If you run a small business in New Jersey and you’re choosing your first (or next) email marketing platform, the decision usually comes down to two names: Constant Contact and Mailchimp.
Both are well-established. Both can send a good-looking newsletter. But they’re built for different kinds of businesses — and the “right” answer depends entirely on what you need. This guide breaks down the real differences, then explains the specific situations where Constant Contact is the stronger pick.
We’ll be straight with you: Mailchimp wins on a few things, and we’ll say so. The goal here is to help you choose well, not to pretend one tool is perfect.
The short version
- Choose Constant Contact if you want a platform that’s easy to learn, has real human support you can call, and includes built-in tools for events and RSVPs — the profile that fits most local small businesses, nonprofits, and service providers.
- Choose Mailchimp if you need a free starting plan, deep multi-step automation, and you’re comfortable figuring things out on your own.
The rest of this article shows how we got there.
A quick overview of each platform
Constant Contact has been in the email marketing business for nearly three decades. It has stayed close to its roots: straightforward email marketing with added tools for events, surveys, social posting, and SMS. Its reputation is built on simplicity and hands-on customer support.
Mailchimp started as an email tool and, especially since its 2021 acquisition by Intuit, has expanded into a broad marketing platform — automation, landing pages, a website builder, CRM features, and ads. It’s powerful, but that power comes with more complexity and a higher ceiling on cost.
Where Constant Contact comes out ahead
1. Customer support you can actually reach
This is the clearest, most consistently reported advantage. Constant Contact offers phone, live chat, and email support on its paid plans, during business hours. Mailchimp, by contrast, reserves phone support for its top Premium tier (which starts at roughly $350/month). On lower plans you’re limited to email and chat, and free-plan users lose support entirely after the first 30 days. For a small business owner who doesn’t have an in-house marketing team, being able to pick up the phone when a campaign won’t send is worth more than most people realize when they’re comparing feature lists.
2. Built-in event marketing and registration
If your business runs events — workshops, fundraisers, classes, open houses, community nights — this matters a lot. Constant Contact includes event registration, RSVP management, and ticketing with payment processing built in. Mailchimp has no native equivalent; you’d need to bolt on a third-party tool like Eventbrite and connect the two. For event-driven businesses, gyms and studios, restaurants running ticketed nights, and nonprofits, this is a genuine workflow advantage rather than a marketing talking point.
3. It’s easier to learn
Across independent 2026 comparisons, Constant Contact is repeatedly described as the simpler platform to get started with. Its template library and brand-styling tools let a non-designer send a professional-looking email within minutes. Mailchimp is more feature-rich, but that means a steeper learning curve — its automation builder in particular takes time to master. If you’d rather spend your time running your business than learning software, simplicity is a feature.
4. A stable deliverability reputation
Deliverability — whether your email lands in the inbox instead of the spam folder — is roughly comparable between the two; independent testing puts both platforms in a strong range. Constant Contact’s edge is consistency: it has maintained a solid sender reputation over many years. (Constant Contact advertises a 98% deliverability rate. Treat that as the company’s own figure rather than an independent benchmark — but the broader point, that its deliverability is reliable, is well supported.)
Where Mailchimp is the better choice
We promised to be honest, so here’s the other side.
- Free plan. Mailchimp has a permanent free tier (250 contacts, 500 emails/month as of 2026). Constant Contact has no permanent free plan — only a trial. If a $0 starting point is non-negotiable, Mailchimp wins.
- Deeper automation. Mailchimp’s multi-step “customer journey” automations and behavioral segmentation go further than Constant Contact’s, which matters for e-commerce and more advanced marketers.
- Integrations and analytics. Mailchimp’s integration ecosystem and reporting are broader and more detailed.
- Cancellation. Constant Contact has been reported to require a phone call to cancel, with some user complaints about the process. Mailchimp lets you cancel online.
If those points describe your priorities, Mailchimp may serve you better — and that’s a fair outcome.
Pricing: how they compare
Both platforms price by the number of contacts on your list, and both offer discounts for annual prepayment and for nonprofits. Always confirm current numbers on each company’s official pricing page, since they change frequently.
| Constant Contact | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (free trial only) | Yes (250 contacts, 500 emails/mo) |
| Entry paid plan | Lite, from roughly $12/mo | Essentials, from roughly $13/mo |
| Mid tier | Standard, from roughly $35/mo | Standard, from roughly $20/mo |
| Top tier | Premium, from roughly $80/mo | Premium, from roughly $350/mo |
| Phone support | On paid plans | Premium tier only |
| Built-in events | Yes | No (needs third-party) |
Prices reflect mid-2026 third-party reporting and scale with your contact count. Verify on the official pages before signing up.
The headline: Mailchimp’s entry plan and free tier can look cheaper, but the value comparison depends on what you need. For a non-technical owner who’ll lean on support and events, Constant Contact’s package is easier to justify.
So which should you pick?
Use this as a simple decision rule.
Constant Contact is the better fit if you:
- Want to be able to call someone when something breaks
- Run events and need registration or RSVP tools
- Prefer the simplest possible interface
- Are a nonprofit or community-focused organization
- Value reliability and support over advanced automation
Mailchimp is the better fit if you:
- Need a free plan to start
- Want sophisticated, multi-step automation
- Are comfortable learning the platform on your own
- Run an e-commerce store needing deep integrations
For the typical New Jersey small business — local service providers, shops, studios, nonprofits, and event-driven organizations — the things Constant Contact does best line up closely with what those businesses actually need day to day.
Ready to get started?
If Constant Contact sounds like the right fit, you can start a free trial here and have your first campaign out the door this week. And if you’d like help setting it up — or want someone to write your emails for you — get in touch and we’ll handle it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constant Contact better than Mailchimp? Neither is universally “better.” Constant Contact is stronger for businesses that value ease of use, phone support, and built-in event tools. Mailchimp is stronger for businesses that need a free plan or advanced automation.
Does Constant Contact have a free plan? No. Constant Contact offers a free trial but no permanent free tier. Mailchimp does offer a limited free plan.
Which has better customer support? Constant Contact is widely regarded as having more accessible support, including phone support on its paid plans. Mailchimp reserves phone support for its Premium tier.
Can Mailchimp do event registration like Constant Contact? Not natively. Mailchimp requires a third-party tool such as Eventbrite, while Constant Contact includes event registration and RSVP tools built in.
Which is cheaper? At the entry level the platforms are close, and Mailchimp has a free tier. Total cost depends on your contact count and which features you need, so compare both at your actual list size.