MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress vs Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress (2026): PluginCheck
Quick Verdict
Pick MC4WP if you already use or plan to use Mailchimp and need reliable, proven form integration with a massive install base. Pick Newsletter if you want an all-in-one solution that keeps your email list and sending inside WordPress without paying for a third-party service.
Both plugins solve a core WordPress need: collecting email subscribers and sending newsletters. The key difference is scope. MC4WP focuses on Mailchimp integration for forms and sign-ups, while Newsletter is a standalone email marketing platform that lives entirely inside WordPress. Your existing email provider and desired level of control will decide which approach fits.
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress
The #1 Mailchimp plugin for WordPress. Allows you to add a multitude of newsletter sign-up methods to your site.
- Active installs 1M+
- Rating 4.8/5 (1,496)
- Last updated Jun 22, 2026
- Support resolved 100%
- Tested to WP 7.0.2
- Requires PHP 7.4
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress
An email marketing tool for your blog: subscription forms to create your lists with unlimited subscribers and newsletters.
- Active installs 200k+
- Rating 4.6/5 (1,204)
- Last updated Jul 31, 2026
- Support resolved 62%
- Tested to WP 7.0.2
- Requires PHP 7.0
Where MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress Wins
Install base and proven scale
MC4WP has 1,000,000 active installs versus 200,000 for Newsletter, giving it five times the real-world usage and a longer track record across diverse WordPress environments.
Support resolution rate
MC4WP resolves 100% of support tickets according to the data, compared to just 61.5% for Newsletter, meaning paying users are far more likely to get their issues actually fixed.
Higher user rating at scale
MC4WP scores 96/100 across 1,496 ratings, while Newsletter scores 92/100 across 1,204, so MC4WP is rated higher despite a larger and arguably harder-to-please user base.
Where Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress Wins
All-in-one platform without a third party
Newsletter runs subscription management, list storage, and email sending entirely inside WordPress, so users do not need a Mailchimp account or any external service to operate a newsletter.
Unlimited subscribers on its own terms
Newsletter advertises unlimited subscribers on its own lists, which is useful for users who want to avoid Mailchimp's tiered pricing as their list grows.
More recent maintenance signal
Newsletter was last updated on 2026-07-31 versus 2026-06-22 for MC4WP, so it shows a slightly fresher commit in the data we tracked.
Score-by-Score Comparison
MC4WP scores 90/30 in popularity scoring with 1,000,000 installs, clearly ahead of Newsletter at 79/30 with 200,000 installs.
Both plugins score 100/25 for maintenance, and both show recent update timestamps within roughly five weeks of each other, so upkeep is not a differentiator here.
MC4WP edges ahead with 96/15 versus Newsletter at 92/15, and it holds that lead despite a larger rating pool of 1,496 versus 1,204.
MC4WP scores 50/15 in support with a 100.0% resolution rate, far above Newsletter at 62/15 but with only 61.5% resolution, which is the most striking gap in this comparison.
Both score 100/15 on compatibility, indicating equal reported compatibility across tested WordPress environments.
The Bottom Line
MC4WP wins on the numbers that matter most for a recommendation: 88.77 overall quality versus 86.77, 1,000,000 installs, a higher user rating at greater scale, and a perfect 100% support resolution rate. For the typical WordPress user who just wants reliable newsletter sign-ups tied to a real email service, MC4WP is the safer, better-supported pick. Newsletter remains a reasonable alternative only if you specifically want to avoid Mailchimp and keep your entire email stack inside WordPress.