SelfMailKit vs Mailchimp
Is Mailchimp still the right choice in 2025? Discover a modern, more affordable alternative with transparent pricing and powerful features.
Pricing Comparison: Stop Paying for Contacts
Mailchimp’s contact-based pricing penalizes you for growing your audience. SelfMailKit offers a fairer, email-based model with a generous free tier and unlimited contacts, leading to significant savings.
| Monthly Email Volume | SelfMailKit (Cloud Price) | Mailchimp (Essentials Plan) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 emails/mo | $0 (Free) | $45 (for 2.5k contacts) | Save at least $45 |
| 10,000 emails/mo | $21 | $75 (for 5k contacts) | Save at least $54 |
| 50,000 emails/mo | $29 | $300 (for 20k contacts) | Save at least $271 |
| 100,000 emails/mo | $49 | $395 (for 40k contacts) | Save at least $346 |
| 250,000 emails/mo | $99 | $1,000 (for 100k contacts) | Save at least $901 |
*Mailchimp pricing is based on their public ”Essentials” plan as of January 2025 and assumes a typical contact count for that send volume. SelfMailKit Cloud pricing is approximate; the Connect model is even more cost-effective.
Features That Set SelfMailKit Apart
SelfMailKit isn’t just a cheaper alternative; it’s a more powerful, unified platform designed for modern email needs.
Advanced Template Validation
Automatically check emails for spam flags, broken links, compliance issues, and performance bottlenecks before sending.
Unified Email Platform
Manage transactional messages, marketing campaigns, and newsletters from one dashboard with one bill.
Native Email Inbox
Turn your email platform into a communication hub. Send, receive, and reply to emails directly from the dashboard.
Email-Based Pricing
Grow your audience without fear. With unlimited contacts, you only pay for the emails you send.
Flexible Template Editors
Create emails your way with an AI generator, a Notion-style block editor, or a full HTML/CSS code editor.
Always Free Support
Full customer support is included for everyone, even on the free plan. We don't limit access to help.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See how SelfMailKit stacks up against Mailchimp across key features.
| Feature | SelfMailKit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Email-based: Pay for what you send, not for contacts | Contact-based: Price increases with your audience size |
| Transactional Emails | Included in all plans with one transparent price | Requires a separate, paid add-on (formerly Mandrill) |
| Advanced Template Validation | Free, built-in checks for spam, links, images, and compliance | No equivalent feature available |
| Native Email Inbox | Built-in inbox for receiving and replying to emails | No native inbox functionality |
| Template Editors | AI-powered generator, Notion-style editor, and full code editor | Traditional drag-and-drop editor and limited templates |
| Contact Limit | Unlimited contacts on all plans | Limited by pricing tiers; 500 contacts on free plan |
| Customer Support | Free, comprehensive support for all users | Email support is limited to the first 30 days on free plan |
| Analytics & Reporting | Unlimited email history, open/click tracking, bounce reports | Advanced analytics and reporting tools |
| 3rd-Party Integrations | API-first approach with robust webhooks for developers | Vast library of pre-built marketing app integrations |
Pricing Model
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Transactional Emails
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Advanced Template Validation
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Native Email Inbox
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Template Editors
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Contact Limit
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Customer Support
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Analytics & Reporting
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
3rd-Party Integrations
SelfMailKit
Mailchimp
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Email us at support@selfmailkit.com
Ready to switch from Mailchimp to SelfMailKit?
Get Started Free →- 5,000 emails free monthly
- Unlimited Contacts
- Native inbox included
- Advanced Template Validation
- No credit card required