Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp: Which Email Platform Wins in 2025?

Let’s face it — picking the right email marketing platform can make or break your customer relationships. It’s not just about blasting messages anymore; it’s about crafting experiences that turn casual subscribers into raving fans.

I’ve spent countless hours testing both Benchmark Email and Mailchimp, and they definitely serve different needs. Benchmark Email feels like that friendly neighbor who keeps things simple but effective — perfect for beginners or small businesses watching their budgets.

Mailchimp, meanwhile, is more like that tech-savvy friend who’s got all the bells and whistles for when you’re ready to take things to the next level.

I’ll walk you through how they stack up on everything from pricing to features, so you can make a choice that actually fits your business goals — without the buyer’s remorse.

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — Quick Comparison

Feature Overview

Strengths & Weaknesses Overview

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — Feature Comparison

Benchmark Email: The Friendly Starter

Benchmark Email doesn’t try to be everything to everyone — and that’s refreshing. It’s ideal if you’re just getting your feet wet with email marketing or running a small operation.

The editor doesn’t require a PhD to figure out, the templates look good without much effort, and you can set up simple automated sequences without pulling your hair out.

That said, it’s not built for marketing marathons. The automation options won’t take you far beyond the basics, the reporting won’t give you deep insights, and the personalization is pretty elementary compared to more robust platforms.

Mailchimp: The Growth Partner

Mailchimp has evolved from a simple email tool into a marketing powerhouse. It’s built for businesses that are serious about scaling their email and ecommerce strategies.

The automation workflows are genuinely impressive, you can segment your audience in wildly specific ways, and the reporting actually helps you make better decisions.

Of course, all that power comes at a price — literally. Mailchimp costs more as you grow, and some of the advanced features have a learning curve that might frustrate beginners.

But for businesses ready to invest in sophisticated email marketing, customer journeys, and campaigns that span multiple channels, Mailchimp delivers.

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — Pricing Showdown

The Money Talk

Benchmark Email keeps things affordable across all list sizes. If you’re sending straightforward campaigns and watching your budget, it’s hard to argue with their pricing structure. Even as your subscriber base grows, you won’t feel the same sticker shock you might with other platforms.

Mailchimp definitely asks for a bigger investment, especially once you hit those higher subscriber tiers. But here’s the thing — if you need sophisticated customer journeys, behavior-based triggers, and marketing that spans email, social, and beyond, that higher price tag starts to make sense.

It’s like comparing a basic sedan to a luxury SUV — both get you places, but the experience is different.

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — Free Plan Face-Off

Free Plan Reality Check

Both platforms let you dip your toes in without opening your wallet, which is great for small businesses or marketing newbies.

Benchmark Email gives you more breathing room with sending limits — 3,500 monthly emails compared to Mailchimp’s 1,000. That’s huge if you’re messaging your audience frequently.

Mailchimp’s free tier does include slightly better form-building tools and automation options, though they’re still pretty basic. Both platforms remind everyone who’s seeing your emails that you’re using their free plan (via branding), and both provide just enough support to get you started, but not enough to really thrive.

Benchmark Email’s free option works better for straightforward newsletters and announcements, while Mailchimp’s makes more sense if you’re testing out automation and audience management before committing.

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — Pros & Cons

Benchmark Email: Your Starter Solution

Benchmark Email keeps things refreshingly simple. It’s perfect for small businesses, solopreneurs, or marketers who need a straightforward tool for newsletters and basic campaigns without the complexity.

The interface doesn’t try to confuse you, the templates actually look good, and the free plan is surprisingly generous with sending limits.

Where it falls short is in the bells and whistles department. If you’re looking to create sophisticated customer journeys, dive deep into analytics, or connect with every app under the sun, you might find yourself hitting walls.

Mailchimp: Your Growth Engine

Mailchimp has evolved into a genuine marketing platform rather than just an email tool. It shines for businesses focused on scaling their efforts through automation, segmentation, and multi-channel approaches.

The ecommerce features are particularly impressive, making it ideal for online stores or brands with growing audiences.

The trade-off comes in pricing and complexity. Mailchimp costs more — especially as your subscriber count climbs — and some of its more powerful features require time to master. But for marketers ready to leverage advanced tools for personalization, behavior tracking, and long-term engagement, Mailchimp delivers value that justifies the higher investment.

Benchmark Email vs Mailchimp — What Real Users Are Saying

Overall rating:

3.8

/5

G2:

4.3

Trustpilot:

2.8

Capterra:

4.3

Overall rating:

3.9

/5

G2:

4.3

Trustpilot:

2.8

Capterra:

4.5

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About author

Emily Austin

Author

Sender

Emily is a content manager who has dipped her toes in almost all fields of marketing, including email marketing, PR, social media, and ecommerce. She loves perfecting digital content, ensuring everything is polished and ready to go live.