Mailchimp vs Zoho CRM
A side-by-side look at Mailchimp and Zoho CRM: what each costs to start, whether there is a free plan, how easy they are to pick up, and which features and integrations they cover.
Which should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if
- Small businesses that want a familiar all-in-one email tool
- Ecommerce stores on Shopify or WooCommerce with modest list sizes
- Teams that value templates and integrations over price
Choose Zoho CRM if
- Small businesses that want a full-featured CRM at a low price
- Teams already using Zoho Books, Desk or Mail
- Companies that need custom modules and guided sales processes
Cheapest to start
Not confirmed
Free plan
Mailchimp, Zoho CRM
Highest editor rating
Tied
| Compare | Mailchimp |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | No |
| Starting price | From $20/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.2 |
| Ease of use | Easy (4/5) |
| Category | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Free plan capped at 250 contacts and 500 emails a month (250 a day), 1 seat. Standard is $20 a month at 0-500 contacts as a standing rate, advertised at $10 for the first 12 months. Essentials sits below it but only its promotional rate is published. Premium is advertised at $350. Every tier is priced by contact count and rises steeply with list size. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Integrations | Canva, Facebook & Instagram, Google Analytics, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Shopify, Stripe, WooCommerce, WordPress, Zapier |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| A/B testing | Yes |
| AI assistant | No |
| AI content generation | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| Audience segmentation | Yes |
| Custom fields | No |
| Drag-and-drop email builder | Yes |
| Email sync (Gmail / Outlook) | No |
| Forms & surveys | Yes |
| Import & export | No |
| Landing page builder | Yes |
| Lead scoring | No |
| Mobile app | No |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| Roles & permissions | No |
| SMS marketing | Yes |
| Social media scheduling | Yes |
| Templates | Yes |
| Visual pipeline | No |
| Workflow automation | Yes |
Common questions
- Does Mailchimp or Zoho CRM have a free plan?
- Both do. Mailchimp and Zoho CRM each offer a free tier, so you can try either without paying.
- How long is the Mailchimp and Zoho CRM free trial?
- Zoho CRM offers a 15-day free trial. Mailchimp does not offer one.
- Which is easier to use, Mailchimp or Zoho CRM?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment Mailchimp is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 against 3 for Zoho CRM. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.