MailChimp Alternatives: 7 Best Free and Paid Options (2025)

‍Email marketing can be a game-changer for small nonprofits—if the tools don’t hold you back.

Many small nonprofits turn to Mailchimp for its reputation and free plan. But here’s the problem: the free version limits you to just one user, caps your emails at 1,000 sends per month, and restricts essential features like segmentation and customization. These limits can quickly become roadblocks for a growing organization trying to engage donors, share updates, and run campaigns.

That’s why we've put together this blog—to explore the best Mailchimp alternatives for small nonprofits that need more flexibility, features, and support, without breaking their budget.

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7 MailChimp Alternatives for Nonprofits Compared

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Why should your nonprofit consider a MailChimp alternative?

Though MailChimp is a popular email marketing tool that offers nonprofit discounted pricing as well as a few free perks, the platform can be restrictive. Nonprofits might consider alternative nonprofit tech tools that offer better: 

• Cost: MailChimp's pricing can get steep as your contact list grows or as your need for features increases.

• Customization: Nonprofits might require more flexibility in email design and segmentation to effectively engage diverse audiences. Some alternatives offer more customizable templates and advanced segmentation options compared to MailChimp’s free plan.

• Nonprofit-specific features: MailChimp is only an email service provider that offers email marketing service. Other platforms offer a variety of tools and platforms for fundraising, event management, and donor relationship management.

• Customer support: Nonprofits, especially those with limited technical expertise, benefit from robust customer support and training resources. With MailChimp, users have to pay for personalized assistance.

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What makes the best MailChimp alternative for your nonprofit?

When looking for a MailChimp alternative for your nonprofit, be sure to consider:

• Affordability: Look for a platform that offers pricing plans tailored to nonprofits or provides generous discounts. Ensure that the pricing aligns with your budget and offers scalability as your email list grows.

• Ease of use: Opt for a user-friendly interface with intuitive email editors, automation workflows, and reporting tools. Nonprofits often have limited time and resources, so a platform that is easy to navigate and doesn't require extensive training is essential.

• Customization: Choose a nonprofit email marketing platform that allows you to create emails that reflect your nonprofit's branding and messaging.

• Integrations: Consider a platform that integrates seamlessly with other tools and software your nonprofit uses, such as CRM systems, fundraising platforms, and event management software.

• Automations: Look for robust automation capabilities that enable you to set up automated email campaigns, such as welcome series, donation reminders, and event follow-ups.

• Analytics and reporting: Choose a platform that provides comprehensive analytics to track the performance of your email campaigns. Metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates help you understand what resonates with your audience.

• Customer support: Select a provider that offers excellent customer support tailored to nonprofits, including live chat, email support, and extensive knowledge bases or resources. 

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7 MailChimp Alternatives for Nonprofits

• 1. Zeffy: Best free email marketing tool for nonprofits

• 2. Hubspot: Best for A/B testing

• 3. Mailerlite: Best for small and medium-sized nonprofits

• 4. Sendinblue/Brevo: Best for CRM access

• 5. Campaign Monitor: Best for AI integrations

• 6. Constant Contact: Best for email marketing support

• 7. ConvertKit: Best for automations

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1. Zeffy: Best free email marketing tool for nonprofits

Zeffy is an all-in-one fundraising platform that offers nonprofits a full suite of tools for free: peer-to-peer campaign creation, raffles and lotteries features, donor management, email marketing, and other advanced features.

With Zeffy, nonprofits can send targeted, personalized emails right from the platform — without paying a cent. Unlike other email marketing tools, organizations can send as many custom and targeted emails they need, and even automate them, too. Plus, Zeffy has it's own built-in CRM so nonprofits can rest easy knowing that all of their data is synced and up-to-date.

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Standout features:

• Automatically generate and send tax receipts

• Create custom lists for emailing and personalized campaigns

• View stats like: open rate, clicks and unsubscribes

• Set up automated reminder emails

• Send emails to custom lists and segmented donors

• Add Pre-filled fundraising form links to your emails

• Store all your donor data

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Cons/limitations:

Zeffy is 100% free—there are no platform or transaction fees. While many email marketing tools take fees away from your mission, Zeffy delivers 100% of it to your nonprofit

User testimonial:

“Zeffy is very easy to use and ensures that every dollar donors have given to our small and recently set up nonprofit quickly gets into our account so we can do our important work. Minimizing costs is important for every nonprofit, but especially those just starting up. A huge help to our work!” — Nathan C.

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Rating:

4.9/5

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2. Hubspot: Best for A/B testing

HubSpot is an all-in-one email marketing software, sales, and customer service platform that offers a suite of tools for managing email marketing, CRM, social media, content management, and more. It's known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features designed to help businesses and nonprofits attract, engage, and delight customers.

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Standout features:

• Customizable templates and personalization features

• Integrated CRM system for managing contacts

• Content management system (CMS) for creating and managing content

• Advanced analytics and reporting features

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Cons/limitations: 

The platform can be expensive, especially for nonprofits with limited budgets — the free plan limits users, analytics insights, support, and the number of emails sends a month. Meaning, users have to pay more as they grow.

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Nonprofit pricing:

HubSpot offers 40% off discounted pricing for eligible nonprofits through its HubSpot for Nonprofits program. 

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User testimonial:

“I'm the first email marketing manager for our organization, and I'm thrilled to have Hubspot on my side to thoroughly track conversions and meet & exceed email marketing goals across our various audiences including donors, members, ticket purchasers, and community leaders.” —Tiffany C.

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Rating:

4.4/5

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3. Mailerlite: Best for small and medium-sized nonprofits

MailerLite provides a user-friendly platform tailored for nonprofits to execute effective email marketing automation and donor communications. With its intuitive interface and affordable pricing, it offers essential features to engage donors and drive conversions.

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Standout features:

• Drag-and-drop email editor 

• Segmentation and personalization tools 

• Automated workflows

• Real-time analytics 

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Cons/limitations:

While Mailerlite has a free plan, it caps users at 3,000 emails, offers few templates compared to paid plans, and doesn't offer support or analytics.

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Nonprofit pricing:

Mailerlite offers 30% off for qualifying nonprofits.

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User testimonial:

“The free version is perfect for a small nonprofit like ours because our mailing list is still small and our budget is so small, that we need every penny we can save for our programs. The resources you provide (how-to's, etc) are great as well.” — Pamela L.

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Rating:

4.7/5

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4. Sendinblue/Brevo: Best for CRM access

Sendinblue (now Brevo) is an all-in-one CRM and email marketing solution offering robust email marketing tools tailored for nonprofits to enhance donor communications and engagement. Its affordability and ease of use make it an attractive option for organizations seeking to maximize their outreach efforts.

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Standout features:

• User-friendly email editor 

• Unlimited contacts

• Customizable templates and personalization options

• Automation workflows

• Integration with CRM for seamless donor management 

• SMS marketing capabilities to complement email communications 

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Cons/limitations:

Brevo's free plan offers limited support, no A/B testing, no automation, and limited access to other features. 

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Nonprofit pricing:

Brevo offers nonprofits a 15% discount on the Enterprise license.

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User testimonial:

“We were looking for a marketing tool that would accomodate our need to have everything available in 12+ languages. It's also a great marketing tool for SMS and Email campaigns on its own. We are switching from other marketing tools and Sendinblue seems to perform better on every aspect. Workflows and automation are reliable and do not have a strong delay.” — Nikita V.

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Rating:

4.5/5

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5. Campaign Monitor: Best for AI integrations

Campaign Monitor is an email marketing platform that specializes in helping organizations create, send, and track engaging email marketing campaigns. It offers a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and advanced features to communicate with donors, supporters, and volunteers effectively.

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Standout features:

• Customizable email templates 

• Segmentation and personalization 

• Analytics and reporting 

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Cons/limitations:

Users have to pay to get access to Campaign Monitor's full suite of tools and features. 

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Nonprofit pricing:

Campaign Monitor offers a nonprofit discount of 15% .

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User testimonial:

“Campaign Monitor is your tool to manage a few lists and send simple emails with the drag-and-drop template editor. It can be an excellent first tool to start marketing campaigns.” — Karl L.

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Rating:

4.1/5

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6. Constant Contact: Best for email marketing support

Constant Contact is a widely-used email marketing platform offering intuitive tools for nonprofits to create, send, and track engaging campaigns. Its user-friendly interface and extensive support resources make it an accessible choice for organizations of all sizes.

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Standout features:

• Drag-and-drop email editor

• Automation features

• Integration options with CRM platforms 

• Real-time reporting dashboards

• Extensive support resources, including tutorials, webinars, and community forums

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Cons/limitations:

Constant Contact doesn't offer a free plan

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Nonprofit pricing:

The platform offers nonprofits a 20% 6-month prepay discount and 30% for a 12-month prepay. 

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User testimonial:

“Constant Contact truly is one of the best CRM platforms. Our small nonprofit uses Constant Contact for monthly newsletters, e-blasts, reminders, giving campaigns and so much more! We cannot recommend it enough! Customer support is top notch and always willing to help when needed.” — Anne-Harrison L.

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Rating:

4.0/5

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7. ConvertKit: Best for automations

ConvertKit is a specialized email marketing platform designed for creators and bloggers, offering powerful tools to engage audiences and drive conversions. While not explicitly tailored for nonprofits, its features can be effectively utilized for donor communications and outreach efforts.

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Standout features:

• Visual automation editor 

• Tagging and segmentation features 

• Customizable email templates

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Cons/limitations:

ConverterKit's free plan only allows for up to 1,000 subscribers. Plus, free plan users don't have access to integrations or advanced reporting.

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Nonprofit pricing:

ConvertKit does not offer a discount for nonprofits.

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User testimonial:

“The main application of this tool is that it helps users to create and manage email campaigns, build landing pages, automate email sequences, and build Email lists. The platform is easy to use, allowing users to create beautiful and engaging emails without coding knowledge. Users can create email sequences using a drag-and-drop editor and also use a wide range of templates and customization options.” —𝕋𝕖𝕛𝕒𝕤𝕧𝕚

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Rating:

4.4/5

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How Community Music School of Santa Cruz  saved $2,000 in fees with Zeffy

After their last donor management system eliminated their free version, Community Music School of Santa Cruz — a nonprofit focused on music education — was left scrambling to find a replacement that would help them keep in touch with donors. They wanted a platform that was powerful and intuitive — without having to pay any platform or transaction fees.

That's where Zeffy comes in.

The 100% fee-free donation platform for nonprofits, Zeffy was the perfect tool: the platform let them conduct all of their fundraising activities, including email marketing, without having to pay a cent. They were able to track donations, sell tickets, and keep in touch with supporters all in one place. 

The result? The Community Music School of Santa Cruz saved over $2,000.00 in fees.

“I love the ability to quickly email people who've attended any one of our past events—it's simple and the “from” line in the customer's email is our name, so there's no confusion. I also appreciate the ability to embed the donation form or ticketing form into our website—it gives us a professional look. Finally, I couldn't ask for better customer service. My questions are always responded to promptly, and the team always seems to welcome suggestions for future improvements.” - Susan Willats, The Community Music School of Santa Cruz

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Alternatives to MailChimp FAQs

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