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Marketing Automation

HubSpot vs Mailchimp: Which Marketing Platform Fits Your Business in 2026?

HubSpot is a full CRM-and-marketing platform priced per seat; Mailchimp is an email-first tool priced by contact-list size, with a smaller marketing-automation footprint. Here is what each actually costs and includes.

By Bill Belcamino · Last updated October 9, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
HubSpot logoStarter — $7/seat/mo annual, $10/seat/mo monthly ($20/seat/mo list, struck through)

HubSpot

VS
Mailchimp logoEssentials — From $13/mo (500 contacts, 3 seats)

Mailchimp

Run the cost calculator Compare pricing tiers
HubSpot vs MailchimpVerified Oct 9, 2026
Bill Belcamino
Bottom line up frontby Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
Editorial assessment

Bottom line up front: Is Mailchimp or HubSpot cheaper for a small marketing team?

Mailchimp, at the prices you'll actually renew on: Essentials is $13/mo flat for up to 500 contacts with 3 seats, against $7 per seat a month annual ($10 monthly) for HubSpot Starter.

The $7/seat HubSpot rate is its annual-billing price, with $10 the monthly rate, and the $20 beside it struck through, software enters a budget at one price and renews at another, so build your numbers on $7 a seat annual or $10 monthly, and treat the struck-through $20 as a reference price rather than a bill. The two bills also grow on different axes. HubSpot rises with every person who needs a login, while Mailchimp rises with your list, and its Essentials plan caps automations at 4 steps. So decide what the tool has to be: if sales reps need a contact's email history next to their deals, that's HubSpot's shared CRM, and if you mostly design and send campaigns, Mailchimp fits and costs less.

My read of the verified data on this page, checked against vendor sources on October 9, 2026. Disagree or spot an error? Tell Bill

Heads up: HubSpot Marketing Hub Starter is $7/seat/mo on annual billing and $10/seat/mo billed monthly, with a $20/seat/mo list price shown struck through on both billing terms. The figures on this page use the rates a buyer pays today; check hubspot.com/pricing/marketing for the current offer.

Verified data

HubSpot vs Mailchimp: quick facts

At a glanceHubSpotMailchimp
CategoryMarketing Automation
Entry priceStarter — $7/seat/mo annual, $10/seat/mo monthly ($20/seat/mo list, struck through)Essentials — From $13/mo (500 contacts, 3 seats)
Free planFree — 2 users, 2,000 branded email sends/mo, landing pages, forms, live chatFree — 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo (250/day), 1 seat

Is HubSpot cheaper than Mailchimp?

HubSpot, at a single seat: $7/seat/mo on annual billing ($10 monthly) against Mailchimp Essentials at $13/mo flat (up to 500 contacts, 3 seats). Mailchimp wins once you need its 3 included seats. At one or two seats HubSpot undercuts Mailchimp outright, and the $20/seat/mo you may see beside the $7 is HubSpot’s struck-through list price, not a rate it charges on either billing term before budgeting around it.

Verified data

HubSpot vs Mailchimp at a glance

CategoryHubSpotMailchimp
Entry priceStarter $7/seat/mo annual, $10 monthlyEssentials $13/mo flat (500 contacts, 3 seats)
Free plan2 users, 2,000 branded sends/mo250 contacts, 500 sends/mo
Pricing basisPer seatPer contact-list tier, account-wide
CRM includedYes, full CRM shared across HubsBasic contact records, not a full CRM
Automation depthWorkflow builder across marketing, sales, serviceUp to 4 automation steps on Essentials
AI featuresBreeze AI agents, credit-basedGenerative AI on Standard and Premium, not Essentials
Higher tierProfessional $800/mo (3 core seats)Standard $20/mo (500 contacts, 5 seats)

Verified October 9, 2026Prices recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page. See sources

Prices in USD from hubspot.com/pricing/marketing and mailchimp.com/pricing, both checked September 23, 2026 (HubSpot prices re-checked October 9, 2026).

Editorial assessment

How they actually differ

Both send email campaigns and automate follow-ups, but they start from different premises: HubSpot is a CRM with marketing tools attached, Mailchimp is an email platform with light CRM features attached.

One system of record vs. an email specialist

Every contact in HubSpot lives in one CRM record shared across Marketing, Sales and Service Hubs, so a sales rep sees the same activity timeline a marketer does. Mailchimp’s contact records are lighter — built around segmentation and send history rather than deal stages or support tickets — which keeps it simpler but means it is not a CRM replacement.

How the price scales

HubSpot bills per seat, so cost rises with headcount, not list size. Mailchimp bills by contact-tier, account-wide, so cost rises with your list size regardless of how many people log in (3 seats are included free on Essentials). A small team with a large list pays more on Mailchimp; a large team with a small list pays more on HubSpot.

Moving between them

Neither vendor’s pricing page surfaces a dedicated importer for the other; contact lists move by CSV export and import, and automation workflows are rebuilt by hand in the new tool.

Editorial assessment

Pros & cons

HubSpot

Pros

  • Full CRM shared across marketing, sales and service
  • Deeper workflow automation, not limited to email
  • Free plan covers more (2,000 branded sends/mo)
  • One system of record for every customer touchpoint

Cons

  • Priced per seat, so the bill grows with headcount rather than list size
  • Price rises with headcount, not campaign volume
  • AI features are credit/outcome-based, adding cost at scale
  • Professional tier jumps sharply to $800/mo

Mailchimp

Pros

  • $13/mo flat covers up to 500 contacts and 3 seats
  • Simple, template-driven campaign building
  • Free plan for very small lists (250 contacts)
  • Pricing scales with list size, not team size

Cons

  • Not a full CRM — lighter contact and deal records
  • Automation capped at 4 steps on Essentials
  • Generative AI withheld from the entry tier
  • Cost rises with list size even if only 1 person sends campaigns
Verified data

Cost calculator: what does your team actually pay?

HubSpot

 
$0/mo

Mailchimp

 
$0/mo
 

HubSpot’s price scales with the seat count you enter; Mailchimp’s $13/mo is a flat rate for its lowest contact tier (up to 500 contacts) and does not change with the number above. The price shown is each vendor’s entry-tier flat rate at its lowest contact tier; all three vendors raise the price as your contact or profile count grows past that tier — check each vendor’s own pricing page for your list size. Checked September 23, 2026.

Choose HubSpot if…

You want one CRM shared across marketing, sales and service, or your automation needs go beyond simple email sequences.

Choose Mailchimp if…

You mainly need to design and send email campaigns to a modest list, and do not need a full CRM underneath it.

Total cost over time

Uses your selections above. Estimate excludes add-ons, overages, and negotiated discounts.

Ready to pick your marketing platform?

Both publish a free plan. Build one real campaign in each before you commit a team and a contact list to one.

See HubSpot pricing See Mailchimp pricing
Verified data

HubSpot vs Mailchimp: security, offline & remote work

How HubSpot and Mailchimp compare on compliance reports, sign-in controls, offline access and the setup details that matter for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. Every value links to the vendor page it came from.

What we checkedHubSpotMailchimp
Security & compliance
SOC 2 reportSOC 2 Type IIsourceSOC 2 reportType not stated by vendorsource
ISO/IEC 27001Not publishedCertifiedsource
Other certificationsSOC 1 Type II, SOC 3, HIPAA attestation, EU Cloud Code of Conduct, TRUSTe Certified PrivacysourceNot published
HIPAA (BAA)BAA availableEnterprisesourceNot published
GDPR data processing agreementDPA offeredsourceDPA offeredsource
Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)YesProfessionalsourceNot published
SCIM user provisioningYesProfessionalsourceNot published
Two-factor authenticationYesEnforcement: Free (optional to require); mandatory on Starter, Professional, EnterprisesourceYesEnforcement: Any multi-user plan (automatic once an Owner or Admin enables 2FA)source
Admin audit logYesStartersourceNot published
Data residency choicesUS, EU, Canada, AustraliaStartersourceUS onlysource
EncryptionAES-256 at rest; TLS 1.2 or 1.3 in transitsourceTLS 1.2+ in transit; at-rest encryption not statedsource
Self-hosting optionNot publishedNot published
Offline access
Offline modePartialCRM records cannot be created, edited, or viewed in the mobile app without a connection; only Mobile Notetaker can record meetings offline and link them to CRM records once back online.sourceNot documented
Desktop appsBrowser onlysourceNot published
Mobile appsiOS, AndroidsourceiOS, Androidsource
Offline limitsOffline meeting recording (Mobile Notetaker) is available on Sales Hub or Service Hub Professional and EnterpriseSales Hub / Service Hub Professionalsource—
Remote, hybrid & in-office
IP allowlistingYesStartersourceNot published
Device & session controlsYesAll plansAdmin-set inactive session timeout (15 minutes to 3 days); users can review and remotely log out their own sessions on other devices.sourceNot published
Editorial assessment

What this means for your team

  • Audit reports: both state a SOC 2 report on their own sites, but not the same kind: HubSpot (Type II) and Mailchimp (type not stated). Mailchimp also holds ISO/IEC 27001. A Type I report checks controls at a single point in time; a Type II report tests them over months. If your security team requires Type II, confirm it with Mailchimp, and ask each vendor for the latest report under NDA.
  • Single sign-on: HubSpot includes it on Professional. Mailchimp doesn’t document single sign-on with your own identity provider. If your team signs in through Okta, Microsoft Entra ID or Google, price the plan that includes SSO, not the entry plan.
  • Health data: HubSpot will sign a HIPAA business associate agreement (HubSpot: Enterprise). We found no BAA offer for Mailchimp, so keep protected health information out of it.
  • Working offline: HubSpot works offline only in part; Mailchimp doesn’t document an offline mode. Details are in the Offline mode row above.
  • Office-only access: HubSpot can restrict sign-ins to approved IP ranges on Starter. That suits an office network or a company VPN; fully remote teams need a VPN for it to work.
  • Where your data lives: HubSpot lets you choose US, EU, Canada, Australia on Starter. This matters for teams hiring across the EU, UK or Australia.

HubSpot: worth knowing

  • RemoteHubSpot's trusted-IP login restriction also applies to the mobile app, so reps logging in from outside the allowed range on a phone are blocked. source
  • SecurityEach HubSpot account is hosted in one data center (US, EU, Canada or Australia); paid accounts can migrate to another region. source
  • RemoteUsers can see every device, browser and app where they are signed in and log out of lost devices remotely. source

Mailchimp: worth knowing

  • RemoteMailchimp's iOS and Android apps cover campaigns, reports, inbox replies and adding contacts, but Mailchimp says they do not replace the full web version. source
  • SecurityMailchimp states it has SOC 2 reports but does not say on its security page whether they are Type I or Type II; reports are downloadable from the Intuit Compliance portal. source
  • SecurityMailchimp's terms leave HIPAA suitability to the customer and disclaim liability if the service does not meet HIPAA requirements. source
  • RemoteAccounts have up to five user levels (Owner, Admin, Manager, Author, Viewer), and the number of seats depends on the pricing plan. source

Checked September 19, 2026 against each vendor’s own trust center, help docs and app pages. Hover or tap “source” to see the exact wording we relied on. “Not published” means we could not find the vendor saying it on its own site; it doesn’t mean the feature is missing. Plan names are the lowest plan the vendor says includes the feature. Security · Offline · Remote vs office · Download the data

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HubSpot or Mailchimp cheaper?

HubSpot Starter is cheaper at one or two seats: $7/seat/mo on annual billing ($10 monthly) against Mailchimp Essentials at $13/mo flat for up to 500 contacts. Mailchimp’s flat rate includes 3 seats, so it wins from three people up — check if it is still live before budgeting around it.

Is HubSpot a full CRM?

Yes. Every Hub (Marketing, Sales, Service) shares one contact record and activity timeline, unlike Mailchimp’s lighter contact-and-segment model.

Does Mailchimp include a CRM?

Not a full one. It tracks contacts, tags and send history, but not deal stages or support tickets the way HubSpot does.

Why does HubSpot show two prices for Starter?

HubSpot’s pricing page shows a struck-through $20/seat/mo list price next to the live rate: $7/seat/mo on annual billing, or $10/seat/mo billed monthly. The $20 is not charged on either billing term; it is the crossed-out reference price, and the page carries a “Save up to 65% on Starter” banner against it.

Migration Guides

Already decided? Here’s how to actually switch.

Step-by-step migration guides covering what transfers automatically, what doesn’t, and how to handle the gap — in both directions.

Switching from HubSpot to Mailchimp Switching from Mailchimp to HubSpot
Editorial assessment

When to Buy — and When to Walk Away

Every “best marketing platform” listicle tells you why to buy. Here’s the other half: the specific conditions under which HubSpot or Mailchimp is the wrong purchase for your team.

HubSpot

Buy HubSpot if:

  • You want one CRM shared across marketing, sales and service
  • Your automation needs go beyond email sequences
  • You plan to grow into sales and service tools on the same platform

Do NOT buy HubSpot if:

  • You mainly send email campaigns to a modest list
  • Your team is larger than your contact list
  • You want the lowest possible entry price

Mailchimp

Buy Mailchimp if:

  • You mainly design and send email campaigns
  • Your list is small and your team is not
  • You do not need a full CRM underneath your email tool

Do NOT buy Mailchimp if:

  • You need a shared CRM across marketing, sales and service
  • Your automation needs exceed a handful of steps
  • You want generative AI at the entry tier

Canonical data for the tools on this page

Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page, with the date each figure was last verified.

HubSpotPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›MailchimpPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
Attio vs HubSpotHead-to-head comparisonbeehiiv vs MailchimpHead-to-head comparisonActiveCampaign vs HubSpotHead-to-head comparisonActiveCampaign vs MailchimpHead-to-head comparisonGoHighLevel vs HubSpotHead-to-head comparisonHubSpot vs KeapHead-to-head comparison

Sources

Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

Cite this page: HelpCompare, “HubSpot vs Mailchimp”, helpcompare.com/hubspot-vs-mailchimp/ (updated ).

Source links on this site are checked every month; last check . How sources are checked.

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01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.133 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.264 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
About the author

Bill Belcamino

Founder and author, HelpCompare

Engineer by training, operator by experience, marketer by choice. Bill spent eight and a half years as an engineer at HP, was COO of Auctiva (the number one third-party selling platform on eBay, past 200,000 users) and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. Then he spent 13 years building his own web properties with his own money at stake. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on October 9, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

Read Bill’s story How we verify pricingSpot an error? Tell Bill