Mailchimp Pricing (2026): Plans, Costs by Contacts and Hidden Costs
Mailchimp's Free, Essentials, Standard and Premium prices by contact band from 500 to 50,000 contacts, send limits, how contacts are counted (unsubscribes count), overages, and cheaper alternatives for online stores.
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Short answer: Mailchimp is free up to 250 contacts. Paid plans start at $13/month (Essentials) and $20/month (Standard) for 500 contacts and rise by contact band – to $110 and $135 at 10,000 contacts. Watch for two hidden costs: unsubscribed contacts count toward your bill, and overages apply if you exceed your limit.
Prices are Mailchimp’s regular monthly US prices, read from its pricing page on October 29, 2026; plan rules from its help center. Where Mailchimp showed a 15% first-year discount, we list the regular price.
Price by contact band
| Contacts | Essentials | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–500 | $13 | $20 | – |
| 501–1,500 | $26.50 | $45 | – |
| 1,501–2,500 | $45 | $60 | – |
| 2,501–5,000 | $75 | $100 | – |
| 5,001–10,000 | $110 | $135 | $350 |
| 10,001–15,000 | $180 | $230 | $465 |
| 20,001–25,000 | $270 | $310 | $620 |
| 40,001–50,000 | $385 | $450 | $815 |
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Mailchimp’s pricing page displayed “Save 15% on 10,000+ contacts” when rechecked Nov 10, 2026 (an earlier check saw the 15% first-year discount from 5,000+, e.g. Standard $114.75 instead of $135 at 10,000). Premium starts at 10,000 contacts.
What each plan includes
| Free | Essentials | Standard | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Up to 250 | Up to 50,000 | Up to 100,000 | 10,000–200,000 |
| Monthly sends | 500 (250/day) | 10× contacts | 12× contacts | 15× contacts |
| Audiences | 1 | 3 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Seats | 1 | 3 | 5 | Unlimited |
| Automation | – | Up to 4 flow steps | Up to 200 flows | Up to 200 flows |
| SMS | – | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
| Support | – | 24/7 email & chat | 24/7 email & chat | Phone & priority |
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Hidden costs to watch
- Unsubscribed contacts count. Archive or clean contacts you no longer email to lower your band.
- Overages. Going over your contact limit mid-cycle adds a charge; a permanent increase moves you to the next band.
- Send caps. Heavy senders can hit the 10×–15× monthly send limit.
- SMS is a paid add-on, available in select countries.
Mailchimp vs cheaper options at 10,000 contacts
| Tool and plan | Monthly price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GetResponse Starter | $79 | Unlimited sends |
| GetResponse Marketer | $114 | Abandoned cart, unlimited automations |
| Mailchimp Essentials | $110 | 10× send cap |
| Omnisend Standard | $132 | Store-first automations |
| Mailchimp Standard | $135 | 12× send cap |
Swipe to see the full table →
GetResponse prices from its pricing page (October 22–29); Omnisend from our pricing tracker. For seven options side by side, including free plans, see our Mailchimp alternatives guide, or Mailchimp vs Constant Contact for a tier-by-tier comparison.
Compare with GetResponseFor a verdict on whether Mailchimp is worth it, beyond price, read our Mailchimp review.
For a side-by-side with Brevo, which bills by emails sent rather than contacts, see Brevo vs Mailchimp.
Key takeaways
- Mailchimp's Free plan covers up to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month (250 per day).
- Regular monthly prices: Essentials $13 and Standard $20 at 500 contacts; $26.50 and $45 at 1,500; $110 and $135 at 10,000.
- Unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts count toward your bill; archiving contacts removes them from the count.
- Monthly sends are capped at 10× (Essentials), 12× (Standard) or 15× (Premium) your contact limit, and going over your contact limit adds overage charges.
- Mailchimp's contacts discount is now listed as 15% off for 10,000+ contacts (as displayed Nov 10, 2026); earlier checks showed it from 5,000+.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Mailchimp cost per month?
At 500 contacts: $13 (Essentials) or $20 (Standard). At 1,500: $26.50 or $45. At 5,000: $75 or $100. At 10,000: $110 or $135. Premium starts at $350 for 10,000 contacts.
Does Mailchimp charge for unsubscribed contacts?
Yes. Mailchimp's help center says subscribed, unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts all count toward your contact total. Archived, cleaned and deleted contacts don't.
Is Mailchimp free?
For up to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month. Automation flows require a paid plan.
What happens if I go over my contact limit?
Sending continues, but Mailchimp adds an overage charge. On the Free plan, sending is paused until you upgrade or reduce contacts.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Mailchimp?
At 10,000 contacts, GetResponse Starter is $79/month with unlimited sends versus $110 for Mailchimp Essentials. For store automations, Omnisend Standard and GetResponse Marketer are also cheaper than Mailchimp Standard at larger list sizes.