Mailchimp vs ActiveCampaign
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce and The 11 Best Email Marketing Software. Last verified June 11, 2026.
The short answer
ActiveCampaign ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #4) for Ecommerce brands running flows and campaigns / Small business owners and marketers choosing email marketing tools (Mailchimp alternatives). Unmatched automation and integrated CRM make it the top choice for businesses ready to scale their marketing efforts.
At a glance
| Mailchimp | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #4 / The 11 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce | #1 / The 11 Best Email Marketing Software |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.7 | 9.2 |
| Best for | Ease of use and design | Advanced automation & CRM |
| Pricing | $$ ($50 to $500/mo) | $$ ($29 to $479+/mo) |
| HQ | Atlanta, USA | Chicago, USA |
| Founded | 2001 | 2003 |
Mailchimp
Easiest to use platform for beginners.
mailchimp.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Email Marketing Platforms for Ecommerce
ActiveCampaign
Unmatched automation and integrated CRM make it the top choice for businesses ready to scale their marketing efforts.
www.activecampaign.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.