MailChimp Competitors: 4 Free and Paid Email Marketing Tools For Your Business

​Looking for the top ​MailChimp competitors?

In this post, you will discover the top 4 MailChimp competitors in today’s market.

But before that, what is MailChimp and why only the top 4?

​Yes, there are many email marketing softwares today but not many of them are able to compete head on with MailChimp especially with the generous forever free MailChimp account.

The 2,000 email subscriber limit is one of the biggest and most important factor that helped MailChimp grew to what they are today.

​​MailChimp is one of the leading email marketing platforms that offers easy-to-use interface which is perfect for beginners who want to send newsletters and automated emails with little to no learning curve.

​While MailChimp is often consider the go-to choice for email marketing, MailChimp has several downsides and may not be the best choice for you.

For starters, you can ​only truly leverage MailChimp if you have design and coding skills to create beautiful email templates.

Apart from that, MailChimp isn’t the best option if you are an affiliate marketer or planning to use emails to sell affiliate products. If you do so, your account may be terminated or closed without any notice.

​Make no mistake. MailChimp is a good email marketing software but it certainly has some major disadvantages especially with affiliate marketers. You may want to take a look at this article where I highlight some of the biggest disadvantages using MailChimp.

​Without further a due, let’s dive into the top MailChimp competitors for 2018.

​Top MailChimp Competitors Worth Checking Out

  • ​AWeber
  • ​GetResponse
  • ​ConvertKit
  • Drip

​1. AWeber—​Email marketing software for affiliate marketers

aweber better than mailchimp

​If you are an affiliate marketer, you are going to to love what AWeber can do. AWeber is a great MailChimp alternative because provides a lot more email marketing features compared to what MailChimp can offer.

​Advantages using AWeber

  • ​Split testing ability
  • checkDrag and drop visual editor
  • ​Supports HTML and plain text emails
  • Automation based on ​RSS to Email
  • checkEasy to use (low learning curve)
  • check​Mobile application available
  • checkFast support (respond under 10 minutes)
  • checkHigh delivery ratio
  • checkConstant features upgrade
  • checkIntuitive dashboard and reporting tools
  • check​Mobile responsive templates
  • checkIntegrated popup and lead generation forms
  • checkUsed by top influencers such as Neil Patel (CrazyEgg) and Brian Dean (Backlinko)
  • checkHighly affordable (starts at $19 per month)

​Disadvantages using AWeber

  • ​Doesn’t come with a forever free plan

​AWeber vs MailChimp

I am a huge fan for both AWeber and MailChimp. Personally, I hate the fact that AWeber doesn’t come with a forever free plan. In terms of email marketing features, AWeber offers more detailed reporting and more importantly, zero coding skill is required for using AWeber.

​Try ​AWeber for 30 days free (no credit card required)

​2. GetResponse—Affordable and yet powerful

is getresponse better than mailchimp

​GetResponse is not only one of the top MailChimp competitors, it is also a competitor to many other email marketing solutions including AWeber.

​In terms of features, GetResponse offers more than most of the market leaders when comparing side by side with pricing in mind.

​Advantages using GetResponse

  • check​Inbuilt landing pages
  • check​Drag and drop visual builder for email automation and funnel building
  • check​Integrated with stock photos from iStock at no extra cost
  • check​Detailed reporting tools
  • checkTagging and segmenting subscribers with ease
  • checkUnlimited mobile preview to ensure that your newsletter looks good all the time
  • checkDynamic content allows you to deliver only the most relevant, highly-personalized emails to your audience
  • checkAutomate your email marketing with autoresponders
  • checkOptimize message delivery using GetResponse ‘Perfect Timing’ feature
  • checkSuper high delivery (99% delivery rate)
  • checkAbility to track and optimize your email marketing campaigns in just a few clicks
  • checkGetResponse is super affordable ($15 per month for 1,000 email subscribers)

​Disadvantages using GetResponse

  • ​Pricing is slightly step after the entry level plan

​GetResponse vs MailChimp

​For me, GetResponse knocks MailChimp out of the park instantly with the drag and drop visual builder.

getresponse mailchimp competitors

​Do you get what I mean now?

​Try GetResponse for 30 days free (no credit card required)

​3. ConvertKit—Plaintext email, anyone?

is convertkit better than mailchimp

​If you love plaintext email marketing, you are going to love what ConvertKit can offer. Period.

​ConvertKit understands what it takes to grow a successful online business and therefore, ConvertKit comes with features tailored to your needs to help you achieve success faster.

​ConvertKit?

​ConvertKit is as powerful as Infusionsoft but as simple as MailChimp. Plus, ConvertKit is way much cheaper compared to Infusionsoft (and doesn’t cost you a dime to get onboarding too)!

​Advantages using ConvertKit

  • check​Easy-to-embed, customized opt-in forms
  • check​Detailed homepage dashboard
  • check​Simple workflows with “if this, then that” style automation rules
  • checkPowerful drag-and-drop sequence builder helps you create personalized automated emails to grow your list
  • checkConvertKit is subscriber-centric (that means you can easily organize your subscribers from one list with tags and segments)
  • checkConvertKit’s plain text emails not only give your marketing efforts a personal feel, they also help you avoid spam filters (that means you’ll start seeing higher open rates that turn into more conversions to help you grow you business)
  • checkExtreme high delivery rates making sure that your emails get delivered to inboxes without fail
  • checkExcellent and reliable support around the clock

Disadvantages using ConvertKit

  • Not suitable for those who require HTML or image-rich emails
  • close​Slightly more expensive than other MailChimp competitors
  • ​Doesn’t come with a forever free plan

​ConvertKit vs MailChimp

​ConvertKit is a great email marketing software if you are serious in building an email list and staying engaged with your email subscribers.

​ConvertKit pricing starts at $29 per month and while it is slightly higher than most of the MailChimp competitors in the market, it is still considered very affordable with the features which ConvertKit offers.

​See what ConvertKit has to offer!

​4. Drip—Powerful eCommerce email marketing software

drip is mailchimp competitors

Drip is another top MailChimp competitor. Unlike ConvertKit which focuses heavily on bloggers, Drip put its focus on businesses (brick and mortar, and eCommerce).

​Drip used to be covered with ‘blue’ and now, it had redesigned, making it more interesting and effective for eCommerce.

​Advantages using Drip

  • check​Easily integrate your most used marketing tools with Drip
  • check​Drip’s tracking code delivers insights into who your customers are and what they want
  • check​Learn about your subscribers and website visitors, with Drip, and track the data any way you like
  • checkDrip allows you to apply custom tags, fields, or events to your customers in just a few clicks
  • checkIncrease customer engagement with workflows that adapt to your customers’ interests and behavior
  • checkDrip’s email builder makes it easy to customize every detail of your messaging for individual people
  • checkAvailability of custom conversion tracking
  • checkOffers forever free account (up to 100 email subscribers)

​Disadvantages using Drip

  • ​Steep pricing structure
  • ​Rather steep pricing structure for beginners

​Drip vs MailChimp

To be honest, ​Drip is a great MailChimp alternative. It is easy to use and setup, Drip offers very professional display and interactive features so that you can spend less time on email.

Drip stands as one of the top MailChimp competitors because it offers forever free marketing plan (up to 100 subscribers) and $49 per month for the next tier pricing.

​Another huge advantage using Drip is that you do not need to spend thousands of dollars on web design or coders. Everything can be done easily through their visual builder and their pre-made templates are best to none.

​Create a free account on Drip now!

​Which is the best MailChimp competitor/alternative?

​This is a tough question. Seriously.

​Here’s what I think.

​Go for AWeber if you are looking for an all-in-one email marketing solution that is affordable and easy to use.​

Go for GetResponse if you need landing pages to be included in your email marketing. You can also take a look at this article for the ​best landing page builder for 2018 (that is way better than GetResponse).

Go for ConvertKit if you are a blogger and love sending plaintext emails. This is by far the best choice for performance and money.

Go for Drip if you are running an eCommerce business or require an email marketing software to make your email list work harder for you (and generates you more money).

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