Mailchimp vs Salesforce
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Mailchimp and Salesforce. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Salesforce edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.3/5. However, Mailchimp (4/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing. Read on for the full breakdown.
Mailchimp vs Salesforce at a Glance
Mailchimp
★ 4The world's most recognisable email marketing platform, now owned by Intuit. Mailchimp has expanded into basic CRM, landing pages, and social media management.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing
Read full review →Salesforce
★ 4.3The world's leading CRM platform, Salesforce offers unmatched customisation and scalability. Best suited for larger organisations with complex sales processes and dedicated admin resources.
Starting from: £20/user/month
Best for: Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows
Read full review →Mailchimp vs Salesforce Feature Comparison
Here is how Mailchimp and Salesforce compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | Yes | No |
| Starting Price | £0/month | £20/user/month |
| Best For | Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing | Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Yes |
| Ikaroa Partner Discount | 15% off Standard plan for 6 months | 15% off any plan |
Mailchimp vs Salesforce Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
Mailchimp Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓500 contacts
- ✓1,000 sends/month
- ✓Basic email templates
- ✓Landing pages
Essentials
£10/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓5,000 sends/month
- ✓A/B testing
- ✓24/7 support
Standard
£15/month
- ✓Everything in Essentials
- ✓Automation
- ✓Retargeting ads
- ✓Custom templates
Premium
£270/month
- ✓Everything in Standard
- ✓Advanced segmentation
- ✓Multivariate testing
- ✓Phone support
Salesforce Pricing
Starter
£20/user/month
- ✓Lead management
- ✓Opportunity tracking
- ✓Email integration
Professional
£60/user/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Pipeline management
- ✓Forecasting
Enterprise
£120/user/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Workflow automation
- ✓Advanced reporting
Unlimited
£240/user/month
- ✓Everything in Enterprise
- ✓AI features
- ✓24/7 support
- ✓Sandbox
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Mailchimp and Salesforce for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
Mailchimp Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Extremely well-known and trusted brand
- •Easy to use email builder
- •Good template library
- •Strong integration ecosystem
- •Useful creative tools and content optimiser
✗Cons
- •CRM features are very basic
- •Free plan has been significantly reduced
- •Pricing increases sharply with contact count
- •Limited automation on lower tiers
- •Contact-based pricing means paying for unsubscribed contacts
Salesforce Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Incredibly customisable and scalable
- •Massive ecosystem (AppExchange has 5,000+ apps)
- •Industry-leading AI features with Einstein
- •Robust reporting and analytics
- •Trusted by Fortune 500 companies
✗Cons
- •Steep learning curve, often requires admin training
- •Expensive, especially for smaller teams
- •Complex pricing with many add-ons
- •Can feel over-engineered for simple use cases
- •Implementation can take months
Our Verdict: Mailchimp vs Salesforce
Both Mailchimp and Salesforce are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Mailchimp if you need Small businesses and creators focused on email marketing. With a starting price of £0/month and a rating of 4/5, it offers extremely well-known and trusted brand.
Choose Salesforce if you need Mid to large enterprises needing highly customisable CRM with complex workflows. Starting at £20/user/month with a 4.3/5 rating, it excels at incredibly customisable and scalable.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
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