Squarespace vs. Mailchimp: What I Tell My Clients About Email Marketing
If you’ve been wondering whether to stick with Squarespace for your email marketing or switch to Mailchimp, you’re not alone. This is a conversation I have with clients all the time—especially those who want their email setup to be clean, beautiful, and not overly technical.
My goal here is to offer clarity—not overwhelm—so you can confidently choose the option that aligns best with how you work and where you're headed.
Ease of Use: Let’s Keep It Simple
Squarespace:
If you already use Squarespace for your website, adding email campaigns is seamless. No jumping between platforms.
The email editor feels just like building a page on your site—easy, visual, and familiar.
It's perfect if you don’t want to wrestle with settings or integrations.
Mailchimp:
It’s intuitive once you get the hang of it, but there’s definitely a learning curve.
There are more menus and options, which can be great if you like exploring tech—but also overwhelming if you don’t.
What I usually tell clients: If you’re already in Squarespace and want the simplest experience possible, start there.
Design: Does It Look Like You?
Squarespace:
Your emails can match the look and feel of your website almost effortlessly.
The templates are clean and modern—perfect if you like things to feel polished and aligned.
Mailchimp:
More design flexibility and customization options.
Great if you want to get creative with layouts, colors, or branded graphics.
If consistency matters more to you than flexibility, Squarespace makes it easy to stay on-brand without overthinking it.
Integrations: How Much Are You Juggling?
Squarespace:
Everything is in one place—great if you’re offering coaching, selling digital products, and blogging all from Squarespace.
Mailchimp:
Integrates with a ton of other platforms like Kajabi, Shopify, and more.
Ideal if your business tools are spread across different systems.
Think about how many tools you’re using and whether you want to keep things all-in-one or build a more custom stack.
Analytics: What Do You Actually Want to Know?
Squarespace:
Gives you just the basics—open rates, click rates, who engaged.
Perfect if you just want a pulse on how your emails are doing.
Mailchimp:
Goes deeper—A/B testing, audience segments, behavioral data.
Useful if you love digging into strategy and testing what works.
Ask yourself: Are you going to use the extra data, or do you just need to know what’s working?
Pricing: What Feels Sustainable?
Squarespace:
Straightforward pricing that rolls into your existing plan. No surprises.
Mailchimp:
Starts out free for up to 500 subscribers, but can get pricey as you grow.
If your email list is small and you’re watching expenses, Mailchimp might be more cost-effective in the short term. Long-term, Squarespace is often more predictable.
So, What Should You Choose?
Go with Squarespace if:
You want to keep things simple, beautiful, and in one place.
You’re already using Squarespace for your website.
You’d rather avoid one more platform to manage.
Go with Mailchimp if:
You want more customization and analytics.
You use multiple tools and need integrations.
You like having more control over segmentation and strategy.
Feature Snapshot: Quick Comparison
Feature Squarespace Mailchimp Ease of Use Very simple, especially for Squarespace users More features = slightly steeper learning curve Design Flexibility Streamlined and visually cohesive Highly customizable Integrations Best for all-in-one Squarespace setups Broad integrations across platforms Analytics Basic insights that are easy to digest In-depth reporting and testing tools Pricing Predictable, flat pricing with Squarespace Free up to 500 subscribers, scales with growth Deliverability Solid and improving Industry leader in email deliverability Support Built into Squarespace’s platform Tiered support depending on plan Segmentation Limited, simple lists Robust list segmentation
Bonus Insights for Coaches & Wellness Practitioners
If you're sending regular newsletters, client check-ins, or course updates, both platforms can handle your needs, but Mailchimp gives you more room to grow into automations and audience tags.
Squarespace keeps things minimal, which can help you stay focused on your message, not the mechanics.
If you run group programs or retreats and want to send targeted emails to past participants, Mailchimp’s segmentation might give you a leg up.
Final Thoughts:
This doesn’t have to be a forever decision. You can start with what feels easiest now and shift platforms later if your business evolves. What matters most is choosing the tool that feels doable today.
And if you do outgrow one platform, it’s not as hard as you might think to switch. Both Squarespace and Mailchimp allow you to export your list, usually as a simple CSV file, which means you can take your subscribers with you. Just be sure to download your list, tags, and any key data before you cancel a plan.
Pro tip: Before you switch, send a quick heads-up email letting your audience know you’re making a tech change, they’ll appreciate the transparency and you’ll minimize disruptions.
The best tool is always the one you’ll actually use—consistently, confidently, and in a way that supports your voice and your business.
About The Author:
Moses Ward keeps Simple & Soulful organized and optimized behind the scenes. He’s unabashedly deep into the nerd regarding all things SEO, technology, data, and conversions — and loves empowering people with business advice that gets impressive results (and gets bonus points for being trend-proof and tacky-free). He’s got a voice for radio (so says his biz & life partner). Book a call or you’ll never know.
Tired of feeling lost in DIY-ville? I’d love to help you.
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