Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits: 7 Simpler Options (2026)

TL;DR: For nonprofits who want simplicity without the learning curve, Groupmail offers the best balance of ease-of-use, human support, and nonprofit pricing with a 20% discount on all paid plans. If you need more automation, MailerLite provides a 30% nonprofit discount with excellent features. Budget-conscious organizations should consider EmailOctopus for its generous free tier and 20% lifetime nonprofit discount.

If you've been using Mailchimp for your nonprofit's newsletters and member updates, you've probably noticed something: it's gotten complicated. What started as a simple email tool has grown into a full marketing automation platform—complete with a learning curve that most nonprofit staff don't have time to climb.

Disclosure: We're the team behind Groupmail—simple email software for organizations since 1996. We'll be upfront about where we fit and honest about alternatives.

Why Nonprofits Are Looking Beyond Mailchimp

Mailchimp has changed dramatically over the past few years. Features that used to be free now sit behind paid plans. The interface has become cluttered with marketing automation tools, social ad managers, and CRM features that most nonprofits simply don't need.

Here's what we hear from nonprofit staff who reach out to us: they just want to send a monthly update to their members. They don't need customer journeys, A/B testing matrices, or behavioral triggers. They need to write an email, add a photo, and hit send.

The pricing changes haven't helped either. Mailchimp's free plan now limits you to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly emails—down from the 2,000 contacts many organizations signed up for years ago. And those unsubscribed contacts? They still count against your limit, which means you're paying for people who can't even receive your emails.

💡 Tip: Before evaluating any email tool, list what you actually need. For most nonprofits: a simple editor, contact management, basic tracking, and reliable delivery. Everything else is a bonus.

What Nonprofits Actually Need from Email Software

Nonprofit email needs differ significantly from those of e-commerce businesses or marketing agencies. You're not running abandoned cart sequences or tracking conversion funnels. You're keeping donors informed, coordinating volunteers, and sharing your impact stories.

Here's what matters most for nonprofit email communication: ease of use that doesn't require training, reliable delivery that gets your messages to inboxes, pricing that respects tight budgets, and support from actual humans when something goes wrong.

The good news is that several alternatives now exist specifically for organizations like yours—tools that stay simple while still delivering professional results.

What to Look For in Nonprofit Email Software

When evaluating Mailchimp alternatives for your nonprofit, prioritize these factors:

Simplicity over features. Can a volunteer with no marketing experience send a newsletter in their first session? If the learning curve is steep, staff turnover means constant retraining.

Transparent pricing. Look for tools that count only active contacts, not unsubscribes. Check whether prices spike dramatically as your list grows.

Nonprofit discounts. Most email tools offer some form of nonprofit pricing, ranging from 15% to 30% off. This can add up to significant savings over time.

Human support. When your annual appeal email bounces or formatting breaks, you need a real person—not a chatbot or a knowledge base article.

Deliverability focus. The fanciest template means nothing if your emails land in spam. Look for tools with strong sender reputation management.

7 Best Mailchimp Alternatives for Nonprofits

1. Groupmail

Best for: Nonprofits wanting simplicity, human support, and quick setup Pricing: Free (500 contacts) | Starter €25/month | 20% nonprofit discount Website: groupmail.io

Groupmail takes a deliberately different approach from tools like Mailchimp. Rather than adding features every year, we've focused on removing friction. The goal: send your first newsletter within 10 minutes of signing up, with no training required.

The platform connects with your own email sending service (SMTP2Go & SendGrid), which keeps costs low and deliverability high. This "bring your own SMTP" model means you're not paying markup on every email sent—you pay wholesale rates directly to the sending provider.

For nonprofits, the 20% discount applies to all paid plans, and the Starter plan at €250/year stays under most board-approval thresholds. Support comes from real people who respond to emails—not chatbots or ticket queues.

The trade-off is intentional simplicity. You won't find marketing automation workflows or e-commerce integrations. If you need those features, look at MailerLite or Brevo. But if you want to send member updates without becoming an email marketing expert, Groupmail delivers.

Key Takeaway: Groupmail is purpose-built for organizations that want to send member updates without becoming email marketing experts. The 29-year track record and human support provide peace of mind that startup tools can't match.

2. MailerLite

Best for: Nonprofits wanting affordable automation with a clean interface Pricing: Free (1,000 subscribers) | Growing Business $10/month | 30% nonprofit discount Website: mailerlite.com

MailerLite has built a strong reputation as a simpler alternative to Mailchimp while still offering robust features. The interface is noticeably cleaner, and most users report being productive within their first session.

For nonprofits, MailerLite offers one of the most generous discounts in the industry: 30% off all paid plans. The free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 monthly emails—significantly more generous than Mailchimp's current free tier.

Features include a drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows, landing pages, and signup forms. The automation builder is approachable enough for beginners while still powerful enough for more sophisticated sequences like welcome series or donation follow-ups.

One consideration: MailerLite requires approval during signup, which means you'll need to verify your organization before sending. This typically takes 1-2 business days and helps maintain their strong deliverability reputation.

3. EmailOctopus

Best for: Budget-conscious nonprofits prioritizing low cost Pricing: Free (2,500 subscribers) | Pro $9/month | 20% lifetime nonprofit discount Website: emailoctopus.com/pricing

EmailOctopus stands out for its exceptionally generous free plan: 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 monthly emails at no cost. For small nonprofits just getting started with email, this provides significant runway before needing to upgrade.

The platform keeps things intentionally simple. You get email campaigns, basic automations, signup forms, and analytics—without the feature bloat that complicates larger platforms. The interface is straightforward and uncluttered.

Nonprofits receive a 20% lifetime discount on paid plans, which already rank among the most affordable in the market. At scale, the savings compared to Mailchimp become substantial—often 60% or more for larger lists.

The simplicity comes with trade-offs: fewer template options, more basic automation, and limited integrations compared to full-featured platforms. But for organizations focused on sending clean, effective newsletters without complexity, EmailOctopus delivers excellent value.

4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Best for: Larger nonprofits needing email plus CRM in one platform Pricing: Free (300 emails/day) | Starter $9/month | 15% nonprofit discount (Enterprise only) Website: brevo.com/pricing

Brevo takes a different approach to pricing: instead of charging per contact, they charge per email sent. This model works well for nonprofits with large contact lists who send infrequently—you might have 10,000 donors but only email them monthly.

The platform includes a built-in CRM, which can eliminate the need for separate donor management software. You can track interactions, segment by donation history, and personalize outreach based on engagement patterns.

The free plan allows 300 emails per day (about 9,000 per month) with unlimited contacts—a useful option for organizations with large lists and modest sending needs. Paid plans start at $9/month for 5,000 emails.

One limitation for nonprofits: the 15% discount applies only to Enterprise plans, which start at $10,000/year. Smaller organizations won't qualify for special nonprofit pricing on standard plans.

5. Constant Contact

Best for: Nonprofits running events who want phone support Pricing: Lite $12/month | No free plan | Up to 30% nonprofit discount (prepay required) Website: constantcontact.com/pricing

Constant Contact has been around since 1998 and remains popular with nonprofits for two reasons: event management tools and phone support. If your organization hosts galas, volunteer orientations, or community events, the integrated RSVP and ticketing features add genuine value.

Nonprofit pricing requires prepayment: 20% off for six months upfront, or 30% off for twelve months. There's no discount available for monthly payments, which may not work for organizations with cash flow constraints.

The platform offers solid fundamentals—drag-and-drop editor, contact management, reporting—though the interface feels dated compared to newer competitors. The real differentiator is phone support: you can actually call and speak to a human, which matters when you're troubleshooting a time-sensitive campaign.

The absence of a free plan means Constant Contact starts at $12/month minimum, making it one of the pricier options for small nonprofits. But for organizations that value phone support and event features, the cost may be justified.

6. Buttondown

Best for: Minimal text-focused newsletters for small organizations Pricing: Free (100 subscribers) | Basic $9/month | Nonprofit-friendly pricing Website: buttondown.com/pricing

Buttondown takes minimalism to an extreme. The platform is built for writers who want to craft thoughtful newsletters without design complexity. If your nonprofit's communications are primarily text-based—think: executive director updates, policy briefings, or advocacy alerts—Buttondown offers a distraction-free experience.

The editor uses Markdown, which may feel unfamiliar initially but becomes efficient with practice. There's no drag-and-drop builder, limited template options, and minimal design customization. This is intentional: Buttondown optimizes for writing, not designing.

The free plan supports 100 subscribers—quite limited for most organizations. Paid plans start at $9/month and scale based on list size. The company has a reputation for responsive, personal support despite being a small team.

For most nonprofits, Buttondown may be too minimal. But for organizations that send text-heavy updates and value simplicity above all else, it's worth consideration.

7. Mailchimp

Best for: Nonprofits needing maximum integrations and willing to learn Pricing: Free (500 contacts) | Essentials $13/month | 15% nonprofit discount Website: mailchimp.com/pricing

Despite this article's premise, Mailchimp remains a viable option for some nonprofits—particularly those already invested in its ecosystem or needing specific integrations. The platform connects with over 300 apps, including most CRMs, donation platforms, and event tools.

The 15% nonprofit discount requires verification: you'll need to submit your 501(c)(3) determination letter (US) or equivalent documentation. Once approved, the discount applies to all paid plans.

Mailchimp's current free plan is quite limited: 500 contacts, 1,000 monthly sends, and no email scheduling or A/B testing. The Essentials plan at $13/month unlocks more features but still lacks advanced automation, which requires the Standard plan at $20/month.

⚠️ Watch out: Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts against your plan limits. Check the fine print—you might be paying for people who can't receive your emails.

The platform has become complex, and that complexity translates to a steeper learning curve. Staff without marketing backgrounds often find the interface overwhelming. But for organizations that need deep integrations and are willing to invest in learning, Mailchimp's capabilities remain substantial.

Quick Comparison Table

Which Tool Is Right for Your Nonprofit?

The best choice depends on your organization's specific situation:

Choose Groupmail if you want the simplest possible setup, value human support, and just need to send member updates without marketing complexity. The BYOSMTP model keeps costs low as you scale.

Choose MailerLite if you want a balance of simplicity and features, plan to use automation, and appreciate the 30% nonprofit discount. It's ideal for organizations ready to do more sophisticated email marketing.

Choose EmailOctopus if budget is your primary concern and you want the most generous free plan available. The 2,500-subscriber free tier gives significant runway for growing organizations.

Choose Brevo if you need CRM functionality integrated with email and have a large list you email infrequently. The per-email pricing model works well for this use case.

Choose Constant Contact if you run frequent events and need integrated RSVP management, or if phone support is non-negotiable for your team.

Choose Buttondown if your communications are primarily text-based and you value writing-focused simplicity over design features.

Choose Mailchimp if you need specific integrations that other platforms don't offer, or you're already deeply invested in the ecosystem.

Conclusion

Mailchimp's evolution from a simple email tool to a complex marketing platform has left many nonprofits searching for alternatives. The good news: simpler options exist that respect both your budget and your time.

For most nonprofits, the choice comes down to what you value most. If simplicity and human support top your list, tools like Groupmail and EmailOctopus deliver without the learning curve. If you want more features while staying affordable, MailerLite's 30% nonprofit discount makes it compelling.

Whatever you choose, remember: the best email tool is the one your team will actually use. Fancy features mean nothing if your staff avoids sending updates because the platform feels overwhelming.

Ready to send your first update? Start free with Groupmail — set up in 10 minutes, no credit card required. Built for organizations, not marketers.