01 · Understanding your needs

Why are small businesses looking for Mailchimp alternatives?

Mailchimp has become a familiar choice for businesses wanting to build email lists, send newsletters and stay in touch with customers.

And for many businesses, it does that job well.

But as your business develops, your needs can change.

You might be looking for a more affordable way to send marketing campaigns. Perhaps you want more sophisticated automations, or a platform that works better with your online shop.

Or maybe your biggest frustration isn't email marketing at all.

You've got people enquiring about your services, asking for information and showing interest in your business, but you're struggling to keep track of what happens next.

You're sending marketing emails, but your conversations are in your inbox. Notes are stored somewhere else. Follow-up reminders are scattered across your diary, and you're not always sure which prospects need your attention.

That's when it's worth asking a bigger question:

Do you need another email marketing platform, or do you need a CRM that brings your marketing and sales together?

If you're unsure what Mailchimp can already do, our guide Is Mailchimp a CRM? explains the differences.

02 · At a glance

Six Mailchimp alternatives compared

There isn't one perfect alternative for every business.

Some platforms are excellent at email marketing. Others offer sophisticated automation, ecommerce features or broader CRM functionality.

Here's a quick comparison of six options worth considering.

The right choice depends on whether your main priority is marketing, ecommerce, automation or managing the individual opportunities that come from your enquiries.

03 · Explore the options

A closer look at the six best Mailchimp alternatives

04 · Find your best fit

Which Mailchimp alternative is best for your business?

Before choosing a platform, think about what you're actually trying to improve.

If you mainly want a straightforward email marketing tool: Start by comparing MailerLite and Brevo.

If you need sophisticated marketing automation: ActiveCampaign is worth a closer look.

If you run an ecommerce business: Omnisend may be particularly relevant.

If you want a broad CRM platform with room to expand: Consider HubSpot and compare the plans that include the functionality you need.

If you want to manage customer relationships, opportunities and follow-ups alongside your email marketing: Explore popcorn CRM and the relevant sales capabilities of the other integrated platforms.

It's also worth thinking about how much time you have.

A system with hundreds of features may sound attractive, but if you only use a handful of them, you're not necessarily getting better value.

The best platform is the one your business will actually use.

05 · Think beyond email

Do you need another email marketing tool or a CRM?

This is one of the most important questions to answer before switching from Mailchimp.

Imagine you're running a small consultancy with around 300 contacts.

You send monthly marketing emails and occasionally receive enquiries from people interested in your services.

Some want an initial conversation. Others ask for more information. A few are considering working with you but aren't quite ready.

You could switch to another email marketing platform and continue sending your campaigns.

That might save money or give you different marketing features.

But would it help you remember who you spoke to last week?

Would it remind you to call someone back next Thursday?

Would you know which prospects were waiting for a meeting, which needed more information and which had gone quiet?

A dedicated CRM is designed to help with those everyday sales activities.

And when your CRM and email marketing are connected, you get an even clearer picture.

For example, a prospect you've previously spoken to might click an email about a service they were interested in and return to your website.

Where that activity can be linked to their contact record, you can review it alongside your previous notes and decide whether a follow-up would be useful.

It doesn't automatically mean they're ready to buy, but it helps you make a more informed decision.

Sometimes the best Mailchimp alternative isn't another email marketing tool. It's a better way to manage the relationships your marketing is helping you build.

For more on managing opportunities, read our guide to Mailchimp sales pipelines and follow-up reminders .

06 · Switch with confidence

Switching from Mailchimp? Make sure you're confident before you move

Finding a Mailchimp alternative is one thing. Actually moving to it can feel like a much bigger decision.

You've built your contact list, created marketing campaigns and established ways of working.

The last thing you want is to spend weeks setting up another system, lose important information or disrupt your customer relationships.

That's why choosing an alternative isn't simply about comparing feature lists.

You should also understand what support you'll receive, what the move involves and whether you'll be comfortable using the new system.

Compare your options before making a decision

Before switching, take a look at our CRM Comparison Hub .

It brings together comparisons of popcorn against a range of popular CRM platforms, helping you explore the differences in features, usability and sales management.

There's also a dedicated Mailchimp vs popcorn CRM comparison if you're specifically considering moving from Mailchimp.

The aim is to help you make an informed decision about which platform suits the way your business works.

Free one-to-one onboarding to help you get started

With popcorn, we don't expect you to work everything out yourself.

Eligible new customers signing up to a paid plan can receive our Enhanced Onboarding package, normally £99, free .

This is available if you sign up without having a demo, or within 14 days of your demo, in accordance with the offer terms.

It includes:

• A 40-minute one-to-one training session with our UK-based team.
• Help importing your existing contact data from a suitable, prepared spreadsheet.
• Personalised guidance to help you get started with the system.
• Support understanding and setting up the features that matter most to your business, including your sales process.

Rather than spending hours working everything out yourself, you'll have someone to talk you through the system and answer your questions.

We can help you understand how to organise your contacts, build a sales pipeline around your business and start making the most of the tools available.

See what's included in free Enhanced Onboarding .

No long-term contracts or unexpected setup costs

We also believe choosing a CRM shouldn't mean taking on a long financial commitment before you know whether it's right for your business.

With popcorn, you get:

• No long-term contracts: Pay monthly and cancel when you need to.
• Clear monthly pricing: Your subscription is based on the number of users and the plan you choose.
• No mandatory setup fees: You can get started without paying for an expensive implementation project.
• Transparent optional extras: Additional usage or specialist support is clearly explained rather than hidden.
• UK-based support: Speak to a team that understands the challenges smaller businesses face.

Paid popcorn CRM plans currently start at £59 per month plus VAT for one user , with sales and email marketing features included. The included email allowance and any additional usage should be checked against your requirements.

That means you can bring your CRM and email marketing together without automatically needing to pay for two different platforms.

Explore popcorn CRM pricing .

What happens to your existing Mailchimp information?

Before leaving Mailchimp, it's important to make sure you understand what needs moving.

Start by reviewing:

• Your contacts and subscriber information.
• Email marketing consent and unsubscribe records.
• Tags, groups and segments.
• Existing email templates.
• Automated marketing journeys.
• Any integrations connected to your current setup.

Some information can be exported and prepared for import into a new system.

Other elements, particularly automations, templates and historical campaign engagement, may need rebuilding or may not transfer directly.

It's worth checking this before cancelling your existing account.

If you're considering popcorn, our team can help you understand the contact import process and how to prepare your data. More complex migration work may require additional assistance.

You're not just choosing software. You're choosing how you'll work.

A good Mailchimp alternative should make everyday life easier.

You should feel confident that your information is organised, your sales process makes sense and your team knows how to use the system.

That's why the onboarding, ongoing support, pricing and flexibility matter just as much as the features.

Changing software should feel like a positive step forward, not another complicated project.

07 · Understand the costs

How much do Mailchimp alternatives really cost?

When comparing prices, it's tempting to look at the lowest monthly figure and choose whichever platform appears cheapest.

But that doesn't always give you the full picture.

Different providers may charge based on the number of contacts, emails sent, users, additional features or particular subscription tiers.

You might find an affordable email marketing platform, only to realise you still need a separate CRM to manage your sales opportunities.

Alternatively, you might choose a platform with extensive functionality but end up paying for features you don't use.

Before deciding, compare the total cost of what your business actually needs.

Email marketing: How many contacts do you have, and how many emails do you send?

Sales management: Do you need customisable pipelines, contact notes, opportunities and follow-up reminders?

Number of users: Will the subscription become significantly more expensive as your team grows?

Setup and training: Is help included, or will you need to pay someone to configure the system?

Contracts and extras: Can you cancel when you need to, and are additional charges clearly explained?

For example, an email platform that costs less each month may not be the cheaper option once you've added a separate sales CRM.

On the other hand, if you only need to send occasional newsletters, paying for a dedicated CRM may be unnecessary.

08 · Make the right choice

How to choose the right Mailchimp alternative

Before committing to a new platform, ask yourself these questions.

What am I unhappy with about Mailchimp?

Is it the price, email functionality, automation, usability or the difficulty of managing sales opportunities?

Being clear about the problem helps you avoid moving to another platform that leaves you with the same frustration.

How do customers typically buy from me?

If they usually buy straight from your online shop, ecommerce marketing tools may be the priority.

If they need conversations, meetings, demonstrations or follow-ups before becoming customers, CRM functionality matters much more.

Can I customise the system around my business?

A consultant, tradesperson and software company don't all sell in the same way.

If you need a sales pipeline, make sure you can build stages around your own process instead of changing how you work to fit the software.

Will I actually use it?

A system is only useful if you and your team feel comfortable using it.

Look for clear contact information, straightforward navigation and an easy way to see what needs your attention.

What happens if I need help?

Check whether support is available, whether training is included and what assistance you'll receive when moving your data across.

Am I comfortable with the commitment?

Understand the monthly cost, contract terms and any charges that could arise as your business grows.

A free trial or personalised demonstration can help you decide before committing.

09 · Common questions

Frequently asked questions about Mailchimp alternatives

10 · Final thoughts

Choose the Mailchimp alternative that helps your business grow

There are plenty of good Mailchimp alternatives, but they're not all designed to solve the same problems.

If you mainly want to send newsletters, a straightforward email marketing platform might be everything you need.

If you're running an online shop, ecommerce-focused tools may make more sense.

And if sophisticated automation is central to your marketing, it's worth exploring platforms built around those capabilities.

But if you're a small business that relies on individual conversations, relationships and regular follow-ups, the decision becomes more interesting.

You need to know who your prospects are, what you've discussed, where each opportunity stands and when it's time to get back in touch.

And when that information works alongside your email marketing, it's easier to understand who's showing interest and what needs to happen next.

That's what popcorn CRM is designed to help you do.

With customisable pipelines, contact notes, reminders, email marketing and identifiable website activity, you can keep the bigger picture together without making your sales process unnecessarily complicated.

And with free Enhanced Onboarding for eligible new customers, clear monthly pricing, no long-term contracts and UK-based support, you can explore a different way of working with greater confidence.

Because the best Mailchimp alternative isn't necessarily the one with the most features. It's the one that helps you make the most of the opportunities you've already got.