When it comes to email marketing software, two of the biggest players in the game are Mailchimp and Constant Contact. Both platforms offer a range of features to help businesses create and send effective email campaigns, but which one is better?
At a high level, Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer very similar features. Both platforms allow you to create campaigns, manage your subscriber lists, and track your campaign performance. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that may make one a better fit for your business.
Mailchimp: Pros and Cons
When it comes to email marketing, Mailchimp has been a popular choice for many businesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Mailchimp:
Pros:
- Ease of use: Mailchimp’s user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple to create and send email campaigns.
- Email list management: Mailchimp offers a variety of tools for managing email lists, including segmentation and tagging options.
- Automation: Mailchimp’s automation features allow you to set up automated email campaigns based on triggers such as sign-ups or purchases.
- Integrations: Mailchimp integrates with a wide range of third-party tools and platforms, making it easy to connect your email marketing efforts with other aspects of your business.
- Analytics: Mailchimp provides detailed analytics on your email campaigns, including open rates, click-through rates, and more.
Cons:
- Pricing: Mailchimp’s pricing can be a bit steep for small businesses or those with a limited budget.
- Limited support: While Mailchimp does offer customer support, it can be difficult to get in touch with a representative if you have an issue.
- Deliverability: While Mailchimp has a high deliverability rate, it does use an abuse-detection technology that can sometimes flag legitimate emails as spam.
Constant Contact: Pros and Cons
When it comes to email marketing software, Constant Contact is a popular choice. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Constant Contact for your email marketing needs.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface: Constant Contact has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to create and send email campaigns.
- Robust list management: Constant Contact has a powerful list management system that allows users to segment their lists based on various criteria, such as location, interests, and more.
- Wide range of templates: Constant Contact offers a large selection of templates that users can choose from to create their email campaigns.
- Marketing automation features: Constant Contact offers a variety of email automation features, including welcome emails, birthday emails, and more.
Cons:
- Limited customization options: While Constant Contact offers a wide range of templates, users may find that there are limited customization options available.
- Limited reporting features: Constant Contact’s reporting features are basic and may not provide users with all the data they need to make informed decisions about their email campaigns.
- Pricing: Constant Contact can be more expensive than some of its competitors, particularly for users who require more advanced features.
Overall, Constant Contact is a solid choice for email marketing, particularly for users who are new to email marketing or who require a simple and user-friendly interface. However, users who require more advanced
Mailchimp vs Constant Contact: Features Comparison
When it comes to email marketing software, Mailchimp and Constant Contact are two of the most popular options available. Both platforms offer a range of features that can help businesses of all sizes create effective email campaigns. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the key features offered by these platforms and how they compare.
Email Marketing
One of the most important features of any email marketing platform is the ability to create and send emails that look professional and engaging. Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer a range of templates and design tools to help users create eye-catching emails. However, Mailchimp offers a wider range of design options and customization features, making it a better choice for businesses that want to create highly personalized campaigns.
Automation Tools
Another important feature of email marketing software is the ability to automate certain tasks, such as sending welcome emails or follow-up messages. Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer automation tools, but Mailchimp’s platform is generally considered to be more robust and flexible. With Mailchimp, users can create complex automation workflows that can help them save time and improve engagement with their subscribers.
Design Flexibility
In addition to email design tools, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer a range of other design features, such as landing page builders and image libraries. However, Mailchimp’s platform is generally considered to be more flexible and customizable, with more options for users to tweak and adjust their designs to fit their specific needs.
Analytics and Reporting
Finally, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer detailed analytics and reporting tools to help users track the success of their email campaigns. However, Mailchimp’s platform is generally considered to be more advanced and user-friendly, with more options for users to slice and dice their data and gain insights into their subscribers’ behavior.
Ease of Use
When it comes to email marketing software, ease of use is a crucial factor to consider. Both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer user-friendly interfaces, but there are some differences to note.
Mailchimp has a modern and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. The drag-and-drop email editor is straightforward and allows for easy customization of templates. Additionally, Mailchimp has a variety of integrations with other platforms, such as Shopify and Facebook, which makes it easy to connect and automate workflows.
Constant Contact also has a user-friendly interface, but it may not be as modern as Mailchimp’s. The email editor is easy to use, but it is not as customizable as Mailchimp’s. Constant Contact does offer a variety of email automation features, but some of these are only available with their highest paid tier plan.
Pricing Comparison
When comparing Mailchimp and Constant Contact, one of the most important factors to consider is pricing. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans offered by both platforms:
Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers a range of pricing plans to fit different needs and budgets. Their plans are based on the number of contacts you have, and they offer a free plan for up to 2,000 contacts. Here’s a breakdown of their paid plans:
- Essentials: Starting at $9.99 per month for up to 50,000 contacts, this plan includes all the basic features you need to get started with email marketing.
- Standard: Starting at $14.99 per month for up to 100,000 contacts, this plan includes more advanced features like automation and retargeting ads.
- Premium: Starting at $299 per month for up to 200,000 contacts, this plan includes all the features of the other plans, plus more advanced reporting and support.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact also offers a range of pricing plans based on the number of contacts you have. They don’t offer a free plan, but they do offer a 60-day free trial. Here’s a breakdown of their paid plans:
- Email: Starting at $20 per month for up to 500 contacts, this plan includes basic email marketing features like customizable templates and list management.
- Email Plus: Starting at $45 per month for up to 500 contacts, this plan includes more advanced features like automation and surveys.
Overall, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer a range of pricing plans to fit different needs and budgets. While Mailchimp offers a free plan, Constant Contact offers a longer free trial period. It’s important to consider your specific needs and budget when choosing between these two platforms.
Customer Support
When it comes to email marketing, customer support is a crucial aspect to consider. If you encounter any issues or have questions about the platform, you want to be able to reach out to a knowledgeable and responsive support team.
Mailchimp provides email and chat support to all users, regardless of plan level. They also offer phone support to users on their paid plans, which can be helpful for more complex issues that require a more immediate response. Additionally, Mailchimp has a robust knowledge base and community forum, where users can find answers to common questions and connect with other users for support.
Constant Contact also offers email and phone support to all users, as well as chat support to users on their higher-tier plans. However, some users have reported longer wait times for support compared to Mailchimp. Constant Contact also has a knowledge base and community forum, but it may not be as extensive as Mailchimp’s.
Integration Capabilities
When it comes to integration capabilities, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact offer a wide range of options to connect with other tools and platforms. Here are some of the key integration capabilities of each platform:
Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers integrations with over 300 different tools and platforms, including popular options like Shopify, Salesforce, and Eventbrite. These integrations allow you to connect your email marketing efforts with other areas of your business, such as e-commerce, customer relationship management (CRM), and event management.
In addition, Mailchimp offers a robust API that allows you to build custom integrations with your own tools and platforms. This API is well-documented and easy to use, making it a great option for businesses with more complex integration needs.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact also offers a range of integrations, although the number is slightly lower than Mailchimp’s at around 250. However, Constant Contact does offer integrations with some unique platforms, such as DonorPerfect and MINDBODY, which may be particularly useful for non-profit organizations and fitness studios, respectively.
Like Mailchimp, Constant Contact also offers an API for custom integrations. However, the API is not as well-documented as Mailchimp’s, so businesses with more complex integration needs may find it more challenging to use.
User Reviews
When it comes to choosing an email marketing software, user reviews can be a valuable source of information. Here’s what users have to say about Mailchimp vs Constant Contact:
Mailchimp
- “I’ve been using Mailchimp for years and it’s been a great tool for my business. The interface is easy to use and the templates are customizable.”
- “I love the automation features in Mailchimp. It saves me so much time and helps me stay organized.”
- “Mailchimp’s analytics are top-notch. I can easily see how my campaigns are performing and make adjustments as needed.”
Constant Contact
- “The drag-and-drop editor in Constant Contact is very user-friendly. I can create professional-looking emails in no time.”
- “I appreciate the pre-built templates in Constant Contact. It saves me a lot of time and effort.”
Overall, both Mailchimp and Constant Contact have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing between them.
Conclusion
After comparing Mailchimp and Constant Contact, we have found that both platforms offer a wide range of features and tools to help businesses with their email marketing campaigns.
Mailchimp is a popular choice due to its affordable pricing plans and user-friendly interface. Additionally, Mailchimp offers a variety of automation tools, including welcome emails triggered by signups, to keep businesses connected with their customers.
On the other hand, Constant Contact offers more advanced automation features, such as automated email series and triggered emails based on subscriber behavior, but these features are only available on their highest paid tier, the Premium plan, starting at $80 per month.
Ultimately, the decision between Mailchimp and Constant Contact will depend on the specific needs and budget of each business. We recommend that businesses carefully evaluate their email marketing goals and requirements before selecting a platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Mailchimp and Constant Contact?
Mailchimp and Constant Contact are both email marketing platforms, but they have different features and pricing plans. Mailchimp offers more advanced automation features, while Constant Contact is known for its ease of use. Mailchimp also offers a free plan, while Constant Contact does not.
How does Constant Contact compare to other email marketing platforms?
Constant Contact is a popular email marketing platform, but it is not the only one available. Other options include Mailchimp, HubSpot, and ConvertKit. Constant Contact is known for its user-friendly interface and customer support, but it may not have all the features that other platforms offer.
Which email marketing platform has better deliverability: Constant Contact or Mailchimp?
Both Constant Contact and Mailchimp have good deliverability rates, but it ultimately depends on the quality of your email list and the content of your emails. It is important to follow best practices for email marketing, such as avoiding spam trigger words and sending relevant content to your subscribers.
