Canva is a popular, simple online graphic design tool. Users can import images, use templates to design banners and logos, or pay to use Canva's premium stock images/paid templates (elements starting at $1).
$12.95
per month
Mad Mimi
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
Mad Mimi is an email marketing solution targeted at SMBs, designed to be intuitive and straightforward. It was acquired by GoDaddy in August 2014 to expand their small business support offerings.
$10
per month
Intuit Mailchimp
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Mailchimp is an email marketing and marketing automation platform. Beyond just tracking how campaigns perform, Mailchimp takes it a step further by analyzing data from over half a billion emails to show why campaigns perform, driving informed decisions.
I prefer to design in Canva and upload into Mailchimp because it's easier and there are a ton more options. Mailchimp isn't the exact same as Canva, but it does provide some graphic design for emails. However, I've found that using Canva to design the emails it comes out much …
Canva is a lot more efficient and easy-to-use for quick things - social media posts, cards, flyers - because the templates are so easily accessible and customizable. Using photoshop, I have to start from scratch, which takes much more time! Photoshop is much better-versed in …
In my previous experiences, all of my attempts at Graphic Design were based on hashing various pictures and icons together in programs such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Paint. These designs reek of amateurism and anyone who has used these programs can identify their …
Canva would be an entry-level tool compared to photoshop. For those that don't have endless hours to learn photoshop, Canva cuts out all of the difficulty. It's a drag and drop editor as opposed to full creation tool where you have to know at least the basics to use photoshop. …
Initially, I used Microsoft Paint to design/edit pictures for newsletters because I was not good at using Adobe Photoshop and other design related software. In Microsoft Paint, the design tools are very limited and I could not create my choice of designs. Later I found Canva …
Google Photos is the other editing software we use, and Canva definitely allows a greater depth at actually creating designs than using Google photos. To be honest, Canva is the first and only software that I've used of its kind.
Verified User
C-Level Executive
Chose Canva
Prior to implementing Canva in my department, we relied on Adobe InDesign and occasionally Photoshop or Illustrator. While much more powerful than Canva, these platforms required a lot of staff support, outside training (we even sent staff to expensive classes). Our versions of …
Canva is so so much easier to use - photoshop can be very difficult to learn and download and it's a whole different ballgame. Canva provides some pre-made graphics elements for you to use, which make it very easy, and the software is so easy to master it's probably a better …
Founder, Social Media Consultant, Trainer and Speaker
Chose Canva
The only other design tools I have used that could be vaguely compared to Canva are InDesign and Paint. The former is far too compex to 'dabble' with and produce great results quickly and efficiently (not to mention the price tag!) whilst the latter is far too primitive. I …
Both Adobe products are less intuitive than Canva, and for someone without a graphic design background, that is a significant issue. Due to their cost, I wouldn't suggest that they are great …
When I started using Mad Mimi several years ago, it offered a decent feature set at a lower price. For my business, I switched to AWeber first and then to ActiveCampaign for more advanced e-commerce integrations. For my trade association, I recently moved to MailChimp because …
I've chosen Mad Mimi for all the reasons stated previously. It's easy to use, free (for now); has an embeddable webform, list segmentation, mobile optimization, etc. On the other hand, I'm just this close to moving to MailChimp which has more sophisticated features and built-in …
Mad Mimi is not as complex to use for preparing emails as some competitors like Mailchimp. Mad Mimi has a lot of integration for third-party apps. Unlike Mailchimp, Mad Mimi is more suitable for our e-marketing strategy. Mad Mimi does not offer free trial whereas Mailchimp does …
Mad Mimi is superior to most ESPs that I've used, although it lacks in terms of a learning library, which includes best practices, strategy, expectations, and integration. MailChimp may be a better option for those who require more options, more integration, or more information …
Constant Contact seems to be the most common alternative that people have gravitate towards, and for a low-tech person I would say that's appropriate. AWeber is a great alternative for people like affiliate marketers. Mad Mimi is a semi-popular alternative, but frankly I don't …
Emma might be better if you need personal account management, custom made emails, etc. Mailchimp works great for a DIY team or project with less complex needs. Not a fan of Mad Mimi.
Mailchimp's email marketing is vastly superior to Bloomerang CRM or fundRaising (formerly Qgiv) but Mailchimp will integrate seemlessly to Bloomerang, so every email sent to a constituent will be recorded as a transaction. The email design blocks are much cleaner and easier to …
Our previous in-house system was slow and cumbersome to use, requiring more manual work to build content. Intuit Mailchimp handles text, pictures and links much more efficiently, meaning that we can quickly paste in format into templated boxes, then define who we wish to send …
Bonterra Development and Digital was much more robust and expensive than what we needed for an email marketing tool. Plus we already had Little Green Light for our database and with the API everything connects and a new/different database wasn’t needed.
Mailchimp is a great tool for smaller businesses and businesses just starting out. It is easy to learn and generally have very few glitches. SharpSpring was very hard to operate and the EDM's we created looked clunky and dated. My company have just started moving over to …
Mailchimp is a means to an end and a way to stay within GDPR laws. We may not use it if this wasn't a requirement. Other platforms are better for design or management of contacts, but Mailchimp offers that secure storage of data that is required. I have not tried other bulk …
I am using all three software for different purposes. All three software give good results in the areas where we use them. MailChimp stands a little ahead of them because of its deliverability.
They are suited to serve the non-profit space, offering premium features at no charge for up to 50 users. They provide tools for non-graphic designers that help to create appealing and attractive pieces. For those who are unsure about where to start with a project, Canva offers templates that can be edited to suit the current need.
Mad Mimi is perfect for scheduling remainder emails. For instance, if you need to remind a client about a pending order next week, you can schedule the remainder email today and it will be sent exactly the date and time you want it to even if you are out of office. If you need to contact thousands of people at a time, Mad Mimi can be used to send the emails all at once to all of them, especially for marketing purposes and newsletter purposes.
For any E-commerce related needs, like you need to see a list of customers who have added products to cart but did not purchase, this can be done really easily, but if your e-commerce provider provides integration, then it is best suited. Most of the systems in the Market provide out-of-the-box integration. Their API is also very easy it can be integrated to any language. You can integrate it into your custom developed system and use the features, like adding customers to specific lists. Also, if your lists become really big, then their system can get a bit slow to respond via API, so you might need a strategy for how you are gonna fetch the data using API.
It helps you find the right design and helps you start with the right template
It helps in creating for all platforms, basically you need to create the design only once and Canva takes care of the rest by resizing the design for whichever platform you want to publish it to.
It also comes with a content planner which is extremely helpful for obvious reasons. It relieves you from the hassle of posting when the right time hits.
There's a Brand feature which is also extremely fascinating as it helps you store all your brand information (even color) at the same place.
I've been on the free plan for years and it has suited me very well. It's reliable and has all the core features I need at the moment. Considering how all the online tools can add up, this is right for my business.
Mad Mimi has a super-simple interface, and it's drag and drop, so I don't have to spend a lot of time designing each email. Although you can customize with your logo and colors.
There are several free add-ons, which allow for a limited amount of automation. I would recommend taking advantage of the RSS feed, webform, and drip campaign features.
You can segment your list into as many groups as you like, which makes for more effective email marketing.
Mailchimp allows you to manage your mailing list really well. You can subscribe people, unsubscribe people manage the mailing list directly into segments, and what not.
Mailchimp has features where you can create campaigns based on your mailing lists and send out newsletters to your subscribers based on a multitude of parameters that you can setup. Such as send email daily, weekly, monthly and they also have event based mails that you can send out.
Mailchimp also has a feature where you can design your emails. The look and aesthetics are very important when sending emails to your subscribers and all those needs are addressed here.
I have a hard time coming up with any improvements, perhaps increase the number of free elements to use in design.
Maybe, Canva should check if you start editing a previous document to see if you want to change the current design or create a new one as a clone of the current document (design).
I'm sorry, I really can't think of a 3rd. Overall, I really like working in Canva.
The ease on adding links, such as unsubscribe links, is not as easy as it is with other email service providers. Creating simple tags that take the place of a link could help a lot, especially for those not as familiar with HTML.
Perhaps a way of archiving old emails, or hiding them from the past emails area. It can look a bit cluttered, and can be confusing in some circumstances.
Providing some learning material, or at least a more thorough overview of email marketing, and the user interface would be of great use to beginners.
The ease of use makes Canva a powerful tool for manipulating images, creating original content, and testing ideas without requiring the involvement of graphic design or more time-intensive image editing software such as Photoshop. While it doesn't have the full functionality of a mature software, such as Photoshop, The speed and simplicity of Canva makes it a necessity in a business of any size
Pretty simple, I know I'm getting what I pay for and a little more. Although simple and easy for the new user; a more seasoned marketer can still get the most from MadMimi. Especially if the primary purpose is to generate strong brand loyalty with effective communication that integrates your various outlets: MadMimi makes it easy for your customer to pick-up what the business owner wants to relay.
We've had Mailchimp for about ten years, I want to say. I started with the company about four years ago, and I don't see us ever diverting to another source. It's easy for us to use, and we have all our clients already built into the database. I imagine we'll use them for as long as we have the company.
It is super easy to use, but it could be limiting if you're on a small device. It is easier on a bigger device because you can resize graphics and text easier than with your fingers on a small device. I do think it's perfect and easy for non-designers who don't have any training. As long as you have a good eye for visuals, Canva is a wonderful substitute for graphics programs on-the-go.
The interface is a bit complicated, and I need to spend some time to learn new functions and understanding how it works. I don't like working with email templates because of the limited customization options. However, functions like AI for generating emails, segmentation, and analytics still work well and are very useful.
I have yet to encounter Canva being offline in at least 6 years of using it regularly. They also announce well in advance if there may be upgrades to the code and the hours during which there may be issues accessing the service.
I have, in the 4+ years that I've used Mailchimp, never seen an issue that restricted the use of their software/tools. I don't know of a single time when they're system crashed or went down. I could be wrong, but I honestly haven't experienced any issues with outages, errors or unplanned downtime
I haven't ever had issues with a slow-loading site and there haven't been any lag issues within the software. There have been maybe a handful of times over the past six years where I have tried to upload a large image and it will slow down as it loads the last megabyte, but I have yet to have the system time out or require any interference by me
I haven't noticed any slow speeds from Mailchimp or their tools. I think the landing pages load quickly and look nice. The email reports and editing operates smoothly and doesn't take time to load. Additionally, when I use Mailchimp in conjunction with Zapier + Hubspot I don't notice any drag between any of these tools
Overall, Canva is easy to use, easy to train others to use, allows for creativity with a professional look without enormous associated costs. The mobile apps works almost as easily, but at a minimum allows for easy review and downloading in a pinch. Really, anyone can learn to use Canva quickly and will immediately benefit from the results.
Website tools were easy to use and understand so a novice can easily meet or exceed their client's expectations! Loved that we were able to totally customize so that the e-mail we created conveyed our client's overall messaging consistent with their branding! Client love that we can provide turnkey services to support their sales and marketing teams!
Remember to download the mobile app onto your phone for easy image manipulation on the go. Adding company colors, logos, and typefaces to your company account is an easy process. When images are uploaded, these can also be shared between accounts within a company, as can canvases you've created for easy editing among teams.
It's pretty easy to get up and running! There's a slight learning curve on a few things, but once you find where everything is located, you can import your list and send your first email. It really makes our clients feel great to see how quickly they can get that first email out.
Canva is faster and easy to use. There aren't complex menus like Adobe products and everything is generally intuitive. Menus are mostly open and visible or relatively small. Small changes to the program add to it's usability rather than detract. I also appreciate that Canva helps the user become more creative through use. By giving you editable examples through templates you can choose to re-design something ir create something from scratch w/ a similar concept or feel. Canva often gives me ideas that I can implement into my design or into the entire project even. I also like how Canva is intuitive in it's approach. The program gives you suggestions when it comes to graphics, etc. without getting in your way if you know what you already want
Constant Contact is the Goliath of the industry and to us, it was unnecessarily complex and expensive. We chose Mad Mimi, after looking at several other new offerings and we've been extremely satisfied with our choice of Mad Mimi.
I don't think they are comparable; we use Google Ads to put our website at the top of the list when someone googles certain words. We use meta business to manage our social media. Google aims to gain customers, while Mailchimp is used to interact with both existing and new customers.
Very easy to add accounts and share content between them. Collaboration is also easy to manage and can be done on a project-by-project basis. The cloud-based software means it is incredibly fast to add a coworker and have them editing images within minutes. A live internet connection is required to access Canva so this is something to consider if expecting to use the software while on journeys without access to wifi etc
Mailchimp over the years I've used it has grown in leaps and bounds. They have added so many additional features than were previously available. They are truly an all-in-one marketing platform now. If you're a small operation and just want to add email to your marketing efforts, they're there for you. If you're a larger operation and want to start sending postcard advertisements, they can do that. If you'd good with that and want to kick up your marketing by going social, you can do that on their platform. They are truly able to be as small as you need, but also get quite large in whatever it is you'd like to do through their system.
As far as ROI is concerned, Canva has proven itself time and time again as having a positive impact for business.
Just yesterday, I had to prepare an hour-long presentation on the fly; the great reviews of the presentation and the materials (all made in Canva) only served to advertise for Canva and it proves that Canva is a smart investment.
I don't think in the time that I have been a Canva pro user that I can say that my ROI has been negatively impacted. Highest recommendation. The software more the casually pays for itself time and time again.
I've spent 3 years creating blog posts, and it is only now encompassing the breath that allows me to draw upon this pieces as a reusable resource, but now this is happening.
I preferred the Mad Mimi platform to Mail Chimp, and I suspect it continues to offer advantages. I felt Mad Mimi did themselves a disservice by failing to support their free subscriber service to the same extent that Mail Chimp does. When one's mail list gets sufficiently large, then it does pay to pay them, but not in the context I was using it.
It seems that Mad Mimi is targeting direct marketing purposes, as this is a use where ROI is more easily measured.
One of my retail web store clients was sending out email specials and notices about once a month. After clicking the send button, we would watch Google Analytics and the current site users would light up immediately. Often, the current site visitors would pop up to 20, 30 or more after the email was sent. On a normal day, seeing 1 or 2 online users would be OK.
Pretty much in all cases, we could see an uptick in positive activity after sending out a Intuit Mailchimp email to a list.