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Short answer: In the AWeber vs Mailchimp choice, AWeber is the better pick for beginners and small lists: its free plan is bigger (500 vs 250 contacts) and every plan includes 24/7 support. Mailchimp is better if you want polished design tools, deeper reports and a big brand ecosystem, and you are happy to pay more as you grow.
Last updated: October 2026 ยท How we researched this: we checked the official AWeber and Mailchimp pricing pages and Mailchimp’s help docs, read recent user reviews, and compared plan limits side by side.
Key takeaways
- Free plans: AWeber allows up to 500 subscribers. Mailchimp’s free plan now allows only 250 contacts and 500 emails per month.
- Starting prices: AWeber Lite is about $15/month; Mailchimp Essentials was listed from about $13/month (Standard from about $20/month).
- Automation: Mailchimp’s Standard plan has the stronger customer-journey builder. AWeber’s automations are simpler but easier to set up.
- Support: AWeber offers 24/7 support on all plans. Mailchimp’s free plan gets email support only for the first 30 days.
- Ownership: Mailchimp is part of Intuit. AWeber is an independent US company.
AWeber vs Mailchimp at a glance
| Feature | AWeber | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Up to 500 subscribers | Up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/month |
| Cheapest paid plan | Lite, about $15/month | Essentials, about $13/month |
| Mid-tier plan | Plus, about $30/month | Standard, about $20/month |
| Top plan | Done For You (setup service) | Premium, about $350/month |
| Monthly send limit | 10x list (Lite), 12x (Plus) | 10x (Essentials), 12x (Standard), 15x (Premium) |
| Automation | Simple flows; 3 on Lite, unlimited on Plus | Up to 4 flow steps on Essentials, up to 200 flows on Standard |
| Support | 24/7 on all plans, incl. phone | 24/7 email and chat on paid plans; phone on Premium |
| Integrations | 750+ | Hundreds, plus a large app marketplace |
Prices are the starting prices each company listed when we checked in October 2026. Both tools charge more as your list grows, and Mailchimp’s headline prices may be introductory offers. Check the Mailchimp pricing page and the AWeber pricing page for your exact list size.
Pricing: which is cheaper, AWeber or Mailchimp?
For a brand-new list, AWeber’s free plan goes further. 500 subscribers on AWeber vs 250 contacts on Mailchimp is a real difference when you are just starting.
On paid plans the gap is small at first. Mailchimp Essentials can look cheaper than AWeber Lite, but Essentials limits automation to a few steps. To compare fairly, put AWeber Plus next to Mailchimp Standard.
A billing gotcha to know about
Mailchimp bills on your peak contact total in each billing period. Its help center explains that archived contacts do not count toward your current total. So archive inactive contacts regularly, or you may pay for people who never open your emails.
Ease of use
AWeber is built for people who do not want to learn a complex tool. The menus are simple, and the AI Writing Assistant and Canva integration help you finish an email fast.
Mailchimp is also friendly, but it has grown into a full marketing suite. There are more menus, more upsells and more settings. Some users on review sites say it feels busier than it used to.
Email design and templates
Both tools have drag-and-drop editors and mobile-friendly templates. Mailchimp has more design polish: branded templates, dynamic content and a creative assistant on higher plans.
AWeber’s editor is simpler but has handy extras, such as built-in Canva, a mobile editor and AI page builders for landing pages. For most newsletters, either tool is enough.
Automation and segmentation
Mailchimp wins on advanced automation. Its Standard plan supports up to 200 customer-journey flows with branching, plus predictive segments and send-time optimization.
AWeber covers the basics well: welcome series, tag-based follow-ups and behavioral triggers. If you only need a welcome sequence and a weekly newsletter, AWeber is easier to set up and maintain.
Watch the plan limits
- Mailchimp Free: no automation flows, 1 audience, 1 user.
- Mailchimp Essentials: flows limited to 4 steps.
- AWeber Lite: 1 list and 3 automations.
- AWeber Plus: unlimited lists and automations.
Support and deliverability
Support is a clear AWeber advantage. It offers 24/7 help on every plan, including a toll-free phone line. Mailchimp’s free plan only gets email support for the first 30 days; phone support is reserved for Premium.
Both companies have good deliverability infrastructure. In practice, your results depend more on your list quality and domain authentication than on the tool you pick.
Which should you choose? A quick checklist
- Pick AWeber if you have under 500 subscribers and want to stay free as long as possible.
- Pick AWeber if you want phone or chat support without paying for a top plan.
- Pick Mailchimp if design, branded templates and detailed reports matter most.
- Pick Mailchimp if you already use Intuit tools or need Mailchimp-specific integrations.
- Pick neither if you need CRM-style automation. Look at our ActiveCampaign vs AWeber comparison instead.
- Pick neither if you are a creator selling digital products. Kit is built for that; see AWeber vs ConvertKit.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Bigger free plan, 24/7 support on all plans, simple to learn | Lite plan is very limited, fewer advanced reports |
| Mailchimp | Strong design tools, advanced journeys on Standard, big ecosystem | Small free plan, costs rise fast, support limited on cheap plans |
FAQ: AWeber vs Mailchimp
Is AWeber better than Mailchimp?
AWeber is better for beginners who want a bigger free plan and 24/7 support. Mailchimp is better for brands that need advanced design, reporting and customer journeys.
Which is cheaper, AWeber or Mailchimp?
For free users, AWeber goes further (500 subscribers vs 250 contacts). On paid plans the starting prices are close, so compare the plan that has the automation you need at your exact list size.
Does Mailchimp still have a free plan?
Yes, but it is small. In October 2026 Mailchimp’s free plan allowed 250 contacts and 500 emails per month, with no automation flows.
Can I move my list from Mailchimp to AWeber?
Yes. Export your contacts from Mailchimp as a CSV file and import them into AWeber. Only import people who opted in, and expect AWeber to review large imports.
Conclusion
AWeber vs Mailchimp comes down to simplicity versus depth. AWeber is the easier and more generous choice for new and small lists. Mailchimp is the stronger choice when design and advanced automation justify a higher bill.
Want more detail on AWeber itself? Read our full AWeber review.
