Mailchimp and GetResponse are both long-established email platforms, but they have evolved in different directions. Mailchimp has stayed focused on email and basic automation. GetResponse has expanded into a broader all-in-one platform with webinars, paid ads management, and more advanced automation.
If you primarily need email marketing with a familiar, easy interface, Mailchimp still works well. If you want more from your platform, including webinars and stronger automation without jumping to a more complex tool, GetResponse offers more for a similar price.
| Feature | Mailchimp | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $13/mo (Essentials) | $19/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ 500 contacts | ✓ 500 contacts |
| Webinars | ✗ No | ✓ Built in |
| Landing pages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Visual automation builder | ✓ Basic | ✓ More advanced |
| SMS marketing | ✗ No native | ✓ Yes |
| Contact charging | Per contact per list | Per unique contact |
| Best for | Simple email, beginners | All-in-one, webinar-focused businesses |
Automation
Mailchimp's automation is simple by design. You get basic triggers, a limit of around four actions per automation on standard plans, and straightforward if/else branching. It covers welcome sequences and basic drip campaigns well.
GetResponse has a more capable visual automation builder with more triggers, unlimited steps, and better conditional logic. If your automation needs are more than basic, GetResponse handles them better.
Webinars
GetResponse includes a native webinar tool, which is genuinely rare for an email platform at this price. You can host webinars, manage registrations, and trigger email automations based on attendance. For businesses that use webinars as a marketing channel, this feature alone justifies the price difference.
Mailchimp has no webinar functionality.
Pricing model
Mailchimp charges per subscriber per list. If the same contact appears on multiple lists, you pay for them multiple times. This is a common complaint from businesses that segment their audience.
GetResponse charges per unique contact regardless of how many lists or segments they belong to. For businesses with overlapping segments, this difference matters.
Ease of use
Mailchimp is one of the most beginner-friendly email tools available. GetResponse is also accessible but has more features to navigate. If simplicity is the priority, Mailchimp has a slight edge.
Choose Mailchimp if...
- Simplicity and ease of use are your top priorities
- You only need basic email sequences and campaigns
- You are just starting out and want a familiar, widely known tool
Choose GetResponse if...
- You run webinars and want them integrated with email marketing
- You need stronger automation than Mailchimp offers
- You want a per-contact pricing model rather than per-list
- You want more features without moving to a more complex platform
The bottom line
Mailchimp is a reasonable choice if your needs are simple and you value ease of use. GetResponse offers more for a similar price once you include the webinar functionality, better automation, and fairer pricing model.
Not sure which tool is right for you? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz for a personalized recommendation, or compare tools side by side.