Mailchimp vs Shown
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $29 for Shown.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Email templates
- Customer journeys
- Intuit Assist AI
- Landing pages
- SMS marketing
- AI ad copy and banners
- Multi-platform campaigns
- Automatic optimization
- Advanced reporting
- Shopify and WordPress integrations
| Feature | Mailchimp | Shown |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI | AI that creates and optimizes ad campaigns across platforms |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $13/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Intuit | Shown |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $29 for Shown.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 250 contacts
- 500 sends/mo (250/day)
- 1 seat
Essentials
$13/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Sends up to 10x contacts
- 3 seats
Standard
$20/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Generative AI and enhanced automations
- Sends up to 12x contacts, 5 seats
Premium
$350/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Predictive segmentation
- Sends up to 15x contacts, unlimited seats
3 plans
Free
Free
- 2 campaigns
- AI-generated ad copy and images
- Email support only
Starter
$29/mo
- 3 campaigns
- AI campaign auto-optimization
- Advanced reporting
- Free for 7 days
Advanced
$120/mo
- 20 campaigns
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Mailchimp
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
- Small free plan
- Price rises quickly with contacts
Shown
- Free plan with two campaigns
- Covers Google, Meta, TikTok and more
- No advertising experience needed
- Free plan has email-only support
- Auto-optimization needs a paid plan
- Advanced plan costs $120 a month
Which one should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if you want:
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
Watch out: small free plan.
Choose Shown if you want:
- Free plan with two campaigns
- Covers Google, Meta, TikTok and more
- No advertising experience needed
Watch out: free plan has email-only support.
Mailchimp vs Shown FAQ
What is the difference between Mailchimp and Shown?
Mailchimp: Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI. Shown: AI that creates and optimizes ad campaigns across platforms. Both are marketing tools.
Is Mailchimp or Shown cheaper?
Mailchimp has the lower starting price: about $13 a month, against $29 for Shown.
Do Mailchimp and Shown have free plans?
Mailchimp: Yes. Shown: Yes.
Who makes Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes Shown?
Shown is made by Shown.
Which should I choose, Mailchimp or Shown?
Choose Mailchimp if you value very well known and easy to start and many integrations. Choose Shown if you value free plan with two campaigns and covers google, meta, tiktok and more.