Updated 2026-03-01
Substack
Mailchimp

Substack vs Mailchimp

Newsletter Growth vs Email Marketing

8
Features Compared
3
Key Differences
2
User Reviews
8
FAQs Answered
TL;DR

Substack (Free (10% on paid subscriptions)) completely free to start. Mailchimp ($100/month) intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Choose based on whether you need completely or intuitive.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

Pricing
Mailchimp wins

Mailchimp is more affordable at $100 compared to Substack at Free (10% on paid subscriptions) for 10,000 subscribers. The price difference reflects their different feature sets and target audiences.

Automation
Mailchimp wins

Mailchimp offers more powerful automation capabilities with moderate. Substack provides false, which is more accessible but less powerful for complex use cases.

Core Strength

Substack's key advantage is completely free to start. Mailchimp stands out with intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Your choice depends on which strength matters more to your business.

Pricing Comparison

At 10,000 subscribers

Substack
Free (10% on paid subscriptions)

Free to use. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue.

Visit Substack
Mailchimp
$100/month

Standard plan with automation and A/B testing

Visit Mailchimp
Best for SaaS
Sequenzy
$49/month

All features included, Stripe integration, unlimited emails

Start Free Trial

Feature Comparison

8 features compared side-by-side

Feature
Substack
Mailchimp
Sequenzy
Email & Automation
Email automation
Moderate
Visual workflow builder
Moderate
A/B testing
Segmentation
Good
Platform & Extras
CRM
Basic
SMS marketing
Add-on
Analytics & reporting
Basic subscriber stats
Good
API access

Pros & Cons

Honest strengths and weaknesses of each platform

Substack

Pros
  • Completely free to start
  • Built-in paid subscriptions
  • Community features (Notes)
  • No technical setup needed
  • Network effects from recommendations
Cons
  • Very limited customization
  • 10% revenue cut on paid
  • No automation
  • No segmentation
  • You don't own your platform

Mailchimp

Pros
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
  • Huge template library
  • Strong brand recognition
  • Free plan for small lists
  • Landing pages and social ads
  • 300+ integrations
Cons
  • Pricing has become expensive
  • Automation less sophisticated
  • Feature gating on lower tiers
  • Customer support quality varies
  • No built-in CRM

What Users Say

Real reviews from Substack and Mailchimp users

Substack Reviews

G2

“We switched to Substack for completely free to start. Built-in paid subscriptions. Worth the investment.”

Sarah K.2025-11-15

Mailchimp Reviews

Capterra

“Mailchimp delivers on intuitive drag-and-drop editor. Huge template library. Recommended for teams who need it.”

Amanda T.2025-10-22

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose Substack if you...
  • Writers starting from zero
  • Journalists going independent
  • Anyone wanting paid subscriptions
  • Writers who want simplicity
Choose Mailchimp if you...
  • Small businesses new to email
  • Teams wanting all-in-one marketing
  • Businesses needing landing pages
  • Companies prioritizing ease of use

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Focused Features

Unlike Substack and Mailchimp, Sequenzy is built specifically for SaaS companies with native Stripe integration, subscription-based automation triggers, and unified transactional + marketing email.

Simpler Pricing

At $49/month for 10k contacts with unlimited emails, Sequenzy is more straightforward than both Substack and Mailchimp. No per-email limits, no feature gating.

Unified Email Stack

Sequenzy handles both transactional and marketing email in one platform, reducing complexity compared to using separate tools.

Try Sequenzy Free

Substack vs Mailchimp: Making the Right Choice

Choosing between Substack and Mailchimp comes down to your specific needs, budget, and technical requirements. Both platforms have clear strengths in their respective areas.

Who Should Choose Substack

Substack is the better fit if you need the specific capabilities it excels at. Its strengths make it ideal for teams that prioritize those features and are willing to invest in the platform.

Who Should Choose Mailchimp

Mailchimp makes more sense if your priorities align with its core strengths. Consider it when those specific capabilities matter more to your workflow and goals.

The Sequenzy Alternative

If you're a SaaS company, neither Substack nor Mailchimp may be the best fit. Sequenzy offers native Stripe integration, subscription-based automation triggers, and unified transactional + marketing email at $49/month for 10,000 contacts. It's purpose-built for software businesses that need to automate based on subscription events, trial status, and MRR changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions answered about Substack vs Mailchimp

Not sure which to pick?

If you're a SaaS founder who needs Stripe integration and unified email, try Sequenzy free. No credit card required.

Start Free TrialSee All Features

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses email-volume-based pricing. You only pay for emails you send. Unlimited contacts on all plans — storing subscribers is always free.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 2.5k emails/month: Free (Free annually)
  • 15k emails/month: $19/month ($205/year annually)
  • 60k emails/month: $29/month ($313/year annually)
  • 120k emails/month: $49/month ($529/year annually)
  • 300k emails/month: $99/month ($1069/year annually)
  • 600k emails/month: $199/month ($2149/year annually)
  • 1.2M emails/month: $349/month ($3769/year annually)
  • Unlimited emails/month: Custom pricing (Custom annually)

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (15k - 1.2M emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (Unlimited emails)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for emails you send — unlimited contacts on all plans
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com