Campaign Monitor vs Mailchimp

Email marketing is one of the keys that can lock the future success of your business. Two popular platforms that provide this service to SMBs, freelancers, and large organizations are Campaign Monitor and MailChimp.

In the Campaign Monitor vs MailChimp debate, there are certain key points of comparison which stand out for each platform. By recognizing the strengths each can provide, a decision can be made about which one will best meet your needs.

1. Pricing and Campaigns

Campaign Monitor allows users to design their first campaign in just minutes for free. You have full access to the platform’s feature for this design phase so you can get a feel for what the platform can do. Then, if you like what you see, you pay when you’re ready to send out emails to your subscribers. Pricing for the basic plan is $9 per month, with the unlimited plan at $29 per month and the premier plan at $149 per month.

The basic plan allows users to send 2,500 emails to 500 people and provides basic email support with the platform’s core email marketing features and automation. Upgrading to the unlimited plan removes the monthly email cap and adds more dashboard feature. Premier gives users template management and an assigned manager from Campaign Monitor. More subscribers means higher pricing.

MailChimp offers a freemium service that allows you to send out 12,000 emails per month to 2,000 subscribers or fewer. No credit card, contract, or trial is necessary. It is forever free at this level. Paid plans begin at $10 per month, providing unlimited emails to 500 subscribers. Adding an additional 500 subscribers increases the monthly plan charge by $5 each month.

There is also a professional add-on that unlocks additional features for any paid plan that is $199 per month.

2. Automation

Campaign Monitor and MailChimp both offer several automation features to make managing your email campaigns easier. Each offers drip campaign features as well.

3. E-Commerce Integration

Campaign Monitor and MailChimp have e-commerce integration which works with their platforms. Both are compatible with Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. You’ll find apps available to you that let you manage cart abandonment, follow-up with customers to determine satisfaction, and create custom-branded content that is optimized for each touchpoint.

Campaign Monitor includes additional options through Receiptful, Fresh Relevance, MailSync, and SendOwl.

MailChimp offers first-time customers with a note or a new series of content that introduces them to your products or services from the e-commerce platform. You also have category follow-ups, product follow-ups, and track your best customers with ease.

4. Sign-Up Forms

Campaign Monitor and MailChimp allow you to host your own sign-up forms and embed them into your website. Both offer the option to integrate those forms with third-party apps as well if needed. The process of implementing this key feature is quite similar on both platforms and the results looks nearly identical.

5. Social Media

Campaign Monitor and MailChimp allow you to share your email marketing campaigns on Facebook or Twitter or have email recipients share your content to their social media feeds.

Campaign Monitor can integrate with Facebook pages and the lead generation cards that are available on Twitter. Users can share your campaign with their friends and you gain access to a social sharing report that lets you see mentions, likes, and forwards.

MailChimp integrates with Facebook pages and advertising, along with offering Tumblr merge tags. You can install a signup form on Facebook to have new subscribers make it to your list through social media instead of your website. You can also share merge tags to let readers share your campaign materials with their friends. There is also the option of downloading a QR code for each campaign.

6. Split Testing

Both platforms offer A/B split testing.

With Campaign Monitor, advanced testing options are available on the plans that have higher pricing tiers. They have a thorough guide for A/B testing that takes users through the process of designing a testing module to make it as effective as possible.

MailChimp allows you to select the variable you wish to test and then generate a campaign for each combination of that variable. You have up to 3 different combinations you can try, though this option is most effective when testing with a minimum of 5,000 recipients per combination.

In the Campaign Monitor vs MailChimp debate, both platforms have strengths that can help your business grow. Compare the features of each and you’ll be able to determine which option is best for your needs.