Kit vs Mailchimp: Pricing, Free Plans and Automations
Short answer
At 1,000 subscribers, Kit Creator is USD 39 a month (USD 33 billed yearly) and Pro USD 79 (USD 66 yearly). On Mailchimp's 501–1,500 contact tier, Essentials is USD 26.50 and Standard USD 45 a month at list price. Kit Free covers up to 10,000 subscribers; Mailchimp Free covers 250 contacts and 500 sends a month.
On this page 6 sections
At a glance
| Plan | Kit CreatorUSD 39/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Kit ProUSD 79/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Mailchimp EssentialsUSD 26.50/moVisit site (opens in new tab) | Mailchimp StandardUSD 45/moVisit site (opens in new tab) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Creator email platform (formerly ConvertKit) with landing pages, automations and digital product sales | Creator email platform (formerly ConvertKit) with landing pages, automations and digital product sales | Email and marketing automation platform with SMS, landing pages and ecommerce store integrations | Email and marketing automation platform with SMS, landing pages and ecommerce store integrations |
| Free plan | Yes (Up to 10,000 subscribers; unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages; no visual automations or sequences) | Yes (Up to 10,000 subscribers; unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages; no visual automations or sequences) | Partial (250 contacts, 500 sends a month (250 a day), 1 seat; no automation flows) | Partial (250 contacts, 500 sends a month (250 a day), 1 seat; no automation flows) |
| Entry paid plan at 1,000 subscribers | Creator USD 39/mo, or USD 33/mo billed yearly (USD 390/yr) | Creator USD 39/mo, or USD 33/mo billed yearly (USD 390/yr) | Essentials USD 26.50/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier) | Essentials USD 26.50/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier) |
| Next plan at 1,000 subscribers | Pro USD 79/mo, or USD 66/mo billed yearly | Pro USD 79/mo, or USD 66/mo billed yearly | Standard USD 45/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier) | Standard USD 45/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier) |
| Top plan | Pro is the top listed plan | Pro is the top listed plan | Premium from USD 350/mo at 10,000 contacts | Premium from USD 350/mo at 10,000 contacts |
| Yearly billing | Yes (All paid plans; save 17%) | Yes (All paid plans; save 17%) | Partial (Standard and Premium at 10,000+ contacts, via sales) | Partial (Standard and Premium at 10,000+ contacts, via sales) |
| Monthly email sends | Yes (Unlimited broadcasts listed) | Yes (Unlimited broadcasts listed) | Partial (10x contact tier on Essentials, 12x on Standard, 15x on Premium; overages billed) | Partial (10x contact tier on Essentials, 12x on Standard, 15x on Premium; overages billed) |
| Automations | Yes (Unlimited visual automations and sequences from Creator) | Yes (Unlimited visual automations and sequences from Creator) | Partial (Essentials up to 4 flow steps; Standard and Premium up to 200 flows) | Partial (Essentials up to 4 flow steps; Standard and Premium up to 200 flows) |
| Seats | 1 Free, 2 Creator, unlimited Pro | 1 Free, 2 Creator, unlimited Pro | 1 Free, 3 Essentials, 5 Standard, unlimited Premium | 1 Free, 3 Essentials, 5 Standard, unlimited Premium |
| Selling digital products | Yes (Products, paid newsletters and subscriptions on all plans; 3.5% + USD 0.30 per sale, processing included) | Yes (Products, paid newsletters and subscriptions on all plans; 3.5% + USD 0.30 per sale, processing included) | No (No built-in digital product checkout on the marketing pricing page; connects to ecommerce stores) | No (No built-in digital product checkout on the marketing pricing page; connects to ecommerce stores) |
| Trial | 14-day free trial on Creator and Pro, no card required | 14-day free trial on Creator and Pro, no card required | 14-day free trial on Essentials and Standard (card required); 1-month Premium trial via sales for qualified new customers | 14-day free trial on Essentials and Standard (card required); 1-month Premium trial via sales for qualified new customers |
| Sources: kit.com (opens in new tab) · help.kit.com (opens in new tab) · mailchimp.com (opens in new tab) · mailchimp.com (opens in new tab). | ||||
Kit vs Mailchimp at a glance. Prices checked 30 Oct 2026.
Kit Creator
USD 39/mo
- What it is
- Creator email platform (formerly ConvertKit) with landing pages, automations and digital product sales
- Free plan
- Yes (Up to 10,000 subscribers; unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages; no visual automations or sequences)
- Entry paid plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Creator USD 39/mo, or USD 33/mo billed yearly (USD 390/yr)
- Next plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Pro USD 79/mo, or USD 66/mo billed yearly
- Top plan
- Pro is the top listed plan
- Yearly billing
- Yes (All paid plans; save 17%)
- Monthly email sends
- Yes (Unlimited broadcasts listed)
- Automations
- Yes (Unlimited visual automations and sequences from Creator)
- Seats
- 1 Free, 2 Creator, unlimited Pro
- Selling digital products
- Yes (Products, paid newsletters and subscriptions on all plans; 3.5% + USD 0.30 per sale, processing included)
- Trial
- 14-day free trial on Creator and Pro, no card required
Kit Pro
USD 79/mo
- What it is
- Creator email platform (formerly ConvertKit) with landing pages, automations and digital product sales
- Free plan
- Yes (Up to 10,000 subscribers; unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages; no visual automations or sequences)
- Entry paid plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Creator USD 39/mo, or USD 33/mo billed yearly (USD 390/yr)
- Next plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Pro USD 79/mo, or USD 66/mo billed yearly
- Top plan
- Pro is the top listed plan
- Yearly billing
- Yes (All paid plans; save 17%)
- Monthly email sends
- Yes (Unlimited broadcasts listed)
- Automations
- Yes (Unlimited visual automations and sequences from Creator)
- Seats
- 1 Free, 2 Creator, unlimited Pro
- Selling digital products
- Yes (Products, paid newsletters and subscriptions on all plans; 3.5% + USD 0.30 per sale, processing included)
- Trial
- 14-day free trial on Creator and Pro, no card required
Mailchimp Essentials
USD 26.50/mo
- What it is
- Email and marketing automation platform with SMS, landing pages and ecommerce store integrations
- Free plan
- Partial (250 contacts, 500 sends a month (250 a day), 1 seat; no automation flows)
- Entry paid plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Essentials USD 26.50/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier)
- Next plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Standard USD 45/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier)
- Top plan
- Premium from USD 350/mo at 10,000 contacts
- Yearly billing
- Partial (Standard and Premium at 10,000+ contacts, via sales)
- Monthly email sends
- Partial (10x contact tier on Essentials, 12x on Standard, 15x on Premium; overages billed)
- Automations
- Partial (Essentials up to 4 flow steps; Standard and Premium up to 200 flows)
- Seats
- 1 Free, 3 Essentials, 5 Standard, unlimited Premium
- Selling digital products
- No (No built-in digital product checkout on the marketing pricing page; connects to ecommerce stores)
- Trial
- 14-day free trial on Essentials and Standard (card required); 1-month Premium trial via sales for qualified new customers
Mailchimp Standard
USD 45/mo
- What it is
- Email and marketing automation platform with SMS, landing pages and ecommerce store integrations
- Free plan
- Partial (250 contacts, 500 sends a month (250 a day), 1 seat; no automation flows)
- Entry paid plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Essentials USD 26.50/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier)
- Next plan at 1,000 subscribers
- Standard USD 45/mo (501–1,500 contacts tier)
- Top plan
- Premium from USD 350/mo at 10,000 contacts
- Yearly billing
- Partial (Standard and Premium at 10,000+ contacts, via sales)
- Monthly email sends
- Partial (10x contact tier on Essentials, 12x on Standard, 15x on Premium; overages billed)
- Automations
- Partial (Essentials up to 4 flow steps; Standard and Premium up to 200 flows)
- Seats
- 1 Free, 3 Essentials, 5 Standard, unlimited Premium
- Selling digital products
- No (No built-in digital product checkout on the marketing pricing page; connects to ecommerce stores)
- Trial
- 14-day free trial on Essentials and Standard (card required); 1-month Premium trial via sales for qualified new customers
Last checked 30 Oct 2026 · Prices from kit.com/pricing (1,000-subscriber setting, monthly and yearly), help.kit.com: The Kit Free plan and mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing (US dollars, US pricing).
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and Mailchimp both price by audience size, but they count it differently and put features on different plans. Kit gives its free plan up to 10,000 subscribers and keeps automations for paid plans. Mailchimp’s free plan is much smaller, and its paid plans cap monthly sends at a multiple of your contact tier. On 30 Oct 2026 Mailchimp advertised 15% off the first 12 months for businesses with 10,000 or more contacts. The tables below use list prices.
Prices at 1,000 subscribers
Kit’s slider shows prices at 1,000 subscribers. Mailchimp’s nearest tier is 501–1,500 contacts.
| Kit Creator | Kit Pro | Mailchimp Essentials | Mailchimp Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billed monthly | USD 39 | USD 79 | USD 26.50 | USD 45 |
| Billed yearly (per month) | USD 33 (USD 390/yr) | USD 66 | Not offered at this tier | Not offered at this tier |
| Monthly sends | Unlimited broadcasts | Unlimited broadcasts | 15,000 | 18,000 |
| Seats | 2 | Unlimited | 3 | 5 |
| Automations | Unlimited | Unlimited | Up to 4 flow steps | Up to 200 flows |
Kit’s yearly Pro price also shows a reduced first-year rate. The table uses the standard yearly rate.
Mailchimp list prices by contact tier
Monthly billing, US pricing, list prices (before any introductory discount).
| Contacts | Essentials | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 | USD 13 | USD 20 | — |
| Up to 1,500 | USD 26.50 | USD 45 | — |
| Up to 2,500 | USD 45 | USD 60 | — |
| Up to 5,000 | USD 75 | USD 100 | — |
| Up to 10,000 | USD 110 | USD 135 | USD 350 |
Free plans
| Kit Free | Mailchimp Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience limit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | 250 contacts |
| Sends | Unlimited broadcasts | 500 a month, 250 a day |
| Seats | 1 | 1 |
| Automations | No visual automations or sequences | No automation flows |
| Selling | Digital products and subscriptions, 3.5% + USD 0.30 | Not listed |
Who each fits, based on published features and pricing
This is not a hands-on test. It is a reading of each pricing page.
- Kit fits creators who want a free plan that can grow to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts on paid plans, and digital product or paid newsletter sales without a separate checkout tool.
- Mailchimp fits small lists on a tight monthly budget, since Essentials lists below Kit Creator at 1,000 contacts, and businesses that already run an ecommerce store and want email and SMS tied to it. Check the monthly send cap against how often you email.
Related reading
- Kit vs MailerLite · Kit vs beehiiv · AWeber vs Kit
- MailerLite pricing · AWeber pricing · Systeme.io vs MailerLite
Creator Software Cost Cheat Sheet
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kit the same as ConvertKit?
Yes. ConvertKit rebranded to Kit, and kit.com still says 'Formerly ConvertKit'. Searches for ConvertKit vs Mailchimp refer to the same product.
Which is cheaper at 1,000 subscribers?
On list prices, Mailchimp Essentials is USD 26.50 a month and Standard USD 45 on the 501–1,500 contacts tier. Kit Creator is USD 39 a month, or USD 33 billed yearly. Mailchimp also shows 15% off the first 12 months for businesses with 10,000 or more contacts; this page uses the list price. Checked 30 Oct 2026.
How big is each free plan?
Kit Free covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, forms and landing pages, but no visual automations or sequences. Mailchimp Free covers 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, capped at 250 a day, with 1 seat and 1 audience.
Do Kit and Mailchimp count subscribers the same way?
Kit prices by subscribers and says only unique, active subscribers count. Mailchimp prices by contacts on a tier and charges overages if you pass the contact or send limit, except on Free, where sending pauses until the next cycle.
Can I sell digital products on either?
Kit lists digital products, paid newsletters, recurring subscriptions and tip jars on every plan, at 3.5% + USD 0.30 per sale including card processing. Mailchimp's marketing pricing page lists no built-in digital product checkout; it connects to ecommerce stores instead.
Can I pay yearly?
Kit offers yearly billing on Creator and Pro and says it saves 17%. Mailchimp's pricing page says annual plans are available for Standard and Premium at 10,000 or more contacts, through its sales team.
Are these figures from a hands-on test?
No. tested is false. Prices and limits come from each vendor's pricing page in US dollars, read on 30 Oct 2026. Mailchimp prices vary by contact tier and country.