ConvertKit vs Mailchimp Comparison: Which Is Best In 2023?

Are you trying to find the best email marketing software for your business in 2023? Look no further!

This article compares two of the top players in the game: ConvertKit and Mailchimp. We'll dive into all the important features, pricing, and user-friendliness to help you make an informed decision.

Whether you're a blogger, creator, or even an experienced email marketer, choosing the right email marketing tool can make a big impact on your success. We will compare and contrast pricing and features to break down ConvertKit vs Mailchimp and find out which of the email marketing tools comes out on top!

Email Marketing Platforms: How Do You Choose The One For You?

There are many different criteria for deciding how to choose the right email marketing software for you. However, in this guide, we will be following these categories to decide which tool is right for your email marketing services

• Landing pages and designs
• Registration forms
• Marketing automation capabilities
• Integration with other software
• Support
• Pricing

So let's dive in and see which tool edges out the other in these criteria.

Quick Summary of ConvertKit vs Mailchimp

• ConvertKit is a highly user-friendly email marketing solution that is specifically designed for digital content creators such as bloggers, course creators, and YouTubers. It is focused on providing simple and straightforward email design options, with a focus on plain-text emails.
• Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing platform that is easily accessible from any browser and offers a range of features such as mailing list management, customizable templates, segmentation, automation and more.
• Both ConvertKit and Mailchimp offer various forms for building and engaging with subscribers, with ConvertKit offering unlimited customizable options and a simple visual editor, and Mailchimp offering various forms with a simple but potentially confusing form builder.
• While ConvertKit offers more limited design options and requires a paid plan for custom domain hosting of landing pages, it is easier to use and provides better insights into email performance, whereas Mailchimp has a more comprehensive range of features including reporting, integrations, and add-ons.

ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: A Quick Email Marketing Software Comparison

What ConvertKit offers

ConvertKit is the ultimate email marketing solution, designed exclusively for creative "content creators" with a mission to simplify the process of creating an email marketing campaign and growing your subscriber list. Nathan Barry, a true genius, founded this amazing tool.

So, what does this mean for you? With just one platform at your fingertips, you can effortlessly transform casual readers into loyal subscribers, devoted followers, and repeat customers. And the best part is that you can do all of this using a simple, visually appealing automation builder that anyone can use.

ConvertKit has everything you need to make your mark, from embedded forms and landing pages to autoresponders, a convenient tagging system, and a host of other impressive features I'll delve into below.

This tool is specifically tailored for digital content creators like bloggers, course creators, and YouTubers.

ConvertKit at a glance:

• Building automated sequences has never been easier, as ConvertKit claims. With ConvertKit, even a novice can construct a powerful sequence that targets your audience with the right offer at the right time.
• ConvertKit has one of the best workflows and user interfaces on the market.
• Its tag-based system is excellent for building an email list.
• Unlike other email marketing tools designed for high-level marketers, ConvertKit is built specifically for creators, offering the perfect blend of usability and power in terms of design, functionality, and integrations.
• You can quickly create a high-converting, personalized email and send it to a highly targeted list, taking your conversions to new heights.
• ConvertKit is simple to use and provides a great user experience.

What Mailchimp offers

Mailchimp is the ultimate email marketing platform that has got you covered for all your correspondence needs with customers, affiliates, and other stakeholders. Unlike other clunky all-in-one marketing and automation platforms, Mailchimp is a web-based app that can be accessed from any browser without the hassle of downloading and installing heavy software.

Not only does Mailchimp provide you with all the resources you need to run successful email marketing campaigns (mailing list management, customizable templates, segmentation, automation, and more), but it also offers analytical features so you can track your progress and see how your emails are performing.

Mailchimp at a glance:

• Comprehensive reporting that gives you all the insights you need, including clients, geo-tracking, and integrations with social media and Google Analytics.
• A fantastic template editor with a sleek interface and a user-friendly yet powerful editor.
• Over 500 integrations and add-ons are available, so you can easily integrate any marketing tools you're already using and discover new ones for your business.
• Mailchimp is always expanding its feature set, with recent additions like appointment scheduling software and an online store builder.

ConvertKit vs MailChimp: Detailed comparison of features

Landing pages and designs

ConvertKit and Mailchimp differ significantly in the approach they take to email design. Mailchimp offers a range of nearly 100 themed templates, including newsletters, e-commerce, holiday emails, and promotions, as well as 14 blank templates for custom design.

On the other hand, ConvertKit only has nine basic email template designs with limited customization options. However, this simplicity is intentional and driven by ConvertKit's findings that plain-text or simple emails tend to perform better. In terms of landing pages, ConvertKit still has a wide range of options.

(Source: ConvertKit)

Both platforms offer landing page builders, but with different levels of design options. ConvertKit offers 50 templates that are easy to use with the same editor as their form builder, but with limited design options. On the other hand, Mailchimp offers 10 templates, including some blank layouts, and the ability to drag-and-drop content blocks for greater design flexibility.

In terms of reporting, both platforms provide insights on visits, clicks, subscribers, and conversion rates. However, while ConvertKit allows hosting the landing page on a custom domain, it requires a paid plan. Meanwhile, Mailchimp offers a simpler landing page editor.

(Source: Mailchimp)

If you're looking for a design-focused email marketing tool, Mailchimp may be a better choice for you, with its range of templates and design options. However, if you're looking for a simple and straightforward platform with a focus on plain-text emails, ConvertKit might be the right choice for you.

Registration forms

When it comes to email marketing and sign-up forms, both ConvertKit and Mailchimp offer a range of options to build your list and engage with subscribers.

ConvertKit forms are centered around being unlimited, customizable, and GDPR-compliant, including pop-ups, newsletter sign-ups, and even the ability to create forms to opt-in for specific blog categories.

The platform's visual editor makes it easy to add new fields and links them seamlessly with the list management system. You can also choose to add the form as an embedded, pop-up or slide-in form and customize the design.

Mailchimp also offers various types of forms, including pop-ups, embedded forms, and hosted form URLs. However, the form editor in Mailchimp can be confusing, as it seems like a different editor comes up depending on the type of form you want to build.

The form builder is simple to use and allows you to drag and drop additional fields and customize the design. But the editor for the embedded form is not as intuitive as ConvertKit and the pop-up form editor looks the most modern out of all the Mailchimp editors.

Both platforms provide options for building and customizing forms, but ConvertKit's visual editor is more streamlined and user-friendly. Mailchimp's forms feature can be a bit confusing to navigate.

Marketing automation capabilities

ConvertKit offers a comprehensive automation system that is easy to use and effective. With the Visual Automation feature, you can build and edit sequences of emails with ease, without having to jump between sections.

The workflow-based editor lets you define entry conditions, and the sequences can be based on different events such as sign-up, purchase, or tag assignment. Additionally, ConvertKit has universal automation rules, allowing you to add or remove tags or subscribe to a sequence when a specific action is performed.

In comparison, MailChimp also offers automation, but it took them some time to update their visual editor. Although MailChimp's automation options are wider, with campaigns triggered by webpage visits, and email sequences, ConvertKit's automation system is more advanced and user-friendly.

While the automation on ConvertKit can be overwhelming at first, they are intuitive once you understand the tagging system behind them, being able to send personalized welcome emails. On the other hand, MailChimp's automation functionality can seem dated, but it's simple to set up basic automation with their free and lower-end plans, with more advanced options at the upper end of the pricing tier.

Integration with other software

When it comes to integrations, both ConvertKit and MailChimp offer a good variety of options.

ConvertKit has almost 90 integrations with various tools and applications, including popular names like Wix, WordPress, and Stripe. However, it doesn't have integrations with any major CRMs.

MailChimp, on the other hand, beats ConvertKit in terms of the number of integrations, with over 300 native integrations, including most of the major CRMs, e-commerce tools, CMS/web builders, lead capture, and even list-building software. Just recently, they even introduced an integration with Shopify. 

For both tools, you’ll be able to reach a huge range of other apps with integrations to Zapier.

Ultimately, consider your specific needs and which integrations you require, as each email marketing tool has different integrations for different uses.

Support

When it comes to customer support, ConvertKit and Mailchimp both have a lot to offer. Both offer email and live chat, but the latter is only available during business hours for Mailchimp.

However, ConvertKit has the edge in this department with its chat and email support accessible from anywhere within the tool, as opposed to having to go through the knowledge base with Mailchimp.

Additionally, ConvertKit offers peer-to-peer support and limited live chat and email support on weekends. Meanwhile, Mailchimp focuses on self-service support, with email and live chat support only available 24/7 for their Essentials plan and above.

ConvertKit offers free migration services for all plans and limited live chat and email support from 8 AM - 8 PM ET, 5 days a week. In contrast, Mailchimp offers 24/7 email and live chat support with their Essentials plan and above, and phone support only for their Premium plan.

Ultimately, both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses in terms of customer support, so it comes down to personal preference.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, ConvertKit has a straightforward approach, with rates that increase depending on the number of subscribers.

Prices start at $15/month for 300 contacts and go up to $79/month for 5,000 contacts. They offer a freemium plan for lists under 1,000 subscribers, but with limited features. They also offer a Creator Pro plan with added reporting and subscriber scoring, starting at $29/month for 300 subscribers.

ConvertKit will also transfer your email list from another tool for free on the Creator and Creator Pro plans.

(Source: ConvertKit)

Mailchimp's pricing can be more complicated, with costs that can escalate quickly as your email list grows. Mailchimp's free plan for up to 2,500 contacts, then Essentials starts at $33/month for up to 25,000 email sends, Standard starts at $55/month for up to 30,000 email sends, and Premium starts at $316/month for 150,000 email sends.

However, if your email list exceeds the contacts allowed in a tier, there will be additional fees. For example, a 10,000 subscribers list on the Essentials plan would incur an $82/month fee, which can go up to $279/month for 50,000 subscribers.

(Source: Mailchimp)

Results: ConvertKit vs Mailchimp

Both ConvertKit and Mailchimp have their pros and cons when it comes to email marketing software.

ConvertKit is designed for simplicity, offering basic email designs and a focus on plain-text emails, whereas Mailchimp offers more design options, including 100 themed templates and 14 blank templates.

The form editor in ConvertKit is more user-friendly and intuitive compared to Mailchimp's forms. Mailchimp has a wider variety of integrations, with over 300 native integrations including most major CRMs, while ConvertKit offers 90 integrations with various tools and applications, but lacks integrations with major CRMs.

ConvertKit's automation system is more advanced and user-friendly, while Mailchimp's automation functionality is simple to set up but may seem dated.

Ultimately, each email marketing software has many features unique to each other and it is up to you to make the right choice between ConvertKit vs Mailchimp. It will depend on your specific needs and preferences for your email marketing services.

Summary: When to choose ConvertKit vs Mailchimp

To help you come to a decision, here are some unique comparison factors that may help you decide between ConvertKit and Mailchimp:

1. Target audience: If you have a large and complex email list with multiple segments, ConvertKit may be the better choice as it offers advanced tagging and segmentation capabilities. On the other hand, Mailchimp is better suited for smaller email lists and those just starting out with email marketing.
2. Automation: ConvertKit has a more robust automation feature set, allowing you to create complex email workflows based on subscriber behavior. Mailchimp has basic automation features, but they may not be as flexible or powerful as ConvertKit's.
3. Landing pages: ConvertKit has basic landing page templates, but they are limited in terms of design options. Mailchimp has a wider range of landing page templates, but they are not as focused on conversion as ConvertKit's.
4. Affiliate marketing: ConvertKit has built-in support for affiliate marketing, making it easy to track and pay affiliates. Mailchimp does not have a built-in affiliate marketing feature.
5. Pricing: ConvertKit has a more straightforward pricing model, with plans starting at $29 per month. Mailchimp has a free plan for small email lists, but as your list grows, it can become more expensive than ConvertKit.

Ultimately, the best choice between ConvertKit and Mailchimp will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Consider your target audience, automation needs, and budget when making a decision.

ConvertKit vs Mailchimp: Wrapping Up

The battle between ConvertKit and Mailchimp is close.

MailChimp offers a variety of features, but the confusing array of options leaves room for improvement. ConvertKit excels in simplicity and accessible customer support but lacks the robustness of MailChimp.

Price is also a crucial factor to consider and if you're curious, both can be tried for free. That means you can take the time to explore and determine which one fits your needs best. I’d highly recommend you do that if you are serious about using one of these tools in the long run.

To go with one of these tools, I’d also recommend leveling up your email marketing skills and knowledge. I have taken excellent marketing courses on Linkedin Learning, which helped me to propel the growth of my marketing ventures. Coupled with one of these email marketing tools, and you’d be well set up for success.