Mailchimp vs. Sojern Guest Marketing Suite:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When selecting a CRM and email marketing tool for your hotel, your primary concern is finding a solution that balances ease of use, feature depth, and integration capacity. Mailchimp and Sojern Guest Marketing Suite both address these needs but do so very differently. Mailchimp offers a straightforward email marketing platform favored by small hotels and independent properties, while Sojern provides a more robust, industry-specific guest engagement suite designed for larger or more complex hotel operations.

Both platforms aim to help your team communicate better with guests, but their core strengths diverge significantly. Mailchimp excels in simplicity and affordability, whereas Sojern focuses on detailed guest profiling and targeted multi-channel outreach. Which one aligns better with your hotel’s strategic goals?

Is Mailchimp or Sojern Better for Hotels?

Mailchimp and Sojern both serve hotel marketing needs but approach them differently. Mailchimp is primarily an email campaign tool that creates visually appealing emails, suitable for small hotels or those just beginning their email marketing journey. In contrast, Sojern is a comprehensive guest engagement platform integrating email, SMS, and chat to foster ongoing relationships at every guest touchpoint.

Mailchimp’s recent reviews are limited, but the existing 4 reviews with a 3.88/5 rating suggest it’s a practical, easy-to-understand option. However, its lack of hotel-specific features and limited integrations make it less suitable for larger or more complex hotel brands. Sojern’s 12 reviews, with a perfect 10/10 NPS score, reveal strong customer satisfaction, especially among hotels needing more tailored, multi-channel guest communication.

Do you need a simple marketing tool or a comprehensive guest relationship management system?

Mailchimp vs Sojern: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel primarily needs a straightforward email marketing tool with low costs and minimal complexity, Mailchimp is the better choice. It’s ideal for small hotels, boutique properties, or those new to email marketing, as it offers a drag-and-drop builder, a free plan for up to 2,000 contacts, and easy integrations with basic website platforms.

If your hotel requires advanced guest engagement features, including segmentation, guest profiles, and multi-channel outreach via SMS and chat, Sojern suits larger or more sophisticated operations. It supports a wider array of integrations—33 verified partners compared to Mailchimp’s 2—and includes features like a guest feedback module and database health monitoring.

The decision hinges on your hotel’s size, complexity, and engagement goals. Do you want a simple email tool or a full guest communication platform?

Is Mailchimp or Sojern Easier to Use?

Mailchimp scores slightly lower in ease of use than Sojern, with a 4.25/5 rating versus Sojern’s 4.75/5. Users find Mailchimp’s interface intuitive for campaign setup and template customization, especially with its drag-and-drop builder. The onboarding experience is rated at 4.5/5, and reviews describe it as straightforward for small teams.

However, some users mention that Mailchimp’s backend becomes less intuitive as contact lists grow or automation needs increase. Conversely, Sojern’s platform, with a 4.75/5 ease-of-use rating, offers a more streamlined experience for managing complex guest profiles and multi-channel campaigns, with a slightly smoother onboarding process at 4.91/5. Its interface is tailored for hotel use, reducing setup time and training effort.

Edge: Sojern.

Which Has Better Features: Mailchimp or Sojern?

Mailchimp offers core email marketing features, including campaign templates, automation, and basic audience segmentation. Its limited feature set makes it suitable for simple email campaigns but lacks hotel-specific tools like guest profiles or feedback modules.

Sojern’s 11 exclusive features include powerful segmentation, guest profiles, GDPR and CCPA compliance, automatic de-duplication, guest feedback tools, and a centralized data warehouse. These capabilities support personalized outreach, guest satisfaction tracking, and robust compliance, making Sojern more comprehensive for hotels seeking detailed guest insights.

In terms of feature depth, Sojern clearly leads.

Edge: Sojern.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Mailchimp or Sojern?

Customer support ratings favor Sojern heavily, with a 4.92/5 score versus Mailchimp’s 2.13/5. Reviewers praise Sojern’s responsive, helpful support team, with comments like “they’re so invested in helping us succeed,” and “support has been excellent and timely.”

Mailchimp’s support rating is lower, with some reviews indicating difficulty in navigating support channels and limited personalized assistance. Hotels needing fast, reliable help should lean toward Sojern for ongoing support and onboarding.

Edge: Sojern.

Which Has More Integrations: Mailchimp or Sojern?

Mailchimp integrates with 2 verified partners, including WordPress and Squarespace, and offers basic integrations suitable for small hotels. It lacks industry-specific integrations, which limits its ability to connect with hotel PMS or booking engines.

Sojern integrates with 33 verified partners, including hotel-specific systems like Stayntouch, Profitroom, Mirai, and other booking engines. Its extensive partner network supports more seamless data flow and automation across your hotel’s tech stack.

Edge: Sojern.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Mailchimp or Sojern?

Looking at recent reviews, Sojern’s 12 reviews with a 10/10 NPS score reflect high satisfaction among hotel users. Hotels of various sizes, especially boutique and branded hotels, find it effective for guest engagement and reservation management.

Mailchimp’s 4 reviews are more mixed, with an overall 3.88/5 rating. Smaller hotels appreciate its ease and affordability but note limitations for scaling or hotel-specific features.

Edge: Sojern.

How Much Do Mailchimp and Sojern Cost?

Mailchimp does not publicly list prices, but it offers a free plan for up to 2,000 contacts, with paid options increasing based on subscribers and features. Its scalability costs can rise quickly once you exceed basic automation or integrations.

Sojern’s starting price is $400/month, with no free tier. It targets hotels with more complex needs, and its pricing reflects its advanced features and integrations.

In summary, if your hotel has a tight budget or simple needs, Mailchimp might suffice initially. For broader functionality and industry-specific features, expect to invest in Sojern.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Mailchimp?

• Hotels that are small or boutique seeking a simple, low-cost email tool.
• Teams that primarily send monthly newsletters or basic promotions.
• Hotels with limited automation needs or basic contact lists.
• Properties with technical teams comfortable with somewhat manual segmentation.
• Not ideal if your hotel requires detailed guest profiles, multi-channel outreach, or automation.

Mailchimp is good for independent hotels, small boutique properties, or those testing email marketing without complex demands.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Sojern?

• Hotels aiming for a sophisticated guest engagement strategy across multiple channels.
• Hotels with a large database of guests needing segmentation and personalized messaging.
• Operations that want detailed guest profiles, feedback collection, and loyalty programs.
• Hotels that prioritize automation, compliance, and seamless integrations.
• Not ideal if your hotel is very small, with minimal marketing budget, or only needs basic email campaigns.

Sojern suits mid-sized to large hotels, especially those focused on maximizing guest lifetime value.

The Bottom Line for Hotels: Mailchimp vs Sojern

Mailchimp offers a straightforward, budget-friendly email marketing solution suited for small hotels and properties just starting to explore digital marketing. Its ease of use and low-cost entry point make it appealing, but its limited integrations and hotel-specific features restrict scalability.

Sojern provides an extensive, hotel-focused guest engagement platform that supports detailed segmentation, multi-channel outreach, and advanced analytics. Its high customer satisfaction and broad integrations make it the clear choice for larger, more engaged hotel brands seeking long-term growth.

If your hotel needs a simple marketing tool, Mailchimp will do the job. But if your goal is a comprehensive guest communication platform that can grow with your property, Sojern is the superior choice.