On this page
- 01The five side by side
- 02Brevo: for a big list that rarely sends
- 03MailerLite: for those who want it simple
- 04Flexmail: Belgian, with local support
- 05What each tool does well
- 06Klaviyo: for your webshop
- 07Maileon: German, for bigger teams
- 08Free Mailchimp alternatives
- 09Mailchimp alternatives in the UK and Europe
- 10What you have to sort out anywhere
- 11Have it moved for you
You pick a Mailchimp alternative by what bothers you. If it is the price, look at tools that charge differently. If it is the language or where data is stored, look at European tools. If it is your webshop, look at a tool built for that. Five tools come back in almost every small-business comparison: Brevo, MailerLite, Flexmail, Klaviyo and Maileon.
Mailchimp itself is not bad. The editor is good, there are many integrations and the flows work. But the free plan stops at 250 contacts, unsubscribed contacts count towards your price, and the company is American. For many small businesses in Europe, that is reason enough to look further. What Mailchimp costs exactly is in Mailchimp pricing.
The five side by side
| Tool | Where it comes from | Free plan | Paid entry | Charges by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | France | 300 emails a day | Starter from 7 euro a month | Emails sent |
| MailerLite | Europe | 2,500 emails a month | Comfort from 12 dollars a month | Subscribers |
| Flexmail | Belgium | None, a trial account | Start 17 euro a month for 1,000 contacts | Contacts |
| Klaviyo | United States | 250 profiles, 500 emails a month | Paid above the free limit | Profiles |
| Maileon | Germany | None | On request | On request |
| Mailchimp, for comparison | United States | 250 contacts, 500 emails a month | Essentials from 11.73 euro a month | Contacts, unsubscribed too |
Prices on 1 November 2026, for the smallest list and excluding VAT.
Paying per contact or per email
- Tools
- Paying per contactMailchimp, Flexmail, Klaviyo, MailerLite
- Paying per email sentBrevo
- Cheap for
- Paying per contactA small list that sends often
- Paying per email sentA big list that rarely sends
- Dear for
- Paying per contactA big list with many sleepers
- Paying per email sentA small list that sends every day
- Cleaning pays
- Paying per contactYes, each contact costs money
- Paying per email sentLess, but it helps your delivery
Brevo: for a big list that rarely sends
Brevo charges for the number of emails you send, not the number of contacts. With 3,000 customers and one email a month, you pay Brevo for 3,000 emails, not for 3,000 contacts that sit there all year. The free plan gives 300 emails a day. Starter begins at 7 euro a month, Standard at 15 euro, with 10 percent off on a yearly plan. Brevo also has SMS, a simple CRM and transactional email. On the free plan, the Brevo logo sits in every email; on Starter you remove it with a paid add-on.
MailerLite: for those who want it simple
MailerLite has the calmest editor of the five. The free plan gives 2,500 emails a month, with three automations. Comfort costs 12 dollars a month, Power 25 dollars, with 10 percent off on a yearly plan: 10.80 and 22.50 dollars a month. Every paid plan has all features; you pay more for a bigger list or more sending. Want a newsletter and a welcome flow without a manual? This is a good fit.
Flexmail: Belgian, with local support
Flexmail is the only tool of the five based in Belgium. Start costs 17 euro a month for 1,000 contacts, or 15 euro a month on a yearly plan. Essential costs 34 euro, Pro 78 euro. There is no free plan, but there is a trial account. For a business selling in Belgium that wants invoicing and support close by, or that works with a Belgian public body, that is a strong argument.
Moving your list out of Mailchimp
- Export with consentContacts, status, tags and sign-up date. That date is your proof.
- Clean before you moveLeave unsubscribed and cleaned addresses behind.
- Set up your domainNew SPF and DKIM records for the new tool, keep the old ones for a while.
- Rebuild your flowsWelcome, abandoned cart, after a purchase. Test them with your own address.
- Start with your most active readersFor the first weeks, send to those who open often, so the new tool builds a good name.
- Cancel MailchimpOnly once the last email through Mailchimp has gone and your forms point to the new tool.
What each tool does well
| Tool | Strong in | Less strong in |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Big lists, SMS and transactional email in one tool | Logo on the free plan, paid add-on on Starter |
| MailerLite | A calm editor, all features on every paid plan | Prices in dollars |
| Flexmail | Local support, Belgian invoicing | No free plan |
| Klaviyo | Emails based on behaviour in your webshop | Too heavy for a service business |
| Maileon | Big teams, roles, European servers | No public prices |
Linking your tool to a CRM? Check first which integrations exist. Flows that do more than email fall under marketing automation.
Klaviyo: for your webshop
Klaviyo is built around what customers do in your webshop. An email after an abandoned cart, an email when a product is back in stock, a discount after the third purchase: it is all there by default. The link with Shopify and WooCommerce is strong. The free plan is small, 250 profiles and 500 emails a month; above that you pay by number of profiles. For a webshop with many orders it often earns itself back; for a service business it is too much.
Maileon: German, for bigger teams
Maileon comes from Germany and runs on European servers. It aims at bigger teams with many lists, roles and approvals. Prices are not public; you ask for a quote. For a small business with a list of a few thousand addresses it is usually too heavy. If you work for customers who require European storage, put it on your list.
Free Mailchimp alternatives
Looking for a free alternative? Three remain: Brevo, MailerLite and Klaviyo. Brevo is the roomiest for a big list, MailerLite for those who send often, Klaviyo only for a small webshop. How to start on a free plan is in create a newsletter for free.
Mailchimp alternatives in the UK and Europe
In the UK, Mailchimp shows prices in pounds excluding VAT, and the tier jumps fast as your list grows. Brevo, MailerLite and Klaviyo all sell in the UK too. A European alternative to Mailchimp would be Brevo, Maileon or Flexmail. Check each tool's data processing agreement and where your data lives, and name the tool in your privacy policy. What the GDPR asks of your website applies to your sign-up form as well.
What you have to sort out anywhere
Whichever tool you pick, three things stay your job. Your domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, to check with our DMARC checker. Consent from those you email: read what double opt-in means. And a newsletter someone wants to read: how to write a newsletter and the subject line tester help. How email fits your wider marketing is in email marketing strategy.
Have it moved for you
Want someone to make the choice, move the contacts and rebuild your flows? See our email marketing services. Using Mailchimp mostly as a CRM? Read our piece on HubSpot alternatives too; flows that touch your CRM and calendar we build under AI and automation. Rather talk first? Send us a message.
Switching without losing subscribers
- You know how many contacts you have and how many emails you send a month
- You have the date and source of sign-up for each contact
- You have kept unsubscribed addresses apart
- You know which forms and integrations point to Mailchimp
- You have a list of your automated flows
Alternatives to Mailchimp, briefly
What is the best free alternative to Mailchimp?
For a big list that rarely sends, Brevo, with 300 emails a day. For a small list that sends often, MailerLite, with 2,500 emails a month.
Is there a European alternative to Mailchimp?
Brevo is French, Maileon German and Flexmail Belgian. Check each one's data processing agreement.
Which Mailchimp alternative suits a webshop?
Klaviyo is built for webshops, with strong Shopify and WooCommerce links. Brevo is a cheaper option for a smaller shop.
Will I lose subscribers if I switch?
No, if you export them with their status and sign-up date. Leave unsubscribed addresses behind.