Why people look for an alternative
Three things on Mailchimp's own pages tend to start the search. The Free plan is capped at 250 contacts and 500 sends a month and lists automation flows as not included. [1] [2] Essentials limits automation flows to 4 steps. [1] And the contact count includes unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts, so a list with many old unsubscribes can land in a higher tier. [2]
Before moving, archive contacts you do not mail and reprice Mailchimp. If that fixes the bill, staying is the cheaper option.
The shortlist by need
| Need | Pick | Verified price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost, broadcasts only, 2,500 contacts | Kit Free or beehiiv Free | $0 [3] [4] | Kit Free goes to 10,000; beehiiv Free to 2,500 [3] [4] |
| Most automation per dollar | MailerLite Comfort | $33/mo at 2,500, $29.70/mo yearly [5] | 50 active automations, unlimited templates [5] |
| Store with cart emails | Moosend | Not shown on page; 30-day trial [6] | Cart abandonment and product recommendations [7] |
| Newsletter as a business | beehiiv Lite | $59/mo at up to 1,000 [4] | Ad network, referral program, paid subs at 0% take [4] |
| Creator with sequences | Kit Creator | $39/mo monthly (implied from the $78 yearly saving), $33/mo yearly at 1,000 [3] | Unlimited sequences and visual automations [3] |
Cost at 2,500 contacts
Figures read on official pages on October 29, 2026, in USD. Mailchimp's page displayed starting prices but not the 1,501 to 2,500 tier price in the text we could read, so we list its starting price and mark the tier as not verified. [1]
| Tool | Plan at 2,500 | Monthly price | Automation on that plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Essentials | From $13/mo for 12 months; 2,500 tier not verified [1] | Flows up to 4 steps [1] |
| MailerLite | Comfort | $33 ($29.70 yearly) [5] | 50 active automations [5] |
| Kit | Free | $0 [3] | No sequences on Free [3] |
| beehiiv | Free | $0, at the limit [4] | No automations on Free [4] |
| Moosend | Pro | Not shown on page [6] | Email marketing automation listed among plan features [6] |
Switching-effort score
This is our editorial score from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard), based on what has to be rebuilt, not on a test migration. Every move starts at 1 for the CSV export from Mailchimp; the score adds one point each for rebuilding automations, rebuilding templates, changing how contacts are organised, and changing the publishing model.
| Alternative | Score | What you rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 4 | Automations and templates; audiences and tags become groups and segments |
| Moosend | 3 | Automations and templates; plus store integration set-up |
| Kit | 4 | Templates and sequences (on Creator); Mailchimp audiences, groups and tags become Kit tags |
| beehiiv | 4 | Templates, automations and a move to a publication-style site and archive |
Moving your contacts out
- Only Owners and Admins can export; exports are CSV, bundled as a ZIP when you export several contact types. [8]
- Exports can include subscribed, non-subscribed, unsubscribed and cleaned contacts; archived contacts export separately. [8]
- Exports do not include open and click data; save the reports you need first. [8]
- Export files stay in your account for 30 days. [8]
- Import unsubscribed and cleaned contacts as suppressed in the new tool so you never mail them again.
Who should stay on Mailchimp
Stay if you rely on an integration only Mailchimp offers among its 300+ listed apps, if you need phone support on Premium, or if your team uses Mailchimp's custom reports on Standard. [1] Also stay if archiving old contacts brings your bill within budget. A move saves money only when the new monthly price, plus your time rebuilding, is lower than what you pay now.
Questions before you decide
What is the cheapest Mailchimp alternative at 2,500 contacts?
For broadcasts only, Kit Free and beehiiv Free both cost $0 at 2,500 subscribers. With automations, MailerLite Comfort was $33 per month on monthly billing, or $29.70 per month billed yearly, on October 29, 2026.
Why does my Mailchimp bill seem high for my list?
Mailchimp counts subscribed, unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts toward your total. Archiving contacts you do not mail can lower your tier before you compare alternatives.
Can I take my contacts with me?
Yes. Mailchimp's help center says Owners and Admins can export subscribed, non-subscribed, unsubscribed and cleaned contacts as CSV files. Engagement data such as opens and clicks is not included.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Mailchimp marketing pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Mailchimp Help: About Mailchimp pricing plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kit pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MailerLite pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Moosend pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Moosend features Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Mailchimp Help: View or export contacts Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.