How do I choose between Mailchimp and Constant Contact for a small business newsletter?

For a small business newsletter, the best choice usually comes down to which tool fits your workflow, budget, and marketing goals—not which one is “better” overall.

Quick rule of thumb

• Choose Mailchimp if you want:

  • More polished automation and segmentation
  • Better design flexibility
  • A platform that can grow with more advanced marketing needs
  • More integrations with other apps/tools

• Choose Constant Contact if you want:

  • Simplicity and ease of use
  • Stronger hands-on support and onboarding
  • A straightforward newsletter tool with less complexity
  • Event marketing features and a more guided experience

Key differences to consider

1) Ease of use

• Constant Contact is often seen as more beginner-friendly.
• Mailchimp has improved a lot, but can feel more feature-heavy and sometimes harder to navigate.

If you want to get set up quickly and just send newsletters, Constant Contact may be easier.

2) Email design

• Mailchimp generally offers more modern templates and design flexibility.
• Constant Contact is solid, but less stylish/polished in many users’ opinions.

If branding and visuals matter a lot, Mailchimp may have the edge.

3) Automation

• Mailchimp is usually stronger for automation, segmentation, and drip campaigns.
• Constant Contact has automation too, but it’s typically simpler.

If you plan to do welcome sequences, follow-ups, or audience targeting, Mailchimp is often better.

4) Pricing

Both charge based on contact count and features, and pricing changes over time. In general:

• Constant Contact can be more straightforward, but may feel pricier for what you get.
• Mailchimp has a free/low-cost entry point in some cases, but advanced features can get expensive.

Important: compare the exact plan you need, not just the starting price.

5) Support

• Constant Contact is known for strong customer support and onboarding help.
• Mailchimp support is more limited on lower tiers and can feel less personal.

If you’re not very technical, this may matter a lot.

6) Integrations and growth

• Mailchimp tends to have a broader ecosystem and is often better if you expect to connect your email marketing to e-commerce, CRM, or automation tools.
• Constant Contact integrates well too, but is usually considered less powerful for advanced growth setups.

Best for different situations

Pick Mailchimp if:

• You want more advanced marketing features
• You may add automation later
• You care about design and customization
• You’re comfortable learning a slightly more complex tool

Pick Constant Contact if:

• You mainly want to send newsletters
• You want something simple and supportive
• You’re a beginner or non-technical user
• You value customer support and ease over depth

A practical decision test

Ask yourself:

1. Do I just need newsletters, or do I want automation too?
2. Will I actually use advanced features?
3. How important is live support?
4. Which interface feels easier after a 15-minute trial?
5. What is the total cost for my contact list size?

My short recommendation

For most small businesses:

• Constant Contact is better if you want simplicity and support.
• Mailchimp is better if you want more marketing power and flexibility.

If you want, I can also give you a side-by-side comparison table or help you choose based on your business type, budget, and newsletter goals.