Mailchimp is one of the best-known email marketing platforms, but its pricing can be confusing because the cost depends on both the plan you choose and the number of contacts you store. This guide explains how the plans compare so you can pick the right one before you pay.
How Mailchimp Pricing Works
Mailchimp’s monthly plans are priced by two things: the plan type (Free, Essentials, Standard or Premium) and a pricing tier based on how many contacts are in your audience. As your list grows, you move into a higher tier and the price goes up. There is also a Pay As You Go option, where you buy email credits instead of paying a monthly fee.
The Plans at a Glance
| Plan | Contact limit | Monthly sends | Audiences and seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 250 | 500 (250 per day) | 1 and 1 |
| Essentials | From 500 up to 50,000 | 10 times your contact limit | 3 and 3 |
| Standard | From 500 up to 100,000 | 12 times your contact limit | 5 and 5 |
| Premium | From 10,000 up to 200,000 | 15 times your contact limit | Unlimited |
These limits come from Mailchimp’s help documentation at the time of writing. Mailchimp changes its plans from time to time, so confirm the current numbers on its pricing page before you decide.
Free Plan
The Free plan suits very small lists and people who are testing email marketing. It allows up to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, with a daily cap of 250. If you go over the contact limit, sending is paused until you upgrade or remove contacts. It does not include automations, scheduling or the removal of Mailchimp branding, and it comes with limited templates.
Essentials Plan
Essentials is the entry-level paid plan. It adds A/B testing, scheduled emails, removal of Mailchimp branding and 24/7 email and chat support, along with basic automations. It is a good fit for small businesses that send regular newsletters and want to look professional.
Standard Plan
Standard adds more advanced tools: advanced segmentation, multivariate testing, custom reports, behavioral targeting and custom-coded templates, plus a larger number of audiences and seats. It suits growing businesses that want to send different messages to different groups of subscribers.
Premium Plan
Premium is aimed at large teams and high-volume senders. It offers unlimited audiences and seats, phone and priority support, extended onboarding and the highest send limits. Its base tier starts at 10,000 contacts, so it is priced well above the other plans.
Pay As You Go
Pay As You Go has no recurring monthly charge. You buy email credits when you need them, and the features are similar to the Essentials plan. This can work well if you send only a few campaigns a year, because you do not pay for months when you send nothing.
What Does It Cost?
Mailchimp advertises starting prices of roughly $13 per month for Essentials and $20 per month for Standard, with Premium starting at about $350 per month. These figures are “from” prices, and the actual amount you pay depends on your contact tier, any promotions (such as a first-year discount) and whether you are billed monthly or annually. The only way to get an exact figure is to enter your contact count on Mailchimp’s pricing page.
Things That Can Raise Your Bill
- Counting unsubscribed or inactive contacts. Some contacts still count toward your limit. Clean your list regularly.
- Duplicate contacts across audiences. The same person in two audiences can count twice. Using one audience with tags is often cheaper.
- Going over your send or contact limit. Extra charges apply until you move to a higher tier.
- Add-ons. SMS and some extra features are paid separately.
How to Choose the Right Plan
- Under 250 contacts and a few emails a month: start on Free.
- Sending regular newsletters or need scheduling and support: choose Essentials.
- Need segmentation, advanced reports or several teammates: choose Standard.
- Large list, many team members or phone support: look at Premium.
- Send only occasionally: consider Pay As You Go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp still free?
Yes, a Free plan exists, but it is limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month at the time of writing.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes. You can upgrade at any time, and downgrades take effect at the end of your billing period.
Do I need email marketing at all?
It remains one of the most reliable ways to reach customers directly because you own the list. For alternatives, see our guides to SMS marketing and social media marketing.
Tracking Your Email Campaigns
Whatever platform you choose, tag your links so you can see which campaigns bring visitors. Our UTM Link Builder creates tracked links in seconds. If you need help running campaigns, see our digital marketing agency page.