Mailchimp is the email marketing brand most people learn first. Moosend is the cheaper, more automation-focused alternative that smaller businesses and bootstrapped founders discover when Mailchimp’s pricing starts hurting. The two platforms genuinely compete at the SMB level despite Mailchimp’s massive lead in brand recognition, and the choice between them often comes down to pricing tolerance vs feature familiarity.
This comparison breaks down the realistic pricing math, automation builders, deliverability, ecommerce features, and the long-term economics. Mailchimp has the larger ecosystem; Moosend has materially better pricing for serious senders. The right answer depends on volume, automation needs, and whether you’ll use Mailchimp’s bundled features beyond email.
For broader context, see our best email marketing software and best marketing automation platforms roundups.
⚡ Quick Verdict
- →Pick Moosend if pricing matters; you want strong automation builder; ecommerce email features for Shopify/WooCommerce; you don’t need Mailchimp’s bundled non-email tools.
- →Pick Mailchimp if you want the most-recognized brand; you’ll use bundled tools (websites, surveys, social ads, CRM); you value integration breadth; budget supports premium pricing.
📑 Table of Contents
Moosend Overview
Moosend is the budget-friendly email marketing platform with strong automation focus. Founded in 2011, Moosend serves 70,000+ businesses across 90+ countries. The platform’s reputation rests on competitive pricing for small senders and a surprisingly capable automation builder.
Core: email campaign builder, drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows with branch logic, list segmentation, A/B testing, landing pages, transactional email API, ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce), reporting and analytics.
Pricing: Pro plan from $9/month (500 subscribers), scaling with list size. Enterprise tier custom. 30-day free trial. Free tier (limited) available.
Moosend’s defining advantage: competitive pricing at every list size combined with capable automation. For SMB email senders, Moosend’s pricing is often 50-70% cheaper than Mailchimp at equivalent list sizes.
Mailchimp Overview
Mailchimp is the email marketing brand. Founded in 2001 and acquired by Intuit in 2021, Mailchimp serves 13M+ users and is widely the first email marketing tool that small business owners try. The product has expanded beyond email to include websites, surveys, social ads, CRM, and SMS.
Core: email campaign builder, automation customer journeys, advanced segmentation, A/B testing, predictive analytics, AI content optimization, landing pages, surveys, websites, ecommerce integrations, content studio, transactional email (Mandrill), CRM features.
Pricing: Free (500 contacts, 1K emails/month), Essentials from $13/month (500 contacts), Standard $20/month, Premium $350/month for high-volume senders. Pricing scales with list size and feature tier.
Mailchimp’s defining advantage: brand recognition and ecosystem breadth. Almost every tool integrates with Mailchimp. Most marketers know it. The platform has grown into more than email, a small business marketing platform.
Pricing Breakdown
Mailchimp is consistently more expensive at comparable list sizes.
At 1,000 contacts (Standard tier): Moosend $20/month vs Mailchimp Standard ~$28/month. Moosend ~30% cheaper.
At 5,000 contacts: Moosend ~$48/month vs Mailchimp Standard ~$75/month. Moosend ~36% cheaper.
At 25,000 contacts: Moosend ~$160/month vs Mailchimp Standard ~$275/month. Moosend ~42% cheaper.
Mailchimp’s price advantage at small lists has eroded, the free tier covers only 500 contacts vs broader free options elsewhere. Mailchimp Premium ($350/month minimum) is required for advanced multivariate testing and unlimited audiences. Moosend’s flat scaling pricing avoids these tier-locked features.
Automation Builder
Moosend’s automation builder is genuinely strong. Visual workflow editor with branch logic, time-based delays, custom conditions, goal tracking, and 100+ pre-built automation templates. Triggers include subscriber actions, ecommerce events (cart abandonment, post-purchase), date-based, and webhook-based.
Mailchimp’s automation (“Customer Journeys”) improved significantly in 2024. Visual journey builder, branch logic, AI-suggested journey paths, conditional content. The journey builder is competitive with Moosend’s but newer to the platform.
For automation depth at SMB level, both are competitive. Moosend has been doing automation longer with more refined workflow tools; Mailchimp has caught up substantially with Customer Journeys.
Ecommerce Features
Both integrate with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and major ecommerce platforms.
Moosend ecommerce: cart abandonment automation, product recommendations in emails, post-purchase follow-up sequences, customer journey based on purchase behavior, revenue attribution per campaign.
Mailchimp ecommerce: similar feature set with Customer Journeys integration. Predictive segments (Mailchimp’s AI predicts which subscribers are likely to convert). Email-based ecommerce attribution.
For Shopify or WooCommerce stores, both deliver. Klaviyo remains the ecommerce-specialized leader, but among generalist email platforms, Moosend and Mailchimp are competitive.
Templates and Design
Mailchimp has the larger template library and the more polished email editor. Drag-and-drop editing is class-leading. Recent additions include AI-generated templates and content suggestions.
Moosend’s editor is functional and intuitive but with fewer pre-built templates. The newsletter template library is smaller but covers most use cases.
For brand-conscious teams that need beautiful email design, Mailchimp’s templates have a slight edge. For functional email design, Moosend covers needs.
Deliverability
Both maintain strong sender reputations with major mailbox providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo). Industry deliverability benchmarks place both above 95% inbox placement for properly configured senders.
Mailchimp’s deliverability is well-documented and trusted. Moosend’s deliverability has improved significantly and now matches Mailchimp’s at equivalent sender quality.
Deliverability depends more on your list hygiene, content, and authentication setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) than the platform itself. Both provide guidance.
Beyond Email
Mailchimp’s expanded product set includes landing pages, websites, surveys, social ads management, content studio, basic CRM, and SMS (in some markets). For small businesses wanting a single marketing platform, Mailchimp’s bundling provides value.
Moosend focuses primarily on email + automation + landing pages. The product surface is narrower but cleaner.
For organizations already using best-of-breed tools (separate website builder, CRM, social ads platform), Mailchimp’s bundled extras don’t add value. For SMBs wanting consolidated marketing, Mailchimp’s breadth wins.
| Feature | Moosend | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9/mo (500 subs) | $13/mo Essentials |
| Free Tier | Limited free | 500 contacts, 1K emails |
| Automation Builder | Mature visual | Customer Journeys |
| Ecommerce Integration | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce | Same + Predictive segments |
| Templates | Smaller library | Larger, polished |
| Beyond Email | Landing pages | Sites, surveys, ads, CRM |
| Brand Recognition | Solid | Universal |
| Best For | Budget-conscious SMBs | Ecosystem + brand familiarity |
Which Should You Choose?
Pick Moosend if: pricing matters at every list size; you want capable automation; ecommerce email is core to your needs; you don’t need Mailchimp’s bundled non-email features.
Pick Mailchimp if: you value brand recognition and ecosystem familiarity; you’ll use bundled tools (websites, surveys, ads); your existing tech stack expects Mailchimp; the free tier covers your starting point.
For most cost-conscious SMBs, Moosend’s pricing wins. For organizations valuing brand familiarity and bundled tools, Mailchimp’s ecosystem matters.
📧 Try Moosend
Start Moosend Free Trial →FAQs
Is Moosend better than Mailchimp?
For pricing and pure email automation, Moosend wins. For ecosystem breadth and brand familiarity, Mailchimp.
Which is cheaper?
Moosend, consistently, typically 30-45% cheaper at comparable list sizes.
Does Mailchimp still have a generous free tier?
Less than before. 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month is more limited than competitors’ free tiers.
Which has better automation?
Roughly comparable. Moosend’s automation has been refined longer. Mailchimp’s Customer Journeys has caught up.
Which integrates better with Shopify?
Both. Mailchimp’s predictive segments are slightly more developed; Moosend’s pricing is more favorable.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to Moosend?
Yes, Moosend offers migration tooling. Contacts, lists, and basic automation transfer; complex automations typically need to be rebuilt.
Which has better deliverability?
Both are strong. Deliverability depends more on your list and authentication than the platform.
Does Moosend have a CRM?
Limited contact management. Mailchimp has more developed CRM features.
Which is better for newsletters?
Both work well. Mailchimp’s polished templates appeal to design-conscious newsletter operators.
Can I use Moosend for transactional email?
Yes, Moosend Transactional API supports transactional sends.
Which has better customer support?
Mailchimp has more developed support documentation given the larger user base. Moosend’s support is responsive on Pro+ plans.
Is Mailchimp still the email marketing standard?
By brand recognition, yes. By pricing and value, no, many competitors (Moosend, Brevo, MailerLite) offer better economics.
Final Word
Moosend for budget-friendly email marketing with strong automation. Mailchimp for brand familiarity and ecosystem breadth. Pick based on pricing tolerance and whether you’ll use Mailchimp’s bundled features.
For more on this category, browse our best email marketing software, our best marketing automation platforms, or our best ecommerce email marketing guide.