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AWeber vs Mailchimp for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose AWeber for simple email with phone support. Choose Mailchimp for breadth and ecosystem. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
AWeber vs Mailchimp: which is better for agencies in 2026?
AWeber and Mailchimp are two long-standing email platforms. AWeber is simpler and offers phone support. Mailchimp has a broader toolset and a bigger ecosystem.
We compared price, support, and fit.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.2 | Lite $12.50 and Plus $20 a month billed annually (from, scaling with list size); Unlimited $899 a month billed monthly. A 14-day trial applies on Lite and Plus. | Solo creators to small teams |
| Mailchimp | 4.1 / 5 | G2 4.4 | Free for 250 contacts. Essentials $13, Standard $20 and Premium $350 a month at the smallest contact tier (500 contacts, 10,000 for Premium); prices rise with contacts. | Small teams to mid-size |
How do AWeber and Mailchimp compare on price?
AWeber has a free plan for 500 subscribers and costs $12.50 or $20 a month billed annually as starting prices. Mailchimp has a free plan and costs $13, $20, or $350 a month.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Lite | $12.50 per month (annual billing) | Starting price billed annually ($150 a year); 3 landing pages, 3 automations, 3 users, sends up to 10x subscribers |
| AWeber | Plus | $20 per month (annual billing) | Starting price billed annually ($240 a year); unlimited lists, landing pages, automations and users, 12x sends |
| AWeber | Unlimited | $899 per month (monthly billing) | Unlimited subscribers, 15x sends, dedicated onboarding and account management |
| Mailchimp | Free | $0 per month (monthly billing) | 250 contacts, 500 sends a month, 1 seat, 1 audience, no automation |
| Mailchimp | Essentials | $13 per month (monthly billing) | Starts at 500 contacts; 3 seats, 3 audiences, 24/7 email and chat support, flows up to 4 steps |
| Mailchimp | Standard | $20 per month (monthly billing) | Starts at 500 contacts; 5 seats, 5 audiences, 200 flows with branching, dynamic content, custom reports |
| Mailchimp | Premium | $350 per month (monthly billing) | Starts at 10,000 contacts; unlimited seats and audiences, enterprise SSO, phone support, onboarding specialist |
Which costs less?
Mailchimp Essentials costs less at the entry level, but both scale with list size. AWeber shows annual starting prices, so compare at your real subscriber count.
Both offer free plans, and AWeber Plus removes landing page and automation limits that Mailchimp tiers also cap.
Run your list size through each calculator before you decide.
Run a short side-by-side test before you decide. Give both tools the same real task, time how long each takes, and ask a colleague who did not set them up to try them. The result is usually clearer than any feature table.
Which has better support?
AWeber, which includes 24/7 chat, email, and phone support from Lite and priority support on Plus. G2 reviewers praise its customer service.
Check Mailchimp's own review page for its support levels by plan.
Remember that you can start small. Most vendors offer a trial or a free tier, so begin with the cheapest plan that covers your real work, and upgrade only when a specific limit blocks you.
Which has stronger features and security?
Mailchimp has the broader toolset, while AWeber lists more than 750 integrations. AWeber did not state SOC 2, GDPR, or 2FA, and its security page returned a 404.
Ask both for security documents before you move client lists.
Finally, think about exit costs. Check how easily you can export your data, and keep notes on how your setup is built, so a later switch does not mean starting from scratch.
How do AWeber and Mailchimp compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | AWeber | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | 750+ integrations including Facebook, PayPal, WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce and Zapier | More than 300 integrations |
| Security | SOC 2, GDPR, SSO, 2FA and encryption were not stated (the security page returned a 404) | SOC 2 reports and ISO 27001 certification, with documents through the Intuit compliance portal; 2FA can be enabled; enterprise SSO on Premium; Servers are in US data centers; GDPR information is available |
| Support | 24/7 chat, email and phone on Lite; priority support on Plus; Unlimited adds account management and onboarding | Free: email for 30 days; Essentials and Standard: 24/7 email and chat; Premium: priority 24/7 email and chat plus phone in business hours |
| Apps | Mobile apps were not stated | A mobile app was not stated |
What are the pros and cons of AWeber and Mailchimp?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
AWeber pros
- Lite from $12.50 a month and Plus from $20 a month billed annually, scaling with the list.
- 24/7 chat, email and phone support on Lite, with priority support on Plus.
- 750+ integrations including Facebook, PayPal, WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce and Zapier.
- Unlimited landing pages and automations from Plus, and unlimited users.
AWeber cons
- Lite allows only 3 landing pages, 3 automations and 3 users.
- Prices scale with subscribers, and the tier behind the starting price should be checked.
- Security certifications, 2FA and mobile apps were not stated (the security page returned a 404).
- Agency features such as multiple accounts and client management were not stated.
Mailchimp pros
- A free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month.
- Entry paid plans from $13 a month for 500 contacts, with 24/7 email and chat support.
- More than 300 integrations and 100+ pre-built templates.
- SOC 2 reports, ISO 27001 and 2FA; enterprise SSO on Premium.
Mailchimp cons
- Prices scale with contacts and the stated figures are for the smallest tier.
- Free has no automation, and Essentials limits flows to 4 steps.
- Premium costs $350 a month from 10,000 contacts.
- Data is hosted in US data centers, and client accounts for agencies were not stated.
What do reviewers say about AWeber and Mailchimp?
G2 shows AWeber at 4.2 from 650 reviews. Mailchimp has its own G2 score on its review page.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | G2 | 4.2 / 5 | 650 |
| Mailchimp | G2 | 4.4 / 5 | 5,436 |
Reviewer themes for AWeber
- G2 shows AWeber at 4.2 from 650 reviews.
- Reviewers praise customer service and value for the features.
- Some reviewers say the free plan and analytics feel limited and that subscribers can be counted twice across lists.
Reviewer themes for Mailchimp
- G2 shows Mailchimp at 4.4 from 5,436 reviews.
- G2 data shows 30% of reviewers give four stars.
- Reviewers value ease of use for campaigns and newsletters.
How does setup differ between AWeber and Mailchimp?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
AWeber: Start on the free plan with one small client list.
Mailchimp: Start on the free plan with one client list, build a template, and send one campaign.
What should agencies check before choosing between AWeber and Mailchimp?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy AWeber
- Check the tier behind the price.
- Count lists and subscribers.
- Test deliverability.
- Start on the free plan.
Before you buy Mailchimp
- Price your real contact count.
- Check send limits against your list.
- Decide how to separate clients.
- Use the 14-day trial.
How should you test AWeber and Mailchimp before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in AWeber versus Mailchimp.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: AWeber or Mailchimp?
Choose AWeber for simple email with phone support. Choose Mailchimp for breadth and ecosystem.
Test deliverability on one list in each.
Choose AWeber if
- You want phone, chat, and email support.
- You serve small lists.
- You want 750+ integrations.
Skip AWeber if
- You need multiple client accounts.
- You need SOC 2 stated.
- You need deep automation.
Choose Mailchimp if
- You run simple newsletters for small clients.
- You want a free plan to start.
- You want 24/7 email and chat support on paid plans.
Skip Mailchimp if
- You need deep automation on a low plan.
- You need EU data hosting.
- You need agency client accounts.
Frequently asked questions
- Is AWeber or Mailchimp better?
- AWeber for support, Mailchimp for breadth.
- Which has phone support?
- AWeber.
- Which has a free plan?
- Both.
- Which has more integrations?
- Both list hundreds.
- Which is cheaper?
- Mailchimp at the entry level.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- AWeber pricing page
- Mailchimp pricing page
- G2