GetResponse vs Mailchimp: Which One in 2026?
GetResponse bundles webinars, funnels and unlimited sends into one platform for a fair entry price; Mailchimp has the bigger template library and easier learning curve. One catches you off guard with mixed reviews, the other with a shrinking free tier — here's the honest comparison.
Last updated August 2026 · Pricing verified against each tool's site · Reviewed by [Your Name]
You want more than email under one login
Unlimited email sends on every paid plan, plus native webinar hosting and conversion funnels that Mailchimp doesn't offer — the right choice if you run webinars or want automation without upgrading to a pricier tier.
Try GetResponse →You want the easiest possible learning curve
The drag-and-drop editor and 300+ templates make it the fastest way to send a professional-looking campaign with zero design background — the right pick if you're just starting out with a small list.
Try Mailchimp →
images_demo_getresponse.png and images_demo_mailchimp.png to see it live.The full comparison
| GetResponse | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $19/mo (Starter, 1,000 contacts) | $13/mo (Essentials, 500 contacts) |
| Free plan | Yes — 500 contacts | Yes — 250 contacts (cut in Feb 2026) |
| Email sends | Unlimited on every paid plan | Capped at 12x contact count |
| Webinars | Native, from Marketer plan up | Not offered |
| Landing pages & funnels | Unlimited, included | Basic landing pages on paid plans |
| Automation | Included on all paid plans | Multi-step needs Standard plan |
| Template library | ~150 templates | 300+ designs, true drag-and-drop |
| Bounced contacts count toward limit? | Yes, until manually removed | Yes, including unsubscribes |
| G2 rating | 4.3★ (1,100+ reviews) | 4.3-4.4★ |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.2★ (bimodal — 27% one-star) | 2.9★ (67% one-star) |
| Best for | All-in-one webinars & funnels | Beginners & simple broadcast email |
Indicative 2026 pricing, annual billing — GetResponse Starter $19/mo, Marketer $59/mo (both at 1,000 contacts); Mailchimp Essentials $13/mo, Standard $20/mo (both at 500 contacts). Both change often — full breakdown below, and confirm on getresponse.com and mailchimp.com.
Who wins each category
Unlimited sends
GetResponseEvery paid GetResponse plan includes unlimited email sends — Mailchimp caps sends at 12x your contact count, which can bite high-frequency senders.
Ease of use & templates
Mailchimp300+ templates and a genuinely polished drag-and-drop editor beat GetResponse's smaller template library.
Webinars & funnels
GetResponseNative webinar hosting and conversion funnels are built in — Mailchimp offers neither at any price tier.
Automation on entry plans
GetResponseBasic automation is included even on Starter — Mailchimp gates multi-step automation behind the pricier Standard plan.
Free plan value
GetResponse500 contacts free beats Mailchimp's shrinking 250-contact free tier, cut from 500 in February 2026.
Review trustworthiness
GetResponseGetResponse's Trustpilot score (4.2★) is higher than Mailchimp's (2.9★), though both have real negative-review clusters worth reading before buying.
Pros & cons of each platform
GR GetResponse
Genuinely all-in-one
Webinars, funnels and unlimited landing pages are built in — Mailchimp doesn't attempt any of these at any price.
No send caps to budget around
Unlimited email sends on every paid plan — a real advantage for high-frequency senders over Mailchimp's 12x-contact-count cap.
Automation included from the entry plan
Even Starter includes basic automation workflows — Mailchimp requires the pricier Standard plan for multi-step automation.
Trustpilot reviews are bimodal
63% five-star but 27% one-star — mostly billing disputes and difficult cancellation, worth reading before committing annually.
Smaller template library
~150 templates versus Mailchimp's 300+ — a real gap if visual design variety matters to your brand.
MC Mailchimp
The easiest builder to learn
New users can put together a professional campaign with zero design background — consistently the most-praised part of Mailchimp on G2.
The biggest template library in the category
300+ responsive designs with real-time preview — a genuine advantage if design variety matters more than automation depth.
Sends are capped, not unlimited
Mailchimp limits sends to roughly 12x your contact count per month — high-frequency senders can hit this cap faster than expected.
No webinars or funnels at any price
If you run webinars or want built-in conversion funnels, Mailchimp offers neither — you'd need a separate tool entirely.
Trustpilot rating reflects real billing friction
2.9★ with 67% one-star reviews — meaningfully worse than GetResponse's already-mixed 4.2★.
The detail that decides this comparison for most people: if you want webinars, funnels or unlimited sends bundled in, GetResponse's breadth is worth the slightly steeper entry price. If you just need simple, polished newsletters and the best templates, Mailchimp remains the easier start.
What each platform gives you
Email sends
GetResponse: unlimited on every paid plan. Mailchimp: capped at ~12x contact count.
Webinars
GetResponse: native, from Marketer plan up. Mailchimp: not offered.
Landing pages & funnels
GetResponse: unlimited, included. Mailchimp: basic landing pages only.
Automation
GetResponse: included from Starter. Mailchimp: multi-step needs Standard plan.
Templates
Mailchimp: 300+, true drag-and-drop. GetResponse: ~150 templates.
Free plan
GetResponse: 500 contacts. Mailchimp: 250 contacts (cut Feb 2026).
Ecommerce tools
Both offer abandoned cart recovery and product recommendations on paid plans.
AI features
Both include an AI email/content generator on every plan.
Pricing side by side (2026)
GR
All-in-one. Free plan available. Unlimited sends.
MC
Generalist. Free plan available. No webinars.
Both revise pricing regularly and scale with contact count. These are indicative 2026 figures — GetResponse at 1,000 contacts, Mailchimp at 500 contacts, both annual billing. Confirm current plans on getresponse.com and mailchimp.com before buying.
Which one fits you?
GR Choose GetResponse
- Run webinars or want them included without a separate tool
- Send frequently and don't want to worry about send caps
- Want automation on your entry-level paid plan
- Are comfortable testing on monthly billing before committing annually
MC Choose Mailchimp
- Are just starting out and want the easiest learning curve
- Have a small, simple list and value design variety
- Don't need webinars, funnels or unlimited sends
- Value brand recognition and the biggest integration marketplace
These two solve overlapping but genuinely different problems. GetResponse's real advantage is breadth — webinars, funnels and unlimited sends bundled into a fair entry price mean you're less likely to outgrow it and need a second tool. Mailchimp's advantage is polish — the best template library and easiest learning curve in the category, if you don't need what GetResponse bundles in.
The honest caveat on both: read the negative reviews before committing annually. Mailchimp's Trustpilot score (2.9★) is more uniformly negative around billing and support; GetResponse's (4.2★) is bimodal, meaning plenty of people are genuinely happy — but the unhappy 27% describe real cancellation and billing friction too. Test on monthly billing first if you're unsure.
GetResponse vs Mailchimp FAQs
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