Is Mailchimp Really Free for Nonprofits? What the Pricing Doesn't Tell You
Mailchimp handles emails but can't accept donations. Zeffy does both with zero monthly fees.
Zeffy is trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits
Zeffy VS Mailchimp
Zeffy is 100% free, always.
Send emails and accept donations in one place, for free
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Send emails and accept donations in one place, for free
Mailchimp helps you reach donors, but you still need another tool to collect donations. Zeffy does both, with no monthly fees or transaction costs.
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Email your supporters without paying to fundraise
Mailchimp charges monthly fees to send emails, then requires third-party tools to accept donations. Zeffy includes email and donation forms at no cost.
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Built for fundraising, not just email campaigns
Mailchimp manages contacts but can't process donations or track giving history. Zeffy gives you donor management and fundraising tools in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mailchimp's pricing for nonprofits?
Mailchimp charges nonprofits the same as everyone else, then applies a discount. Paid Marketing plans start at $13/month for Essentials, $20/month for Standard, and $350/month for Premium, and the price climbs as your contact list grows. Zeffy takes a different approach and stays $0 for every nonprofit, always, with unlimited contacts and email sends.
Does Mailchimp offer a nonprofit discount?
Yes. Mailchimp offers 15% off its paid Marketing plans for verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The discount does not apply to add-ons, transactional email, or overage charges, so your bill still rises as your list grows. Zeffy skips discounts entirely and is simply free, so there is no percentage to calculate and nothing to pay.
Is Mailchimp free for nonprofits?
Mailchimp has a free plan, but it is not built for nonprofits. It caps you at 250 contacts and 500 emails per month, with no donation tools. Once you grow past that, you move to a paid plan. Zeffy is genuinely free with no contact or send limits, and it includes donation forms and a donor CRM out of the box.
How much is Mailchimp for nonprofits?
It depends on your list size. A nonprofit with 5,000 contacts on the Standard plan pays roughly $100/month, about $1,200/year, before the 15% nonprofit discount is applied. Costs keep rising as you add contacts. Zeffy costs $0 no matter how large your list gets, so a growing donor base never increases your bill.
How does Mailchimp pricing work?
Mailchimp pricing is tiered by plan and by contact count. You pick Essentials, Standard, or Premium, and the monthly price scales up as your audience grows. Add-ons and overages cost extra. Zeffy replaces that model with a flat $0. The platform is sustained by optional contributions from donors at checkout, so your nonprofit pays nothing.
How do I get the nonprofit discount in Mailchimp?
You apply through Mailchimp with proof of your 501(c)(3) status to get verified, then the 15% discount applies to eligible paid Marketing plans. It will not cover add-ons or overages. If you would rather not manage verification and a recurring bill at all, Zeffy is free from day one and includes a native Mailchimp importer to move your contacts over.
Zeffy vs Mailchimp: which is better for nonprofits?
For most nonprofits, it comes down to cost and scope. Mailchimp is a capable email marketing tool, but you pay monthly and the price grows with your list. Zeffy is free and pairs email with donation forms, ticketing, tax receipts, and a donor CRM. If your goal is fundraising, not just marketing, Zeffy covers more for $0.
What is the core difference between Zeffy and Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform you pay for, priced by contacts. Zeffy is a free all-in-one fundraising platform that includes email plus donation forms, event ticketing, automated tax receipts, and a donor CRM. Both offer segmentation and open and click tracking. The difference is that Zeffy connects your emails directly to donations, at no cost.
Should my nonprofit use Zeffy or Mailchimp?
If you only need marketing emails and already pay for other fundraising tools, Mailchimp can work. If you want email and fundraising in one place without a monthly bill, Zeffy is the stronger fit. Zeffy sends blasts to up to 11,000 contacts per send, includes a drag-and-drop builder, and imports your Mailchimp list natively.
What are the best free alternatives to Mailchimp for nonprofits?
If Mailchimp's pricing does not fit your budget, there are strong free options worth comparing. We rounded them up in our guide to the 10 best free Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits, including tools that combine email with donation features so you are not paying separately for each part of your stack.
Keep comparing — and see why nonprofits choose Zeffy
Related content
Zeffy was built for nonprofits like yours
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Centralize supporter relationships, automate thank-you messages, and preserve institutional knowledge when board members rotate out.
100,000+ nonprofits trust Zeffy — and keep their fees at $0.
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As a startup nonprofit with only two members, and no funding (yet) we’d need something with low (or no) fees. Zeffy was a dream come true.
Masey, Loose Ends.
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SUCCESS STORIES
Zero-fee fundraising in action — nonprofit stories worth sharing.
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