Mailchimp vs Substack: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Mailchimp and Substack. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Mailchimp starts at Custom pricing and Substack starts at $5/mo. Compare all 8 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Mailchimp vs Substack: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Mailchimp | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $5/mo |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 7 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Mailchimp and Substack are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Email Marketing tools. Together they offer 8 pricing plans with 22 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Substack stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Email Marketing needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Mailchimp Try it free |  Substack Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Meilleure offre Custom pricing | Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | — | Basic $5/monthCheapest $5 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | — | Standard $7/monthCheapest $7 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Advanced $10/monthCheapest $10 / year Includes
|
| Tier 5 | — | Pro $15/monthCheapest $15 / year Includes
|
| Tier 6 | — | Premium $30/monthCheapest $30 / year Includes
|
| Tier 7 | — | Enterprise $75/monthCheapest $75 / year Includes
|
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What Reviewers Say
Substack
Substack offers a free plan, offers 7 tiers vs 1.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Substack
Try Substack freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Mailchimp if:
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Mailchimp offers negotiated terms for large deployments
- •You prioritize Mailchimp's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You need predictable billing — Mailchimp's usage-based model avoids surprise overages
Choose Substack if:
- •You need a free plan with Set up paid subscriptions, Keep 90% of revenue—Substack offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 7 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—Substack offers 22 additional features across its plans
Substack offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Mailchimp requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Substack a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Substack's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $5/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Mailchimp's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Substack's 7 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Mailchimp's 1 tier structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Substack is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Mailchimp vs Substack
How many pricing plans does Mailchimp have vs Substack?
Does Mailchimp or Substack offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Mailchimp or Substack?
Does Mailchimp or Substack offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Mailchimp and Substack compare for Email Marketing?
Sources
- Mailchimp Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Substack Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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