GetResponse vs Mailchimp
Email Marketing pricing comparison · 2026
GetResponse pricing ranges from $19–$690/month, while Mailchimp ranges from $0–$350/month. Mailchimp is typically 82% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
GetResponse and Mailchimp are two of the most widely used email marketing platforms, but they take different approaches to pricing. GetResponse starts at $19/month for the Starter plan (1,000 contacts) and scales up to $690/month for 25,000 contacts on the Creator plan. Mailchimp offers a free tier for up to 500 contacts, with paid plans starting at $13/month (Essentials), $20/month (Standard), and $350/month (Premium for unlimited contacts).
The free plan difference matters at entry level: Mailchimp's free tier covers up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends, while GetResponse's free plan is extremely limited. For paid tiers, GetResponse tends to offer more automation features at lower price points — the $19/month Starter includes a landing page builder and unlimited email sends, while Mailchimp's comparable Standard plan at $20/month similarly includes automation but charges per contact. At 1,000 contacts, GetResponse Starter ($19) vs Mailchimp Essentials ($13) makes GetResponse slightly pricier but with more automation included.
Where they diverge most: GetResponse bundles webinar hosting (on Creator tier at $69/month), advanced sales funnels, and more extensive automation workflows. Mailchimp's strength is its deep ecosystem integrations — 300+ app integrations, AI-powered content optimization, and a brand name recognition that matters in agency and enterprise environments. For large lists (25,000+ contacts), both platforms become significantly more expensive, but GetResponse typically includes more features per tier.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | GetResponse | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starter (1,000 contacts) | $19 / | Free /month |
| Starter (2,500 contacts) | $29 / | $13 /month |
| Starter (5,000 contacts) | $54 / | $20 /month |
| Starter (10,000 contacts) | $79 / | $350 /month |
| Starter (25,000 contacts) | $174 / | — |
| Starter (50,000 contacts) | $299 / | — |
| Starter (100,000 contacts) | $539 / | — |
| Marketer (1,000 contacts) | $59 / | — |
| Marketer (5,000 contacts) | $95 / | — |
| Marketer (10,000 contacts) | $114 / | — |
| Marketer (50,000 contacts) | $359 / | — |
| Marketer (100,000 contacts) | $599 / | — |
| Creator (1,000 contacts) | $69 / | — |
| Creator (5,000 contacts) | $109 / | — |
| Creator (10,000 contacts) | $134 / | — |
| Creator (50,000 contacts) | $414 / | — |
| Creator (100,000 contacts) | $690 / | — |
| Enterprise (MAX) | Custom | — |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
GetResponse
3 scenariosMailchimp
6 scenariosMarket Intelligence
GetResponse
- Median annual cost
- $708
- Average negotiated discount
- 92%
Mailchimp
- Median annual cost
- $240
- Average negotiated discount
- 15%
Contract Terms
| Term | GetResponse | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | Unclear - users report difficulty canceling even with advance notice | Cancel anytime; no refunds for unused portion of billing period |
| Minimum commitment | — | None; month-to-month by default |
| Price escalation | — | 15-30% of license costs |
Our Verdict
Choose Mailchimp if you're starting out with a small list (under 500 contacts), want to test email marketing for free, or value its extensive third-party integration ecosystem and brand recognition. Mailchimp's Standard plan at $20/month is also a strong choice if you prioritize AI content tools and clean audience management over advanced automation.
Choose GetResponse if you need comprehensive automation workflows, landing pages, and webinars bundled in one platform. At similar price points, GetResponse packs in more marketing features — particularly valuable for small e-commerce businesses, coaches, and course creators who want sales funnels without layering multiple tools. GetResponse's Creator tier at $69/month is especially compelling for anyone who runs webinars or sells online courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is GetResponse cheaper than Mailchimp?
It depends on your list size. Mailchimp has a free plan for up to 500 contacts, making it cheaper at entry level. For 1,000 contacts, Mailchimp Essentials runs $13/month vs GetResponse Starter at $19/month. However, GetResponse Starter includes a landing page builder and unlimited automation workflows that Mailchimp gates behind higher tiers. At 5,000 contacts, both platforms land in similar price ranges ($50-$75/month) but GetResponse includes more features.
02 Does GetResponse have a free plan like Mailchimp?
GetResponse does offer a free plan but it's much more limited than Mailchimp's. Mailchimp's free tier covers 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends with basic templates and single-step automations. GetResponse's free plan is primarily a trial-style offering with heavy restrictions. For meaningful free usage, Mailchimp is the stronger option.
03 Which is better for automation — GetResponse or Mailchimp?
GetResponse offers stronger automation at lower price points. GetResponse's $19/month Starter includes 1 custom automation workflow, while Mailchimp's comparable Essentials plan ($13/month) has limited automations. At the GetResponse Marketer tier ($59/month), you get unlimited automation workflows, contact scoring, and abandoned cart recovery — features Mailchimp reserves for higher tiers or add-ons.
04 Does GetResponse offer webinars that Mailchimp doesn't?
Yes. GetResponse includes webinar hosting on its Creator plan ($69/month for 1,000 contacts) with up to 100 attendees. Mailchimp has no webinar functionality. For businesses that run live events, webinars, or online courses, GetResponse's Creator tier provides an all-in-one stack that would otherwise require a separate webinar tool costing $40-$100+/month.
05 How much does each platform cost for 5,000 contacts?
At 5,000 contacts, GetResponse Starter costs $54/month and GetResponse Marketer runs $95/month. Mailchimp's Standard plan at 5,000 contacts costs approximately $75/month. For comparable feature sets (automation + basic analytics), GetResponse is competitively priced, though exact costs depend on whether you bill monthly or annually — both offer annual discounts.
06 Can I migrate from Mailchimp to GetResponse easily?
Yes. GetResponse accepts CSV export from Mailchimp including subscriber tags and custom fields. The main migration work is recreating automation workflows and email templates since neither platform shares template formats. GetResponse's onboarding team offers migration assistance for accounts moving from Mailchimp. Plan for 2-4 hours of setup time for a typical list of under 10,000 contacts.