# Mailchimp vs Thunk Mail: flows, send windows, and paid tiers

By Feature Ledger. Documentation reviewed 2026-11-12.

Canonical page: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/email-marketing/compare/mailchimp-vs-thunkmail/#analysis

Scope: Mailchimp Free, Essentials, and Standard, and Thunk Mail Starter, Base, and Pro. Mailchimp's paid prices are for 500 contacts, and each Thunk Mail plan has its own contact tier. Prices are monthly in USD, without introductory offers.


Mailchimp Essentials limits flows to four steps. Thunk Mail Base allows several emails in each autoresponder. Choose by the workflow you need, then compare the audience tier and sending window.


Our reading of vendor documentation. We have not tested these products.


## Compare automation on the cheaper plans

A limit on steps and a limit on emails in one autoresponder count different things. Map out your sequence before comparing plan names.

- Mailchimp Essentials, automation: Up to 4 steps / flow. This limits steps in a flow, not the number of flows. Branching and multiple starting points require Standard or Premium. Source: https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/mailchimp/#mailchimp-essentials-automation

- Thunk Mail Base, automation: Unlimited emails / autoresponder. This counts emails in each autoresponder, not workflows. Autoresponder emails use the normal sending allowance. Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/auto-responder-limits-on-your-plan, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/thunkmail/#thunkmail-base-automation


## Check what is free to send

Mailchimp Free includes a small sending allowance. New Thunk Mail accounts need a paid plan to send campaigns to a list.

- Mailchimp Free, sends: 500 / month · 250 / day.  Source: https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/mailchimp/#mailchimp-free-sends

- Thunk Mail Starter, sends: 5,000 / rolling 30 days. Also limited to 500 different recipients per rolling 30 days, 1,000 sends a day, and 500 sends an hour. Campaigns and autoresponders share these limits. Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/plans-and-send-limits, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/thunkmail/#thunkmail-starter-sends


## Keep the time window attached

Thunk Mail uses rolling 30-day limits. Mailchimp Free has both monthly and daily limits. A campaign within the monthly total can still hit the daily cap.

Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/plans-and-send-limits

- Mailchimp Free, sends: 500 / month · 250 / day.  Source: https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/mailchimp/#mailchimp-free-sends

- Thunk Mail Starter, sends: 5,000 / rolling 30 days. Also limited to 500 different recipients per rolling 30 days, 1,000 sends a day, and 500 sends an hour. Campaigns and autoresponders share these limits. Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/plans-and-send-limits, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/thunkmail/#thunkmail-starter-sends


## Sequences are not branching

Mailchimp Standard supports branching and multiple starting points. Thunk Mail's limit counts emails per autoresponder, and we found no matching conditional workflow tools. Confirm any trigger or integration you need before moving.

- Mailchimp Standard, automation: Up to 200 flows. Includes branching and multiple starting points. This limits the number of flows, not steps per flow. Source: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/compare-plans/, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/mailchimp/#mailchimp-standard-automation

- Thunk Mail Base, automation: Unlimited emails / autoresponder. This counts emails in each autoresponder, not workflows. Autoresponder emails use the normal sending allowance. Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/auto-responder-limits-on-your-plan, checked 2026-11-12. Record: https://feature-ledger.lehmanrylan790521.chatgpt.site/services/thunkmail/#thunkmail-base-automation


## Common questions


### Does removing the footer logo let me send from my own domain?

No. Removing footer branding and sending from your own domain are separate. Thunk Mail asks customers who want their own sending domain to contact sales.

Source: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/compare-plans/

Source: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/plans-and-send-limits


## Sources

- Thunk Mail plans and send limits: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/plans-and-send-limits, checked 2026-11-12.

- Thunk Mail auto responder limits: https://www.thunkmail.com/help-center/auto-responder-limits-on-your-plan, checked 2026-11-12.

- About Mailchimp pricing plans: https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/, checked 2026-11-12.

- Compare Mailchimp Marketing plans: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/compare-plans/, checked 2026-11-12.