HubSpot vs Mailchimp

HubSpot vs Mailchimp Which One’s Better This Year?

Email marketing is not easy, especially if you don’t have the necessary tools to automate your campaigns and get real-time reports on their performance. Two of the most popular and reliable email marketing platforms you can rely on to make your job easier are Mailchimp and HubSpot. Learn more about their features in this Hubspot vs Mailchimp comparison.

Written by Ria du Plessis - Digital Marketing Expert

Updated 9/1/2021

 


HubSpot logo
Hubspot Review


Mailchimp logo
Mailchimp Review

Score

8.3/10

8.4/10

Summary

HubSpot provides an all-in-one marketing platform with built-in CRM and multiple integrations. 

Mailchimp is a user-friendly tool. It provides great automation and templates.

 

HubSpot vs Mailchimp - Quick Comparison

 

HubSpot logo

Mailchimp logo

Pros 

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Built-in CRM
  • Myriad templates 
  • Resource library, training and certifications
  • Form builder
  • Landing page and email templates
  • Great automation
  • Drag-and-drop editor 

Cons 

  • Workflows can be confusing
  • Onboarding fee
  • Hard to configure 
  • The landing page templates could be improved 
  • Available only in English 
  • The templates could be more modern
  • The customer support options are limited for the lower tiers

Key Features

  • Automated workflows
  • Reporting features
  • CRM
  • Different templates: landing pages, emails, forms 
  • Automated workflows
  • Numerous integrations
  • In-depth reports 
  • A/B testing

Pricing

  • Free plan 
  • $45/month Starter plan
  • $800 Professional plan
  • $3,200 Enterprise plan
  • Free plan
  • Essential plan -$9.99 
  • Standard plan - $14.99 
  • Premium plan - $299 

Support

  • Chat
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Knowledge base
  • Email
  • Live chat
  • Training guides 

Ease of Use

  • Modern, intuitive dashboard 
  • Overview of your actions
  •  Easy to import contacts 
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Checklist-style interface
  • Training materials 

Best fit for

Companies of any size can rely on this powerful and complex marketing tool.  

Marketers, small companies, freelancers who are looking for an easy-to-use email marketing platform. 

Social Media Integrations and Ads

Social media integrations and ads allow you to connect your social accounts with your email marketing tool and easily manage your marketing strategy from one platform only. 

HubSpot Social Media Integrations and Ads 

HubSpot offers different social media integrations. You can easily create content for these channels and post it directly from your HubSpot account. You can also track these posts and get reports on their performance. The social media marketing features are available with the Professional plan, but you can access the ad management tool even with the Starter tier. 

Mailchimp Social Media Integrations and Ads 

Mailchimp provides a set of basic social media management features regardless of the pricing plan you purchase. There is a comprehensive variety of tools you can access such as targeted ads or post scheduling. All the major social channels such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram can be integrated with Mailchimp, and the ads configuration feature is available for Facebook, Google, or Instagram. Different reports and stats regarding your social media accounts are also available. 

The verdict 

Mailchimp wins because it allows all its users to gain access to social media tools. 

Landing Pages 

Landing pages can help you gather leads and consolidate your marketing strategy. Let’s see what you can get from HubSpot vs Mailchimp.

Mailchimp Landing Pages

Mailchimp provides you the tools you need to build a website, landing pages included. This platform offers you templates for websites or landing pages. There is no limit on the number of landing pages you create with Mailchimp. 

Their templates are optimized in order to look good on any device and you can easily create and implement this type of content through the platform’s drag-and-drop editor. Mailchimp also allows you to automatically tag the contacts that fill out the forms on these pages.

HubSpot Landing Pages

HubSpot also features a set of landing pages tools. You can access them with the Starter plan or the successive tiers. The more advanced your plan is, the more landing page customization tools you will get. With the Professional plan, you can enjoy full-service landing pages. There are different user-friendly forms you can use for your landing pages to collect customer data. Moreover, there is also the possibility to import the data you have gathered from other locations. 

The verdict

Because Mailchimp allows you to access their landing pages templates even with the free tier, we consider it the winner. 

In-built CRM

An email marketing platform is all the more useful if it can also provide you an in-built CRM. This tool helps you manage your contacts easily and get useful insight into their demographics or purchase behavior. 

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot’s CRM offers valuable customer insights and the possibility to segment your audience and manage your contacts with ease. You can create customized properties for your contacts’ list and use them when you segment your audience based on different email campaigns. 

There is no limit to the number of custom properties you can create and you can easily combine these properties while further segmenting your list. This feature is available both for the free and paid plans.

Mailchimp CRM

Mailchimp’s CRM helps you easily manage all your contacts from your dashboard without having to switch between different tools. This CRM provides you a holistic view of your customers. 

With the help of this tool, you can see where most contacts are coming from, how they interacted with your email campaigns, when they joined your list, what blogs they’ve read on your website, what products they’ve purchased from your store, and plenty other essential aspects that will help you understand your audience better. You can create detailed customer profiles from this CRM and use them while segmenting your audience.

The verdict

We consider HubSpot better because it offers unlimited properties to all its users.

Automation 

A platform that provides good automation helps you engage leads and move them through the sales funnel easier. Let’s see how HubSpot and Mailchimp can help you automate your email campaigns. 

HubSpot Automation 

HubSpot’s marketing automation tool provides you with all the insights you need into your customers’ journey. Based on the actions your leads take, the tool will automatically send them personalized emails. You can easily check where your buyers are in the sales funnel in order to speed up the conversion process. Moreover, the integrated CRM and the rich segmentation features contribute to personalizing each potential buyer’s experience. 

Mailchimp Automation 

You can also set up numerous automated workflows from this platform. Some of its automated emails include: welcome messages, abandoned cart emails, order or booking notifications, product retargeting messages. 

You get behavior-based automation and data-based automation in order to customize the workflows you implement and boost your email marketing efforts’ effectiveness. The automated re-engagement campaigns are particularly useful in bringing back customers who are no longer interested in your brand or rewarding loyal ones. 

The verdict

We prefer HubSpot this time because its automated workflows can be very detailed and versatile and therefore able to meet a variety of different needs.

You may also like the following comparison: Campaign Monitor vs Mailchimp

Pricing Plans

To understand which one of these two tools is better for your marketing needs you need to compare their pricing plans in relation to the features they offer. Here is a short HubSpot vs Mailchimp comparison. 

HubSpot Pricing Plans

There are four different plans you can get if you want to use HubSpot. This platform has a free tier that offers access to a limited number of features. The first paid plan costs $45/month, it’s called the Starter plan and it enables you to use the landing pages, live chat, forms, ad management, list management, and automation, among others.

The next tier, the Professional plan, costs $800 per month and, besides the package of tools you also get with the Starter plan, this one also includes website traffic analysis, salesforce integrations, customized reports, and campaign reports. The most advanced plan, the Enterprise plan, costs $3,200 per month and it grants access to a wide range of complex features including user roles for teams, email send frequency cap, custom objects, adaptive testing, programmable chatbots, multi-touch revenue attribution, predictive lead scoring.

Mailchimp Pricing Plans

Mailchimp also features several pricing plans, including a free tier that is extremely useful for small companies as it can cover all their needs and can be used for up to 2,000 contacts. Mailchimp’s Essential plan starts from $9.99 per month and it is ideal for frequent email campaigns as it allows you to have up to 50,000 contacts. The number of emails this plan supports is 10 times the number of contacts. 

The Standard plan starts at $14.99 and it is suitable for businesses that need more insight into their audience. This plan can help you store up to 100,000 contacts and it also provides different optimization options, dynamic content, and behavioral tagging. The final tier is the Premium plan. The prices for this plan start at $299. This plan allows you to store 200,000 contacts and some of the extra features it includes are comparative reports and multivariate tests.

The verdict

We consider Mailchimp the winner because it is more affordable. However, Hubspot’s plans include a wider array of different features that can meet different business needs. 

Ease of Use

User-friendliness is one of the main advantages you might be looking for when you decide to purchase an email marketing campaign. 

HubSpot Ease of Use 

This platform’s interface is quite intuitive and modern. You can easily learn where each one of the main functions is and how to use it. As you work with this tool, you get a clear overview of your activity. 

Once you log into your account, you can see all the main tabs at the top of your dashboard, which makes navigation easier. Overall, this platform provides a good user experience and lots of useful educational and training resources that will help you out.

Mailchimp Ease of Use

Mailchimp helps you get started easily, without having to go through numerous tutorials or user guides. Starting with the sign-up process, which takes very little time, this platform aims and manages to offer a smooth user experience. The drag-and-drop email builder contributes to meeting this goal. 

The dashboard is easy to get used to. To access the features, you simply have to click on a drop-down menu. You also get comprehensive training and educational resources.

The verdict 

Both platforms offer a user-friendly dashboard, an easy sign-up process and sufficient training resources. We consider it a tie.

You may also like the following comparison: Aweber vs Mailchimp

Integrations

Integrations allow you to connect your email marketing account to different other marketing tools or social media channels. There are different integrations you might need for your business, find out which one of these two platforms offers them. 

HubSpot Integrations

HubSpot can provide you with 100+ integrations. This platform can connect to some of the most popular and useful marketing apps, as well as multiple management tools, or social media platforms. Some of the integrations you benefit from with this email marketing software include Zapier, SalesForce, WordPress, Facebook, SurveyMonkey, Slack, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, or even Mailchimp. 

Mailchimp Integrations 

Mailchimp offers more than 250 integrations. Many of the integrations you get with HubSpot are also available with Mailchimp. Some of the apps and tools you can connect to your Mailchimp account include Facebook, Canva, SimpleTexting, Google Analytics, Reportei, Unsplash, Zendesk, WordPress, Mixpanel, Firebase, Linkedin, Vimeo, ShopSync, WooCommerce, Shopware, Patreon, Chargebee, Humanitix, and plenty more. 

The verdict 

When it comes to integrations, more means better, so Mailchimp is the winner in this contest. 

Reporting 

Both HubSpot and Mailchimp will track your progress and provide you the data you need in order to understand how successful your email campaigns are.  

HubSpot Reporting 

Hubspot offers different reports and analyses. This platform also includes an ad-on that allows you to easily customize your reports, or get standard ones, based on different data sets. HubSpot’s upper tiers enable you to generate 20 custom reports

For the Enterprise plan, 500 customizable reports are available. You can get different types of reports with HubSpot so that you can understand your email campaigns’ performance (open rate, HTML click maps, etc.), your social media posts’ success, but also your advertising ROI. 

Mailchimp Reporting 

Mailchimp helps you easily track the result of your campaigns. There is a separate menu section for this feature. After clicking on the Reports tab, you will get quick access to essential data regarding your email marketing campaigns such as the number of people who have opened your emails, clicked links, the number of emails that were not read or open, etc. You can also get comparative reports with Mailchimp. 

The verdict 

Both platforms offer similar reporting tools and comparative reports. Mailchimp provides you the data you need at a glance, however, HubSpot allows you to easily customize your reports. For this reason, we consider HubSpot the winner. 

You may also like the following comparison: Sendinblue vs Mailchimp

Customer Support 

You shouldn’t overlook the customer support service your future email marketing software can provide you. Whether you opt for Mailchimp or Hubspot, you should be able to get prompt and professional help when needed. 

HubSpot Customer Support 

To be able to access HubSpot’s customer support options, you need to create an account and log in if you want to get in touch with their support team. You can either chat with an agent, send an email, or call. However, the plan you’ve purchased will dictate what type of support you can benefit from. 

Phone support is only available with the Pro and Enterprise plans. Email support and live chat are also available with the Starter plan. Moreover, there is also a community of users you can turn to for help and tips on how to use the platform. HubSpot also offers its product and documentation resources in multiple languages, not only in English.

Mailchimp Customer Support 

Mailchimp offers quick support and the good news is that you can benefit from it 24/7. All payment plans include customer assistance. Based on the plan you’ve got, you get different types of support; the Premium plan includes phone support. The Standard and Essential plans only benefit from email and chat support

For the free tier, you also get access to email support. Once you create an account, you can also enjoy unlimited access to the platform’s knowledge base.

The verdict 

HubSpot is available in multiple languages, which makes it more suitable for international teams, we consider it the winner. 

When to Use Each

Each one of these two tools is more suitable for particular needs. Here is a quick comparison. 

When to Use HubSpot 

HubSpot offers more than an email marketing tool. This is a well-rounded growth platform that can help you attract new leads and easily walk them through the sales funnel by leveraging the power of automation. This platform has an in-built CRM that’s extremely useful for companies with a large customer base that need to handle all their contacts from one account only. HubSpot provides you all the tools you need to customize your email campaigns and see where your customers are at each step of the buyer’s journey. HubSpot can support companies of all sizes.

When to Use Mailchimp 

Mailchimp offers all the basic tools a marketer might require to set up a successful email marketing campaign and plenty of other extras. This is an intuitive platform where you can easily access and use all the standard features such as templates, workflows, segmentation features, or reports. Mailchimp is perfect for individuals and small businesses, and its pricing plans are also suitable for these two groups. 

HubSpot vs Mailchimp Pros and Cons

Each one of the two email marketing platforms we compared in this article has its pros and cons. Here is a quick comparison. 

HubSpot Pros and Cons 

HubSpot is a complex marketing platform. It provides you with a lot of different features that can help you automate your email campaigns and achieve other marketing goals. You can easily manage your contacts and gain insights into your audience thanks to their built-in CRM, which allows you to segment your contacts and create targeted campaigns easier. HubSpot also offers social media accounts management and ads, as well as a plethora of customizable reports. Nonetheless, this tool provides fewer integrations than Mailchimp, and its plans are more expensive. 

Mailchimp Pros and Cons

Mailchimp is a highly intuitive platform that offers you all the tools you need to create engaging and beautiful emails. There are numerous templates you can use to create your email campaigns, landing pages, or forms. The dashboard is neatly organized so that you don’t need to waste too much time figuring out how to access or use a feature. 

There are also plenty of useful training resources to help you out, and the platform boasts more integrations than HubSpot. Nonetheless, Mailchimp’s interface and correlated support resources are only available in English and, although this platform offers reliable customizable automation and reports, it doesn’t equal the level of complexity you get with HubSpot.

Alternatives to HubSpot or Mailchimp

  • Sendinblue: is one of the best alternatives you can opt for if you believe that neither Mailchimp nor HubSpot email marketing platforms can meet your needs. Sendinblue’s pricing plans start at $25 and the platform provides a vast array of features including a built-in CRM, live chat box, integrations, rich segmentation features, customizable funnels, personalized forms, etc.
  • Constant Contact: This is one of the oldest email marketing tools on the market. Its prices start at $20/month. Some of the features you can access include an engagement tracking tool, auto-responders, invitation management tools, list segmentation, integrations with third-party apps, educational resources, etc.

Final Winner: 

Mailchimp

Both HubSpot and Mailchimp are great email marketing tools. Each of these platforms is more suitable for different users, and it’s worth keeping in mind that HubSpot is a complete digital marketing solution whose functionality goes beyond email marketing. However, from our perspective, if you are looking for a reliable and affordable email marketing solution, Mailchimp is a better choice. This platform offers customizable templates, reliable lead tracking features, myriad integrations, social media tools, and a user-friendly interface.

Check out our other comparisons

campaign monitor vs mailchimpaweber vs mailchimpSendinblue vs Mailchimp