Updated October 28, 2026. ConvertKit rebranded as Kit in 2024. Prices are list prices in US dollars as published in 2026 and scale with list size.
Mailchimp vs Kit, in short: Kit is the better choice for creators who sell their knowledge: its free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, it counts each person once however you tag them, and its automations are built around newsletters and digital products. Mailchimp is the better choice for small businesses and online stores that want designed emails, e-commerce integrations and broader marketing tools. At around 5,000 subscribers Mailchimp is usually cheaper; Kit becomes competitive as the list grows.
Kit vs Mailchimp at a glance
| Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Creators, newsletter writers, course and product sellers | Small businesses, e-commerce, general marketing |
| Free plan | Newsletter: up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages; 1 automation and 1 sequence | Limited free plan with a small contact cap |
| Entry paid plan | Creator from $39/month at 1,000 subscribers ($33 billed yearly) | Essentials and Standard, priced by contacts |
| How contacts are counted | One subscriber, many tags | Per audience; the same person in two audiences counts twice |
| Email design | Simple, text-first templates | Richer drag-and-drop templates |
| Selling | Digital products and paid newsletters built in | Strong store integrations and product recommendations |
What the price looks like as you grow
Both platforms charge by list size, so compare at the size you expect in a year, not today. One published comparison of list prices in October 2026 found Kit Creator at about $89 a month and Mailchimp Essentials at about $75 for 5,000 subscribers, but Kit at about $199 against Mailchimp at about $270 for 25,000. Kit’s 2026 price increase raised Creator from $25 to $39 at the 1,000-subscriber level, so older comparisons understate its cost.
Choose Kit if
- You write a newsletter and want to grow free to 10,000 subscribers.
- You sell courses, templates, coaching or paid subscriptions.
- You segment by interest with tags and want sequences triggered by what readers do.
- You prefer plain, personal emails, which tend to read like a letter rather than an ad.
Choose Mailchimp if
- You run an online store and need product recommendations and purchase-triggered emails. See e-commerce automation workflows.
- Your brand relies on designed, image-heavy emails.
- You want landing pages, ads and email in one familiar tool for a small business team.
Deliverability and list hygiene
Both platforms deliver well when you follow the basics: authenticate your sending domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, which Gmail and Yahoo require for bulk senders, send only to people who opted in, and remove inactive subscribers regularly. Because both charge by list size, cleaning cold contacts also lowers your bill.
Bottom line: In the Mailchimp vs Kit choice, your business model usually decides. Test Mailchimp vs Kit with your own list and one real automation before committing.
Frequently asked questions about Mailchimp vs Kit
Is ConvertKit the same as Kit?
Yes. ConvertKit rebranded as Kit in 2024; convertkit.com redirects to kit.com.
Which is cheaper, Kit or Mailchimp?
It depends on list size. For small lists Mailchimp’s paid plans tend to cost less; Kit’s free plan is far more generous, and it can be cheaper for large lists.
Can I move from Mailchimp to Kit?
Yes. Export contacts as CSV, map Mailchimp groups or tags to Kit tags, and rebuild automations; Kit offers migration help for larger lists.
Sources
Related: Content repurposing · The creator economy in 2026
