Mailchimp
All-in-one marketing platform
Substack
Start a newsletter. Build your community.
Mailchimp vs Substack Comparison
Compare Mailchimp and Substack side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Mailchimp and Substack are both strong contenders in the email marketing space, but they serve different needs. Mailchimp edges ahead with an overall score of 78/100 compared to Substack's 58/100. Substack is easier to get started with (10/10 for ease of use vs 9/10). On pricing, both offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing. Substack rates higher for value for money (7/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Mailchimp | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 78/100 | 58/100 |
| Starting price | $13/mo | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | All-in-one marketing platform | Start a newsletter. Build your community. |
Pricing comparison
Mailchimp
Free tier available
FreeFree
Essentials$13/mo
Standard$20/mo
Premium$350/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-16
Substack
Free tier available
FreeFree
Pricing verified 2026-03-16
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Mailchimp | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Email builder | Yes | Basic |
| Automation | Yes | No |
| A/B testing | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| Signup forms | Yes | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | Mailchimp | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| SMS marketing | Yes | No |
| Social posting | Yes | No |
| CRM | Yes | No |
| Predictive analytics | Premium only | No |
integrations
| Feature | Mailchimp | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Yes | No |
| WordPress | Yes | No |
| Zapier | Yes | No |
| Salesforce | Yes | No |
Ratings breakdown
Mailchimp
Ease of use9/10
Value for money6/10
Features8/10
Support6/10
Substack
Ease of use10/10
Value for money7/10
Features3/10
Support4/10
Choose Mailchimp if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Substack if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
