Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits: 13 Tools Compared

The best Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits in 2026 are Emercury for large lists and high send volume, MailerLite for small budgets, Constant Contact for events and phone support, GetResponse for the deepest short-term discount, and Zeffy for a free all-in-one fundraising suite. Mailchimp still offers verified nonprofits a 15% discount. Its free plan now stops at 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, which pushes many small organizations onto paid plans. This guide compares 13 platforms on verified pricing, discount fine print, free plan limits, and migration effort.

Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits Compared

The table below compares each platform’s free plan, entry price, nonprofit discount, and main limitation as verified on vendor pages on October 5, 2026.

Platform	Best Fit	Free Plan	Paid Entry Price	Nonprofit Discount	Main Limitation
Emercury	Mid-size to large lists, high send volume	2,000 contacts, 12,000 sends/mo (source)	Grow from $275/mo, up to 49,999 contacts (source)	15% (source)	High first paid tier for small lists
MailerLite	Small nonprofits, simple automation	250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo (source)	Comfort from $12/mo (source)	30%, account lifetime (source)	Small free tier since June 2026
Constant Contact	Events, teams new to email, phone support	None, free trial (source)	Lite from $12/mo (source)	20% (6-mo prepay), 30% (12-mo prepay)	Discount requires prepaying
GetResponse	Short-term savings, webinars	500 contacts, 2,500 newsletters/mo (source)	Starter from $19/mo (source)	50% for 24 months (source)	Logo on your site required; political orgs excluded
Brevo	Email plus SMS, large contact storage	300 emails/day (source)	Starter from $9/mo (source)	20% (source)	Daily send cap on free plan
EmailOctopus	Newsletter-first nonprofits	2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/mo (source)	Pro from $9/mo billed yearly (source)	20% lifetime (source)	Application steps not published
Sender	Highest free send volume	2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/mo (source)	Standard $6.30/mo first-year annual promo (source)	25% (source)	Entry price is a first-year promo
Kit	Large newsletter lists, no automation needed	10,000 subscribers (source)	Creator $33/mo billed yearly (source)	Exists, rate not published (source)	Free plan has no automations
ActiveCampaign	Advanced automation, advocacy journeys	None, 14-day trial (source)	Varies by contact count (source)	20% on all plans (source)	No free plan
HubSpot	Orgs already running on HubSpot CRM	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	40% on Professional and Enterprise only (source)	Starter excluded from discount
Mailsoftly	Simple paid plans, mid-size lists	500 contacts, 2,000 sends/mo (source)	Starter $15/mo (source)	20%, no expiry (source)	Smaller free tier than peers
Zeffy	Free fundraising plus email	Whole platform free (source)	$0	Not applicable	Send cap of 5,000/day without own domain
Givebutter	Fundraising pages with email blasts	Free with donor tips (source)	Plus from $29/mo for texting (source)	Not applicable	3% platform fee if tips are turned off

Comparison Summary: Free plans range from 250 contacts (Mailchimp, MailerLite) to 10,000 subscribers (Kit) or unlimited contacts (Zeffy). Nonprofit discounts range from 15% (Mailchimp, Emercury) to 50% (GetResponse). The discount you can actually use depends on billing terms, timing, and plan tier, which the discount section below breaks down.

What Changed for Nonprofit Email Pricing in 2026

Four pricing changes in 2026 make older comparison articles unreliable for nonprofit buyers.

Change	Before	Now	Source
Mailchimp free plan	500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month	250 contacts, 500 sends/month, 250/day	Mailchimp Help
MailerLite free plan (June 16, 2026)	500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month	250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month	MailerLite free plan FAQ
MailerLite plan names (June 16, 2026)	Growing Business, Advanced	Comfort, Power	MailerLite paid plans FAQ
Kit free plan	Lower subscriber cap	Up to 10,000 subscribers	Kit Help

Mailchimp’s 15% nonprofit discount did not end. It is still listed on Mailchimp’s help center as of October 2026. Brevo, MailerLite, and EmailOctopus also publish nonprofit discounts on their own pages, even where some comparison lists say they do not.

Why Nonprofits Leave Mailchimp

Nonprofits leave Mailchimp for three verified reasons: a smaller free plan, contact-based billing that counts unsubscribed contacts, and limited seats on lower tiers.

Is Mailchimp Free for Nonprofits?

Quick Answer: No. Mailchimp has no free nonprofit program. Any organization can use the Free plan, which allows up to 250 contacts, 500 sends a month, and 250 sends a day. Verified nonprofits get 15% off paid plans, but only if they request the discount before buying a plan. Mailchimp does not apply it retroactively.

The Free plan is limited to one seat and one audience, with email support only for the first 30 days. Paid plans start at $13 a month for Essentials and $20 a month for Standard at 0 to 500 contacts. Mailchimp labels both prices as 12-month introductory rates, so budget for a higher renewal.

The Free Plan Shrank to 250 Contacts

The Mailchimp Free plan now supports 250 contacts and 500 sends per month. A small food bank with 400 volunteers and donors outgrows it on day one. Sending two newsletters a month to 250 people uses the full 500-send allowance, with nothing left for event reminders or appeals.

Unsubscribed Contacts Still Count Toward Your Bill

Mailchimp counts subscribed, unsubscribed, and non-subscribed contacts toward the monthly contact limit. Cleaned, archived, pending, and deleted contacts do not count. A nonprofit with 3,000 subscribers and 1,500 unsubscribes pays for 4,500 contacts unless it archives the unsubscribes. Archiving is the fastest cost cut before you decide to switch.

Our Nonprofit Can No Longer Afford Mailchimp

Nonprofit teams in community forums describe the same problem: the list grows, the plan tier jumps, and the budget does not. The fix is to compare the cost at your current list size after each vendor’s nonprofit discount, not the advertised starting price. The entry price table below shows the math for the lowest tier of each platform.

Small Teams Need More Than One Seat

Collaboration is a common reason to switch. Mailchimp Free allows one seat. MailerLite Free allows two seats. Emercury’s Forever Free plan is a single user account. If your development director, communications lead, and volunteer coordinator all need logins, check seat limits on the plan you can afford, not only on the top tier.

How We Evaluated These Alternatives

EPR scored each platform on seven nonprofit criteria using vendor pricing pages, vendor help centers, and vendor nonprofit program pages, all checked on October 5, 2026.

1. Total cost after the nonprofit discount. Entry price, discount rate, and whether the discount survives billing choices.
2. Discount fine print. Duration, timing, documents required, plan exclusions, and conditions such as logo placement.
3. Free plan usefulness. Contacts, monthly sends, daily caps, seats, and automation limits.
4. Automation for donor journeys. Welcome series, donation thank-you flows, lapsed donor re-engagement.
5. Deliverability support. List hygiene, authentication tools, and access to deliverability staff.
6. Integration path to donor data. Native integrations, API access, or Zapier for CRMs such as Salesforce.
7. Migration effort from Mailchimp. Import handling, suppression support, and rebuild work.

EPR did not run inbox placement tests for this article. Vendor-reported deliverability percentages are excluded because they are not independently verified. For low-cost options outside the nonprofit context, see our guide to budget-friendly email marketing platforms.

The 13 Best Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits Reviewed

Each review below lists verified pricing, the nonprofit discount and how to claim it, strengths, limitations, and an EPR verdict.

1. Emercury: Best for Nonprofits With Large Lists and High Send Volume

Emercury is an email marketing platform built around deliverability, with a free plan for up to 2,000 contacts and a published 15% nonprofit discount on paid plans. It fits nonprofits that send frequent appeals and newsletters to large lists and want human help with inbox placement.

Pricing Snapshot:

Plan	Price	Contacts	Monthly Sends
Forever Free	$0	2,000	12,000
Grow	From $275/mo	Up to 49,999	Up to 500,000
Pro	From $825/mo	Up to 149,999	Up to 1,500,000
Scale	From $1,400/mo	Unlimited	Up to 2,000,000

Sources: Emercury Forever Free, Emercury pricing.

Nonprofit discount: Emercury offers 15% to nonprofits and charities. You sign up for an account, then email Emercury a link to your organization’s website. The pricing page shows annual prepay terms inconsistently, so ask Emercury in writing what an annual commitment costs with the nonprofit discount applied before prepaying.

What nonprofits get:

• Free plan tools: Broadcast campaigns, A/B split testing, list segmentation, list suppression, campaign analytics, form builders, one autoresponder, and one automation workflow (source).
• List Hygiene: Emercury’s List Hygiene removes spam traps, bots, seeds, and known complainers, which matters when you bring a years-old Mailchimp export into a new platform. A monthly allowance is included on Pro and Scale; on the free plan and Grow it is an additional service.
• Journey Builder: A visual automation builder with event-based triggers for welcome series and donor follow-ups.
• Smart Personalization and Content Scoring: Conditional content based on subscriber data, plus Content Scoring to reduce spam filter risk (features).
• DMARC Record Generator: A DMARC tool that helps you meet Gmail’s bulk-sender authentication rules.
• Deliverability staff: Pro includes a Delivery Analyst and Scale includes a Dedicated Delivery Analyst (source).
• Smart Segments: Real-time segments, capped at 1 on Grow, 5 on Pro, and 20 on Scale (source). The Free plan does not include them.
• Support: Grow includes ticket and chat support, and Pro adds phone support (source).

Limitations:

• The first paid tier starts at $275 a month, or $233.75 after the 15% discount. A nonprofit with 3,000 contacts will pay less on MailerLite, Brevo, or Sender.
• The Free plan allows one user and one automation workflow, which limits team collaboration and multi-step donor journeys.
• Emercury is an email platform, not a fundraising suite. Donation forms and tax receipts must come from your donation tool.
• The pricing page does not publish the Grow price at every contact band. Confirm your exact price before you commit.

EPR Verdict: Emercury is the strongest fit on this list for nonprofits that send high volume to lists in the tens of thousands, because its Grow tier covers up to 49,999 contacts and 500,000 sends from $275 a month and Pro adds a Delivery Analyst. Small nonprofits between 2,000 and roughly 10,000 contacts will find lower entry prices elsewhere. Read the full Emercury review for feature detail.

2. MailerLite: Best Low-Cost Pick for Small Nonprofits

MailerLite is a simple email platform with a 30% nonprofit discount that lasts for the life of the account. It suits small nonprofits that want an easy editor and basic automation at a low monthly cost.

Pricing Snapshot: Free plan covers 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, 2 seats, and 3 automations. Comfort starts at $12 a month and Power at $25 a month on monthly billing. Annual billing saves 10%.

Nonprofit discount: 30% off any paid plan for the life of the account. Select “Nonprofit” as your industry at signup, then contact support with proof of registered nonprofit status before buying. The discount does not combine with other discounts and is not retroactive (terms).

Strengths:

• Two seats on the Free plan, more than Mailchimp’s one.
• The discount stays on the account after the June 2026 plan rename (source).

Limitations:

• The Free plan dropped to 250 subscribers in June 2026, the same size as Mailchimp’s.
• The 30% discount does not combine with the annual billing discount.

EPR Verdict: MailerLite is the best value for nonprofits under a few thousand contacts that need a clean editor and light automation. Apply for the discount before your first payment.

3. Constant Contact: Best for Events and Phone Support

Constant Contact is a long-standing email platform for small organizations, with event tools and phone access to support staff. It suits nonprofits running galas, volunteer days, and ticketed events with teams new to email marketing.

Pricing Snapshot: Lite starts at $12 a month, Standard at $35, and Premium at $80. Monthly send limits are 10x contacts on Lite, 12x on Standard, and 24x on Premium. There is no free plan, only a free trial with no credit card required.

Nonprofit discount: 20% when prepaying six months or 30% when prepaying 12 months. U.S. organizations need a federal Letter of Determination for 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status. New customers call sales to apply.

Strengths:

• Support includes one-on-one phone calls with marketing advisors.
• 501(c)(6) organizations, such as chambers and trade associations, also qualify.

Limitations:

• Monthly billing gets no nonprofit discount.
• No free plan.

EPR Verdict: Constant Contact suits event-heavy nonprofits that value phone support and can prepay a year. Organizations that cannot prepay lose the discount entirely.

4. GetResponse: Largest Nonprofit Discount, With Conditions

GetResponse is an email and marketing automation platform with webinar tools and the largest nonprofit discount on this list. It suits nonprofits that want to cut costs for two years and can meet the program’s conditions.

Pricing Snapshot: The Free plan covers 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters a month. Paid plans start at $19 a month for Starter, $59 for Marketer, and $69 for Creator. Starter covers up to 1,000 subscribers.

Nonprofit discount: 50% off for 24 months, after which standard pricing applies. Send documentation to GetResponse’s nonprofit team. You must place the GetResponse logo on your website within four weeks of activation. Political organizations are excluded. The discount cannot be combined with annual or biennial billing discounts.

Strengths:

• Half price for two years is the deepest cut available here.
• A free plan exists if you want to test before applying.

Limitations:

• The logo requirement places a vendor badge on your donor-facing website.
• Pricing doubles after month 24, so plan your budget for year three.

EPR Verdict: GetResponse is the cheapest short-term option for nonprofits comfortable with the logo requirement. Budget for full pricing after two years.

5. Brevo: Best for Email Plus SMS on a Volume Budget

Brevo is a multichannel platform that prices by monthly email volume instead of contacts. It suits nonprofits with large contact lists that email infrequently, or that want SMS alongside email.

Pricing Snapshot: The Free plan allows 300 emails a day and stores up to 100,000 contacts. Paid plans start at $9 a month for Starter, $18 for Standard, and $499 for Professional (source).

Nonprofit discount: 20% off any monthly or yearly paid plan. Send proof of status, such as a registration certificate or tax-exempt document, to support. Brevo issues a coupon code to apply in the app.

Strengths:

• Volume-based pricing means a large, quiet list does not raise your bill.
• The discount applies to both monthly and yearly billing.

Limitations:

• The 300-per-day free cap makes a single newsletter to 1,000 people a four-day job.
• Frequent senders to large lists can pay more than contact-based platforms.

EPR Verdict: Brevo is the best fit for nonprofits with big lists that send a few campaigns a month, or that want SMS for event reminders.

6. EmailOctopus: Best Free Plan for Newsletter-First Nonprofits

EmailOctopus is a low-cost newsletter platform with a generous free tier and a lifetime nonprofit discount. It suits nonprofits whose main channel is a regular newsletter.

Pricing Snapshot: The free Starter plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month. Pro starts at $9 a month billed yearly.

Nonprofit discount: 20% lifetime discount for nonprofits. The pricing page does not publish the application steps, so contact support before upgrading.

Strengths:

• Ten times Mailchimp’s free contact limit.
• A lifetime discount, not a time-limited one.

Limitations:

• Application process and documentation requirements are not published.

EPR Verdict: EmailOctopus is one of the strongest free options for newsletter-led nonprofits up to 2,500 subscribers.

7. Sender: High Free Send Allowance and a 25% Discount

Sender is a budget email platform whose free plan includes 15,000 emails a month, the highest fixed monthly cap among the dedicated email platforms reviewed here. It suits nonprofits that send several emails a month to a list under 2,500.

Pricing Snapshot: Free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month. Standard is listed at $6.30 a month for 500 subscribers as a first-year promotion for new users on annual billing.

Nonprofit discount: 25% off all paid plans. Contact support through live chat or the contact form for a code.

Strengths:

• 15,000 free sends a month supports roughly six campaigns to a full 2,500-person list.

Limitations:

• The advertised entry price is a first-year promotion. Confirm renewal pricing and whether the 25% stacks with the promo.

EPR Verdict: Sender is the best free pick for frequent senders with lists under 2,500.

8. Kit: Best Free Plan for Large Newsletter Lists

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is a creator-focused platform whose free plan now covers up to 10,000 subscribers. It suits nonprofits with large newsletter audiences that do not need automation.

Pricing Snapshot: Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, but no visual automations or sequences. Creator costs $33 a month billed yearly at 1,000 subscribers.

Nonprofit discount: Kit confirms a nonprofit discount exists but does not publish the rate or eligibility rules.

Strengths:

• The largest free subscriber cap among the contact-priced platforms here.

Limitations:

• No automations on the Free plan, so donor welcome series need a paid plan.
• Discount terms are not published.

EPR Verdict: Kit is the best free choice for advocacy groups and publishers with large lists that only send broadcasts.

9. ActiveCampaign: Best for Advanced Donor Automation

ActiveCampaign is a marketing automation platform with a deep workflow builder. It suits nonprofits running multi-step advocacy campaigns, donor scoring, or branching journeys.

Pricing Snapshot: ActiveCampaign offers Starter, Plus, Pro, and Elite plans priced by contact count, with a 14-day free trial and no free plan.

Nonprofit discount: 20% off on Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans. New customers email the sales team with proof of nonprofit status.

Strengths:

• The discount applies across all plan tiers.

Limitations:

• No free plan.
• Prices load dynamically by contact count, so get a quote at your list size.

EPR Verdict: ActiveCampaign suits nonprofits whose fundraising depends on complex automation more than low cost.

10. HubSpot: Best if Your Donor Data Already Lives in HubSpot

HubSpot is a CRM-first platform with marketing, sales, and service hubs. It suits nonprofits that already store donor and volunteer records in HubSpot.

Pricing Snapshot: Pricing varies by hub and tier. EPR did not verify current Marketing Hub pricing for this article.

Nonprofit discount: 40% off net-new Professional or Enterprise products. Starter plans are excluded. You must be a new customer registered in North America, Australia, or New Zealand, on an annual contract.

Strengths:

• Email and CRM in one system removes the sync step.

Limitations:

• The discount does not apply to Starter, the tier most small nonprofits can afford.

EPR Verdict: HubSpot is worth it only if your organization is already committed to the HubSpot CRM at the Professional tier or above.

11. Mailsoftly: Simple Paid Plans With a Permanent 20% Discount

Mailsoftly is a straightforward email platform with tiered paid plans and an open-ended nonprofit discount. It suits nonprofits that want predictable plan steps.

Pricing Snapshot: Free plan covers 500 contacts, 2,000 sends a month, and one team member. Paid plans are Starter $15, Basic $39, Business $79, and Premium $159 a month.

Nonprofit discount: 20% off any paid plan, every month, with no expiry, for registered nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or the local equivalent.

Limitations:

• The Free plan is smaller than EmailOctopus, Sender, and Emercury.

EPR Verdict: Mailsoftly is a solid paid option for nonprofits that want flat tiers and a discount that never expires.

12. Zeffy: Best Free All-in-One Fundraising Suite

Zeffy is a free fundraising platform for nonprofits that includes donation forms, ticketing, and email newsletters. It suits small nonprofits that want donations and email in one free tool.

Pricing Snapshot: Zeffy states it is completely free for nonprofits, with unlimited contacts. You can email 5,000 people a day, or 30,000 once you connect your own sending domain. Zeffy is funded by optional donor contributions.

Eligibility: Nonprofits in the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and Germany with a bank account in the organization’s name. U.S. organizations need an EIN, but 501(c)(3) status is not required.

Limitations:

• Zeffy is a fundraising suite first. It is not a full email marketing platform, so compare its automation and segmentation against your needs before replacing Mailchimp.
• The funding model relies on donor tips shown at checkout.

EPR Verdict: Zeffy is the best zero-cost option for small nonprofits whose email program centers on donations and events.

13. Givebutter: Best Free Option Tied to Donation Pages

Givebutter is a free fundraising platform with donation pages, events, and email blasts. It suits nonprofits that run campaign-based fundraising and want email built into the donation flow.

Pricing Snapshot: Givebutter is free with a 0% platform fee when donor tips are on, or a flat 3% fee when tips are off. Email blasts are included. Texting requires Givebutter Plus, from $29 a month.

Limitations:

• Givebutter does not publish an email volume cap, so confirm sending limits for large lists.
• Like Zeffy, it is a fundraising suite, not a dedicated email marketing platform.

EPR Verdict: Givebutter suits campaign-driven nonprofits that want email blasts tied to donation pages at no software cost.

Nonprofit Discounts Compared: Rate, Duration, and Fine Print

Nonprofit discounts differ more in their conditions than in their headline percentages. The table compares what each vendor actually requires.

Platform	Rate	Duration	Billing Condition	Timing	Key Condition	Source
GetResponse	50%	24 months	Not combinable with annual or biennial discounts	Apply with documentation	Logo on your website within 4 weeks; political orgs excluded	Link
HubSpot	40%	Not stated	Annual contract	New customers only	Professional or Enterprise only; North America, Australia, NZ	Link
MailerLite	30%	Account lifetime	Not combinable with other discounts	Before purchase, not retroactive	Proof of registered nonprofit status	Link
Constant Contact	20% or 30%	Prepaid term	6-month (20%) or 12-month (30%) prepay	Call sales	501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) letter	Link
Sender	25%	Not stated	All paid plans	Contact support	Code issued by support	Link
Brevo	20%	Not stated	Monthly or yearly	After verification	Coupon code issued	Link
ActiveCampaign	20%	Not stated	All plans	New: sales; existing: support	Proof of nonprofit status	Link
EmailOctopus	20%	Lifetime	Not stated	Not published	Not published	Link
Mailsoftly	20%	No expiry	Any paid plan	Not stated	501(c)(3) or local equivalent	Link
Emercury	15%	Not stated	Paid plans; 10% annual prepay listed separately	After signup	Email a link to your website	Link
Mailchimp	15%	Not stated	Paid plans	Before purchase, not retroactive	EIN; 501(c)(3) letter may be requested	Link
Kit	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published	Not published	Link

Entry Price After the Nonprofit Discount

The lowest paid tier after each discount shows what a small nonprofit actually pays. EPR calculated these figures from the verified list prices and discount rates above.

Platform	Entry Plan	List Price	Discount	Price After Discount	Notes
Mailchimp	Essentials	$13/mo	15%	$11.05/mo	12-month introductory rate
MailerLite	Comfort	$12/mo	30%	$8.40/mo	Monthly billing
Constant Contact	Lite	$12/mo	30%	$8.40/mo	Requires 12-month prepay ($100.80)
GetResponse	Starter	$19/mo	50%	$9.50/mo	Monthly billing, up to 1,000 subscribers, 24 months
Brevo	Starter	$9/mo	20%	$7.20/mo	5,000 emails/mo tier
Mailsoftly	Starter	$15/mo	20%	$12.00/mo	No expiry
Emercury	Grow	$275/mo	15%	$233.75/mo	Up to 49,999 contacts

Entry plans cover the smallest list sizes. Price at your real list size, and confirm whether annual billing and nonprofit discounts can combine before you prepay.

How to Apply for a Nonprofit Email Discount

Most vendors verify status with the same few documents, so prepare them before you sign up.

1. Gather your proof. U.S. organizations typically need an EIN and the IRS determination letter. You can confirm your status in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
2. Create a free account first. Mailchimp and MailerLite require the request before purchase and will not refund retroactively (Mailchimp, MailerLite).
3. Contact the right team. Mailchimp routes requests through billing, ActiveCampaign through sales, Brevo and Sender through support, and GetResponse through its nonprofit team.
4. Get written confirmation. Wait for the coupon or account flag before entering payment details.
5. Calendar the end date. GetResponse’s discount ends after 24 months. Constant Contact’s depends on your prepaid term.

Discount Traps to Avoid

Four conditions cost nonprofits money most often.

• Paying first. Mailchimp and MailerLite do not apply discounts retroactively.
• Choosing annual billing on GetResponse. The nonprofit discount cannot combine with annual or biennial savings.
• Assuming HubSpot Starter qualifies. The 40% covers Professional and Enterprise only.
• Paying monthly at Constant Contact. The discount only applies to 6-month or 12-month prepay.

Free Plans Compared

Free plans now range from 250 contacts to unlimited, and the limit that matters most depends on how often you send.

Platform	Free Contacts	Free Sends	Notable Limit	Source
Mailchimp	250	500/mo, 250/day	1 seat, support for first 30 days	Link
MailerLite	250	2,500/mo	2 seats, 3 automations	Link
Mailsoftly	500	2,000/mo	1 team member	Link
GetResponse	500	2,500 newsletters/mo	1 landing page	Link
Emercury	2,000	12,000/mo	1 user, 1 automation workflow	Link
EmailOctopus	2,500	10,000/mo	Pro from $9/mo billed yearly	Link
Sender	2,500	15,000/mo	Paid tiers use first-year promo pricing	Link
Kit	10,000	Unlimited broadcasts	No automations or sequences	Link
Brevo	Up to 100,000 stored	300/day	Daily cap	Link
Zeffy	Unlimited	5,000/day (30,000 with own domain)	Fundraising suite, not a dedicated ESP	Link

Free Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits

Kit, Emercury, EmailOctopus, Sender, and Zeffy all give nonprofits more free capacity than Mailchimp. Kit wins on contacts for broadcast-only newsletters. Sender has the highest fixed monthly send cap among dedicated email platforms. Emercury pairs a 2,000-contact free plan with 12,000 monthly sends and one automation workflow. Zeffy and Givebutter remove software cost entirely in exchange for donor tip prompts.

Email Platform vs. Free Fundraising Suite

A dedicated email platform gives you deeper segmentation, automation, and deliverability tools. A fundraising suite gives you donation forms, receipts, and basic email in one free account.

Need	Dedicated Email Platform (Emercury, MailerLite, Brevo)	Fundraising Suite (Zeffy, Givebutter)
Donation forms and receipts	Connect a separate donation tool	Built in
Multi-step automation	Yes, varies by plan	Limited
Segmentation depth	Advanced on most paid plans	Basic
Deliverability tools	List hygiene, authentication help, deliverability staff on some plans	Limited
Software cost	Free plan or paid tiers	Free, funded by donor tips or fees

Choose a fundraising suite if donations and events drive almost every email you send. Choose a dedicated email platform if you run newsletters, volunteer journeys, advocacy alerts, and donor nurture at scale. Many nonprofits use both: the suite for transactions and the email platform for communication.

Best Mailchimp Alternative by Nonprofit Type

The right alternative depends on list size, send frequency, and whether your team needs automation or events.

Nonprofit Situation	Best Fit	Why
Under 2,500 contacts, newsletter only	EmailOctopus or Sender	2,500-subscriber free plans with 10,000 to 15,000 sends
Up to 10,000 subscribers, broadcasts only	Kit	10,000-subscriber free plan
2,000 contacts, needs list cleaning and one automation	Emercury Forever Free	12,000 free sends a month and 1 automation workflow
Small team, low budget, light automation	MailerLite	30% lifetime discount and 2 free seats
Events and galas, phone support	Constant Contact	Event tools and 30% off with annual prepay
Lowest cost for two years	GetResponse	50% for 24 months
Large list, few sends per month	Brevo	Priced by email volume, not contacts
20,000 to 150,000 contacts, frequent sends	Emercury Grow or Pro	Up to 500,000 or 1.5 million sends, Delivery Analyst on Pro
Advocacy journeys and scoring	ActiveCampaign	Deep automation, 20% on all plans
Already on HubSpot CRM Professional	HubSpot	40% on Professional and Enterprise
Donations and email in one free tool	Zeffy or Givebutter	Free fundraising suites

Mailchimp Alternative Good for Collaboration

Team access is a frequent reason nonprofits search for a new platform. On free plans, MailerLite allows two seats while Mailchimp, Emercury, and Mailsoftly each allow one user. If three or more staff and volunteers need logins, budget for a paid tier and confirm the seat count on that exact plan before you migrate.

Donor CRM and Integration Checklist

Integration with your donor database decides how much manual work your team does every week. Nonprofit teams often connect email platforms to Salesforce through Zapier, which works but adds a monthly cost and a sync delay.

Check these points with each vendor before you switch:

• Native vs. connector: Is there a native integration with your CRM, or only Zapier or a similar connector?
• Sync direction: Do unsubscribes in the email platform flow back to the CRM, so you never email someone who opted out?
• Field mapping: Can donation amount, last gift date, and volunteer status map to custom fields for segmentation?
• Sync frequency: Real-time, hourly, or daily? Real-time matters for thank-you emails.
• API access: Does your plan include the API if you need a custom sync? Emercury includes a full API on its free plan.
• Cost of the connector: Add any Zapier plan cost to the platform price when you compare.

EPR did not verify a native integration list for every vendor in this article. Ask each vendor for confirmation of your specific CRM before migrating.

Deliverability Requirements After You Switch

Deliverability is the share of your emails that reach the inbox, and switching platforms resets the sending history mailbox providers use to judge you. Learn more about what email deliverability is and how it is measured.

Gmail requires senders of 5,000 or more messages a day to Gmail accounts to meet these rules (Google):

• Authenticate with SPF and DKIM, and align DMARC with your From domain.
• Offer one-click unsubscribe on marketing messages and process unsubscribes within 48 hours.
• Keep spam complaints below 0.3%, with a recommended target below 0.1%.
• Use TLS and valid forward and reverse DNS.

Non-compliant messages face temporary and permanent rejections. Smaller nonprofits should meet the same standards, because they protect your domain as your list grows. Tools such as Emercury’s DMARC Record Generator help you publish a valid record.

Does CAN-SPAM Apply to Nonprofit Emails?

Quick Answer: CAN-SPAM covers emails whose primary purpose is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service. The FTC’s test turns on the message’s purpose, not the sender’s tax status. A pure donation appeal may fall outside it, while event ticket or merchandise promotions can fall inside it. Most nonprofits apply CAN-SPAM rules to all bulk email.

The FTC compliance guide requires covered messages to include a valid physical postal address and to honor opt-out requests within 10 business days. Each separate violating email can carry penalties of up to $53,088. This is general information, not legal advice. Ask counsel about your specific email program.

How to Switch From Mailchimp Without Losing Supporters

A clean migration takes one to two weeks for most nonprofits and protects both your list and your sender reputation. Our guide to switching email service providers covers the general process. These steps add the nonprofit-specific details.

1. Export every contact status. Export subscribed contacts for import, and export unsubscribed and cleaned contacts separately for your suppression list. Mailchimp tracks these as distinct contact statuses.
2. Import unsubscribes as suppressions. Never re-add someone who opted out. Most platforms support suppression lists, including Emercury’s list suppression on its free plan.
3. Clean the list before the first send. Old exports contain dead addresses and spam traps. Use the new platform’s list cleaning, such as Emercury’s List Hygiene, or a validation service.
4. Map tags and groups to segments. Recreate donor tiers, volunteer status, and event attendance as tags or custom fields before you import.
5. Authenticate your domain. Publish SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for the new platform before sending.
6. Rebuild automations. Welcome series, donation thank-yous, and lapsed donor flows must be rebuilt by hand. Templates usually need recreating too.
7. Send to engaged supporters first. Start with your most recent openers and clickers, then add older segments over several sends.
8. Redirect signup forms. Replace Mailchimp embed codes on your website and donation pages.
9. Downgrade or archive in Mailchimp. Archive inactive contacts to stop paying for them while you run both systems.

Migration Checklist

Task	Done Before First Send?
Nonprofit discount approved in writing	Yes
All contact statuses exported	Yes
Unsubscribes and cleaned contacts imported as suppressions	Yes
List cleaned	Yes
SPF, DKIM, DMARC published	Yes
Segments and custom fields mapped	Yes
Automations rebuilt and tested	Yes
Signup forms redirected	Yes
Mailchimp downgraded or archived	After first successful send

Buyer Checklist: How to Choose a Mailchimp Alternative

Use these questions to narrow 13 options to one.

• How many contacts do you have today, and in two years? Under 2,500 favors free plans. Over 20,000 favors volume-ready platforms such as Emercury or Brevo.
• How often do you send? Frequent senders should compare monthly send caps, not just contact caps.
• Can you prepay a year? If not, rule out Constant Contact’s discount and check which vendors discount monthly billing.
• Can you place a vendor logo on your site? If not, GetResponse’s 50% is off the table.
• Do you need multi-step automation? Check free plan automation limits. Kit Free has none and Emercury Free has one workflow.
• Which CRM holds your donor data? Confirm the integration path before signing.
• Who needs a login? Count seats on the plan you can afford.
• Do you need donation forms in the same tool? If yes, compare Zeffy and Givebutter against an email platform plus a separate donation tool.

Compare more platforms with EPR. Email Platform Review evaluates email marketing platforms, SMTP relays, and ESPs with the same criteria for every vendor. Browse our independent ESP reviews before you sign a contract, and check each vendor’s pricing page on the day you buy.

Conclusion

Our Verdict on Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits

The strongest Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits depend on list size and how you send. Emercury fits nonprofits with large lists and frequent sends, offering a 2,000-contact free plan, a 15% nonprofit discount, and deliverability staff on higher tiers. MailerLite gives small teams the best long-term value with 30% off for life. GetResponse is cheapest for two years if you accept its logo rule. Kit, EmailOctopus, and Sender lead on free capacity, and Zeffy and Givebutter remove software cost for donation-led programs. Apply for any discount before you pay, import your unsubscribes as suppressions, and authenticate your domain before your first send.

FAQs

Is Mailchimp free for nonprofits?

Mailchimp has no free program reserved for nonprofits. Any organization can use its Free plan, capped at 250 contacts, 500 sends a month, and 250 sends a day, with one seat. Verified nonprofits can request 15% off paid plans, but they must ask before buying because Mailchimp does not issue retroactive discounts or refunds.

What is a good replacement for Mailchimp for a nonprofit?

A good replacement matches your list size and budget. Emercury suits large lists that send often. MailerLite suits small teams wanting a lasting 30% discount. Constant Contact suits event-heavy groups that can prepay a year. Kit and EmailOctopus suit newsletter-only programs. Zeffy suits nonprofits that want donations and email together at no software cost.

What is the best email platform for nonprofits?

No single platform wins for every nonprofit. Score options on total cost after the discount, discount conditions, free plan limits, automation, and CRM integration. On those criteria, Emercury leads for high-volume senders, MailerLite for small budgets, GetResponse for two-year savings, and Kit for large broadcast-only lists. Test your shortlist with a free plan or trial first.

What should a nonprofit do if it can no longer afford Mailchimp?

Start by archiving unsubscribed and inactive contacts, because Mailchimp bills for unsubscribed contacts but not archived ones. If costs are still too high, price two or three alternatives at your real list size after their nonprofit discounts. Free plans from Kit, Sender, EmailOctopus, and Emercury can absorb many small and mid-size lists at no cost.

Which Mailchimp alternative is good for team collaboration?

MailerLite is the strongest free option for small teams because its Free plan includes two seats, while Mailchimp, Emercury, and Mailsoftly free plans each allow one user. For three or more staff or volunteers, plan on a paid tier. Confirm the seat count on the exact plan you will buy, since seat limits change between tiers.

Can a nonprofit email platform integrate with Salesforce?

Many nonprofits connect email platforms to Salesforce through Zapier or a similar connector, and some vendors offer native integrations. Before switching, ask whether unsubscribes sync back to Salesforce, whether gift fields map to custom fields, and how often data syncs. Add any connector subscription to the platform price so your cost comparison stays accurate.

Does Mailchimp still offer a nonprofit discount?

Yes. As of October 2026, Mailchimp’s help center lists a 15% discount for verified nonprofits and charities. U.S. organizations add an EIN to the account and may be asked for a 501(c)(3) letter. International organizations provide a website link. The request goes to Mailchimp’s billing team before you purchase a paid plan.

Which email platform has the biggest nonprofit discount?

GetResponse offers the largest rate at 50%, but only for 24 months, with a required logo on your website and no stacking with annual billing. HubSpot offers 40% on Professional and Enterprise products only. MailerLite’s 30% lasts for the life of the account, which can be worth more over several years than a larger temporary cut.

Can I combine a nonprofit discount with an annual billing discount?

Usually not. GetResponse and MailerLite both say their nonprofit discounts do not combine with other discounts, including annual billing savings. Constant Contact’s nonprofit discount actually depends on prepaying six or twelve months. Other vendors, including Emercury, do not publish a stacking rule, so confirm in writing what you will pay before committing to an annual term.

Do nonprofit email discounts apply retroactively?

Not at Mailchimp or MailerLite, which both require the request before you purchase a plan and do not refund past payments. Other vendors do not publish a retroactive policy. The safe approach is to open a free account, submit your documentation, receive written confirmation or a coupon code, and only then enter payment details for a paid plan.

What documents do I need to get a nonprofit email discount?

Most vendors ask for proof of registered nonprofit status. In the U.S., that usually means your EIN and IRS determination letter for 501(c)(3) status. Constant Contact also accepts 501(c)(6) letters. Brevo accepts a registration certificate, tax ID, or tax-exempt document. Emercury asks for a link to your organization’s website after you sign up.

Is there a completely free email platform for nonprofits?

Zeffy and Givebutter are free fundraising suites that include email, funded by optional donor tips. Zeffy allows unlimited contacts with 5,000 sends a day, or 30,000 with your own domain. Among dedicated email platforms, Kit’s free plan covers 10,000 subscribers, and EmailOctopus, Sender, and Emercury offer free plans between 2,000 and 2,500 contacts.

Will I lose subscribers when I switch from Mailchimp?

You will not lose subscribers if you export every contact status and import them correctly. Export subscribed contacts for your main list and unsubscribed or cleaned contacts for suppression. Supporters will not notice the switch if your sender name, From address, and design stay consistent. Send first to recently engaged readers to rebuild sending reputation quickly.

Should I import unsubscribed contacts into my new platform?

Import them only as a suppression list, never as active subscribers. Suppressing them prevents accidental emails to people who opted out, which protects your complaint rate and keeps you compliant with unsubscribe rules. Mailchimp tracks unsubscribed and cleaned contacts as separate statuses, so export each one as its own file before you cancel or downgrade.

Do nonprofits have to follow CAN-SPAM?

CAN-SPAM applies to emails whose primary purpose is commercial promotion, and the FTC focuses on the message’s purpose rather than tax status. Ticket sales, merchandise, or sponsor promotions can qualify. Including a physical address and honoring opt-outs within 10 business days on every bulk email is the simplest way to stay safe. Confirm specifics with legal counsel.

Do I need SPF, DKIM, and DMARC after switching from Mailchimp?

Yes. Your new platform sends from different servers, so you must publish authentication records for it. Gmail requires SPF, DKIM, and aligned DMARC for anyone sending 5,000 or more messages a day to Gmail users, plus one-click unsubscribe. Publish these records before your first campaign, even if your list is smaller today.

Is Emercury a good Mailchimp alternative for nonprofits?

Emercury is a strong fit for nonprofits with large lists that send frequently. It offers a 2,000-contact free plan with 12,000 monthly sends, a 15% nonprofit discount, and a Delivery Analyst plus included List Hygiene on Pro. The tradeoff is price: paid plans start at $275 a month, so small nonprofits above the free limit may pay less elsewhere.

Do these platforms send donation tax receipts?

Dedicated email platforms such as Emercury, MailerLite, and Brevo do not process donations, so tax receipts usually come from your donation tool or CRM. Zeffy and Givebutter handle donations directly as fundraising suites. If you pair an email platform with a separate donation tool, connect them so donors receive receipts and stay in your email segments.