Last updated on January 29th, 2025 at
Imagine this: You’re a small business owner, trying to grow your brand, build relationships with customers, and increase sales. You’ve heard that email marketing is one of the most effective ways to do all this. But there’s just one problem—there are so many tools out there, it’s hard to know which one to choose.
This is exactly where I found myself a while ago. I was just starting my online business, and I knew email marketing could be a game-changer. But with so many options—ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and others—it felt overwhelming. Should I go with a platform that’s easy to use but a little basic? Or one with more features but harder to navigate?
Email marketing is more than just sending a message—it’s about creating real, lasting connections with your audience. In fact, it’s often said that email marketing has one of the highest return on investments of any marketing strategy. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right platform from the start.
In today’s post, I’ll compare two of the biggest names in the email marketing world—ConvertKit vs Mailchimp. Whether you’re a creator, a small business owner, or someone just getting started, I’ll break down what each platform offers in terms of features, ease of use, pricing, and support. My goal is to help you figure out which tool fits your needs best—so you can focus more on growing your business and less on the confusion of choosing the right software.
A Quick Introduction to ConvertKit and Mailchimp
What is ConvertKit? (Kit)
ConvertKit is a simple yet powerful email marketing platform designed for creators, bloggers, and small businesses. It helps you automate your email campaigns with ease, allowing you to connect with your audience and grow your business. Its core focus is on building strong relationships through personalized automation, making it perfect for content creators. ConvertKit’s key features include:
- Easy-to-use visual automation tools
- Subscriber tagging for targeted emails
- Simple, clean email templates
- Seamless integration with popular tools like WordPress and Shopify
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform that offers a wide range of tools beyond email. It’s designed for small businesses, eCommerce shops, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs who need to manage multiple aspects of their marketing. Over the years, it has evolved from a basic email tool into a powerful, scalable platform. Some of Mailchimp’s standout features include:
- A drag-and-drop email editor for easy design
- Advanced segmentation and A/B testing tools
- Built-in landing pages and sign-up forms
- Integrations with a wide variety of platforms, including Shopify and WooCommerce
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Who Should Choose ConvertKit?
Best for Creators, Bloggers, and Solopreneurs:
If your main goal is to build a strong relationship with your audience through simple and effective email automation, ConvertKit is the perfect choice. It’s specifically designed for content creators who want to send engaging emails without any hassle. The platform’s automation tools are easy to set up, and it allows you to nurture relationships with your subscribers in an intuitive way.
Business Focused on Content Marketing:
For businesses that focus on content marketing, ConvertKit is an excellent choice. It allows you to grow and engage your audience with well-targeted email campaigns. Whether you’re sending newsletters, product updates, or personalized offers, ConvertKit makes it easy to automate these tasks and keep your audience engaged consistently.
Users Looking for Simplicity:
If you’re new to email marketing or simply don’t want to deal with a complex system, ConvertKit is the ideal platform. It’s easy to navigate and doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary features. You can focus on creating great content and emails, without worrying about complicated tools. ConvertKit provides a straightforward, no-fuss experience that lets you get started right away.
Who Should Choose Mailchimp?
Best for Small to Medium Businesses and eCommerce Stores:
If you’re running a small or medium-sized business or an eCommerce store, Mailchimp is the better choice. It offers a comprehensive set of tools designed to scale your marketing efforts. Whether you need to manage product promotions, run targeted email campaigns, or integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, Mailchimp has the features and flexibility you need.
Advanced Marketers & Teams:
For advanced marketers or teams who need more control over their campaigns, Mailchimp offers a wealth of features. If you’re planning to build complex workflows, perform in-depth A/B testing, or integrate with numerous other platforms, Mailchimp provides a powerful, feature-rich toolkit. It’s great for teams working together on larger-scale marketing campaigns or businesses that require more customization.
Businesses Focused on Detailed Analytics:
If your business requires in-depth data and insights, Mailchimp is the right platform. It provides advanced analytics to track every aspect of your email campaigns, including conversion rates, eCommerce-specific metrics, and more. If you’re focused on optimization and need detailed reports to analyze your results and adjust strategies, Mailchimp gives you the granular data you need to make informed decisions.
Final Verdict – ConvertKit vs Mailchimp
When to Choose ConvertKit:
Choose ConvertKit if you prioritize simplicity, automation, and scalability—particularly if you’re a content-driven business like a blogger, creator, or solopreneur. It’s designed for users who want an easy-to-use platform that focuses on building strong relationships with their audience through simple email sequences and automation. If you’re looking to grow your audience and engage them with minimal complexity, ConvertKit is the right fit.
When to Choose Mailchimp:
Choose Mailchimp if you need advanced design customization, deeper analytics, and a platform that can grow with your business. It’s great for small to medium businesses and eCommerce stores needing a more robust set of tools, including advanced segmentation, detailed performance tracking, and multi-step automations. If your business demands complex workflows, integrations, and a lot of customization, Mailchimp is the ideal choice.
In the end, both ConvertKit and Mailchimp offer powerful features, but the right one for you depends on your business needs. If you’re looking for simplicity and automation to nurture relationships with your audience, ConvertKit is a perfect fit, especially for creators and solopreneurs. However, if you need more advanced features, integrations, and the ability to scale with your growing business, Mailchimp provides a more comprehensive set of tools for deeper analytics and greater design flexibility.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Which platform do you prefer—ConvertKit or Mailchimp—and why? Feel free to leave a comment below, or reach out if you’d like personalized recommendations based on your specific business needs. Let’s talk about which tool can help you take your email marketing to the next level!
Convertkit vs Mailchimp – FAQs
Which is better for eCommerce, ConvertKit or Mailchimp?
If you run an eCommerce store, Mailchimp is likely the better choice. It offers a wide range of integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, as well as advanced features for product recommendations, cart recovery emails, and retargeting ads. ConvertKit is more focused on creators and content-driven businesses, so it doesn’t have the same eCommerce-specific features.
Does ConvertKit have a free plan?
Yes, ConvertKit offers a free plan for up to 300 subscribers. This plan includes basic features such as landing pages and forms, allowing you to start building your email list without any cost. However, more advanced features, like email automation and integrations, are available only in the paid plans.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to ConvertKit?
Yes, it is possible to migrate from Mailchimp to ConvertKit. While the process may require some manual effort (such as exporting your contacts and setting up automations in ConvertKit), there are guides and resources available to help you with the transition. ConvertKit offers support for importing subscribers and ensuring a smooth transition from other platforms.
Is Mailchimp suitable for content creators?
Yes, Mailchimp is suitable for content creators, but it may not be the ideal choice for everyone. While it offers a lot of advanced features and customization options, ConvertKit might be a better fit for creators who need a simpler, more streamlined platform that focuses specifically on email marketing automation. Mailchimp can be overwhelming for creators who don’t need the extra complexity and just want to focus on content creation.
How do ConvertKit and Mailchimp compare in terms of deliverability?
Both ConvertKit and Mailchimp have strong reputations for email deliverability. However, ConvertKit has a slightly better reputation in the creator community for ensuring high deliverability rates, especially when it comes to content-driven emails. Mailchimp, being a larger platform, also has high deliverability, but some users report occasional issues with their emails landing in spam folders, especially on lower-tier plans. Ultimately, both platforms provide good deliverability, but ConvertKit may offer a slight edge in this area for content-focused businesses.