MailPoet vs Mailchimp: Which Email Marketing Tool is Best for WordPress?

Wondering which tool is right for you?

Both MailPoet and Mailchimp offer powerful email marketing tools—but the way they deliver them is very different. If you’re someone who lives in the WordPress dashboard, MailPoet might feel like a natural extension of your workflow. If you’re looking for a platform with wide integrations, robust automation, and advanced analytics, Mailchimp might sound more appealing.

But that’s not the whole story.

What we’re seeing more and more is this: people start with Mailchimp for the familiarity, but eventually look for something more tightly connected to their site—especially if that site runs on WordPress. And MailPoet is built for exactly that. From sending transactional WooCommerce emails to managing subscribers directly in your dashboard, it does a lot more than people expect.

Let’s dive in and break down how these two platforms compare across all the important features.

Who is MailPoet?

MailPoet is a WordPress-native email marketing plugin designed for simplicity, speed, and full control. It lets you manage everything—from building signup forms to crafting email newsletters—without ever leaving your WordPress site. It’s especially popular with creators, bloggers, and WooCommerce store owners who don’t want to rely on external tools or complex integrations.

Originally launched in 2011 and now a part of Automattic (the team behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce), MailPoet is deeply woven into the WordPress ecosystem. You can send newsletters, welcome emails, and post notifications from the same backend where you write your blog or update your product catalog.

You can even handle transactional WooCommerce emails with built-in deliverability support—something that usually requires extra plugins or third-party SMTP services.

What to expect with MailPoet:

• Built directly into the WordPress admin interface
• Drag-and-drop email builder
• Unlimited emails to up to 1,000 subscribers (on the free plan)
• Seamless WooCommerce integration
• GDPR-ready with local data handling
• No third-party platform juggling

If you’re a WordPress power user—or simply want everything under one roof—MailPoet makes email marketing feel like a natural part of your website, not an external chore.

Who is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is one of the biggest names in email marketing. Founded in 2001, it has grown into a multi-faceted marketing platform with email, landing pages, social ads, CRM tools, AI content generators, and more. It’s now owned by Intuit, the same company behind QuickBooks and TurboTax.

Mailchimp offers broad appeal to solopreneurs, startups, nonprofits, and enterprise teams alike. Its user interface is polished, its feature set deep, and its integration list extensive. But as the platform has grown, so has its complexity—and many users find that it doesn’t mesh well with WordPress or WooCommerce without jumping through hoops.

What to expect with Mailchimp:

• Web-based marketing platform separate from WordPress
• 250+ app integrations
• Clean UI with campaign builder, templates, and reports
• E-commerce support, but often via third-party bridges
• Free tier with limited functionality
• Pricing based on list size (including duplicate contacts)

Mailchimp remains a strong choice for brands that want an all-in-one toolset and are comfortable using a standalone platform. But for users who want tight, native WordPress integration, it can feel disconnected from the workflow.

How do MailPoet and Mailchimp compare?

The big question: how do these platforms stack up when it comes to features that actually move the needle—automation, segmentation, deliverability, and more?

Let’s break it all down.

Automation: basic triggers or custom workflows?

Mailchimp provides a decent set of automation tools, but most are locked behind paid tiers. On the Essentials plan and up, you can send abandoned cart reminders, welcome sequences, and post-purchase follow-ups. It’s beginner-friendly but limited in flexibility.

MailPoet, on the other hand, gives you automation for free—even on its basic plan. You can set up welcome emails, post notifications, and order follow-ups with a few clicks, right from your WordPress dashboard. The premium version unlocks more triggers, including advanced WooCommerce workflows like first purchase emails, win-back campaigns, and product-specific automations.

MailPoet automation highlights:

• Trigger emails by post publish, user signup, or order status
• WooCommerce-specific automations built in
• Visual workflow editor inside WordPress
• No switching tabs or learning new interfaces
• Premium tier enables advanced segmentation and triggers

If you need super complex workflows with dozens of conditional branches, Mailchimp may still be the better fit. But if you want practical, easy-to-set-up automations—especially for WordPress or WooCommerce—MailPoet wins for simplicity and accessibility.

Audience management and segmentation

Managing your email list is one thing. Sending the right message to the right people? That’s where segmentation shines.

Mailchimp lets you create segments based on behavior, tags, geography, and engagement—but this comes at a cost. Their free tier doesn’t support advanced segmentation, and the platform charges you per contact per list, even if the same subscriber appears on multiple lists.

MailPoet uses native WordPress user data and WooCommerce fields to power segmentation. You can segment based on purchase history, customer roles, signup date, and more. Plus, you’re only billed for unique subscribers, not duplicates across lists.

MailPoet segmentation features:

• Tag users based on WooCommerce behavior
• Segment by post category, product purchase, or subscriber source
• No double-charging for same contacts on multiple lists
• Use WordPress user roles and custom fields
• Build “if this, then that” automations with segmented triggers

For store owners and WordPress-based businesses, MailPoet makes segmentation way more intuitive—because it speaks the same language as your site.

Email design and customization

Both platforms offer drag-and-drop email editors. But there are a few key differences in style and flexibility.

Mailchimp has a polished editor with hundreds of templates, but many modern designs are locked behind higher plans. You also need to leave your WordPress site to design emails. And if you want brand colors, custom fonts, or reusable blocks—you’ll need to pay.

MailPoet gives you full customization inside your WordPress dashboard. You get a library of responsive templates, a visual editor, and the ability to import your brand assets via the WordPress Customizer. You can reuse blocks, add dynamic content, and preview your emails as they’ll appear on desktop and mobile.

What stands out with MailPoet:

• Customize everything without leaving WordPress
• Automatically inherit your website’s fonts and colors
• Dynamic blocks for product recommendations or post teasers
• Use Gutenberg blocks inside your email editor (optional)
• Full HTML access for developers

If you want control, MailPoet delivers—with less hassle and no plan gating.

Email builder: sleek web app or seamless WordPress editor?

Mailchimp’s email builder is clean and fast, but distinctly separate from your website. You have to open a new tab, log into your Mailchimp account, and build everything from scratch or a saved template.

MailPoet builds right where you work—in your WordPress dashboard. You can draft a post and immediately attach it to a newsletter. You can build emails using the same editor style as your blog. And you can schedule everything without switching platforms.

It’s perfect for creators, bloggers, and marketers who want to keep everything in one place.

Landing page builder: a small win for Mailchimp

Here’s where Mailchimp has the edge. It offers a basic landing page builder with templates for events, lead capture, and product promos. You can publish standalone pages without needing a separate site or hosting.

MailPoet doesn’t offer a standalone landing page tool. However, if you’re using WordPress, you can use your existing page builder (like Elementor, Divi, or the Gutenberg editor) to create fully branded landing pages, then integrate MailPoet forms into them.

So technically Mailchimp wins this category—but most WordPress users already have page-building tools that are more flexible.

Reporting: essentials vs e-commerce insights

Mailchimp offers campaign reports with open rates, click-through rates, bounces, and A/B testing. If you’re on a higher-tier plan, you’ll also get e-commerce reporting and purchase tracking—especially helpful for online stores using Shopify or BigCommerce.

MailPoet covers the basics well, with clean and simple analytics dashboards. You’ll get opens, clicks, unsubscribes, and delivery stats. If you’re using WooCommerce, you can also track which emails led to purchases right inside WordPress—no third-party tools needed.

MailPoet reporting highlights:

• Real-time open and click stats
• WooCommerce revenue attribution
• Insights per campaign or per subscriber
• Track unsubscribes, bounces, and engagement trends
• All data stays inside your site

For WordPress users, this native experience makes a big difference. Your data isn’t locked in someone else’s dashboard—it lives where your business lives.

Forms: built-in vs bolt-on

Mailchimp offers a form builder, but it’s a bit clunky. You’ll need to manually embed forms on your site using code snippets or plugins. Advanced form features, like conditional logic or multi-step popups, are gated behind paid plans.

MailPoet has a built-in form builder tailored for WordPress. You can create inline forms, popups, or slide-ins—and add them to pages using shortcodes or blocks. You can even style them using your theme’s design settings.

MailPoet form builder perks:

• Works with Gutenberg, Elementor, and classic editors
• Add to posts, pages, sidebars, or footers
• Sync forms with segments and automations
• Customize styles to match your brand
• GDPR-compliant opt-ins built in

The experience is seamless and intuitive—especially for WordPress-first users.

CRM: integrated (Mailchimp) vs focused (MailPoet)

Mailchimp includes light CRM features like tags, profiles, and behavior tracking. You can create customer journeys and segment contacts based on interactions. But it’s still a separate platform, and deeper CRM functions require upgrading or integrating third-party tools.

MailPoet isn’t a full CRM, but it works hand-in-hand with WooCommerce and WordPress user roles. You can tag subscribers, group them, and see detailed history—all inside your dashboard. And if you need more advanced sales features, you can connect to tools like Jetpack CRM or FluentCRM.

If you don’t need deal pipelines or lead scoring, MailPoet covers the core functionality without the bulk.

Integrations: WordPress-first vs ecosystem-wide

Mailchimp supports over 250 integrations—from Shopify to Canva to QuickBooks. But many WordPress users need third-party plugins just to connect their site properly. And that setup often requires extra time, cost, or support.

MailPoet is built for WordPress and plays perfectly with the plugins and themes you already use. It’s especially tight with:

• WooCommerce
• Elementor
• WPForms
• Jetpack
• Contact Form 7
• Advanced Custom Fields

And if you need to go beyond, MailPoet works with Zapier and REST API tools for custom workflows.

Deliverability: both solid, but one is smarter

According to EmailToolTester’s 2024 report, Mailchimp has a deliverability rate of around 92.6%, while MailPoet Premium clocked in at a strong 95.1%—with bonus points for WordPress-hosted reliability and automated spam checks.

MailPoet even handles SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings behind the scenes if you use their sending service, helping ensure your emails land in inboxes—not spam folders.

Plus: MailPoet avoids counting duplicated contacts across lists, which not only helps deliverability—but also saves you money.

AI and guidance

Mailchimp has basic AI content tools like subject line suggestions and predictive send times, but the real power is reserved for high-tier plans.

MailPoet doesn’t have flashy AI features (yet), but makes up for it with clean UX, contextual tips, and automation templates that make setup feel guided. It’s less about artificial intelligence, more about user-centered design.

Pricing breakdown: which offers better value?

Mailchimp’s free plan is appealing but restricts essential features like automation and proper segmentation. As your list grows, so does the price—sometimes steeply. And remember: Mailchimp charges you for every contact, even if they’re on multiple lists.

MailPoet is free for up to 1,000 subscribers and lets you send unlimited emails. If you want premium features like advanced automation or WooCommerce analytics, the upgrade starts at just $10/month—without punishing your wallet for growing your list.

Why do people switch from Mailchimp to MailPoet?

Most people don’t switch because Mailchimp is “bad.” They switch because it feels disconnected—especially for WordPress users.

MailPoet removes the friction. You get email creation, list management, automation, and reporting—all within the dashboard you already know. No plugins, no platform juggling, no extra tabs. Just a smoother workflow.

WordPress users who switch to MailPoet often cite these benefits:

• Faster setup
• Easier customization
• Better WooCommerce sync
• More affordable pricing
• Zero duplicate subscriber charges

Real customer reviews

“Mailchimp was fine, but it felt like too many steps. With MailPoet, I can write a blog post and schedule a newsletter all in the same screen.”
— Annie, blogger

“Once we switched to MailPoet, we stopped paying for duplicate subscribers and saw our open rates jump almost overnight.”
— James, WooCommerce store owner

“MailPoet just feels more natural if you live in WordPress. It saves me hours every month.”
— Melissa, content creator

Frequently asked questions

Is MailPoet good for WooCommerce?
Absolutely. MailPoet has native WooCommerce support and can send post-purchase emails, abandoned cart reminders, and product updates with zero configuration needed.

Can I migrate from Mailchimp to MailPoet?
Yes. MailPoet offers import tools that let you move contacts, segments, and even templates from Mailchimp with just a few clicks.

Is MailPoet free forever?
Yes—for up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited email sends. Premium features kick in after that, starting at $10/month.

What’s the biggest difference between MailPoet and Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is a standalone platform. MailPoet is made for WordPress. If you love working inside your WordPress dashboard, MailPoet will feel like home.

Final thoughts: Mailchimp or MailPoet?

Choose Mailchimp if you want an all-in-one external marketing platform and don’t mind a steeper learning curve (or price) as you grow.

Choose MailPoet if your website runs on WordPress and you want a simpler, faster, more integrated email marketing solution—especially if WooCommerce is part of your business.