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GDPR Compliance Risk

Mailchimp is a US-based service subject to the CLOUD Act. EU organizations using this service risk non-compliance with GDPR data transfer requirements.

Mailchimp logo

GDPR-Compliant Alternative to Mailchimp

🇺🇸Intuit · US-based · Subject to CLOUD Act

Mailchimp, a product of Intuit, is an email marketing service based in the United States that facilitates the creation and management of email campaigns. It offers tools for automating email workflows, segmenting and targeting audiences, and conducting A/B testing for subject lines. Users can customize email templates and access performance analytics and reporting to optimize their marketing strategies. The platform integrates with various e-commerce platforms and provides social media ad management capabilities. Mailchimp is designed for businesses and marketers seeking to streamline their email marketing efforts. It is important to note that Mailchimp stores user data in the United States, making it subject to US data laws such as the CLOUD Act and FISA 702. The service operates on a tiered pricing model, offering different plans based on the number of contacts and features required.

Why You Need a GDPR-Compliant Alternative to Mailchimp

Since the landmark Schrems II ruling in 2020, transferring personal data to US-based services like Mailchimp has become a significant legal risk for EU organizations. The US CLOUD Act gives American authorities the power to access data held by US companies, regardless of where that data is physically stored — even if it's in an EU data center.

While the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) adopted in 2023 provides a new legal basis for transfers, privacy experts and legal scholars have raised concerns about its long-term viability. The framework could face the same fate as its predecessors (Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield), both of which were struck down by the Court of Justice of the EU.

For organizations that want to eliminate compliance risk entirely, switching to a European-based email services is the most straightforward solution. Below are the best GDPR-compliant alternatives to Mailchimp, all headquartered in Europe with data stored in EU data centers.

CLOUD Act Exposure

US authorities can access your data stored by Mailchimp, even if servers are located in Europe.

GDPR Fine Risk

Non-compliant data transfers can result in fines up to 4% of annual global revenue under GDPR Article 83.

EU Alternative Available

5 GDPR-compliant European alternatives available with full EU data residency.

5 GDPR-Compliant Alternatives to Mailchimp

European services with full GDPR compliance and EU data residency

Mailjet logo

Mailjet

🇫🇷

by Mailjet

Mailjet by Sinch is a European email marketing platform designed for businesses to manage and optimize their email campaigns. It offers features such as email automation, real-time analytics, and customizable templates. Mailjet ensures compliance with EU data protection regulations, providing a reliable solution for businesses operating in Europe.

EU-BasedGDPR CompliantEU-hosted
FreemiumMigration:●●●2-4 hours

Why switch?

  • Mailjet is EU-hosted, ensuring compliance with EU data regulations.
  • Mailjet offers optional end-to-end encryption for enhanced data security.
  • Mailjet provides dedicated support for EU customers, improving response times.

Consider

  • Mailjet lacks advanced A/B testing features available in Mailchimp.
  • Migrating data from Mailchimp to Mailjet can be complex and time-consuming.
View DetailsCompareSwitch Guide
Visit Mailjet
Brevo logo

Brevo

🇫🇷

by Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

5.0 (1)

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a French marketing and transactional email platform founded in 2012 by Armand Thiberge in Paris. With over 500,000 customers including eBay, Volkswagen, and Michelin, Brevo has grown from an email marketing tool into a full customer communication suite covering email campaigns, transactional email API, SMS, WhatsApp, CRM, live chat, and marketing automation. All data is processed and stored in EU data centers. Brevo offers a genuinely usable free tier (300 emails/day) that makes it accessible for startups and small projects, with paid plans scaling from Starter through Enterprise.

EU-BasedGDPR CompliantB CorpISO 27001EU-hosted
freemiumMigration:●●●2-4 hours

Why switch?

  • Brevo offers multi-channel: email, SMS, WhatsApp, live chat.
  • Free tier: 300 emails/day, no contact storage limit.
  • Brevo has EU-based servers, ensuring GDPR compliance.

Consider

  • Migration from Mailchimp to Brevo can be time-consuming.
  • Brevo lacks social media ad management features.
View DetailsCompareSwitch Guide
Visit Brevo
rapidmail logo

rapidmail

🇪🇺

Rapidmail is a robust email marketing service designed to help businesses in Europe efficiently manage their email campaigns. With an intuitive interface, users can create, send, and analyze newsletters with ease, making it an ideal tool for businesses looking to enhance their communication strategy. Key features include customizable templates, detailed analytics, and seamless integration with various platforms. Rapidmail stands out with its strong focus on privacy and security, hosting all data within the EU to ensure compliance with GDPR regulations, providing users with peace of mind regarding data sovereignty. This makes it particularly appealing to European businesses that prioritize data protection. The service is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, marketing teams, and any organization seeking a reliable email marketing solution. Rapidmail offers a transparent pricing model based on the number of emails sent, allowing businesses to scale their usage according to their needs without hidden costs. With its commitment to privacy and user-friendly design, Rapidmail is a practical choice for those looking to streamline their email marketing efforts while adhering to strict data protection standards.

EU-hostedGDPR Compliant
subscriptionMigration:●●●2-4 hours

Why switch?

  • EU-hosted servers ensure GDPR compliance.
  • Scalable pricing model suits growing businesses.
  • User-friendly interface simplifies email creation.

Consider

  • Migration from Mailchimp can be time-consuming.
  • Lacks social media ad management features.
View DetailsCompareSwitch Guide
Visit rapidmail
Sweego logo

Sweego

🇪🇺

Sweego is a comprehensive Food & Beverages platform designed to streamline transactional email automation and SMS notifications for businesses across Europe. With its robust suite of features, Sweego ensures seamless communication by offering customizable email templates and multi-language support for diverse campaigns. The platform is tailored for businesses seeking efficient communication tools that prioritize data privacy and compliance. Key features of Sweego include an EU-hosted data compliance framework, ensuring all user data is managed in accordance with GDPR standards. This makes Sweego an ideal choice for companies that prioritize data sovereignty and security. The real-time analytics dashboard provides actionable insights, allowing businesses to optimize their communication strategies effectively. Additionally, Sweego offers API access for third-party integration, enhancing its flexibility and utility across various business needs. Sweego is particularly suited for European businesses and organizations that require reliable, GDPR-compliant communication solutions. While specific pricing details are not provided, the platform's features suggest a scalable model that can accommodate different business sizes and needs. By hosting data within the EU, Sweego not only guarantees compliance but also offers peace of mind regarding data protection and privacy.

EU-hosted
subscriptionMigration:●●●2-4 hours

Why switch?

  • EU-hosted servers ensure GDPR compliance
  • Multi-language support for diverse campaigns
  • Real-time analytics for instant insights

Consider

  • Unknown company may lack support resources
  • Migration from Mailchimp can be time-consuming
View DetailsCompareSwitch Guide
Visit Sweego
E

EmailLabs

🇪🇺

EmailLabs is a robust transactional email service based in Poland, designed to meet the needs of businesses requiring reliable and secure email communications. It specializes in sending transactional emails such as order confirmations, password resets, and notifications, ensuring timely and efficient delivery. Key features include high deliverability rates, detailed analytics, and seamless integration with various platforms. EmailLabs stands out by offering EU-hosted services, ensuring compliance with GDPR regulations and providing data sovereignty advantages. This makes it an ideal choice for European businesses or any organization prioritizing data privacy and security. The service is particularly beneficial for e-commerce platforms, SaaS companies, and any business that relies on transactional emails to communicate with their customers. While specific pricing details are not provided, EmailLabs typically offers scalable pricing models to accommodate businesses of different sizes and needs. By choosing EmailLabs, businesses can rest assured that their email communications are handled with the utmost care and compliance with European data protection standards.

EU-hostedGDPR Compliant
contactMigration:●●●2-4 hours

Why switch?

  • EU server ensures data stays within GDPR jurisdiction
  • EmailLabs specializes in transactional emails from Poland
  • Full GDPR compliance with EU-hosted data

Consider

  • Lacks Mailchimp's social media ad management
  • Migration may require significant time and effort
View DetailsCompareSwitch Guide
Visit EmailLabs

Quick GDPR Compliance Comparison

ServiceHQ LocationGDPR NativeEU Data CentersCLOUD Act FreePricing
🇺🇸Mailchimp
United StatesNoPartialNo-
🇫🇷MailjetFRYesYesYesFreemium
🇫🇷BrevoFRYesYesYesfreemium
🇪🇺rapidmailEUYesYesYessubscription
🇪🇺SweegoEUYesYesYessubscription
🇪🇺EmailLabsEUYesYesYescontact

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mailchimp GDPR compliant?

Mailchimp is a US-based service operated by Intuit. While it may have some GDPR compliance measures, as a US company it is subject to the CLOUD Act, which allows US authorities to access data stored by US companies regardless of where the data is physically located. This creates a fundamental conflict with GDPR requirements for data protection.

What are the GDPR risks of using Mailchimp?

The main GDPR risks include: (1) Data transfers to the US may lack adequate protection since the Schrems II ruling invalidated Privacy Shield, (2) US authorities can demand access under the CLOUD Act, (3) Your organization may face GDPR fines up to 4% of annual revenue for non-compliant data transfers, and (4) User consent may not be sufficient to legitimize transfers given the systematic access by US authorities.

What are the best GDPR-compliant alternatives to Mailchimp?

The top GDPR-compliant alternatives to Mailchimp include Mailjet, Brevo, rapidmail. These European services store your data in EU data centers and are fully subject to GDPR protections.

How do I migrate from Mailchimp to a GDPR-compliant alternative?

Most migrations involve three steps: (1) Export your data from Mailchimp using their data export tools, (2) Create an account with your chosen EU alternative, and (3) Import your data into the new service. We provide detailed migration guides for each alternative to make the switch as smooth as possible.

Can EU companies legally use Mailchimp?

Since the Schrems II ruling (2020), EU organizations face significant legal risk when using US cloud services like Mailchimp. While the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (2023) provides a new legal basis, its long-term stability is uncertain. Many EU data protection authorities recommend using EU-based alternatives to avoid compliance risks entirely.

Other GDPR Alternatives in Email Services

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Related Pages

Migration Resources

Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps support our mission to promote European alternatives. Our recommendations are based on objective criteria.

Last updated: January 26, 2026