Comparison · Email marketing software
Kit vs Mailchimp: which is better in 2026?
Mailchimp ranks higher in our list of email marketing software (#1 against #6, score 91.5 against 85.5).
- 85.5Editorial score91.5
- 1Platforms3
- YesFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Kit if you want
Creators and writers who sell digital products.
Landing pages, forms, visual automations and newsletter sending for creators, with a free plan for those just starting out. It is less suited to ecommerce data than Klaviyo.
Choose Mailchimp if you want
Small businesses starting email marketing.
A familiar platform with a basic free plan, customer journeys and SMS. The free plan has basic features only, and the price rises with contact count.
The main differences
- Only Mailchimp runs on iOS.
- Only Mailchimp runs on Android.
Side by side
 Kit |  Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 85.5 | 91.5 |
| Rank in list | #6 of 11 | #1 of 11 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesFree plan for creators just starting out; paid Creator plan | Free plan, paid upgradesBasic free plan; paid Essentials and Standard plans |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WebiOSAndroidWeb, iOS, Android |
| Made by | Kit | Intuit Mailchimp |
| Self-hosting | No | No |
| Channels | Email, landing pages, commerce | Email, SMS, transactional |
| Visual automations | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Creators and writers who sell digital products | Small businesses starting email marketing |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Kit vs Mailchimp
- Is Mailchimp better than Kit?
- Mailchimp ranks higher in our list of email marketing software (#1 against #6, score 91.5 against 85.5). Kit is best for: creators and writers who sell digital products. Mailchimp is best for: small businesses starting email marketing.
- Which is cheaper, Kit or Mailchimp?
- Kit: Free plan for creators just starting out; paid Creator plan. Mailchimp: Basic free plan; paid Essentials and Standard plans.
- Do Kit and Mailchimp run on the same platforms?
- Kit supports Web. Mailchimp supports Web, iOS, Android.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.Read more about Kit and Mailchimp
All articles- Guides · 3 min readHow to choose email marketing software: audience, channels, hostingCompare email marketing software by audience, channels, automation, free-plan limits and hosting, from ecommerce tools to newsletter and self-hosted options.
- Guides · 6 min readBest software for starting a small business, by stageSoftware for starting a small business, grouped by stage: bookkeeping, invoices, a website, email, a CRM, team chat and password managers, with free-plan limits.
