The Constant Contact vs Mailchimp for nonprofits decision looks simple from a distance: two well-known platforms, both with nonprofit discounts. Up close, they reward different habits. Constant Contact's nonprofit savings depend on prepaying 6 or 12 months, and its event tools appeal to organizations that run galas, workshops and volunteer days. Mailchimp offers a flat 15% discount and a larger integrations ecosystem. This guide compares pricing, discount terms, event and donation features, support and ease of use, with prices checked on official vendor pages as of November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Starting prices: Constant Contact lists Lite from $12, Standard from $35 and Premium from $80 per month; Mailchimp lists Essentials from $13 and Standard from $20.
- Nonprofit terms: Constant Contact gives nonprofits 20% off a 6-month prepay or 30% off a 12-month prepay; Mailchimp gives 15% to verified nonprofits.
- Events: Constant Contact has built-in event management; Mailchimp relies more on integrations.
- Support: Constant Contact offers phone and chat during business hours; Mailchimp's phone support is reserved for Premium.
- Verdict: event-heavy organizations that can prepay lean Constant Contact; integration-heavy teams that pay monthly lean Mailchimp.
Pricing: Constant Contact vs Mailchimp
Constant Contact
Constant Contact's pricing page FAQ lists three plans as of November 2026, each priced by contact tier: Lite from $12/month, Standard from $35/month and Premium from $80/month at the smallest tier. Standard adds tools such as scheduling and A/B testing, and Premium adds more automation and bundles some SMS. Its pricing FAQ notes SMS is available to paid US customers, as an add-on on lower plans. Prices climb steeply as your list grows, so use the contact-tier selector on the pricing page for your real number.
Mailchimp
From Mailchimp's pricing page as of November 2026: Free covers 250 contacts and 500 emails per month; Essentials from $13/month (send limit 10x your contact tier, 3 seats); Standard from $20/month (12x, 5 seats, up to 200 automation flows); and Premium for lists of 10,000+ contacts, priced in the hundreds of dollars per month. Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts toward your limit, so archive people you no longer email.
At the entry level, Mailchimp's Standard plan costs less than Constant Contact's Standard plan, and Mailchimp offers a free plan while Constant Contact does not. Constant Contact narrows the gap through prepay discounts, covered next.
| Factor (as of November 2026) | Constant Contact | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (free trial only) | Yes: 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Starting prices | Lite $12, Standard $35, Premium $80 per month | Essentials $13, Standard $20 per month; Premium for 10,000+ contacts |
| Nonprofit discount | 20% on 6-month prepay, 30% on 12-month prepay | 15% for verified nonprofits |
| Prepay required for discount | Yes; prepayments are non-refundable | No |
| Event management | Built in (registration, payment status, check-in, reminders) | Through integrations |
| Donations | Donation options tied to events, plus donor-platform integrations; confirm current availability | Through donation-platform integrations |
| SMS | US paid plans; bundled with Premium, add-on on others | Paid add-on in select countries |
| Support | Phone and chat during business hours | 24/7 email and chat from Essentials; phone on Premium |
Nonprofit discounts and prepay terms
Constant Contact: bigger discount, bigger commitment
Constant Contact's billing FAQ says standard accounts get 10% off a 6-month prepayment and 15% off a 12-month prepayment. Accounts approved for nonprofit status get 20% off a 6-month prepay and 30% off a 12-month prepay. Points to know before you commit:
- Approval first: get your nonprofit status confirmed by Constant Contact billing before buying a prepay plan. Its pricing FAQ says discounts are not applied retroactively.
- Documentation: US organizations need an IRS determination letter; a tax ID alone is not enough.
- Non-refundable: prepayments are not refunded, and moving to a larger contact tier drains your prepaid credit faster.
- Cash flow: 12 months upfront is a real expense for a small organization. Time it with a grant or your fiscal year.
Mailchimp: smaller discount, no lock-in
Mailchimp's nonprofit discount is 15% for verified nonprofits and charities, and it applies without prepaying. US organizations add their EIN and may be asked for a 501(c)(3) letter. Request it before upgrading, since Mailchimp does not refund past purchases. Our Mailchimp nonprofit discount guide has the steps.
Event and donation features
This is Constant Contact's strongest argument. Its event management tools cover registration pages, registrant lists with payment status, check-in and registration reminders, all in the same account as your email. For organizations that run a gala, a 5K or monthly volunteer orientations, having registration and follow-up email in one place cuts out a tool. Constant Contact's marketing also describes collecting donations at registration and connecting donor platforms; confirm the current options for your country in its knowledge base before you rely on them.
Mailchimp is primarily an email and marketing platform. Nonprofits typically connect a dedicated donation or event platform through Mailchimp's integrations directory and use tags and segments to follow up. If you already use a donation platform with a strong Mailchimp connector, that may be the more flexible setup. Either way, the email sequences matter more than the tool; see our year-end fundraising email sequence and Giving Tuesday email campaign guides.
Support
Constant Contact has a long reputation for human support. Its support page lists phone and chat during set business hours, and it offers training sessions. Mailchimp includes 24/7 email and chat support from Essentials up, with phone and priority support on Premium. If your team is small and non-technical and you value calling someone, Constant Contact has the edge at lower price points. If you work evenings and weekends, Mailchimp's 24/7 chat may suit you better.
Ease of use
Both platforms are designed for non-technical users. Constant Contact's editor and templates are straightforward and aimed at small organizations sending newsletters and event invitations. Mailchimp's editor is polished, its templates are extensive, and many freelancers and agencies already know it. Mailchimp's Standard plan adds generative AI, dynamic content and custom reports; Constant Contact concentrates more of its advanced automation in Premium.
Seats matter too. Mailchimp includes 3 seats on Essentials and 5 on Standard. Check Constant Contact's plan details for user access before you invite your whole team.
Constant Contact vs Mailchimp for nonprofits: the verdict
Choose Constant Contact if
- Events are central to your fundraising and you want registration and email in one tool.
- You can prepay 12 months and your list size is stable, unlocking the 30% nonprofit rate.
- Your team values phone support.
Choose Mailchimp if
- You want to start free or pay monthly without a prepay commitment.
- Your donation platform or CRM has a strong Mailchimp integration.
- You want more automation flows at a lower price point (Standard).
Consider a third option if cost at scale is the issue
Both tools price by contact tier, so costs rise quickly as lists grow. If you have a technical volunteer or agency, a bring-your-own-server platform such as eMailBase lets you pay a software subscription (for example, Business at $34.99/month covers 200,000 contacts) and pay sending directly to a provider like Amazon SES. There is no nonprofit discount, no event registration and no donation forms, and you will need to configure DNS, so weigh those trade-offs. See the eMailBase vs Mailchimp comparison and our guide to Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constant Contact or Mailchimp cheaper for nonprofits?
Monthly, Mailchimp is usually cheaper at the entry level and offers a free plan. With a 12-month prepay, Constant Contact's 30% nonprofit discount can close the gap. Compare both at your contact tier with the discount you will actually use.
Does Constant Contact give a nonprofit discount on monthly billing?
Constant Contact's nonprofit savings come through prepayment: 20% for 6 months and 30% for 12 months, after your nonprofit status is approved by billing.
Can nonprofits accept donations through Constant Contact?
Constant Contact describes donation options linked to event registration and integrations with donor platforms. Check its current knowledge base for what is available in your country.
Does Mailchimp have event registration?
Mailchimp is not built around event registration. Most nonprofits pair it with an event or ticketing platform through an integration.
How hard is it to switch between them?
The main risk is losing consent history and suppression lists. Our checklist to migrate your donor list from Mailchimp covers what to export and rebuild.
Constant Contact and Mailchimp are both reasonable choices for nonprofits, and the better one depends on how you work. If events drive your fundraising and you can commit to a year upfront, Constant Contact's event tools and 30% prepay rate are hard to beat. If you prefer monthly flexibility, a free starting point and a broad integrations ecosystem, Mailchimp with its 15% discount is the safer pick. Get your nonprofit discount approved before you pay either one.
