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Mailchimp vs Listmonk
Mailchimp vs Listmonk
A side-by-side look at Mailchimp (the paid SaaS) and Listmonk (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Mailchimp | Listmonk | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Email marketing and automations. | Self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free up to 500 contacts; Essentials from $13/month. | Free to self-host |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | No |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Sending plain newsletters at low cost — bring your own SMTP.
Listmonk strengths
- Fast Go binary — single executable.
- Clean UI and import/export tools.
- Bring-your-own-SMTP (Amazon SES, Postmark, etc.).
Listmonk weaknesses
- No drag-and-drop visual builder.
- Deliverability depends on your SMTP setup.
- Not a visual marketing suite — plain newsletter focus.
What's the catch with Mailchimp?
- Pricing scales by contact count.
- Deliverability has been patchy.
- Intuit acquisition changed direction for some users.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Mailchimp: see Mailchimp alternatives, or learn more about Listmonk on its project page.