AdRoll
Mailchimp
| Feature | AdRoll | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $36/mo | Free / from $13/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | ecommerce, dtc-brands, small-businesses, shopify-stores | small-businesses, startups, solopreneurs, e-commerce |
| Founded | 2007 | 2001 |
| Retargeting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Display Ads | ✓ | ✗ |
| Social Ads | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Marketing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Bidding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Audience Segmentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Campaigns | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✗ | ✓ |
| Audience Segments | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| A B Testing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ AdRoll Pros
- Great retargeting
- Cross-channel campaigns
- AI optimization
- Easy Shopify integration
✗ AdRoll Cons
- Minimum spend required
- Learning curve
- Reporting could improve
✓ Mailchimp Pros
- Free tier for up to 500 contacts
- Easy drag-and-drop email builder
- Built-in automation workflows
- Good reporting and analytics
✗ Mailchimp Cons
- Gets expensive as list grows
- Automation less powerful than competitors
- Limited A/B testing on lower plans
The Verdict
AdRoll is built for ecommerce and dtc brands, with a focus on retargeting and display-ads. Mailchimp targets small businesses and startups and leads with email-campaigns and automation.
On pricing, Mailchimp is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $13/mo compared to $36/mo for AdRoll. That $23/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Mailchimp has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. AdRoll requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Mailchimp offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while AdRoll takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for small businesses — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Mailchimp has a slight overall edge — but if great retargeting matters most to you, AdRoll may still be the right call.
