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E-Commerce · head to head

Mailchimp vs Zoho Inventory

Mailchimp logo

Mailchimp

E-Commerce

Turn emails into revenue

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Inventory logo

Zoho Inventory

Inventory

Complete inventory and order management system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mailchimp the free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, with a 250 daily cap; Zoho Inventory free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month
  • They diverge on capability: Mailchimp covers Email campaigns, Zoho Inventory covers Multi-channel selling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mailchimp and Zoho Inventory actually diverge.

Attributes where Mailchimp and Zoho Inventory differ
AttributeMailchimpZoho Inventory
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
CategoryE-CommerceInventory
Founded20011996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Mailchimp

  • Email campaigns
  • Marketing automation
  • Landing pages
  • Forms & popups
  • Audience management
  • Content studio
  • Analytics
  • Social media

Only in Zoho Inventory

  • Multi-channel selling
  • Inventory sync
  • Order management
  • Purchase orders
  • Barcode management
  • Email integration
  • Automated workflows
  • Zoho ecosystem

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Mailchimp

  • Email newslettersnot Zoho Inventory
  • E-commerce marketingnot Zoho Inventory
  • Lead generationnot Zoho Inventory
  • Customer engagementnot Zoho Inventory
  • Marketing automationnot Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory

  • Multichannel order managementnot Mailchimp
  • Inventory trackingnot Mailchimp
  • Fulfillment automationnot Mailchimp
  • Supplier managementnot Mailchimp

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Mailchimp

  • The free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, with a 250 daily cap
  • Price is driven by contact count, so the list growing raises the bill regardless of how much you send
  • Send allowances are a multiple of contacts, 10x on Essentials and 12x on Standard, so a large list with heavy sending forces a tier change
  • Essentials allows 3 seats and Standard 5; unlimited seats need Premium at $350 a month
  • The headline $13 and $20 prices are for 500 contacts, not a flat rate

Zoho Inventory

  • Free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month
  • Advanced automation features require higher-tier plans
  • Limited customization compared to enterprise solutions

Pricing, plan by plan

Mailchimp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 contacts
    • 500 sends per month
    • Basic email campaigns
  • Essentials$13/month
    • 500+ contacts
    • Email campaigns
    • Basic automation
  • Standard$20/month
    • Advanced automation
    • Segmentation
    • Landing pages

Zoho Inventory

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoho Inventory review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Mailchimp if

  • You need email campaigns.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want marketing automation.
Mailchimp review

Choose Zoho Inventory if

  • You need multi-channel selling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want inventory sync.
Zoho Inventory review

Questions people ask

Is Mailchimp or Zoho Inventory better?
Neither clearly leads. Mailchimp starts at Free and Zoho Inventory at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or Zoho Inventory?
Mailchimp starts at Free and Zoho Inventory at Free.
Does Mailchimp or Zoho Inventory run on more platforms?
Mailchimp runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoho Inventory runs on Web.
Can I use Mailchimp for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Mailchimp best used for?
Mailchimp is most often used for email newsletters, e-commerce marketing, lead generation, customer engagement. Of those, email newsletters and e-commerce marketing are not what Zoho Inventory is typically brought in for.
What can Mailchimp do that Zoho Inventory cannot?
Mailchimp covers Email campaigns, Marketing automation, Landing pages, Forms & popups. Zoho Inventory covers Multi-channel selling, Inventory sync, Order management, Purchase orders.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mailchimp: Does Mailchimp offer a free plan?

Yes, Mailchimp's free plan supports up to 250 contacts and 500 sends per month with a 250-per-day cap.

Source
Zoho Inventory: Does Zoho Inventory have a free tier?

Yes, Zoho Inventory offers a perpetual free plan limited to 25 products and 50 orders per month, ideal for small businesses just starting out.

Source
Mailchimp: What email features does Mailchimp include?

Mailchimp provides email campaign builder, automation sequences, segmentation, contact management, and A/B testing for email marketing.

Source
Zoho Inventory: What sales channels does Zoho Inventory integrate with?

Zoho Inventory integrates with major online marketplaces including Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and WooCommerce, with automatic stock and order syncing across all integrated channels.

Source
Mailchimp: Can Mailchimp integrate with e-commerce platforms?

Yes, Mailchimp integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and other e-commerce platforms for customer sync and abandoned cart automation.

Source
Zoho Inventory: Can Zoho Inventory manage multiple locations?

Yes. The free plan supports up to two locations, with paid plans supporting multiple warehouses and locations for larger operations.

Source
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