has become a preferred tool for marketers looking to create targeted, personalized campaigns.
One of the standout aspects of Mailchimp is its advanced automation features. The platform allows users to create personalized email workflows based on subscriber behavior, sending automated messages for actions such as sign-ups, abandoned carts, or customer re-engagement. These capabilities make Mailchimp a great choice for businesses looking to save time and optimize their email marketing efforts.
Mailchimp also offers a free tier with a variety of features that make it an attractive option for small businesses or startups. While the free plan has its limits (500 subscribers and 3,500 emails per month), it offers a solid introduction to email marketing without requiring users to make a financial commitment.
However, as businesses scale and their email lists grow, Mailchimp’s pricing structure can become a bit more complex, with costs escalating based on the number of subscribers and features needed.
What Is Constant Contact?
Constant Contact is another leading email marketing platform designed primarily for small businesses, non-profits, and event-driven organizations. Known for its simplicity, ease of use, and customer support, Constant Contact has carved out a niche in the email marketing space by focusing on a user-friendly experience. It allows businesses to create and send professional-looking emails, manage their contacts, and track email performance.
One of the highlights of Constant Contact is its intuitive interface. The platform is designed for users with little to no experience in email marketing, offering drag-and-drop tools for creating emails, list management options, and pre-built templates. These features make it easy to get started and implement email marketing campaigns without needing advanced technical knowledge.
In addition to core email marketing features, Constant Contact shines in areas such as event management and social media integration. The platform makes it easy to organize events, track RSVPs, and promote events through email campaigns. Constant Contact also provides a variety of integrations with third-party apps, helping businesses centralize their marketing efforts.
Although Constant Contact lacks some of the advanced automation and analytics features of Mailchimp, it’s a solid choice for those looking for simplicity and ease of use in their email marketing.
Pros of Mailchimp
1. Advanced Automation Features
Mailchimp excels in automation, offering users a vast array of tools to streamline their email marketing efforts. With its robust automation suite, Mailchimp allows businesses to send personalized, timely emails based on subscriber behaviors and triggers. For example, you can set up workflows for welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, or post-purchase follow-ups. The ability to trigger these emails based on specific customer actions eliminates the need for manual email management and ensures that your communication is relevant and timely.
Mailchimp’s “Customer Journeys” feature is particularly useful for businesses looking to create personalized email workflows. This tool allows users to design multi-step email campaigns, segmenting contacts based on behaviors, demographics, or engagement levels. For example, a business can create a journey where new customers are sent a series of emails welcoming them, introducing them to products, and providing useful tips or promotions. This high level of automation enhances customer engagement and retention while saving marketers time on manual tasks.
These advanced automation features make Mailchimp an excellent choice for businesses that want to scale their email marketing without sacrificing personalization or customer engagement.
2. Robust Free Plan
Mailchimp’s free plan is one of its biggest advantages, especially for small businesses or startups that are just getting started with email marketing. The free tier allows users to send up to 3,500 emails per month to a list of up to 500 subscribers. This provides ample space for small businesses to test the platform’s capabilities before committing to a paid plan.
In addition to basic email campaign features, the free plan also provides access to advanced segmentation, email templates, and basic reporting and analytics. While some more advanced features, like multi-step automations and A/B testing, are limited to paid tiers, the free plan still offers a solid set of tools that many small businesses can leverage. For those just dipping their toes into email marketing, Mailchimp’s free plan provides an excellent starting point without the need to make an upfront investment.
As businesses grow and their needs evolve, Mailchimp’s flexible pricing structure allows them to easily upgrade to a paid plan, unlocking more features and expanding subscriber limits as required.
3. Extensive Integration Options
One of the standout features of Mailchimp is its extensive library of integrations with third-party tools and platforms. Whether your business uses Shopify for e-commerce, Salesforce for CRM, or WordPress for website management, Mailchimp integrates seamlessly with these platforms to centralize your marketing efforts.
For instance, e-commerce businesses can connect their Mailchimp account with Shopify to automate product recommendations, abandoned cart emails, and order follow-up messages. Integration with CRM systems like Salesforce ensures that customer data flows smoothly between platforms, allowing for highly targeted campaigns based on purchase history or engagement.
Mailchimp’s integrations also extend to social media platforms, helping businesses run cross-channel marketing campaigns that include email, social ads, and more. This flexibility allows businesses to build a cohesive marketing strategy and streamline workflows, saving time and reducing the need for manual data entry.
4. User-Friendly Interface
Mailchimp is known for its user-friendly interface, which makes it accessible to both beginners and experienced marketers. The platform is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who have little to no experience with email marketing.
The drag-and-drop email editor allows users to create professional-looking emails without needing coding skills. There are also a variety of pre-designed templates to choose from, making it easy to get started quickly. Users can simply drag and drop content blocks into their email, customize them with text, images, and links, and hit send.
Mailchimp’s clean and simple dashboard makes managing campaigns and monitoring performance easy. The platform provides a real-time view of key metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, and conversion data, helping businesses measure the success of their campaigns.
For those who want more customization, Mailchimp also offers advanced options for email layout and design, though the simplicity of the platform is one of its greatest strengths for new users.
5. Detailed Analytics and Reporting
Mailchimp offers advanced analytics and reporting features, enabling businesses to track the performance of their email campaigns in great detail. Users can view metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and unsubscribe rates, which are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of email marketing efforts.
In addition to basic reporting, Mailchimp offers A/B testing capabilities, allowing users to test different subject lines, content, and design elements to optimize campaign performance. These insights can help businesses identify what resonates best with their audience and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns.
Mailchimp also provides detailed reports on customer behavior, such as how many people clicked through to your website or made a purchase as a result of your email. This data can be invaluable for refining marketing strategies and increasing conversions.
6. Advanced Segmentation Options
Mailchimp’s segmentation features allow users to create highly targeted email campaigns by dividing their audience into specific groups based on different criteria. Segments can be created based on customer behaviors (such as past purchases or website visits), engagement levels (such as people who opened or clicked on previous emails), demographics, and more.
This level of segmentation enables businesses to send highly personalized emails that are tailored to the specific needs and interests of each segment. For example, a retail business could send promotions for new arrivals to customers who have previously purchased similar items, or send exclusive offers to high-value customers who have made multiple purchases.
Advanced segmentation improves engagement rates by ensuring that emails are relevant to recipients, leading to higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.
7. Flexible Pricing Structure
Mailchimp’s flexible pricing structure is one of its key benefits, especially for growing businesses. The platform offers a free plan with limited features, which is ideal for small businesses or those just starting with email marketing. As businesses scale, they can move up to a paid plan, which offers additional features, higher email limits, and advanced automation capabilities.
The pricing for Mailchimp’s paid plans is based on the number of subscribers and the features required, allowing businesses to select a plan that suits their needs and budget. The availability of different tiers makes it easier for businesses to scale their marketing efforts without having to switch platforms. Whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise, Mailchimp offers a plan that can accommodate your requirements.
8. E-Commerce Features
Mailchimp provides a comprehensive suite of e-commerce tools, making it an excellent choice for businesses that sell products online. The platform integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling businesses to send automated emails for abandoned carts, post-purchase follow-ups, and product recommendations based on customer behavior.
Mailchimp also offers tools for building product recommendation emails, segmenting customers based on their purchase history, and sending personalized offers to drive repeat business. These features make it easy for e-commerce businesses to create targeted, data-driven email campaigns that increase sales and customer loyalty.
Cons of Mailchimp
1. Complex Pricing Structure
While Mailchimp’s free plan is an excellent starting point for small businesses, its paid plans can be expensive as your email list grows. The pricing is based on the number of subscribers and the features you require, which means businesses with large email lists or those that need advanced features (such as more sophisticated automation) will face higher costs.
In addition, the pricing structure can be confusing, with different tiers offering different levels of features, including segmentation, A/B testing, and reporting tools. Some users find the system difficult to navigate, especially as they move to higher pricing tiers. For businesses on tight budgets, these costs can quickly add up.
2. Learning Curve for Advanced Features
While Mailchimp is generally user-friendly, some of its more advanced features, such as automation workflows and audience segmentation, can be difficult to master for beginners. New users may find it challenging to understand how to set up complex workflows or create highly targeted email campaigns.
Mailchimp offers plenty of tutorials and documentation, but some users still report difficulty in fully grasping how to optimize automation and segmentation. This learning curve can be frustrating for users who expect a straightforward experience when trying to set up more advanced features.
3. Limited Phone Support
Mailchimp does not offer phone support, which can be frustrating for users who need immediate assistance. While there is email and chat support, some users may prefer the option of speaking directly to a support representative, especially for complex issues that require real-time troubleshooting.
For businesses that rely heavily on email marketing and cannot afford to have their campaigns stalled due to technical difficulties, the lack of phone support can be a significant drawback. Some users have expressed frustration with the time it takes to get responses via chat or email.
4. Inconsistent Customer Support
While Mailchimp does offer customer support, the quality and responsiveness of this support can be inconsistent. Some users have reported delays in receiving replies or a lack of in-depth knowledge from the support team when trying to resolve more complex issues.
This inconsistency in customer service can be a major frustration, especially for businesses that rely on timely assistance to maintain smooth operations. While Mailchimp does offer a range of online resources, some users may prefer more personalized and reliable support.
5. Email Deliverability Issues
Mailchimp has faced criticism in the past for email deliverability issues. Some users have reported that their emails were marked as spam or had low open rates, even though they followed best practices for email marketing. This can be problematic for businesses that depend on email marketing to drive sales or engage with their audience.
Email deliverability is influenced by many factors, including sender reputation and email content, but Mailchimp has had instances where users struggled to get their emails delivered effectively. For businesses that require high levels of engagement and deliverability, this issue may be a dealbreaker.
6. Template Customization Limitations
While Mailchimp provides a wide range of pre-designed templates, users who want more flexibility in customization may find the options limiting. The drag-and-drop editor is easy to use, but it may not allow for the level of customization needed by users with specific branding requirements.
Advanced users or businesses with detailed design specifications may need to use custom code to make significant changes to templates. This requires more technical expertise and can detract from Mailchimp’s otherwise user-friendly experience.
7. Restricted Reporting Features in Lower Tiers
Mailchimp’s more advanced reporting and analytics features are only available in the higher-tier paid plans. Businesses on the free or lower-tier plans do not have access to detailed insights into campaign performance, customer behavior, and segmentation data.
For businesses that need these insights to drive their marketing strategies, this can be a limitation. While basic reporting features are available on the lower tiers, they may not provide enough information to fully understand the effectiveness of email campaigns.
8. Limited Support for Non-Profit Organizations
Although Mailchimp offers discounts for non-profit organizations, some users feel that the platform is not optimized for the specific needs of non-profits. Features such as event management and donation tracking may not be as robust as those offered by other platforms tailored specifically for non-profits.
This limitation makes Mailchimp less ideal for organizations that need specialized tools for fundraising or managing events, as the platform’s general focus is on businesses rather than charitable organizations.
Pros of Constant Contact
1. Simplicity and Ease of Use
Constant Contact is widely praised for its simplicity and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for beginners or small business owners who are new to email marketing. The platform offers an intuitive interface, with a user-friendly drag-and-drop email editor that allows users to quickly create emails without needing any design or technical expertise.
Users can easily customize pre-designed templates, which are professionally designed and responsive across devices, so businesses don’t have to worry about coding or complex formatting. For businesses that are just getting started, Constant Contact’s easy-to-use system helps eliminate the steep learning curve that often accompanies other platforms.
Additionally, Constant Contact’s dashboard is clean and easy to navigate, with all the essential features—such as email campaigns, contact management, and reporting—accessible from one place. This straightforward approach makes it simple for businesses to create and manage email campaigns while avoiding the complexities of more advanced systems.
2. Excellent Customer Support
One of the standout advantages of Constant Contact is its customer support. The platform offers several channels for users to get help, including phone support, live chat, and email support. This level of customer service is ideal for businesses that need immediate assistance or prefer speaking directly to a support representative.
Constant Contact’s support team is known for its responsiveness and willingness to go above and beyond to help users troubleshoot issues, understand the platform’s features, and provide guidance. In addition to live support, Constant Contact also offers an extensive library of educational resources, including webinars, guides, and how-to videos, which can be invaluable for users looking to improve their email marketing strategies.
The combination of easy access to live support and a wealth of self-help resources makes Constant Contact an attractive option for users who value excellent customer service and need quick, reliable assistance.
3. Event Management Features
Constant Contact shines in its event management capabilities, which set it apart from many other email marketing platforms. The platform allows users to create, promote, and manage events directly within the system, making it ideal for businesses and organizations that regularly host webinars, conferences, workshops, or in-person events.
Users can send event invitations, track RSVPs, manage registrations, and even sell tickets if needed. Constant Contact’s event management tools are user-friendly, allowing users to customize event emails and integrate the registration process into their email campaigns. The ability to track attendance and follow up with attendees post-event is also included, helping businesses nurture relationships after an event concludes.
This feature is particularly beneficial for event-driven organizations, non-profits, and businesses that use email marketing as part of their event promotion strategy. With Constant Contact, organizing and promoting events becomes seamless, saving time and improving the overall experience for attendees.
4. Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics
Constant Contact provides solid reporting and analytics capabilities that allow users to track the performance of their email campaigns. Users can view key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and unsubscribe rates to evaluate the effectiveness of their emails. The reporting dashboard is easy to understand and provides actionable insights to help users refine their email strategies.
In addition to basic metrics, Constant Contact also offers detailed reports on customer behavior, including how many people clicked through to your website or took specific actions like making a purchase. These insights can be used to optimize future campaigns, personalize messages, and improve engagement with subscribers.
Constant Contact also includes A/B testing features, enabling users to test different subject lines, content, and other elements of their emails. This allows businesses to identify which approaches work best for their audience and make data-driven decisions to boost email performance.
5. Integration with Third-Party Tools
Like Mailchimp, Constant Contact integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, which helps businesses centralize their marketing efforts. Whether you’re using e-commerce platforms like Shopify, CRM systems like Salesforce, or social media management tools like Facebook and Instagram, Constant Contact makes it easy to integrate your email marketing with other essential platforms.
The integration capabilities make it easy to automate tasks, synchronize customer data, and ensure that your email campaigns are aligned with your other marketing efforts. For example, by integrating Constant Contact with Shopify, businesses can automatically add customers to their email lists and send personalized email campaigns based on purchase behavior. These integrations simplify workflows, saving time and improving the efficiency of email marketing campaigns.
6. Automation Capabilities
While Constant Contact may not offer as extensive automation features as Mailchimp, it still provides useful tools to automate key aspects of your email marketing efforts. With Constant Contact, users can set up automated welcome emails, birthday emails, and follow-up messages triggered by specific actions or dates.
The ability to set up autoresponders and basic drip campaigns allows businesses to engage with their audience without the need for manual effort. For example, you can send a series of welcome emails to new subscribers, share relevant content or offers, and nurture leads over time. While these automation features may not be as sophisticated as those available on Mailchimp, they still help businesses save time and create personalized experiences for their subscribers.
7. Mobile-Friendly Platform
Constant Contact offers a mobile-friendly platform, allowing users to manage their email marketing campaigns on the go. With the Constant Contact mobile app, users can create, schedule, and send emails directly from their smartphones or tablets. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with mobile teams or entrepreneurs who are frequently traveling and need to manage campaigns remotely.
The mobile app also allows users to track campaign performance and view reports in real-time, making it easier to stay connected and informed even when away from the office. This level of flexibility ensures that businesses can remain agile and responsive, regardless of where they are.
8. Free Trial Option
Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial, giving businesses the opportunity to explore the platform’s features before committing to a paid plan. This extended trial period is generous compared to other platforms that typically offer only 14-day trials, providing users ample time to test out email campaign creation, automation, reporting, and integrations.
The free trial allows businesses to understand how the platform works, experiment with different features, and determine if Constant Contact is the right fit for their needs. It also helps users make an informed decision about whether to invest in the platform long-term.
Cons of Constant Contact
1. Limited Customization Options
While Constant Contact offers a variety of professionally designed email templates, the platform’s customization options are somewhat limited compared to other email marketing services like Mailchimp. The drag-and-drop editor is easy to use, but users who want to create highly unique or complex email designs may find it frustrating.
The level of customization allowed in terms of layout, font choices, and color schemes is more restricted compared to platforms that offer more flexible design tools. Additionally, the platform’s templates may not be ideal for businesses with specific branding or design requirements. Users who want more control over the appearance and functionality of their emails may find Constant Contact lacking in this area.
2. Pricing on the Higher Side
Constant Contact’s pricing can be considered relatively expensive, especially when compared to other email marketing platforms. The cost is based on the number of contacts you have, and businesses with larger email lists will find themselves paying higher fees for the same features.
Additionally, many of Constant Contact’s advanced features, such as automation and A/B testing, are only available in the higher-tier paid plans. This pricing structure can be a barrier for small businesses or organizations with limited budgets, particularly if they need to scale quickly or handle larger email lists. While the platform provides great customer support, event management features, and other tools, these benefits come at a cost that may not be justifiable for all businesses.
3. Limited Advanced Features
Although Constant Contact is great for beginners and small businesses, it lacks some of the advanced features available on platforms like Mailchimp. For example, its segmentation and automation options are less sophisticated, and users may find it difficult to create highly targeted email campaigns based on complex customer behaviors or granular data.
Advanced features like multi-step automation and more robust A/B testing are available only on higher-tier plans. Businesses that want more complex workflows or deeper insights into customer behavior may find the platform lacking in these areas. For users who want a more feature-rich email marketing tool, Constant Contact may fall short.
4. No Free Plan
Unlike Mailchimp, which offers a free plan for businesses with smaller email lists, Constant Contact does not provide a free tier. Instead, it offers a 60-day free trial, after which businesses must switch to a paid plan. While the trial period is generous, it may not be ideal for businesses that want to test the platform for a longer period or for those who want to maintain a free plan indefinitely.
This lack of a free plan makes Constant Contact a less attractive option for businesses with tight budgets or those just starting out with email marketing. For businesses that need to keep costs low, Mailchimp’s free plan might be a more suitable alternative.
5. Slower Email Delivery
Some users have reported slower email delivery with Constant Contact, particularly during high-traffic times. Email campaigns may be delayed, which can be a problem for businesses that need their emails to be delivered at a specific time or on a tight schedule.
The slower delivery times can affect the effectiveness of time-sensitive email marketing campaigns, such as flash sales, limited-time offers, or event invitations. Businesses that rely on sending emails with precise timing may need to consider this limitation when deciding if Constant Contact is the right platform for their needs.
6. Limited E-Commerce Features
While Constant Contact does offer integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, its e-commerce features are limited compared to Mailchimp. Mailchimp offers more advanced e-commerce tools, such as automated product recommendations, detailed purchase behavior tracking, and abandoned cart emails.
Constant Contact’s e-commerce capabilities are more basic, and businesses that are looking for more robust e-commerce features may find the platform lacking. If your business relies heavily on e-commerce and wants a comprehensive email marketing solution, Mailchimp may be a better option.
7. No A/B Testing in Basic Plans
A/B testing is a powerful tool for optimizing email campaigns, but it is not available in Constant Contact’s lower-tier plans. Users on the basic plans do not have access to A/B testing for subject lines, content, or other email elements. This can limit a business’s ability to experiment with different strategies and improve email performance over time.
Businesses that want to test and optimize their campaigns may need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan, which can increase costs. This lack of A/B testing in basic plans makes it harder for businesses to refine their email marketing strategies without paying more.
8. Fewer Reporting Features
While Constant Contact does offer basic reporting features, it lacks some of the more advanced reporting options available on other platforms like Mailchimp. The reporting dashboard provides essential metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates, but businesses looking for deeper insights into customer behavior, campaign performance, and audience segmentation may find the available reports lacking.
For businesses that require detailed analysis to drive data-driven decisions, the limited reporting features may be a dealbreaker. The absence of more in-depth reporting makes it harder for users to get a full picture of how their email campaigns are performing.
Conclusion
Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact are highly regarded email marketing platforms, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Mailchimp is ideal for businesses that need advanced automation, extensive integrations, and flexible pricing options. Its robust feature set and free plan make it a great option for businesses that want to scale quickly and optimize their email marketing efforts.
On the other hand, Constant Contact shines with its simplicity, ease of use, and excellent customer support. It’s an excellent choice for small businesses, non-profits, and event-driven organizations that value straightforward email marketing solutions without needing complex automation or advanced features. However, it may not be the best choice for businesses looking for more customization options, advanced segmentation, or a free plan.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your business’s specific needs and budget. If you’re a small business looking for simplicity and support, Constant Contact may be the right fit. If you’re seeking advanced features and a scalable solution, Mailchimp could be the better option.