Still trying to make Mailchimp work for your nonprofit organization? Here’s your sign to stop.
Though Mailchimp is a popular email marketing tool, it isn’t built for the unique challenges nonprofits face. The features you actually need — marketing automation, segmentation, and workflows often sit behind expensive paywalls.
What you need is a platform that works with you, not against your budget. That means generous free plans, real nonprofit discounts, and tools that simplify your outreach — not complicate it.
We didn’t just pick cheap email marketing services or tools based on key features. We thought about nonprofit teams working in fundraising, advocacy, events, and outreach — and found other email marketing tools that actually help.
If you’re ready to switch to something better (and cheaper), here are the best Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofit email marketing efforts.
Why Nonprofits Look for Mailchimp Alternatives?
When we started researching this for Mailchimp alternatives, one thing was clear — most nonprofits didn’t switch from Mailchimp out of curiosity. They switched out of frustration. And the reasons kept repeating, across Reddit threads, review sites, and blog posts.
Here are the top frustrations we found:
- Costs shoot up as you grow. A nonprofit on Reddit shared how their monthly bill jumped to $393 once their list hit 50,000 contacts, compelling them to waste time on consolidating the lists. This was after applying the nonprofit discount;
- Nonprofit discount feels like a joke. Mailchimp does offer a 15% discount, but compared to other platforms giving higher discounts (and even full-featured free plans, like Sender), it’s not enough to make a dent;
- You pay for people who unsubscribed. Imagine losing a subscriber and still paying for them. That’s what happens when you’re using Mailchimp as your email service provider. They charge for all contacts, even the inactive ones. For cash-strapped nonprofits running digital marketing campaigns, it’s a serious challenge (Mailchimp);
- Segmentation is too limited. Many nonprofits need to run specific email marketing campaigns for donors, volunteers, or past attendees. But Mailchimp’s “60 groups per audience” limit? It blocks that kind of precise targeting (Reddit);
- Collaboration is frustrating. If your team includes volunteers or part-time help, you need collaboration to be smooth. But with Mailchimp, real-time content edits or shared approvals aren’t seamless — it slows things down, as shared by a user on Reddit.
Key Features Nonprofits Should Look For
If you want to pick a tool for affordable email marketing for nonprofits, you first need to understand that every email tool is not built for the unique way nonprofits operate.
If you’re switching from Mailchimp, here’s what actually makes a difference:
- Discounts for nonprofits. Look for the best email marketing for nonprofits with a special, heavily discounted or free pricing plan. Every dollar saved from subscribing to a Mailchimp pricing plan can go back into your cause;
- Donation & fundraising integrations. The ability to plug into tools like PayPal, Stripe, or donation platforms makes it easier to run campaigns, track contributions, and manage all your donor data in one place;
- Automation & segmentation. Powerful automation capabilities help send the right message to the right people — whether it’s donors, volunteers, or event attendees;
- Customizable email templates. Pre-made nonprofit newsletter templates, event invites, and donation asks to help you get started faster and save money on building a design team;
- Compliance & security. With donor data involved, GDPR compliance and strong security practices are non-negotiable. Choose tools that take privacy seriously, especially if you’re working internationally;
- Ease of use. If volunteers or small teams are involved, the tool must be intuitive. A clean, no-fuss interface can save hours of training and reduce mistakes.
8 Best Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits in 2025
Ready to switch? We’ve handpicked the best Mailchimp alternatives that actually work for nonprofits — with better pricing, smarter email marketing features, and tools built for impact.
Here are the top dedicated email marketing tools you should look at:
Sender – Best Value Email Platform for Non-Profits
⭐️ Trusted by 180,000+ businesses worldwide.
If you’re a nonprofit looking for the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and generosity, Sender is the perfect email marketing platform.
It offers everything you need to build relationships, drive engagement, and keep your supporters in the loop—without overwhelming your team or having a massive budget.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.7 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 4.8 /5.0
- G2: 4.5 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $7/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month | Forever free plan available for up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 monthly emails.
Discount for nonprofits: 25%
Sender is intuitive and offers a generous free plan that’s hard to beat. What makes it great is how it balances features like automation & segmentation with a clean interface that doesn’t require tech skills to navigate.
Unlike tools that hide key features behind paywalls, Sender gives you access to almost everything, even on the free plan. It’s the best tool for free email marketing for charities when you need to grow your list without thinking of costs. The paid plans have a 25% discount for nonprofits, making Sender a tool with the most nonprofit friendly pricing plans in the market.
The segmentation options are solid. You can easily tag, group, and manage your supporters. Pre-designed templates, popup builders, and real-time reporting features make it one of the best email marketing platforms for nonprofits.
If you’re handling volunteer updates or regular donation drives, Sender makes the backend processes smooth so you can focus on the mission.
Standout Features
- Generous free plan: Send up to 15,000 emails monthly to 2,500 contacts with access to all core + most of the advanced features;
- Visual automation builder: Set up automated welcome sequences or donation reminders using premade workflows and a visual builder —no tech help needed;
- Efficient segmentation: Group donors, volunteers, or partners to send hyper-relevant messages to the right people, at the right time;
- Form & popup tools: Capture emails through popups and embedded signup forms that match your nonprofit’s website easily.
Sender vs. Mailchimp
Unlike Mailchimp’s restrictive free plan, Sender offers higher subscriber and email limits (up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month). You can build full marketing automation workflows and use segmentation from day one using the free plan. This makes it a powerful free email marketing tool that you can use even when you don’t have the budget.
While Mailchimp often feels bloated or built for agencies, Sender keeps it simple and focused. For nonprofits that want to get started quickly, it offers premium features and affordable scaling options without having to worry about your budget.
Constant Contact – Beautiful Visual Content & Non-Profit Discounts
Constant Contact is useful for nonprofits that regularly host events, send donor updates, or rely on volunteers to manage campaigns.
It’s built to keep things simple — even if you’re not “techy” — and that’s exactly why it works so well for nonprofit organizations.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $30/month for up to 1,000 subscribers | 30-day free trial available.
Discount for nonprofits: 20-30%
We tested Constant Contact with nonprofit use in mind, and the experience was refreshingly smooth. There’s a drag-and-drop editor for emails, landing pages, and forms. So, you can create everything you need from the same platform.
Its event management tools are worth mentioning, too. You can build sign-up pages, thank-you follow-ups, and donor welcome emails without needing a full CRM.
Constant Contact offers discounts for nonprofits (20-30%) on its paid plans. That kind of affordability, combined with its ease of use and donor engagement features, makes it a useful email marketing software for smaller teams running on heart and hustle.
Standout Features
- Event campaign builder. Promote events, manage RSVPs, and send reminders, all from the same dashboard;
- Donor email sequences. Automate thank-you notes, impact updates, and re-engagement emails for donors and volunteers;
- Nonprofit pricing deals. Constant Contact offers steep discounts (up to 20-30%) for verified nonprofit accounts;
- Form & landing page builder. Easily create popups or landing pages to collect emails before or after an event.
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp
Unlike Mailchimp, Constant Contact doesn’t charge for unsubscribed contacts or overwhelm you with features you won’t use. Its simple interface and nonprofit discount alone make it worth the switch.
For nonprofits who need email + event tools in one place — Constant Contact keeps things refreshingly straightforward. If you’re running weekly email updates, donation drives, or onboarding sequences, Constant Contact is worth checking out.
MailerLite – Best Storytelling Templates
MailerLite is perfect for nonprofits that believe in sharing their story through newsletters, volunteer updates, or impact reports.
Its standout strength? Templates that don’t just look great, but stay reusable across email campaigns and landing pages.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.7 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 4.5 /5.0
- G2: 4.6/5.0
Pricing: Starts at $13/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and unlimited emails | Free plan available.
Discount for nonprofits: 30%
When we tested MailerLite, one thing stood out immediately: it’s made for people who care about minimalism and consistency.
The email builder has a user-friendly interface and offers full flexibility to create branded templates for small nonprofit teams without coding.
If you’re regularly creating event invites, donation drives, or monthly impact newsletters, its template library and reuse design feature will save you hours.
We tried it out and created a branded newsletter layout once, then reused it across multiple campaigns with a few content swaps. And the experience was smooth. There’s even a website builder and landing page builder with drag-and-drop functionality.
Such a tool helps create consistent branding to build recognition and help your goal of building a design-first email marketing strategy.
Standout Features
- Reusable email templates. Build once, reuse later approach saves time and is great for fundraising email templates, recurring newsletters, and donation updates;
- Landing page builder. Quickly spin up event pages or campaign landing pages with matching brand visuals;
- Custom brand styling. Global settings help lock in fonts, colors, and button styles to keep branding consistent;
- Clean user interface. Even first-time users can navigate the editor easily, which is great for part-time or volunteer help.
MailerLite vs Mailchimp
Where Mailchimp can feel clunky and bloated, MailerLite focuses on what nonprofits actually need: great-looking emails, consistent branding, and no fuss. And unlike Mailchimp, you’re not charged extra for extra ‘unsubscribed contacts’ or premium templates.
If you’re telling stories often — to donors, supporters, or volunteers — MailerLite gives you the creative flexibility and the tools to do it the right way. If minimalism is your vibe, you should look at the platform, as it offers a 30% discount on paid plans to nonprofits.
AWeber – Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness
AWeber is a solid pick for nonprofits running paid events, workshops, or selling digital fundraising materials like eBooks.
It’s especially strong at building end-to-end flows from sign-up landing pages to follow-up emails using automated email sequences.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.4 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 2.0 /5.0
- G2: 4.2 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $25/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and 10,000 monthly emails | Free plan available.
Discount for nonprofits: 25%
We tested AWeber for multiple fundraising scenarios like launching a digital fundraising product and promoting a workshop. Its landing page builder was smooth, helping us create beautiful pages without touching code.
We also liked how it used a tag-based system to group donors and trigger follow-up emails automatically. Basically, it helped us automate emails, such as sending event details and download links on autopilot.
If your nonprofit is trying to manage RSVPs, sell entries to events, or handle donor follow-ups all in one place, AWeber is useful. Add to that 3-month free paid plan and a 25% nonprofit discount after that. It’s hard to beat.
Standout Features
- Event registration pages. Create landing pages for workshops or fundraisers with integrations to payment gateways;
- Automated donor emails. Send targeted thank-you emails or deliver valuable content on autopilot using tags and campaign automation;
- AI writing assistant. Get AI features to write email copy, landing page content, to speed up campaign creation;
- End-to-end workflows. Create automated workflows and event-to-email sequences without any external tools or integrations needed.
AWeber vs Mailchimp
Mailchimp often requires moving to a higher plan to take full advantage of advanced features like landing page templates, payment gateways, and automations. AWeber brings it all into one flow — with better support and a much friendlier pricing model for nonprofits.
With fewer billing surprises — like not charging for unsubscribed contacts — it’s far easier to predict and control spending over time. If your nonprofit hosts events or runs workshops, AWeber’s built-in tools and hands-off automations make it far easier to manage than Mailchimp.
Brevo – Affordable Automation & Multi-Channel Engagement
Brevo is a CRM-first email marketing platform for nonprofits that offers advanced automation features, multichannel communication (email, SMS, WhatsApp), and a useful free plan. It’s ideal for nonprofits that want to scale engagement without the big price tag.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.6 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 4.4 /5.0
- G2: 4.5 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $17/month for up to 10,000 monthly emails and 1,500 contacts| Free plan available with usage limitations.
Discount for nonprofits: 15%
When we tested Brevo, what stood out was the visual automation builder. It took just minutes to set up a donor journey — from donation form integration to welcome emails and follow-up messages.
You don’t need any coding or technical background, which makes it great for teams with volunteers or part-time staff. Brevo also lets you run WhatsApp campaigns, send web push notifications, and automate follow-up responses, from the same dashboard.
And if you’re part of a registered NGO, Brevo offers a 15% discount on its paid pricing plans. The platform is especially great for nonprofit organizations juggling multiple campaigns across platforms.
Standout Features
- Multi-channel campaigns. Engage donors across email, SMS, WhatsApp, and Facebook — all from one dashboard;
- Visual automation flows. Easily set up donor journeys or event workflows with a drag-and-drop builder;
- Generous free plan. Send 300 emails/day for free, which is perfect for small campaigns or early-stage outreach;
- Centralized conversation dashboard. Get a unified dashboard to keep an eye on conversations across email, SMS, WhatsApp, and social media inboxes.
Brevo vs Mailchimp
Mailchimp might win on brand recognition, but Brevo outshines it in terms of value. While Mailchimp keeps automation and multichannel tools behind higher-tier plans, Brevo includes them early — even on free and low-cost plans. And where Mailchimp charges for unsubscribed contacts, Brevo offers storage for unlimited contacts (on higher plans).
For nonprofits that want more than just emails — SMS marketing, WhatsApp updates, or cross-channel campaigns — Brevo is far more powerful. Their dedicated NGO support and pricing offer a great alternative to Mailchimp for nonprofits today.
GetResponse – All-in-One Solution for Campaigns & Webinars
GetResponse is the nonprofit’s toolkit for doing everything in one place — email marketing, donor onboarding, landing pages, live webinars, etc.
It’s especially great for growing organizations managing multiple touchpoints with limited resources.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.2 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 4.1 /5.0
- G2: 4.3 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $19/month for up to 1,000 contacts and unlimited emails | 30-day free trial available.
Discount for nonprofits: 50%
Our own tests made us realize that this platform is built for multitasking — events, newsletters, donor journeys, community outreach, and more. The flexibility of this platform is amazing: from building custom templates to managing segmentation and automating re-engagement.
Even the webinar feature, often overlooked, worked seamlessly for hosting live donor sessions and volunteer training.
While it’s not the cheapest option on this list, it’s one of the most powerful. For nonprofits that want email, event, and automation workflows to talk to each other without needing 5 tools — GetResponse offers a 50% discount on all paid plans.
Standout Features
- Built-in webinars. Host donor meetings, volunteer orientations, or workshops without switching platforms;
- AI-powered builder. Get a ready-made funnel — emails, forms, and landing pages — from a simple questionnaire;
- Segmentation and list management. Use tags and segments to tailor follow-ups by donor behavior and event attendance;
- Form + Page Builder. Embed pop-ups and lead forms into your website with automation tied to each action.
GetResponse vs Mailchimp
Where Mailchimp stops at emails, GetResponse helps you build an entire donor engagement system. From automated welcome journeys to full-blown webinars, everything is built-in — no need to duct tape third-party tools. Mailchimp also falls short on segmenting, with fewer tagging options and rigid automation flows.
GetResponse lets you tailor donor journeys, set re-engagement paths, and even remove inactive users to save cost and boost deliverability. If you’re serious about digital donor engagement and want a system that grows with you, GetResponse offers far more flexibility, especially for content-heavy or event-based nonprofits.
Moosend – Cost-Effective, Simple Yet Powerful Automation
If you’re running a nonprofit and want email automation without blowing your budget, Moosend is hard to ignore.
It’s quietly becoming a favorite among lean teams who need solid workflows, clean design, and smart reporting tools without paying a premium.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.6 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 3.6 /5.0
- G2: 4.7 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $16/month for up to 1,000 contacts | 30-day free trial available.
Discount for nonprofits: 25%
We tested Moosend to send regular email campaigns, automate post-event emails, and track engagement.
Its automation builder is simple. You pick your triggers and events and it’s all done. All features (including automation, landing pages, unlimited emails) are available even on the lowest-paid plan. No gatekeeping.
The interface is clean and intuitive. While deliverability hasn’t been its strongest point in the past, we found Moosend to be decent for creating responsive donor and volunteer communication.
Standout Features
- Affordable automation access. Full workflow automation with no feature lockouts, even on its lowest tier plan;
- Nonprofit discount. Get a 25% nonprofit discount when you pay for its annual plan as a nonprofit;
- Workflow builder. Easily set up post-donation emails, welcome flows, or event reminders;
- Collaboration-ready. Built-in comment mode helps teams review and finalize campaign designs faster.
Moosend vs Mailchimp
Mailchimp’s lower-tier plans limit what you can automate, which doesn’t help when your nonprofit’s fundraiser success depends on follow-ups. Moosend, on the other hand, gives you full automation freedom upfront, even if you’re just starting.
Moosend doesn’t charge extra just to schedule or segment emails. While Mailchimp can feel bloated with upsells, Moosend keeps things clean, focused, and cost-friendly. It’s not for massive lists, but for nonprofits under 10K contacts, it checks most boxes, without weighing you down.
Campaign Monitor – Best for Automated Email Journeys
Campaign Monitor is built for simplicity and its journey-based email automation is perfect for nonprofits that need to engage supporters consistently.
From welcome sequences to post-donation follow-ups, it keeps your messaging timely, relevant, and impactful.
User Experience Ratings:
- Capterra: 4.5 /5.0
- Trustpilot: 3.8 /5.0
- G2: 4.1 /5.0
Pricing: Starts at $44/month for up to 1,000 contacts and 12,500 emails/month | 30-day free trial only
Discount for nonprofits: 15%
When we tested Campaign Monitor with nonprofit use cases in mind, we found the journey builder refreshingly intuitive. It doesn’t feel overwhelming, even for someone with no tech skills or expertise.
Drag-and-drop flows, behavioral triggers, and dynamic content makes it easy to personalize outreach campaigns.
So, whether you need to send donor thank-you emails, re-engagement prompts, or event invites, the platform gives you everything you need to personalize your outreach.
Also, a nonprofit pricing tier (15% discount) means you don’t have to break the bank, right from the beginning to build automated donor engagement funnels.
Standout Features
- Donor journey builder. Build multi-step donor email campaigns with ease using a visual automation builder tool;
- CRM integrations. Sync supporter data with third-party tools like Kindful or any CRM you’re already using;
- Personalized campaigns. Use dynamic content to send personalized emails based on donor behavior or attributes;
- AI writer. Write engaging email copy with the help of built-in AI tools to speed things up.
Campaign Monitor vs Mailchimp
Where Mailchimp feels overly rigid for nonprofit use, Campaign Monitor feels designed for meaningful engagement. Its automation workflows aren’t hidden behind expensive paywalls and are far easier to build. The templates are cleaner, and the user journey logic is more intuitive, especially for recurring fundraising events or volunteer campaigns.
For nonprofits wanting to focus more on mission and less on managing tech, Campaign Monitor is a more mission-aligned option.
Quick Comparison Table
Need to quickly compare all the bulk email services for your nonprofit? Here’s a short table of all the discounted email services for nonprofits with their key features.
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Nonprofit Discount | Key Features |
| Sender | Nonprofits wanting to scale outreach on budget | Up to 2,500 subs and 15,000 emails/mo | Yes. 25% | Generous free plan, automation builder, smart segmentation, email+SMS |
| Constant Contact | Nonprofits focused on events | 30-day trial only | Yes. 20-30% | Branded templates, event RSVP tools, drag-drop editor, CRM tools |
| MailerLite | Story-driven campaigns for fundraisers or volunteers | Up to 1,000 subs and 12,000 emails/mo | Yes. 30% | Stunning templates, intuitive builder, automation, forms |
| AWeber | Simple tools for lean teams or local NGOs | Up to 500 subs and 3,000 emails/mo | Yes. 25% | Landing pages, ecommerce forms, |
| Brevo | Growing nonprofits using SMS/WhatsApp for engagement | Up to 300 emails/day | Yes. 15% | Multi-channel campaigns, CRM, automation workflows |
| GetResponse | Multi-program NGOs with webinars & outreach | Up to 500 subs and 2,500 emails/mo | Yes. 50% | Webinar hosting, email+SMS, landing pages, AI-powered automation |
| Moosend | Low-cost automation for impact-driven projects | 30-day free trial only | Yes. 25% | Advanced automations, heatmaps, reporting, email builder |
| Campaign Monitor | Organizations wanting to set up automated donation drives | 30-day free trial only | Yes. 15% | Drag-and-drop journey builder, branded templates, audience segments |
