The Mailchimp alternative built for developers, not just marketers
Mailchimp charges by contact count and locks transactional email behind a paid Mandrill add-on. Sendkit gives you transactional emails, campaigns, and automations in one developer-first API — priced per email, not per contact.
Why teams switch from Mailchimp
Transactional email is a paid add-on
Mailchimp requires Mandrill for transactional emails — a separate paid add-on that only works with a Mailchimp Standard plan or higher. Sendkit includes transactional email on every plan.
Contact-based pricing
Mailchimp charges based on the number of contacts in your audience. Import 10,000 contacts and your bill jumps — even if you never email them. Sendkit charges per email sent with unlimited contacts.
Not built for developers
Mailchimp was designed for marketers. The API is an afterthought with inconsistent endpoints and limited webhook support. Sendkit is API-first with SDKs for 10+ languages.
No MCP server for AI agents
Mailchimp has no MCP server. Sendkit has a full MCP server with 40+ tools — your AI agent can manage templates, send campaigns, segment contacts, and track metrics.
Sendkit vs Mailchimp
| Feature | Sendkit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Transactional email | Built-in | Mandrill add-on (extra cost) |
| Pricing model | Per email sent | Per contact |
| Free tier | 3,000 emails/mo (permanent) | 500 contacts / 1,000 sends/mo |
| Official SDKs | 10 languages | Limited (mostly wrappers) |
| MCP Server | 40+ tools | Not available |
| Email Validation | Built-in | Not available |
| Unlimited Contacts | All plans | Never (contact-based pricing) |
| API-first design | Yes | GUI-first, API secondary |
Pricing comparison
Mailchimp's contact-based pricing scales steeply, and transactional email via Mandrill costs extra. Sendkit charges per email sent with unlimited contacts.
| Volume | Sendkit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 emails/mo | $15/mo (Transactional) or $30/mo (Marketing) | $100/mo (Standard, 500 contacts) + Mandrill add-on |
| 50,000 emails/mo | $80/mo (Marketing) | $350/mo (Standard, 10K contacts) + Mandrill blocks |
| 100,000 emails/mo | $130/mo (Marketing) | $700+/mo (Standard, 25K+ contacts) + Mandrill blocks |
Sendkit is a good fit if you
- Need transactional and marketing email in one platform
- Want per-email pricing, not per-contact
- Are a developer who needs a proper API, not a drag-and-drop builder
- Use AI agents and need MCP integration
- Want a permanent free tier, not a trial
Mailchimp might be better if you
- Want a visual drag-and-drop email builder
- Need built-in landing pages and social media tools
- Prefer a marketer-first interface over API access
- Need extensive third-party integrations via their marketplace
Start sending in minutes.
3,000 emails/month on the free tier. No credit card, no commitment.