I’ve broken up with Mailchimp
Email marketing can feel like a real slog, especially if you’ve been committed to an application that weighs you down.
This month, I left Mailchimp, a stalwart companion on my marketing journey for the last ten years, in favor of Flodesk, a newer player on the scene that piqued my interest. Here's a candid comparison of my experiences with both platforms, sharing insights that might help you decide which path to take.
Ease of Use
Mailchimp has always felt like a reliable pair of hiking boots to me—sturdy, dependable, but with a bit of a learning curve to really get comfortable. It offers robust features and flexibility, but sometimes, getting your campaign to look just right is more time-consuming and complicated than it has to be.
Enter Flodesk, which feels like slipping on a pair of well-cushioned running shoes—intuitive and designed for ease. The user interface is a breath of fresh air, simplifying the design process without sacrificing beauty. For someone who values both aesthetics and efficiency, Flodesk makes it easier for me to create visually appealing emails without a steep learning curve or a lot fussing around.
Design and Customization
With Mailchimp, I had the tools to build almost anything I could think of. The range of templates and customization options is vast, catering to a wide variety of needs. However, the landing page builder has been quite lackluster and the ‘creative assistant’ cumbersome.
Flodesk offers me a different experience. It seems like it was built with design at its heart, offering templates that are not only beautiful out of the box but also surprisingly flexible. The ease with which I can align the emails with my brand's aesthetic is refreshing and inspiring. Although, there’s still room for improving the ability to apply global styles to templates.
Features and Functionality
Mailchimp is akin to a multi-tool, packed with features that cover nearly every email marketing need imaginable—from automation to advanced segmentation. This breadth of functionality is incredible, but for a small operation like mine, it sometimes felt like carrying a backpack that was a bit too heavy for the journey.
A recent frustration has been figuring out how to integrate Mailchimp signup forms to my Squarespace website so that each form completed automatically adds the user to a segment. This is necessary when you have multiple offers, lead magnets or signup sources.
Switching to Flodesk, I feel lighter, but not because I’m missing anything essential. Flodesk streamlines the features to what's most impactful for small businesses and creatives like myself. The focus on simplicity and effectiveness means I spend less time managing my tools and more time connecting with my audience.
And Flodesk makes multiple opt-in forms and segmentation a BREEZE. No Zapier required. The form embeds work flawlessly on Squarespace.
Pricing
Mailchimp uses a sliding scale based on the number of subscribers, which initially seemed economical. However, as my list grew, so did my expenses.
Flodesk offers a flat-rate pricing model. The predictability of this model, coupled with unlimited subscribers and emails, means I can forecast my costs without worrying about growth.
The Link In Bio feature in Flodesk is completely free.
Which Path to Choose?
The journey from Mailchimp to Flodesk was one of discovery—about what I truly needed from an email marketing platform and what I could leave behind. Switching meant spending some time recreating my automated workflows and setting up new opt-in forms and migrating my lists and segments. So it was not without an initial investment of time and effort.
I had been sensing it was time to move on. It’s not you, Mailchimp. (Ok, maybe it’s a little bit you - lol)
Your choice depends on your path—the complexity of your marketing campaigns, your design preferences, and how much you're willing to invest. For me, Flodesk has been a welcome change, aligning more closely with my current needs and allowing me to connect with my audience in a way that feels both genuine and effortless.
As with any journey, the best choice is the one that aligns with your goals, resources, and the story you wish to tell. Whether it's the tried and true terrain of Mailchimp or the new vistas offered by Flodesk, the right tool is the one that helps you communicate your message most effectively.
What email marketing application are you using? Is it time to break up or is it your ride-or-die?
PS If you’re interested in Flodesk, you can save 50% off your first year with my affiliate link HERE. And I donate the kickbacks to charity because I only recommend what I use and love.