Flodesk suits creators who care about beautiful emails and want unlimited sends on every upgraded plan, but its free plan doesn't include email sending at all. Mailchimp suits people who want to send from day one without upgrading, with a free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 sends a month. If you need to email your list in the next few days, that one line decides it.
Flodesk is built around good-looking templates and a simple editor. Mailchimp starts free and grows into automation. I read Flodesk's plans page and FAQ, and Mailchimp's help article on its plans, so the details below are straight from both.
Flodesk and Mailchimp plans in one table
| Flodesk | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Free | Yes, Free |
| Email sending on free | Not included (Flodesk FAQ) | 500 sends a month, 250 a day |
| What free covers | Forms, landing pages and link-in-bio pages | Up to 250 contacts, 1 audience, basic reporting |
| Sends on upgraded plans | Unlimited on every upgraded plan | 10 times your contact limit on Essentials |
| Seats | 1 on Lite, 2 on Pro, 3 on Everything | 1 on Free, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Standard |
| Automations | Unlimited workflows on Pro | Flows with up to 4 steps on Essentials |
| Selling tools | Checkouts and sales pages on Everything | Not covered in the plan summary |
| List cap on the first upgraded plan | Up to 25,000 people on Lite | Up to 50,000 contacts on Essentials |
Flodesk: design first, sending from Lite
Flodesk's FAQ is clear about its free plan: you can build forms, landing pages and link-in-bio pages to grow your list, but the plan doesn't include email sending or workflow automations. Lite is where sending starts, with unlimited email sends, analytics, designer templates and segmentation for up to 25,000 people and one seat.
Pro adds unlimited workflows, advanced analytics and the option to hide the Flodesk footer, with 2 seats. Everything adds checkouts, sales pages, funnels and abandoned cart automations, which suits creators selling digital products.
That makes Flodesk's free plan a good place to set up your sign-up forms, a landing page for your freebie and a link-in-bio page, so you're collecting emails long before you send your first one.
Mailchimp: send now, upgrade later
Mailchimp's free plan lets you send 500 emails a month, up to 250 a day, to as many as 250 contacts, with one audience and one seat. Go over 250 contacts and Mailchimp holds your sending until you upgrade or reduce the list. Essentials adds 3 seats, every template, A/B testing and automation flows of up to 4 steps.
The free plan surprise
Here's the line that catches people out. Flodesk's plan card lists email sending under Free, but its own FAQ says the free plan does not include email sending. So Flodesk free is a list-building tool, not a newsletter tool. Mailchimp free lets you send right away, as long as you stay under 250 contacts and 500 sends a month. If you're building a list now and plan to start your newsletter later, Flodesk's free plan fits. If you want to send in the next few days, Mailchimp's does.
On upgraded plans, the picture flips: Flodesk gives unlimited sends on every upgraded plan, while Mailchimp ties your sends to your contact limit.
Which creator each tool suits
Flodesk suits creators who want on-brand, good-looking emails and plan to send often to a growing list. Mailchimp suits small businesses that want to start sending today and grow into automations. If you're starting from zero, my guide to getting your first newsletter readers will help, and if you're weighing a third option, see Mailchimp vs ConvertKit.
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My advice for a new newsletter
Decide when your first email goes out. If it's within the next few weeks and your list is under 250, start on Mailchimp's free plan and send. If you're spending the next few months building a list with a freebie and a landing page, start on Flodesk free, then move to Lite when you're ready to send. Either way, write your welcome email before you pick, because that's the first thing every new subscriber sees.
Do you make email marketing or newsletter software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send emails on Flodesk's free plan?
No. Flodesk's FAQ says the free plan includes forms, landing pages and link-in-bio pages but does not include email sending or workflow automations.
How many emails can I send on Mailchimp's free plan?
Mailchimp's free plan includes 500 sends a month, with a daily limit of 250, for up to 250 contacts.
Does Flodesk limit sends on upgraded plans?
No. Flodesk says every upgraded plan includes unlimited email sends. Lite covers up to 25,000 people.
How many seats does each tool include?
Flodesk includes 1 seat on Lite, 2 on Pro and 3 on Everything. Mailchimp includes 1 on Free, 3 on Essentials and 5 on Standard.
