Head to head · 2026
ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp
Lab Scores, the real cost at scale, and which one wins for your use case.
| ActiveCampaign | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Lab Score | 8.7 | 7.6 |
| Real cost · 10K | $189 | $135 |
| Real cost · 50K | $389 | $450 |
| Free plan | No — 14-day trial | Yes — to 500 |
| Automation | Best-in-class | Gated to higher tiers |
| Deliverability | Strong | Average |
| Best for | Automation & CRM | Familiarity |
The verdict
For automation there is no contest — ActiveCampaign brings a real CRM, branching logic and lead scoring, and at 50K it is actually cheaper ($389 vs $450). Mailchimp only wins on how quickly you can start. If funnels drive your growth, choose ActiveCampaign.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission via our links; it never changes our scores or the prices shown. Prices verified June 2026. Full reviews: ActiveCampaign · Mailchimp.