Kit (ConvertKit) vs Mailchimp: Which Email Marketing Tool Is Better in 2026?

Kit (ConvertKit)

From $29

Mailchimp

From $13

Quick verdict

Overall pick: Tie

Pick Kit (ConvertKit) if you sell paid newsletters or run a creator business around courses and subscriptions, since it is the only one of the two offering paid subscriptions. Pick Mailchimp if you want a lower starting price ($13 vs $29), SMS marketing, or an AI writing assistant, and you don't need paid newsletter billing. Both bill flat rather than per seat, so the decision rests on feature fit and entry cost, not seat math.

Mailchimp's entry plan ($13) is 55% cheaper than Kit (ConvertKit)'s ($29).
Both offer a free plan, so you can test them side by side at no cost.
Only Kit (ConvertKit) offers: paid subscriptions.
Only Mailchimp offers: sms marketing, ai writing assistant.

Try Kit (ConvertKit) →Try Mailchimp →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
Kit (ConvertKit) · flat	$29.00	$348
Mailchimp · flat	$13.00	$156

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
Creator selling paid newsletter subscriptions	Kit (ConvertKit)	Kit supports paid subscriptions; Mailchimp does not.
Beginner or small business wanting the lowest entry cost	Mailchimp	Mailchimp starts at $13 versus Kit's $29, and both offer a free plan.
Marketer who wants SMS alongside email	Mailchimp	Mailchimp includes SMS marketing; Kit does not.
Team wanting AI help drafting campaigns	Mailchimp	Mailchimp offers an AI writing assistant; Kit does not.
Course seller building automated funnels	Kit (ConvertKit)	Kit lists course sellers as a target audience and includes automation flows, landing pages, and e-commerce integrations.

Feature comparison: Kit (ConvertKit) vs Mailchimp

Feature	Kit (ConvertKit)	Mailchimp
Free plan	✅	✅
Starting price	$29 /mo	$13 /mo
Visual automation flows	✅	✅
Landing pages	✅	✅
A/B testing	✅	✅
Paid subscriptions	✅	—
E-commerce integrations	✅	✅
SMS marketing	—	✅
AI writing assistant	—	✅
Public API	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

Kit (ConvertKit)

Supports paid subscriptions, which Mailchimp lacks
Includes automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce integrations, and a public API
Positioned for creators and course sellers
Offers a free plan

No SMS marketing
No AI writing assistant
Higher starting price at $29 versus Mailchimp's $13

Try Kit (ConvertKit) →

Mailchimp

Lower starting price at $13
Includes SMS marketing
Includes an AI writing assistant
Covers automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce integrations, and a public API, plus a free plan

No paid subscription feature
Longer-established vendor (founded 2001) positioned for small businesses and beginners rather than creators

Try Mailchimp →

At a glance

Kit (ConvertKit)

Email marketing built for creators.

Founded 2013 · From $29 · 6/8 tracked features

Best for: creators, course sellers

See Kit (ConvertKit) alternatives →

Mailchimp

Well-known all-in-one email marketing platform.

Founded 2001 · From $13 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: small businesses, beginners

See Mailchimp alternatives →

FAQ

Is Kit (ConvertKit) cheaper than Mailchimp?

No. Kit starts at $29 and Mailchimp at $13, though both offer a free plan and both bill flat.

Does Mailchimp support paid newsletters?

No. Paid subscriptions are listed for Kit but not for Mailchimp.

Which tool offers SMS marketing?

Mailchimp includes SMS marketing; Kit does not.

Do both tools have a public API?

Yes, both Kit and Mailchimp list a public API.

Which is better for course sellers?

Kit lists course sellers among its target audiences and includes automation flows, landing pages, and e-commerce integrations, so it fits that use case more directly.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Email Marketing tools →