Unpacking Features of MailChimp and Sendgrid
Staying On Top In A Competitive Market
Entering the email marketing platform market is notoriously challenging due to high competition and the need for robust, innovative features to attract and retain users. Despite these high barriers, MailChimp and SendGrid have established themselves as key players. Both platforms have continually evolved, offering competitive pricing and advanced features to remain relevant as preferred choices in the dynamic landscape of email marketing.
MailChimp's Success: Strategic Pricing & Tools
MailChimp has maintained its top position in the email marketing industry through strategic pricing, innovative AI tools, and key feature enhancements. Its free plan allows up to 2,000 contacts and 1,000 unique emails per month, making it highly accessible. MailChimp's AI-driven tools, such as predictive analytics and personalized recommendations, optimize email campaigns for better engagement and ROI. Additionally, the platform's robust automation features, extensive template library, and seamless integration with various third-party applications ensure users have all the tools needed for effective email marketing.
SendGrid: A Powerful & Scalable Tool
SendGrid is a robust email marketing platform known for its reliable email delivery infrastructure and scalability. Key features include advanced email automation, dynamic templates, and detailed analytics. It also supports powerful email API integrations, making it suitable for both developers and marketers. Pricing is competitive, with a free plan offering up to 40,000 emails for the first 30 days, then 100 emails per day via API, and scalable paid plans starting at $19.95 per month for up to 10,000 emails. These features ensure effective, high-volume email marketing with detailed performance insights such as a ROI calculator.
A Numbers Comparison
Check out the infographic table to compare the economic feasibilities!
For those with motion sickness, here's the non-animated version of the comparison table.
| Features | SendGrid | MailChimp |
| Free Plan * | 100 emails / day via API | 500 emails / mo |
| Lowest Cost Plan | $19.95 / mo | $10.95 / mo |
| Cost Per 10,000 Email * | $19.95 / mo | $79 / mo |
| Cost Per Email ** | $0.0020 / mo via API | $0.0079 |
| Maximum Number of Emails Per Month * | 2.5 million emails / mo | 250,000 emails / mo |
| Email Leads Generation | ❌ | ❌ |
| HTML Builder | ❌ | ✅ |
| Drag & Drop Builder | ❌ | ✅ |
| Email Cleaner Tool | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multiple Templates Per Campaign | ❌ | ❌ |
| CAN-SPAM Act Compliance | ❌ | ✅ |
Decision Making Factors For The Top Choice
Both MailChimp and SendGrid offer distinct advantages in email marketing. While MailChimp is ideal for businesses seeking ease of use and affordability, SendGrid caters to those needing reliable, high-volume email delivery and developer-friendly integrations. Despite the high price, the robust AI-driven tools for segmentation, predictive analysis and automated customer journey mapping, MailChimp remains the top option for businesses with feature-rich, AI-enhanced email marketing strategies. Go for Sendgrid however, for a high-volume, API-driven email dispatch.