Campaign Monitor by Marigold vs Mailchimp

Both send newsletters and automated sequences to small teams. Campaign Monitor focuses on design, reports and agencies. Mailchimp is the familiar starter with a free plan and a large integration list.

Visit Visit

The verdict Side by side Plans and pricing Who each is for Other options

The verdict

For a small team starting out with email and simple needs, I'd pick Mailchimp. Nobody needs training, the free plan keeps the cost down at first, and it connects to most small stacks.

For an agency sending for several clients, or a team that wants on-brand emails and clearer reports, I'd pick Campaign Monitor.

From setting Mailchimp up at several B2B companies, I know where it ends: automation feels rigid for branching paths, reporting stops at opens and clicks, and cost climbs with a large list. Test the same scenario in each trial before you move a big list.

What the data says

Mailchimp covers more of the features we compared: 8 of 9, against 7.
Both have a free plan, so you can try each before you pay.
Only Mailchimp has an MCP server, so an AI employee can work in it directly.
In our Email nurture ranking, Mailchimp places 2 and Campaign Monitor by Marigold 4 of 8.

Side by side

Campaign Monitor by Marigold and Mailchimp compared
13 points compared	Campaign Monitor by Marigold	Mailchimp
Starts at	$12/mo	€11.64/mo
Free plan	Yes	Yes
API	Yes	Yes
MCP server	No	Yes
Behaviour-triggered emails	Yes	Yes
Built-in CRM	No	Yes
Built-in landing pages	Yes	Yes
Ecommerce focus	No	No
Send time optimisation	Yes	Yes
SMS / multi-channel	Yes	Yes
Subscriber preference centre	Yes	Yes
Transactional email API	Yes	Yes
Visual automation builder	Yes	Yes
Links	Visit	Visit

Plans and pricing

Campaign Monitor by Marigold

FreeUp to 500 contacts and 500 emails a month.Free
LitePrice depends on contact tier; $12 a month at 0-500 contacts, 2,500 sends a month.$12/mo
EssentialsPrice depends on contact tier; $29 a month at 0-500 contacts, unlimited sends.$29/mo
PremierPrice depends on contact tier; $159 a month at 0-500 contacts, unlimited sends.$159/mo

Mailchimp

FreeFree plan for up to 250 contacts with limited features.Free
EssentialsStarting price per month for the smallest contact tier, with scheduling, testing and 3 audiences.€11.64/mo
StandardStarting price per month for the smallest contact tier, with 6,000 emails a month and enhanced automations.€17.91/mo
PremiumStarting price per month with unlimited contacts, 150,000 monthly emails and phone and priority support.€313.51/mo

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Choose Campaign Monitor by Marigold if…

Campaign Monitor suits agencies and design-led senders. The template builder is aimed at people who are not designers, and the dashboards show how each campaign performed. The API covers lists, subscribers, segments, templates and transactional email.

It has no official MCP server, and the vendor shows a free plan next to a trial without explaining how they relate. Ask what is included in your plan and what is sold as a separate Marigold product.

Visit Read the review

Choose Mailchimp if…

Mailchimp suits small and mid-sized businesses starting with email and SMS that want ready-made templates, a drag-and-drop editor and simple automation. A content marketer with no technical skills can send a decent email within hours.

Basic automation sits on lower plans, while enhanced automation and A/B testing need higher ones. It is not a CRM, so sales will want a separate tool. It prices by contacts, with overages past your limits, so look at the list you will have in a year.

Visit Read the review

Other options worth a look

ToolClient acquisition
Brevo
Combines email and SMS marketing, marketing automation, and a built-in CRM in a single platform.
Email nurture
From €6.33/mo yearlyFree planAffiliate link
Sign up on Brevo
ToolClient acquisition
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Email and content platform for independent creators and online businesses formerly called ConvertKit.
Email nurture
From $32.50/mo yearlyFree planAffiliate link
Sign up on Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
ToolClient acquisition
Loops
Send marketing, lifecycle and transactional email from one platform built specifically for SaaS product teams.
Email nurture
From $49/moFree plan
Sign up on Loops
ToolClient acquisition
eWebinar
Turns pre-recorded videos into automated webinars that run on-demand without needing live presenters.
Email nurture
From $84.17/mo yearly
Sign up on eWebinar
ToolClient acquisition
Typeform
Builds conversational forms and surveys that present one question at a time on screen.
Email nurture
From $28/mo yearlyFree plan
Sign up on Typeform
ToolClient acquisition
Outgrow
Build quizzes, calculators and assessments that engage visitors and capture qualified leads without coding.
Email nurture
From $14/mo yearlyFree planAffiliate link
Sign up on Outgrow