HubSpot vs Mailchimp: Honest Comparison (2026)
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HubSpot
★8.4/10WINNER
CRM platform with marketing, sales, and service hubs
Free PlanFrom $20/mo
Visit HubSpot ↗VS
Mailchimp
★7.8/10
All-in-one marketing platform for growing businesses
Free PlanFrom $13/mo
Visit Mailchimp ↗🏆HubSpot wins with 8.4/10 — leading by 0.6 points
TL;DR
HubSpot wins this comparison with a score of 8.4/10 vs 7.8/10. Both offer free plans. Choose HubSpot for features, or Mailchimp for better value.
HubSpot and Mailchimp have grown beyond their origins into comprehensive marketing platforms. HubSpot started as a CRM, Mailchimp as email marketing. Both now offer automation, landing pages, and analytics.
Key Differences at a Glance
Free CRM
✓HubSpot: Full CRM
Mailchimp: Basic contacts
Email Marketing
HubSpot: Good
✓Mailchimp: Excellent
Automation
✓HubSpot: Advanced (paid)
Mailchimp: Basic
Quick Verdict
For small businesses focused on email marketing, Mailchimp offers better value. For growing businesses needing CRM and advanced automation, HubSpot is more powerful but more expensive.
Overall Score Comparison
8.4
HubSpot
3 categories won
VS
7.8
Mailchimp
2 categories won
Category
HubSpot
Mailchimp
🏆Overall Score
8.4
▲
◀
7.8
💫Ease of Use
8.0
▶
▲
8.5
⚙Features
9.0
▲
◀
7.8
💰Value for Money
6.5
▶
▲
7.0
💬Customer Support
8.5
▲
◀
7.0
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | HubSpot | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | ||
| Free CRM | Full CRM | Basic contacts |
| Email Marketing | Good | Excellent |
| Automation | ||
| Automation | Advanced (paid) | Basic |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting Price | $20/mo | $13/mo |
| UX | ||
| Ease of Use | Moderate | Easy |
| Extensibility | ||
| Integrations | 1500+ | 300+ |
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Feature | HubSpot | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Trial | Not available | Not available |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 3 |
| Value Rating | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 |
HubSpot Plans
Free Tools
Free- \u2713Contact management
- \u2713Email marketing
- \u2713Forms
- \u2713Live chat
StarterPOPULAR
$20/mo- \u2713Remove branding
- \u2713Email scheduling
- \u27131000 contacts
Professional
$890/mo- \u2713Marketing automation
- \u2713A/B testing
- \u2713Custom reporting
Mailchimp Plans
Free
Free- \u2713500 contacts
- \u27131000 emails/mo
- \u2713Email builder
EssentialsPOPULAR
$13/mo- \u2713500 contacts
- \u27135000 emails/mo
- \u2713A/B testing
- \u271324/7 support
Standard
$20/mo- \u2713500 contacts
- \u27136000 emails/mo
- \u2713Customer journey builder
💰
Best Value: MailchimpBased on starting price and value-for-money rating
Which Should You Choose?
Choose HubSpot if...
You are a small business focused on email marketing, want simple and affordable tools, need a free plan with basic email, or prefer a lower learning curve.
Choose Mailchimp if...
You need CRM and marketing in one platform, want advanced automation and lead scoring, are building inbound marketing, or need comprehensive reporting.
Still not sure?
Explore alternatives and pricing for both tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
For businesses leveraging the full CRM and marketing platform, HubSpot delivers excellent ROI. For email-only needs, Mailchimp is significantly more affordable.
Mailchimp has stronger native e-commerce integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce.
Yes, HubSpot offers migration tools. Contact lists, templates, and workflows can be transferred in 1-2 weeks.
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The Bottom Line
HubSpot edges out Mailchimp with a 8.4/5 vs 7.8/5 rating — a moderate edge.
For small businesses focused on email marketing, Mailchimp offers better value. For growing businesses needing CRM and advanced automation, HubSpot is more powerful but more expensive. Ultimately, HubSpot offers a moderate edge overall, but Mailchimp may still be the better pick depending on your specific priorities and budget.