Kit vs Mailchimp: which free email tool is better for beginners?
Use Kit if you are starting a newsletter and you want the larger free list. Use Mailchimp if you run a small shop and you already use its ecommerce integrations. Neither tool finds subscribers.
Checked October 2026.
| Kit | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick it when | You want a newsletter and a free plan that goes up to 10,000 subscribers. | You already sell through a shop that connects to Mailchimp, and a free plan under 250 contacts is enough to start. |
| What it does | Hosts an email newsletter. Kit was formerly called ConvertKit. The pricing page lists landing pages, forms, and email broadcasts. | Sends email and includes ecommerce integrations for a small shop. |
| Who it is for | People who want to email a list they already have and can start on a free plan with a subscriber cap. | Small shops that already use Mailchimp's store connections and can live with a small free contact cap. |
| Free plan | Free is $0 a month, up to 10,000 subscribers, with unlimited landing pages, forms, and email broadcasts. | The free plan is for under 250 contacts, with a maximum of 500 sends a month and 250 a day. It includes 1 user and Mailchimp branding. Email cannot be scheduled. Email support is only for the first 30 days. |
| Price we checked | Creator is $33 a month billed yearly ($390). Monthly billing costs more. | See pricing. Essentials, Standard, and Premium are priced by contact count, so this page does not state one paid number. Read https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/ before you pay. |
| The catch | The price changes with the subscriber count you select. A yearly figure is not the month-to-month bill, and a limited-time offer is not the renewal price. Removing Kit branding is listed on a paid plan. The Creator and Pro buttons offer a 14-day trial. Kit does not find subscribers. | The free plan caps the list at under 250 contacts and does not schedule email. Paid prices move with the size of the list. |
Also read
Questions
- Will either tool find subscribers?
- No. They email people who already signed up.
- How many people can I email on Mailchimp's free plan?
- Under 250 contacts, with a maximum of 500 sends a month and 250 a day.
- How much do Mailchimp's paid plans cost?
- See pricing. The price depends on how many contacts you have. Open https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/.
- Which Visit link is an affiliate link?
- Kit. Mailchimp's button goes to the official site. The order is the pair in the title, not a commission rank.