Choosing the right email marketing platform is critical for managing contacts, sending personalized campaigns, and automating communication. This guide compares three leading tools: Zoho Marketing Automation, Mailchimp, and Constant Contact, focusing on features, automation, pricing, and integrations to help businesses make an informed decision.
Feature Comparison
Contact & Audience Management
All three platforms support contact imports, list and segment creation, and topic-based subscriptions—but differ in control and flexibility.
| Feature | Zoho Marketing Automation | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Import | Manual, CSV, cloud, CRM sync | CSV, copy/paste, CRM sync | CSV, manual, CRM sync |
| Segments | CRM-based, dynamic from fields | Tags and fields with AND/OR logic | Manual or based on field values |
| Topic Management | Advanced topic preferences | Topic-based opt-in/out | Basic topic preferences |
Email Builder & Template Design
Designing email campaigns is key to engagement. Each platform offers a drag-and-drop builder, but some offer more control and layout flexibility.
| Feature | Zoho Marketing Automation | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
| Builder Type | Drag-and-drop + HTML editor | Drag-and-drop with AI help | Drag-and-drop, simple UI |
| Templates | Pre-built + custom | Wide selection, brand styles | Pre-built + PDF-to-email conversion |
| Layout Control | Moderate, reusable blocks | Excellent layout tools, multi-column | Basic layout options |
| Asset Library | Files, Google Photos, Workdrive | Brand assets auto-loaded | Image library with uploads |
Automation, Journeys & Workflows
Automations help nurture leads and automate outreach. Here’s how each platform handles workflows.
| Feature | Zoho Marketing Automation | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
| Triggers | Form submission, list update, webhooks | Tags, form, eCommerce events | List subscribe, form submission |
| Actions | Email, SMS, CRM update, scoring | Email, SMS, custom audience | Email, update field, remove from list |
| Logic/Conditions | Deep logic, A/B testing, splits | Basic conditions, some A/B | Limited conditional branching |
| Re-entry/Exit Control | Full support | Partial | Basic only |
Integrations & Ecosystem
The strength of platform integrations affects how easily your email marketing syncs with CRM, eCommerce, and analytics tools.
| Integration Type | Zoho Marketing Automation | Mailchimp | Constant Contact |
| CRM | Zoho CRM, Salesforce, HubSpot | Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM | Salesforce, Zoho CRM, Wise Agent |
| eCommerce | Shopify, Eventbrite | Shopify, QuickBooks, Meta | Shopify, Square, WooCommerce |
| Third-Party Apps | Dozens (fewer outside Zoho) | Extensive native + Meta | ~57 native + 8,000 via Zapier |
| Social Media | Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram | Facebook, Meta ads | Instagram, Facebook, Canva |
Pricing (as of 2025)
Here’s a breakdown of what each platform costs at 5,000 contacts.
| Monthly Price | Users Included | Email Sends | Notes | |
| Zoho Marketing Automation | ~$48 | 15 | 60,000 | With Zoho One: 5,000 contacts per user |
| Mailchimp (Standard) | ~$100 | 5 | 60,000 | Free plan available, but limited features |
| Constant Contact (Standard) | ~$149 | 3 | 60,000 | Highest cost of the three |
Pros & Cons Comparison
A side-by-side summary of each tool’s strengths, trade-offs, and ideal use case.
| Pros | Cons | Best For | |
| Zoho Marketing Automation | Advanced automation, topic-based unsubscribe, CRM sync, affordable | Learning curve, fewer non-Zoho integrations | Complex automations, Zoho CRM users, budget-conscious teams |
| Mailchimp | Best builder UI, strong integrations, flexible design, creative assistant | Price scales quickly, limited logic depth | Creative teams, eCommerce, small to medium businesses |
| Constant Contact | Easy to use, great support, PDF-to-email conversion | High cost, limited workflow features | Beginners, smaller teams, simple campaign needs |
FAQs
Zoho Marketing Automation is the most affordable, especially with Zoho One plan benefits.
Mailchimp is most intuitive and flexible, with better layout options and built-in brand styling.
Yes. All three platforms support Salesforce and Shopify integration, with Mailchimp offering the most third-party connectors.
Zoho Marketing Automation is best for complex workflows, conditional logic, and syncing to Zoho CRM.
Yes. All include built-in tools for forms and surveys—no need for separate tools like Gravity Forms or SurveyMonkey.
Final Verdict
- Overall Winner: Zoho Marketing Automation — best price-to-feature ratio, powerful automation
- Runner-Up: Mailchimp — great builder, strong integrations, good for creatives
- Simplest Option: Constant Contact — user-friendly but pricey with fewer advanced features
For small and mid-sized businesses that prioritize value, automation depth, or integration with Zoho CRM, Zoho Marketing Automation offers the most compelling package in 2025.