Mailchimp
Plausible Analytics
| Feature | Mailchimp | Plausible Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $13/mo | From $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, solopreneurs, e-commerce | privacy-conscious-businesses, bloggers, developers, eu-businesses |
| Founded | 2001 | 2019 |
| Email Campaigns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Audience Segments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| A B Testing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pageviews | ✗ | ✓ |
| Referrers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Events | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utm Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Self Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Plausible Analytics Pros
- No cookies — GDPR compliant without consent banner
- Script is under 1KB (vs GA's 45KB)
- Open-source and transparent
- Simple dashboard — no overwhelming data
✗ Plausible Analytics Cons
- Less detailed than Google Analytics
- No free tier (but affordable)
- Limited segmentation and custom reports
The Verdict
Mailchimp is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on email-campaigns and automation. Plausible Analytics targets privacy conscious businesses and bloggers and leads with pageviews and referrers.
Pricing is close: Plausible Analytics starts at $9/mo versus $13/mo for Mailchimp — not a deciding factor on its own.
Mailchimp has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Plausible Analytics requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Plausible Analytics has a slight overall edge — but if free tier for up to 500 contacts matters most to you, Mailchimp may still be the right call.
