You have a small list of past customers or subscribers and want to send a plain monthly email (one story, one tip, one offer) without fighting the software. Mailchimp and Kit (formerly ConvertKit) both handle the sending; they optimize for different kinds of businesses.
New to this job? Start with Email newsletters with AI: from blank page to sent. This page assumes you already know why you want the tool.
| What to check | Mailchimp | Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Shops, local businesses, and anyone who wants templates, promos, and a familiar marketing dashboard. | Creators, coaches, and solo sellers who write personal notes to a list they already know. |
| Getting started | More options up front: audiences, templates, and campaign types. Steeper, but powerful if you grow into it. | Simpler editor and fewer knobs, faster from blank page to send for a one-page monthly note. |
| Free tier (check limits) | Free plan with contact and send limits, fine for a tiny list while you find your rhythm. | Free plan for small lists; paid tiers unlock more subscribers and automations. |
| Automations | Mature automation and customer-journey tools if you later want welcome series or segmented sends. | Visual automations aimed at creators: welcome sequences and tag-based sends, less retail-heavy. |
| Selling in the email | Strong if you also run promos, product blocks, and ecommerce-style campaigns. | Strong if the email is mostly you talking to people who already trust your work. |
| Who it suits | A café, shop, or service business that may later run seasonal promos and segmented lists. | A coach, consultant, maker, or freelancer sending one honest monthly note to past clients. |
Both vendors list free and paid tiers on their pricing pages, usually priced by subscriber count. Check current limits and overage rules before you import a list. Neither site stays static for long.
Vendor pages checked 2026-09-17. Confirm current pricing before you subscribe.