Mailchimp: custom-coded template sending restricted to Standard and Premium
Mailchimp removed custom-coded template sending from the Essentials plan: the Key Plan Features row moved from 'Create and Send until 12/31/2025' to 'Create - upgrade to send', leaving Standard and Premium as the only plans that can send them. The 15% discount was also restructured from volume-gated ('Save 15% on 10,000+ contacts') to time-based ('Save 15% for 12 months') across the Standard, Essentials, and Premium plan cards. Separately, the Standard free trial is now risk-free with no credit card required, starting with 100 emails free and unlocking 5,900 more sends for the full 14-day trial once a payment method is saved.
What changed
Essentials plan lost ability to send custom-coded templates. Previously 'Create and Send until 12/31/2025'; now 'Create - upgrade to send'. Must upgrade to Standard or Premium to send custom-coded templates.
15% discount restructured from volume-gated ('Save 15% on 10,000+ contacts') to time-based ('Save 15% for 12 months') for all new customers on Standard, Essentials, and Premium plans.
Standard plan free trial is now risk-free with no credit card required. Start with 100 emails free; save a payment method to unlock 5,900 more sends for the full 14-day trial.
Before and after
Dec 29, 2025 vs Mar 30, 2026Essentials plan lost ability to send custom-coded templates. Previously 'Create and Send until 12/31/2025'; now 'Create - upgrade to send'. Must upgrade to Standard or Premium to send custom-coded templates.
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See the before/after screenshots and every marked-up change.
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Full history →- Q2 2026·packagingMailchimp: Self-serve plans add annual billing option
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- Week 17, 2026·packagingMailchimp Drops Introductory Discount, Raises Prices Up to 17%
- Week 14, 2026·packagingMailchimp quietly trims Standard trial send limit to 5,900
