Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: A Comprehensive Comparison of Two Email Marketing Giants
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to connect with customers, build relationships, and increase sales. Among the most popular tools for email marketing, Mailchimp and Constant Contact stand out as two heavyweights. Both offer a range of features and have established themselves as leaders in the field. But which one is better for your business? In this post, we’ll compare Mailchimp and Constant Contact in-depth, highlighting their key features, pricing, and more.
Overview of Mailchimp
Mailchimp started as a small email marketing platform in 2001 and has since grown into one of the most powerful and user-friendly tools for email campaigns. It is renowned for its versatility, scalability, and ease of use, making it a popular choice among small businesses and large enterprises alike.
Key Features of Mailchimp:
- Email Campaign Builder: Drag-and-drop functionality allows users to easily create customized email templates.
- Automation: Mailchimp offers powerful automation tools to set up triggers for emails based on user behavior.
- Analytics & Reporting: Detailed reports and metrics allow businesses to track open rates, click rates, and other critical performance indicators.
- Audience Management: Helps users segment email lists and target specific groups with tailored messages.
- Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with a wide range of third-party apps like Shopify, WordPress, and Salesforce.
- A/B Testing: Conduct split testing to determine which versions of your emails perform best.
- Landing Pages: Create landing pages for your campaigns with customizable templates.
- Content Studio: Store and organize your creative assets, such as images and documents, for easy use in email campaigns.
Pricing for Mailchimp:
Mailchimp offers several pricing plans:
- Free Plan: Includes up to 500 subscribers and 500 emails per month.
- Essentials: Starting at $10/month, includes more email sends and premium support.
- Standard: Starting at $20/month, with advanced features like retargeting ads and custom templates.
- Premium: Starting at $350/month, includes advanced analytics, unlimited users, and custom domains.
Number of Users:
Mailchimp has over 14 million active users across the globe, serving businesses of all sizes.
Overview of Constant Contact
Constant Contact is another top-tier email marketing platform, founded in 1995. Its focus on user-friendly tools, customer support, and list management has made it a favorite for small businesses. While Mailchimp has a broader set of features, Constant Contact still offers powerful solutions for companies looking for straightforward email marketing tools.
Key Features of Constant Contact:
- Email Templates: Provides over 100 mobile-optimized email templates to choose from.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Easily create emails by dragging and dropping content blocks into place.
- Automation: Includes basic email automation features such as welcome emails, birthday emails, and cart abandonment.
- List Segmentation: Ability to segment email lists to send personalized messages to specific groups.
- Analytics & Reporting: Track email performance with real-time reporting, including click-through rates, opens, and more.
- Event Management: Constant Contact includes event management tools, allowing users to send invites, manage RSVPs, and collect payments.
- Social Media Tools: Schedule posts to social media directly from the platform.
- Surveys & Polls: Built-in tools to create surveys and polls to engage your audience.
- Email Deliverability: High deliverability rates to ensure that your emails land in inboxes and not spam folders.
Pricing for Constant Contact:
Constant Contact offers three main pricing plans:
- Email: Starting at $12/month for 500 contacts.
- Email Plus: Starting at $45/month for more advanced features such as automation, event management, and surveys.
- Pro: Pricing upon request, with the most advanced features for large enterprises, including dedicated support and extra reporting.
Number of Users:
Constant Contact serves over 600,000 businesses, helping them with email marketing campaigns worldwide.
Comparison Table: Mailchimp vs Constant Contact
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Very user-friendly, great for beginners and experts alike | Simple, clean interface, easy for beginners |
| Email Templates | 100+ templates, customizable designs | 100+ mobile-optimized templates, easy customization |
| Automation | Advanced automation with behavior triggers | Basic automation, limited to common tasks |
| A/B Testing | Yes, robust A/B testing tools | Limited A/B testing options |
| Segmentation | Highly advanced audience segmentation | Basic segmentation with automation options |
| Analytics & Reporting | Advanced reporting and analytics | Basic to intermediate reporting tools |
| Integrations | Extensive integrations with apps like Shopify, WordPress | Fewer integrations but supports major platforms |
| Pricing | Free Plan, Paid plans start at $13/month | No free plan, Paid plans start at $12/month |
| Event Management | No event management functionality | Built-in event management tools |
| Customer Support | 24/7 support with a knowledge base, chat, and email | Live chat, phone support, and a knowledge base |
| User Base | 14 million active users | 600,000 businesses served |
Which One is Better for You?.
Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact are great platforms, but the right choice depends on your needs.
- Mailchimp is ideal for businesses looking for more advanced features, such as robust automation, a variety of integrations, and extensive analytics. It’s perfect for those who want more control over their email marketing campaigns and require flexibility in their marketing efforts. Mailchimp is highly recommended for businesses looking for scalability and growth.
- Constant Contact is a great choice for small businesses and those new to email marketing. Its simplicity, combined with strong customer support and event management features, makes it the go-to tool for those focused on straightforward campaigns. If you’re not looking for extensive automations or integrations, but rather need ease of use and excellent customer service, Constant Contact is a solid option.
FINALLY
When comparing Mailchimp vs Constant Contact, each has its strengths. Mailchimp’s advanced features, flexibility, and extensive integrations make it perfect for businesses looking to expand their marketing efforts, while Constant Contact excels in simplicity, customer service, and event management for small businesses.
Whichever platform you choose, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact will provide the tools you need to succeed in email marketing. Consider your business size, goals, and the specific features you need to determine the best fit for you.