Moosend vs Mailchimp: which fits your business in 2026?
The budget challenger against the household name - and the price gap is bigger than it looks.
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Pricing verified 2026-08-25 · updated 2026-06-12→ Run the full cost calculator for your exact volume
Quick answer
At ~10,000 ops/mo, Moosend costs about $76/mo vs $220/mo for Mailchimp (entry verified tiers; see assumptions).
Best overall value score: Moosend (4.8/5). Easiest to start: Mailchimp (4.6/5 ease).
Cost at 1k / 10k / 50k
| Volume / mo | MMoosend | MMailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $13/mo · Pro 1k | $22/mo · Essentials (scaled) Extrapolated from 500 ops @ $11/mo |
| 10,000 | $76/mo · Pro 5k (scaled) Extrapolated from 5,000 ops @ $38/mo |
$220/mo · Essentials (scaled) Extrapolated from 500 ops @ $11/mo |
| 50,000 | $380/mo · Pro 5k (scaled) Extrapolated from 5,000 ops @ $38/mo |
$1,100/mo · Essentials (scaled) Extrapolated from 500 ops @ $11/mo |
Volumes = contacts. Contact-based plans scale linearly above the largest verified tier. Pay-per-send tools (e.g. Brevo) stay flat on list size; send volume is a separate bill. Prices verified from vendor pages in our pricing index.
3-year TCO (at 10,000 units/mo)
| MMoosend | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (est.) | $76 | $220 |
| 3-year total | $2,736 | $7,920 |
Moosend saves about $5,184 over 3 years at this volume (list price only).
Volumes = contacts. Contact-based plans scale linearly above the largest verified tier. Pay-per-send tools (e.g. Brevo) stay flat on list size; send volume is a separate bill.
At a glance
| MMoosend | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.35/5 | 3.88/5 |
| Starting price | $7/mo | $11/mo |
| Pricing basis | per month, 500 subscribers, billed annually | per month, 500 contacts; regular Essentials price rounded from $10.56 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Trial | 30 days | 0 days |
| Integrations | 100+ | 300+ |
| Best for | Budget-conscious small businesses that want automation without enterprise pricing | Beginners who want the most familiar brand and a quick start |
| Moosend review → | Mailchimp review → |
Winner by use case
- Tightest budget: Moosend — entry plan is $4/mo cheaper ($48/year at entry tier).
- Fastest to learn: Mailchimp (4.6/5 ease of use).
- Most capability: Moosend (4.0/5 feature depth).
- Best value overall: Moosend (4.8/5 value score).
Feature matrix
| MMoosend | MMailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✕ | ✓ |
| Trial days | 30 | 0 |
| AI features | 3 | 4 |
| Integrations | 100+ | 300+ |
| Ease of use | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Feature depth | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Value for money | 4.8/5 | 3.4/5 |
| Support | 4.1/5 | 3.6/5 |
What would YOU pay?
Entry-tier estimate; full version in the cost calculator.
Pricing, side by side
MMailchimp
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free / custom |
| Essentials | $11/mo |
| Standard | $16/mo |
Verified 2026-08-25 · Pricing source
Strengths and weaknesses
MMoosend
- One of the cheapest real automation platforms
- Unlimited email sends on every plan
- 30-day full-featured trial, no credit card
- Clean, fast editor
- Smaller integration catalog than rivals
- No built-in CRM
- No SMS channel
- Brand less known - fewer community tutorials
MMailchimp
- Easiest onboarding in the category
- Huge template and integration ecosystem
- Strong brand trust with clients
- Good free entry point
- Charges for unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts
- Automation weaker than ActiveCampaign at same price
- Price rises sharply with list growth
- Support limited on lower tiers
Our verdict
This comparison is mostly about what you are paying for: Mailchimp's brand, or your own results.
Feature for feature at the small-business level, Moosend covers the essentials Mailchimp charges mid-tier prices for: automation workflows, landing pages, unlimited sends. Mailchimp's free plan looks attractive until you notice the 250-contact limit, the 500-send monthly cap and the branding on your emails — and its paid plans bill you for unsubscribed contacts, which Moosend does not.
Where Mailchimp legitimately wins: integrations (300+ vs ~100), template variety, and the comfort factor when a client asks "what do you use?". If your stack depends on a niche integration, check Moosend's catalog before committing.
Choose Moosend if you want real automation at the lowest serious price — the 30-day trial without a credit card makes this a low-risk test. Choose Mailchimp if brand familiarity or a specific integration is non-negotiable.
FAQ
Is Moosend cheaper than Mailchimp?
Yes. Moosend starts at $7/mo versus $11/mo for Mailchimp (per month, 500 subscribers, billed annually). Over a year that is a $48 difference at entry tier.
Does Moosend have a free plan?
No. Moosend offers a 30-day trial instead. Mailchimp does have a free plan, which makes it easier to test long-term before paying.
Which is easier to use, Moosend or Mailchimp?
Based on our scoring, Mailchimp is easier to get started with (ease-of-use 4.6/5 vs 4.5/5).
Which has more features, Moosend or Mailchimp?
Moosend scores higher on feature depth (4.0/5). Key differentiators: Drag-and-drop automation workflows; Unlimited emails on all plans; Landing pages and forms included.
What is the 3-year TCO of Moosend vs Mailchimp?
At ~10,000 units/mo on verified tiers, Moosend is about $2,736 over 3 years ($76/mo) versus Mailchimp at $7,920 ($220/mo). Moosend saves roughly $5,184 across 3 years before add-ons. Volumes = contacts. Contact-based plans scale linearly above the largest verified tier. Pay-per-send tools (e.g. Brevo) stay flat on list size; send volume is a separate bill.
Full reviews: Moosend review · Mailchimp review
Related comparisons
Run the numbers: cost calculator · pricing index