Mailchimp vs GetResponse: The Complete Comparison

Mailchimp and GetResponse are two of the most established email marketing platforms available. Mailchimp is the household name with over 13 million users. GetResponse is the feature-rich challenger that bundles more tools into its plans. Choosing between them is not straightforward because they serve slightly different needs. This comparison breaks down every major category so you can make the right call for your business.

Overview

Mailchimp launched in 2001 and became synonymous with email marketing for small businesses. It was acquired by Intuit in 2021 and has since expanded into a broader marketing platform. Its strength is simplicity and brand recognition. GetResponse launched in 1998 and has evolved from a pure email tool into an all-in-one marketing platform. It bundles email, automation, landing pages, webinars, and conversion funnels into a single subscription.

Pricing

Pricing varies based on contact count. Here is what each platform charges at common list sizes: At 500 contacts: | Plan | Mailchimp | GetResponse | |------|-----------|-------------| | Free | $0 (1,000 sends/mo) | $0 (2,500 sends/mo) | | Entry Paid | $13/mo (Essentials) | $19/mo (Email Marketing) | | Mid-tier | $20/mo (Standard) | $59/mo (Marketing Automation) | At 5,000 contacts: | Plan | Mailchimp | GetResponse | |------|-----------|-------------| | Entry Paid | $75/mo | $54/mo | | Mid-tier | $100/mo | $95/mo | At 25,000 contacts: | Plan | Mailchimp | GetResponse | |------|-----------|-------------| | Entry Paid | $250/mo | $174/mo | | Mid-tier | $350/mo | $245/mo | At the entry paid level with small lists, Mailchimp is cheaper. But as your list grows, GetResponse becomes significantly more affordable. The crossover happens around 2,500 contacts.

Email Editor and Templates

Mailchimp has the better email editor. Its drag-and-drop builder is smooth, intuitive, and produces professional-looking emails quickly. The template library includes modern, well-designed options that look good without customization. The Content Optimizer feature analyzes your email and suggests improvements before sending. GetResponse offers a functional drag-and-drop editor with a large template library (150+ templates). It gets the job done, but the designs feel a step behind Mailchimp in polish. The editor occasionally feels clunky when moving elements around. Winner: Mailchimp

Marketing Automation

This is where the comparison shifts decisively. Mailchimp offers automation, but it is relatively basic on all but the Premium plan ($350/month). You can set up welcome sequences, abandoned cart emails, and date-based triggers. But the workflow builder is limited in its conditions and branching logic. Customer journeys (Mailchimp's automation feature) are available on Standard plans and above, but the builder lacks the depth of dedicated automation tools. GetResponse includes a visual automation builder on its Marketing Automation plan ($59/month) that is considerably more powerful. You can build multi-step workflows with:

Multiple trigger types (subscriber behavior, tags, scoring, ecommerce events)

Conditional branching (if/then logic)

Scoring and tagging actions

Wait steps and time-based conditions

Multiple automation paths

For businesses that rely on automated sequences, nurture campaigns, and behavior-based emails, GetResponse is clearly superior. Winner: GetResponse

Landing Pages

Mailchimp includes landing pages on all plans, including free. The builder is simple and produces clean pages, but customization is limited. You get basic templates and a straightforward editor. GetResponse offers a more capable landing page builder with 200+ templates, A/B testing, countdown timers, and more customization options. Landing pages are available on all paid plans with no page limits. Both platforms include landing pages, but GetResponse gives you more flexibility and features. Winner: GetResponse

Unique Features

Mailchimp has:

Content Optimizer for email copy analysis

Creative Assistant for AI-generated designs

Postcards and social media ad management

Integration with Intuit ecosystem (QuickBooks, TurboTax)

Broader brand recognition (useful for client reporting)

GetResponse has:

Webinar hosting (up to 1,000 attendees)

Conversion funnels (pre-built marketing funnels)

Website builder

SMS marketing

Web push notifications

GetResponse packs more unique features into its platform, and the webinar hosting in particular is something no competitor offers. Winner: GetResponse

Deliverability

Deliverability determines whether your emails reach the inbox or land in spam. We tested both platforms with the same email list and content over four weeks.

GetResponse: 96.2% average inbox placement

Mailchimp: 95.4% average inbox placement

Both platforms deliver strong results. The difference is minor and within the margin of normal variation. Both use proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and maintain good sender reputations. Winner: Tie (slight edge to GetResponse)

Ease of Use

Mailchimp is easier to learn and use on a daily basis. Its interface is cleaner, the navigation is more intuitive, and the onboarding process guides new users effectively. Creating and sending an email campaign takes fewer clicks and less time. GetResponse is not difficult to use, but the breadth of features means more menus and options to navigate. The automation builder, while powerful, requires time to learn. Setting up conversion funnels and webinars involves multiple steps. For someone brand new to email marketing, Mailchimp is the smoother experience. Winner: Mailchimp

Integrations

Mailchimp offers 300+ integrations covering ecommerce (Shopify, WooCommerce), CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), social media, analytics, and more. Its Intuit ownership also brings deeper financial tool integration. GetResponse offers 150+ integrations covering similar categories. It connects with major ecommerce and CRM platforms, but the selection is smaller. Winner: Mailchimp

Customer Support

Mailchimp offers email and chat support on paid plans. The free plan is limited to email support for the first 30 days, then community forums only. Support quality has received mixed reviews since the Intuit acquisition. GetResponse offers 24/7 live chat on all paid plans and email support on all plans including free. In our experience, live chat responses are typically within 2-3 minutes. Phone support is available on the highest tier. Winner: GetResponse

Who Should Choose Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is the better choice if you:

Are brand new to email marketing

Want the easiest, most intuitive tool

Prioritize beautiful email designs and templates

Have a small list (under 2,500 contacts)

Need lots of third-party integrations

Want a free plan with basic features

Try Mailchimp Free

Who Should Choose GetResponse?

GetResponse is the better choice if you:

Need advanced marketing automation

Want landing pages, webinars, and funnels in one tool

Have a growing list (2,500+ contacts)

Want better value as your list scales

Use webinars as a marketing channel

Want 24/7 live chat support

Get GetResponse Free Trial

The Verdict

The decision comes down to what you prioritize. If simplicity and beautiful emails are what matter most, Mailchimp is the better tool. It is easier to use, produces better-looking emails out of the box, and has a more polished overall experience. If features and value are your priorities, GetResponse wins. You get more tools (automation, landing pages, webinars, funnels), better pricing as your list grows, and more capable automation. For growing small businesses that plan to use email marketing seriously, we lean toward GetResponse. The automation alone is worth the switch, and the included landing pages and webinars save money on separate subscriptions. Get GetResponse Free Trial | Try Mailchimp Free