Mailchimp vs Constant Contact for Drip Email Campaigns (2026)
Compare Mailchimp and Constant Contact for drip email automation. See how their automation, pricing, templates, and deliverability compare for drip campaigns.
TL;DR verdict
Mailchimp offers more advanced drip automation features and a broader marketing toolkit. Constant Contact is easier to learn and provides excellent customer support, but its automation capabilities are more basic. For drip campaigns specifically, Mailchimp is the stronger choice between these two legacy platforms.
Mailchimp
7.6/80
More advanced automation and broader marketing features, but steeper learning curve.
Constant Contact
6.8/80
Simpler, easier to learn with great support, but limited drip automation options.
Sequenzy · also consider
8.6/80
SaaS-focused drip platform with pre-built sequences and native billing integration at $19/mo.
Sequenzy email automation for SaaS → · from $19/month
Constant Contact is a solid, reliable platform that has served small businesses well for decades. However, its automation capabilities have not kept pace with competitors. If drip campaigns are central to your strategy, Mailchimp or a specialized tool like Sequenzy will serve you better.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Automation Builder | Customer Journey Builder (paid) | Basic automation paths | Pre-built drip sequences with visual editor | Mailchimp |
| Drip Complexity | Multi-step with branching logic | Simple linear sequences | Pre-built multi-step with branching | Mailchimp |
| Customer Support | Email and chat (paid plans) | Phone, chat, and email on all plans | Email and chat support | Constant Contact |
| Event Marketing | Via integrations only | Built-in event management tools | Not included | Constant Contact |
| Social Media Tools | Built-in social posting and ads | Social posting included | Not included | Mailchimp |
| A/B Testing | Subject, content, send time | Subject line testing only | Subject line and send-time testing | Mailchimp |
| Free Plan | Yes (500 contacts, limited) | No (60-day trial only) | No ($19/mo starting) | Mailchimp |
| SMS Marketing | Add-on available | Built-in SMS on Standard+ plan | Not included | Constant Contact |
Score breakdown
| Category | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip Campaign Builder | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| Automation Flexibility | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| Ease of Use | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Template Quality | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 |
| Deliverability | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Pricing Value | 6 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| Analytics & Reporting | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Integrations | 9 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Total | 59 | 54 | 66 | 80 |
Drip feature deep-dive
Sequence Building
| Capability | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-step sequences | 8/10 — Robust journeys on Standard+ | 6/10 — Basic multi-step automated series | 9/10 — Pre-built SaaS sequences |
| Conditional branching | 7/10 — If/else in journey builder | 4/10 — Very limited conditional logic | 8/10 — Event-driven branching |
| Time-based delays | 8/10 — Flexible delay options | 7/10 — Day-based delays between emails | 9/10 — Smart delays with timezone awareness |
| Trigger variety | 8/10 — Form, purchase, engagement triggers | 6/10 — Form submit, date-based, open/click triggers | 9/10 — Billing events, usage, forms |
Personalization
| Capability | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic content blocks | 8/10 — Segment-based content blocks | 5/10 — Basic personalization options | 7/10 — Conditional content blocks |
| Merge tags | 8/10 — Comprehensive merge tag library | 7/10 — Standard merge tags for contact fields | 8/10 — Standard and custom merge tags |
| Behavioral targeting | 7/10 — Purchase and engagement-based | 5/10 — Limited to open/click behavior | 9/10 — SaaS usage and billing targeting |
List Management
| Capability | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segmentation depth | 8/10 — Multi-condition with AND/OR | 6/10 — Basic tags and list-based segments | 8/10 — Behavioral segments for SaaS |
| Contact management | 7/10 — Audiences with tags and segments | 7/10 — Lists with tags, easy to manage | 9/10 — Unified profiles with SaaS data |
| List hygiene | 7/10 — Cleanup suggestions | 7/10 — Automatic bounce and unsubscribe management | 8/10 — Proactive list hygiene |
Pricing
Both platforms are similarly priced, but Mailchimp offers a free plan while Constant Contact does not. Constant Contact includes phone support on all plans, which adds value for businesses that need hands-on help.
Mailchimp free option
Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo. Single-step automations only.
Free plan available. Paid plans from $13/mo
Constant Contact free option
No free plan. 60-day free trial, then Lite plan from $12/mo.
No free plan. Paid plans from $12/mo
Sequenzy free option
Free tier available; paid from $19/mo (check current limits)
From $19/month
| Tier | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 contacts | $13/mo (Essentials) — Basic automations | $12/mo (Lite) — Basic email with limited automation | $19/mo — All features, 15K emails |
| 2,500 contacts | $39/mo (Essentials) — Email and chat support | $35/mo (Standard) — Phone support included | $19/mo — Up to 15K emails |
| 10,000 contacts | $100/mo (Standard) — Advanced automations unlocked | $80/mo (Standard) — All automation features | $39/mo — Up to 50K emails |
| 25,000 contacts | $270/mo (Standard) — Advanced features | $210/mo (Standard) — Full feature access | $69/mo — Up to 150K emails |
Constant Contact is slightly cheaper at higher tiers, but Mailchimp offers a free plan and more automation features per dollar. Sequenzy provides the best value for SaaS drip campaigns with all features included from $19/mo.
While pricing is similar between the two, Mailchimp free plan gives it an edge for businesses just starting out. Constant Contact compensates with included phone support, which can save money on outside help.
Drip campaign types
Welcome Series
Winner: SequenzyOnboarding sequence for new contacts
8/10 · Mailchimp
Visual journey with multiple paths and conditions
7/10 · Constant Contact
Simple automated welcome series
9/10 · Sequenzy
SaaS-optimized onboarding flows
Mailchimp offers more flexibility in welcome sequence design.
Birthday/Anniversary
Winner: SequenzyDate-triggered celebration emails
7/10 · Mailchimp
Date-based triggers in automations
8/10 · Constant Contact
Built-in birthday and anniversary emails
6/10 · Sequenzy
Date-based triggers available
Constant Contact makes date-based drips exceptionally easy.
Event Promotion
Winner: SequenzyPre and post-event email sequences
5/10 · Mailchimp
Via integrations like Eventbrite
9/10 · Constant Contact
Native event management with email integration
4/10 · Sequenzy
Not a focus area
Constant Contact built-in event tools are a clear advantage.
Re-engagement
Winner: SequenzyWin-back for inactive contacts
7/10 · Mailchimp
Engagement segments with re-engagement templates
5/10 · Constant Contact
Basic resend to non-openers
8/10 · Sequenzy
Churn-risk detection from usage
Mailchimp provides better tools for re-engagement campaigns.
Post-Purchase
Winner: SequenzyFollow-up after purchase or signup
8/10 · Mailchimp
E-commerce purchase triggers
6/10 · Constant Contact
Basic purchase follow-up sequences
9/10 · Sequenzy
Subscription lifecycle emails
Mailchimp has stronger e-commerce drip triggers.
The most notable gap between these tools is automation sophistication. Constant Contact handles simple sequences well, but any drip campaign requiring conditional logic, A/B testing in flows, or complex triggers will be better served by Mailchimp or a dedicated drip tool.
Automation builder & editor
Builder features
| Feature | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | ✓ Customer Journey Builder on Standard+ | ✓ Basic visual automation paths | ✓ Visual editor with templates |
| If/else conditional logic | ✓ In journey builder | — Very limited branching options | ✓ Behavior and billing conditions |
| Wait/delay steps | ✓ Time and date-based waits | ✓ Day-based delays | ✓ Smart delays with timezone support |
| Multiple triggers | ✓ Various trigger types | ✓ Form, date, and contact activity triggers | ✓ Behavioral and billing triggers |
| A/B split in automations | ✓ On Standard+ plans | — Not available in automations | ✓ Built into sequences |
| SMS steps | — SMS is a separate add-on | ✓ SMS in automation on Standard+ plan | — Email only |
| Goal-based exits | — Not available | — Not available | ✓ Conversion-based exits |
Template editor
| Aspect | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor Type | Drag-and-drop with 100+ templates | Drag-and-drop with branded templates | Block editor for SaaS emails |
| Design Flexibility | High: full layout and HTML control | Good: brand-guided templates | Moderate: brand-focused designs |
| Brand Import | Brand colors and logo settings | Auto-import branding from website URL | Manual brand settings |
| Mobile Responsiveness | Automatic responsive | Automatic responsive | Responsive with preview |
| Stock Images | Built-in image library (paid) | Free stock image library included | Not included |
Deliverability
| Factor | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Inbox Placement | 85-90% | 88-92% | 92-96% |
| SPF/DKIM Authentication | Supported | Supported | Required with guided wizard |
| DMARC Support | Supported | Supported | Supported with monitoring |
| Dedicated IP | Premium plan ($350+/mo) | Not available on standard plans | Shared with strict policies |
| Bounce Handling | Automatic management | Automatic with proactive monitoring | Automatic with proactive hygiene |
| Abuse Prevention | Standard monitoring | Strong anti-spam enforcement | SaaS-focused verification |
Constant Contact has a long track record of strong deliverability, partly due to being one of the oldest email platforms with established IP reputation. Both platforms maintain good inbox placement for drip campaigns.
Integrations
Mailchimp
300+
Constant Contact
200+
Sequenzy
35+
E-commerce
Mailchimp
- ✓ Shopify: Native, deep integration
- ✓ WooCommerce: Native integration
Constant Contact
- ✓ Shopify: Native integration
- ✓ WooCommerce: Native integration
Sequenzy
- — Shopify: Not supported
- — WooCommerce: Not supported
Payment/Billing
Mailchimp
- ✓ Stripe: Via Zapier
- — Paddle: Not supported
Constant Contact
- ✓ Stripe: Via Zapier
- — Paddle: Not supported
Sequenzy
- ✓ Stripe: Native, real-time billing events
- ✓ Paddle: Native, real-time billing events
Event Management
Mailchimp
- ✓ Eventbrite: Native integration
Constant Contact
- ✓ Built-in Events: Native event management
Sequenzy
- — Eventbrite: Not supported
Analytics & reporting
| Metric | Mailchimp | Constant Contact | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Rate Tracking | Yes, with trends | Yes, basic reporting | Yes, with sequence trends |
| Click Rate Tracking | Yes, with click maps | Yes, with heatmap | Yes, with conversion attribution |
| Revenue Attribution | For connected stores | Basic e-commerce tracking | Native billing revenue tracking |
| Comparative Reports | Side-by-side campaign comparison | Basic campaign comparison | Sequence performance comparison |
| Real-time Tracking | Yes, campaign dashboard | Yes, with activity feed | Yes, sequence dashboard |
Only in Mailchimp
- Click heatmaps
- Predicted demographics
- Social media analytics
Only in Constant Contact
- Event registration tracking
- Industry benchmarking
- Contact growth reporting
Only in Sequenzy
- SaaS conversion funnels
- MRR impact tracking
- Billing event correlation
Pros and cons
Mailchimp
Pros
- More advanced drip automation with branching logic
- Free plan available for getting started
- Larger integration ecosystem
- Better A/B testing options
- More comprehensive analytics
Cons
- No phone support on lower plans
- Interface can be overwhelming
- Drip features locked behind higher plans
- Contact-based pricing can get expensive
- Less intuitive for beginners
Constant Contact
Pros
- Phone support on all paid plans
- Extremely easy to learn and use
- Built-in event management tools
- Strong deliverability track record
- Auto-import branding from website
Cons
- Very limited automation branching logic
- No free plan (only 60-day trial)
- Basic A/B testing (subject lines only)
- Fewer advanced drip campaign options
- Less sophisticated segmentation
Best for these scenarios
SaaS Trial Conversion
Pick: SequenzyDrip emails for trial-to-paid conversion
Sequenzy is purpose-built for SaaS with native billing triggers and conversion-optimized sequences.
Nonprofit Email Marketing
Pick: Constant ContactDonor nurturing and event promotion drips
Constant Contact offers nonprofit discounts, event tools, and exceptional support for non-technical teams.
Complex Automation Workflows
Pick: MailchimpMulti-branch drip sequences with conditions
Mailchimp Customer Journey Builder handles complex branching that Constant Contact cannot match.
Small Business Getting Started
Pick: Constant ContactFirst drip campaign for a new business
Constant Contact ease of use and phone support make it ideal for email marketing beginners.
Marketing Team with Technical Skills
Pick: MailchimpTeam that can leverage advanced features
Mailchimp offers more advanced tools that a skilled marketing team can fully utilize.
Migration plans
Mailchimp → Constant Contact
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1-3 hours
Warnings
- Complex Mailchimp automations will need to be simplified for Constant Contact
- Multi-branch workflows cannot be fully replicated
- Mailchimp merge tags need conversion
Constant Contact → Mailchimp
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2-4 hours
Warnings
- Event management features will not transfer to Mailchimp
- You will lose phone support unless on Mailchimp Premium
- Budget for potentially higher costs at Mailchimp
| Direction | Step | Success criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Export contacts from Mailchimp as CSV | Easy |
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Import contacts into Constant Contact | Easy |
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Recreate simple automation sequences | Easy |
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Rebuild email templates using Constant Contact editor | Easy |
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Update signup forms and integrations | Easy |
| Mailchimp → Constant Contact | Configure domain authentication | Easy |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Export contacts from Constant Contact | Moderate |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Create audience in Mailchimp | Moderate |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Import contacts with field mapping | Moderate |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Rebuild automations with added complexity options | Moderate |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Recreate templates in Mailchimp editor | Moderate |
| Constant Contact → Mailchimp | Set up Mailchimp authentication | Moderate |
Frequently asked questions
Is Constant Contact good for drip campaigns?
Constant Contact handles basic drip campaigns well (welcome series, date-based sequences, simple follow-ups), but lacks the advanced branching and conditional logic that Mailchimp offers. For simple drip needs, it works fine.
Why choose Constant Contact over Mailchimp?
Choose Constant Contact if you value ease of use, phone support, event management tools, or nonprofit discounts. Its simpler interface is often preferred by small businesses without dedicated marketing staff.
Does Constant Contact have a free plan?
No. Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial but no permanent free plan. Mailchimp free plan (500 contacts) may be better for businesses testing email marketing before committing.
Which has better customer support?
Constant Contact wins on support. It offers phone, chat, and email support on all paid plans. Mailchimp only offers email and chat (no phone except on Premium), and support quality has declined according to user feedback.
Which should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if…
- You need advanced drip automation with branching logic
- You want a free plan to start with
- You need comprehensive A/B testing in campaigns
- You want the largest integration ecosystem
Choose Constant Contact if…
- You want phone support and hands-on customer service
- You are new to email marketing and need simplicity
- You run events and need built-in event management
- You are a nonprofit looking for discounted plans
Also consider Sequenzy
SaaS-focused drip platform with pre-built sequences and native billing integration at $19/mo. From $19/month with native Stripe, Paddle, and Lemon Squeezy billing events for dunning and trial conversion.
Related comparisons
Browse the full comparison library, the 15-tool shortlist, or the drip strategy guides.