HubSpot vs Mailchimp
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Compare HubSpot and Mailchimp for Your Team
HubSpot and Mailchimp serve different buying situations based on the pricing and features listed by each vendor. HubSpot's free tier supports up to 2 users, and its Starter plan ($20/mo pay-monthly, or $7/mo/seat annual) unlocks simple marketing automation plus a built-in CRM with lead scoring at Professional and above ($890/mo, which also requires a $3,000 one-time onboarding fee). This makes HubSpot a fit for teams that want automation, A/B testing, and CRM data in one system and can absorb higher list-price costs at scale. Mailchimp's free plan supports accounts under 250 contacts, and its paid tiers start much lower ($13/mo Essentials, $20/mo Standard), with generative AI content tools included at no extra cost on Standard and Premium. Mailchimp fits buyers who want a low-cost entry point, don't need advanced CRM functionality, and want AI content tools without paying enterprise-level prices. Budget-constrained teams with small contact lists should start with Mailchimp; teams needing CRM-integrated automation at scale should evaluate HubSpot despite the higher cost.
Review the pricing tiers, contact limits, and feature availability listed above to decide which platform matches your budget and automation needs before committing.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | HubSpot | Mailchimp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing automation workflows | 5/5 | 4/5 | HubSpot includes simple automation starting on its Starter plan and omni-channel automation with unlimited actions on Professional and Enterprise. Mailchimp's Essentials plan caps automation at 4 flow steps, while Standard and Premium allow up to 200 automation flows. |
| A/B testing | 3/5 | 4/5 | HubSpot lists A/B testing as a supported feature, but the exact plan tier where it becomes available isn't clearly stated in the vendor data. Mailchimp explicitly ties testing and scheduling features to its Essentials plan and above. |
| AI content assistant | 3/5 | 4/5 | HubSpot offers a Content Agent and AI email template uploads (100/month), but these are tied to the Professional and Enterprise plans, which start at $890/mo. Mailchimp includes generative AI features at no additional cost starting on its Standard plan ($20/mo), though not on Essentials. |
| Free forever plan | 4/5 | 3/5 | HubSpot's free tier supports up to 2 users with no credit card required. Mailchimp's free plan is capped at under 250 contacts and includes only core features. |
Frequently asked questions
How does HubSpot's pricing compare to Mailchimp's?
HubSpot's paid tiers start at $20/mo (pay-monthly Starter, 1,000 contacts) and scale to $890/mo (Professional, 2,000 contacts plus a $3,000 one-time onboarding fee) and $3,600/mo (Enterprise, 10,000 contacts plus a $7,000 onboarding fee). Mailchimp's paid tiers start at $13/mo (Essentials, 3 seats) and go to $20/mo (Standard, 5 seats) and $350/mo (Premium, unlimited contacts and users). Mailchimp's entry and mid tiers are considerably cheaper than HubSpot's.
Do HubSpot and Mailchimp both offer free plans?
Yes. HubSpot's free plan supports up to 2 users with no credit card required. Mailchimp's free plan is available to accounts with under 250 contacts and includes only core features.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to HubSpot, or the other way around?
The vendor data provided doesn't list specific migration tools or import features for either platform, so migration steps aren't confirmed here. Check current documentation from each vendor for import/export options before switching.
Who is HubSpot best suited for, and who is Mailchimp best suited for?
Based on the listed features, HubSpot fits teams that want marketing automation combined with a built-in CRM and lead scoring (available from Professional up), and can accommodate higher costs and onboarding fees. Mailchimp fits teams with smaller contact lists who want a lower starting price and included AI content tools on its Standard plan without needing CRM functionality.
Which platform includes AI content assistance, and at what cost?
HubSpot offers a Content Agent and AI email template uploads (100/month) on its Professional and Enterprise plans, which start at $890/mo. Mailchimp includes generative AI features at no additional cost on its Standard ($20/mo) and Premium ($350/mo) plans, but not on Essentials.
How do the marketing automation features differ between the two?
HubSpot offers simple automation starting on its Starter plan ($20/mo) and unlimited-action omni-channel automation on Professional and Enterprise. Mailchimp's Essentials plan limits automation to 4 flow steps, while Standard and Premium support up to 200 automation flows.