What is Mailchimp Transactional?
Mailchimp Transactional is a developer service for sending event-driven email and SMS, such as receipts, password resets and account alerts, from your own application. It was formerly called Mandrill and is sold as an add-on to Mailchimp marketing plans, so it suits businesses that already use Mailchimp for newsletters and want transactional messages managed alongside them.
Developers send messages through an API or SMTP after setting up their sending domain. Mailchimp Transactional adds webhooks for email events, inbound email processing, a rules engine and reporting on delivery and engagement. Pricing works in blocks of 25,000 emails per month, with the cost per block falling as volume rises. A dedicated IP is available for an extra monthly fee.
Mailchimp Transactional at a glance
How does Mailchimp Transactional work?
- Add it to a Mailchimp plan
Enable Transactional Email on a Mailchimp Standard, Premium or legacy Monthly plan.
- Configure your domain
Set up DNS records so emails send from your verified domain.
- Send from your app
Call the API or connect over SMTP to send messages triggered by user actions.
- Track and react
Use webhooks and reports to monitor opens, clicks, delivery and account reputation.
Mailchimp Transactional key features
Transactional email API and SMTP
Send app-triggered email at scale through a REST API or SMTP relay.
Transactional SMS
Send text messages through the API using a number from Mailchimp's SMS program.
Webhooks
Receive real-time notifications for events such as opens and link clicks.
Inbound email processing
Receive and parse incoming email inside your application.
Rules engine
Define criteria that automatically trigger specific actions on messages.
Reporting
Review delivery rates, recipient engagement and account reputation.
Dedicated IP option
Add a dedicated sending IP for more control over reputation.
Why use Mailchimp Transactional?
- Marketing and transactional email can sit in the same Mailchimp account.
- Block pricing gets cheaper per email at higher volumes.
- Webhooks and inbound processing support advanced app workflows.
- New users can send a small number of free test emails before committing.
- The API is mature, having grown out of the long-running Mandrill service.
Who is Mailchimp Transactional best for?
A good fit for
- Businesses already using Mailchimp for marketing
- Ecommerce sites sending order and shipping emails
- Developers who want API and SMTP sending with webhooks
- Teams that also need transactional SMS
Less suited to
- Teams that do not want to pay for a Mailchimp marketing plan
- Very small senders, since blocks start at 25,000 emails
- Mailchimp Essentials users, who cannot add it
Mailchimp Transactional pricing
| Pricing model | Usage-based |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Up to 500 free emails to a verified domain for new users |
| Starting price | $20 per block of 25,000 emails per month (plus a Mailchimp Standard or Premium plan) |
The per-block price falls from $20 to $10 as monthly volume rises. A dedicated IP costs $29.95 per month.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Mailchimp Transactional pricing page before you buy.
Mailchimp Transactional pros and cons
Pros
- Works alongside Mailchimp marketing
- Volume discounts on email blocks
- Webhooks, inbound processing and rules engine
- Email and SMS from one API
Cons
- Requires a paid Mailchimp marketing plan
- Minimum purchase is a block of 25,000 emails
- Not a fit for teams outside the Mailchimp ecosystem
Mailchimp Transactional integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Mailchimp Transactional alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Transactional Email Services.
Mailchimp Transactional FAQ
Is Mailchimp Transactional free?
No. Mailchimp Transactional is a paid add-on that costs $20 per block of 25,000 emails per month at entry volumes, and it requires a Mailchimp Standard, Premium or legacy Monthly plan. New users can send up to 500 free emails to a verified domain to test it, with some restrictions.
What is Mailchimp Transactional used for?
Mailchimp Transactional is used to send one-to-one messages triggered by actions in an app or store, such as order confirmations, password resets, receipts and account alerts. Developers connect through the API or SMTP and can also send transactional SMS, process inbound email and react to events with webhooks.
Is Mailchimp Transactional the same as Mandrill?
Yes. Mailchimp Transactional is the current name for the service formerly known as Mandrill. It keeps the same purpose of sending app-triggered email through an API or SMTP, and it is now sold as an add-on to Mailchimp marketing plans rather than as a separate product.
Mailchimp Transactional vs SendGrid: what's the difference?
Mailchimp Transactional requires a Mailchimp marketing plan and sells email in blocks of 25,000, which suits existing Mailchimp users. SendGrid is a standalone email API with its own plans and a separate marketing product. Teams already on Mailchimp often prefer Transactional, while others may choose a standalone API.
Does Mailchimp Transactional work with Mailchimp Essentials?
No. Mailchimp Transactional can only be added to a Mailchimp Standard, Premium or legacy Monthly plan, so Essentials and free accounts cannot use it. If you are on Essentials, you would need to upgrade your marketing plan first, then buy blocks of 25,000 transactional emails per month on top of it.
Sources
This overview is based on Mailchimp Transactional's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.