Mailchimp vs AWeber (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
⚡ Quick Verdict
Mailchimp beats AWeber for newsletters in 2026. Mailchimp scores 8/10 to AWeber's 7.5/10. Mailchimp also has a free plan.
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Mailchimp — Our Verdict
Mailchimp is the stronger choice for newsletters — it scores 8/10 vs 7.5/10 and wins on free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library. AWeber is worth considering if 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation is your top priority.
- Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
- Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
- Intuit-backed infrastructure for enterprise-grade deliverability
Pros
- Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
- Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
- Intuit-backed infrastructure for enterprise-grade deliverability
Cons
- Free plan caps at 500 contacts and 500 emails/day
- Pricing scales steeply with list size
- Automations on Essentials limited to 4 flow steps
Mailchimp vs AWeber (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
Budget is often the deciding factor when choosing between Mailchimp and AWeber. Mailchimp starts at $0 (up to 500 contacts) while AWeber comes in at $0 (up to 500 subscribers) — but the real question isn’t just cost, it’s what you get for your money. We spent weeks using both email marketing and newsletter platforms tools to build this no-fluff comparison.
Bottom line up front: Mailchimp is our pick for newsletters — read on for why, and where AWeber wins instead.
Quick Verdict
| Mailchimp | AWeber | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $0 (up to 500 contacts) | $0 (up to 500 subscribers) |
| Best For | Small businesses and e-commerce brands wanting… | Small businesses and bloggers who value… |
| Our Pick | ⭐ Winner |
About Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a email marketing and newsletter platforms tool known for its capabilities. It’s designed for Small businesses and e-commerce brands wanting a recognized email platform with a free starting point and has built a strong reputation for free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library. Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
Where it falls short: Free plan caps at 500 contacts and 500 emails/day. Pricing scales steeply with list size
About AWeber
AWeber takes a different approach to email marketing and newsletter platforms. It’s built around its core strengths and is particularly well-suited for Small businesses and bloggers who value deliverability heritage and simplicity over advanced features.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation. Free plan allows unlimited subscribers on basic features
Where it falls short: UI is dated compared to MailerLite and ActiveCampaign. Free plan limited to 3 automations and 3 landing pages
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | AWeber |
|---|
The feature gap between these tools reflects their different design philosophies. Mailchimp prioritizes breadth, while AWeber goes deeper on specific use cases.
For a full look at Mailchimp’s capabilities, see our Mailchimp review. For AWeber, read the AWeber review.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Mailchimp | AWeber |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available | Free tier available |
Important pricing notes:
- All prices verified as of 2026-03-28. Check official pages before purchasing.
- Mailchimp has a free plan — see full Mailchimp pricing breakdown for limits.
- AWeber has a free plan — see AWeber pricing details.
Pros and Cons
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
- ✅ Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
- ✅ Intuit-backed infrastructure for enterprise-grade deliverability
Cons:
- ❌ Free plan caps at 500 contacts and 500 emails/day
- ❌ Pricing scales steeply with list size
- ❌ Automations on Essentials limited to 4 flow steps
AWeber Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation
- ✅ Free plan allows unlimited subscribers on basic features
- ✅ AMP for Email support enables interactive elements inside messages
Cons:
- ❌ UI is dated compared to MailerLite and ActiveCampaign
- ❌ Free plan limited to 3 automations and 3 landing pages
- ❌ Unlimited plan at $899/mo is expensive for unlimited subscribers
Which One Should You Choose?
The right answer depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Best for newsletters: Mailchimp — Free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library
Best for ecommerce: AWeber — 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation
Best for creators: Mailchimp — Deepest e-commerce integrations — abandoned cart, product recommendations
If you’re still on the fence: Mailchimp is the safer default. It scores 8/10 in our testing versus AWeber’s 7.5/10, and free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library.
Note: This is a non-affiliate link. We don’t earn commission on Mailchimp — our recommendation is based entirely on merit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than AWeber? Mailchimp scores higher in our testing (8/10 vs 7.5/10). Mailchimp is the better choice for newsletters due to free plan supports 500 contacts with extensive template library. However, AWeber is a stronger fit if 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation.
What’s cheaper, Mailchimp or AWeber? Mailchimp starts at $0 (up to 500 contacts), while AWeber starts at $0 (up to 500 subscribers). Mailchimp has a free plan. AWeber also has a free tier. See the pricing comparison table above for the full plan breakdown.
Does Mailchimp have a free plan? Yes. Mailchimp offers a free tier — Free tier available. This makes it easy to test before committing to a paid plan.
Does AWeber have a free plan? Yes. AWeber offers a free tier — Free tier available.
Related Comparisons & Guides
- Mailchimp Full Review
- Mailchimp Pricing 2026
- Mailchimp Alternatives
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- Mailchimp vs beehiiv
- Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
- AWeber Full Review
- AWeber Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp better than AWeber?
What's cheaper, Mailchimp or AWeber?
Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
Does AWeber have a free plan?
Try Mailchimp yourself
See current pricing and features on the official site.