Mailchimp vs Loops

Mailchimp is a general-purpose email marketing and automation platform built for marketers. Loops is a newer email platform built specifically for SaaS companies, combining transactional and marketing emails in one tool with a developer-friendly API.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Mailchimp

All-in-one marketing platform with email, automation, and CRM features

Free / from $13/momonth

Strengths

+Mature drag-and-drop email builder with huge template library
+Built-in CRM, landing pages, forms, and basic ads/social tools
+Large ecosystem of integrations and agency/partner support

Weaknesses

-Pricing scales fast with contact count, gets expensive for growing lists
-Not built for transactional/product emails (needs Mandrill add-on, extra cost)
-Automation builder feels dated compared to newer tools

Best for

Small businesses and marketers who need a general marketing suite, not just email

Loops

Email platform built for SaaS: transactional + marketing emails in one place

Free / from $49/momonth

Strengths

+Single platform for transactional and marketing emails (no separate Mandrill/Sendgrid needed)
+Developer-friendly API and SDKs, easy to trigger emails from product events
+Clean, modern editor built with SaaS onboarding/lifecycle emails in mind

Weaknesses

-No CRM, landing pages, or social/ad tools — email only
-Smaller integration ecosystem than Mailchimp
-Free plan caps are limited compared to Mailchimp's free tier

Best for

SaaS and product teams that want transactional + marketing email in one tool, driven by their app

Feature Comparison

Feature	Mailchimp	Loops
Free plan	Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo	Up to 1,000 contacts, 4,000 emails/mo
Transactional email support	Requires separate Mandrill add-on (extra cost)	Built in, no add-on needed
Marketing email campaigns	Yes, mature campaign builder	Yes, focused on lifecycle/onboarding emails
Automation/workflows	Visual automation builder, broad but dated UI	Event-based automation tied to product/API events
API / developer experience	REST API, less developer-focused	API-first, built for triggering emails from app code
CRM / contact management	Built-in basic CRM features	Basic contact list only, no CRM
Landing pages / forms	Yes, included	Basic forms only
Template editor	Drag-and-drop, large template gallery	Simpler visual + code editor
Deliverability tools	Domain authentication, spam testing	Domain authentication, built for high-deliverability transactional sends
Pricing model	Based on contacts + plan tier	Based on contacts, unlimited emails on paid plans
Integrations	Large marketplace (Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, etc.)	Smaller set, includes Zapier, Segment, Stripe
Best fit	General marketing teams	SaaS/product teams sending app-driven emails

The Verdict

Mailchimp is the safer default if you need a full marketing suite — CRM, landing pages, and campaigns — and don't mind paying more as your list grows. Loops wins for SaaS teams that want transactional and marketing emails triggered directly from product events without stitching together two tools. If your emails are mostly onboarding, activation, and billing-related, Loops will feel far more native than Mailchimp plus a Mandrill add-on.

How to switch from Mailchimp to Loops

1In Mailchimp, go to Audience > All Contacts > Export Audience to download your contact list as a CSV, including tags and segment data.
2Export campaign performance history via Campaigns > Reports > Export if you need historical open/click data for reporting.
3Sign up for Loops and import your CSV contact list under Audience > Import, mapping fields like email, name, and tags.
4Recreate your key email templates in Loops' editor — transactional (welcome, password reset, invoices) and marketing (onboarding sequences, newsletters).
5Replace Mailchimp API calls or Zapier steps with Loops' API/SDK to trigger transactional emails from your app or backend.
6Run both platforms in parallel for one send cycle to confirm deliverability and automation triggers work before fully cutting over and canceling Mailchimp.

Mailchimp vs Loops: common questions

How do I export my contacts and campaigns from Mailchimp before switching?+

In Mailchimp, go to Audience > All Contacts > Export Audience to download a CSV of your contacts and their tags/segments. For past campaigns, use Campaigns > Reports > Export to get performance data, but note that email templates and automations don't export cleanly and usually need to be rebuilt manually in the new tool.

What features do I lose moving from Mailchimp to Loops?+

You lose the built-in CRM, landing page builder, and social/ad management tools since Loops is email-only. You'll need a separate tool (like a CRM or landing page builder) if you relied on those Mailchimp features.

Is Loops' free plan enough for a small team?+

Loops' free plan covers up to 1,000 contacts and 4,000 emails per month, which works for early-stage products with low volume. Most small SaaS teams outgrow it once onboarding sequences and billing emails add up, and move to the $49/mo Basic plan.

Does Loops integrate with the tools I already use, like Stripe or Segment?+

Yes, Loops has native integrations for Stripe, Segment, and Zapier, plus a REST API and SDKs for custom event tracking. It has fewer pre-built integrations than Mailchimp overall, so check its integrations page for anything niche you rely on.

Is Loops actually cheaper than Mailchimp long-term?+

For SaaS companies sending both transactional and marketing email, yes — Mailchimp requires a paid Mandrill add-on for transactional sends, which stacks on top of your Mailchimp plan cost. Loops bundles both under one price per contact tier, so the total cost is often lower once you factor in the add-on you'd otherwise need.