The short answer
Mailchimp is an American service owned by Intuit. European businesses are allowed to use it, but a European provider makes GDPR simpler: data in the EU, a contract with a European company, prices in euros and invoices with the right VAT. Spedito is European, keeps data in the European Union and costs less: with 2,500 contacts it is €9 a month against $45 for Mailchimp Essentials. Below are the European alternatives compared, and what to check.
Why look for a European alternative
When an American platform handles your subscribers’ data, that data can be transferred to the United States. Today these transfers rely on the 2023 EU‑US Data Privacy Framework: it is in force and the EU General Court upheld it in September 2025, but an appeal against that ruling is pending before the Court of Justice. The two previous arrangements, Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield, were both struck down by that same Court. In the UK, transfers rely on the UK‑US “data bridge”, an extension of the same framework.
With a European provider that keeps data in the EU, you do not depend on how that ends. There are practical advantages too:
- Prices in euros: no surprises from the dollar exchange rate.
- Invoices with the right VAT for your country, and the reverse charge for businesses in other EU countries.
- Support and an interface in your language.
- A DPA with a European company, subject to the GDPR and to European authorities.
European platforms compared
These are the platforms in our comparison that are based in Europe, with their pricing model and first paid plan.
| Platform | Based in | Price grows with | First paid plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spedito | European Union | Subscribed contacts (unsubscribed and bounced are free) | €5 a month for up to 1,000 contacts |
| Brevo | France | Emails sent each month | Starter: €7 a month for 5,000 emails |
| Mailjet | France | Emails sent each month | Essential: $19 a month for 15,000 emails |
| CleverReach | Germany | Contacts on the list | Basic: €15 a month for 500 contacts |
| rapidmail | Germany | Contacts on the list | Essential: €15 a month for 500 contacts |
| MailUp | Italy | Sending speed | Starter: €48 a month (billed yearly) |
| MailerLite | Lithuania | Contacts on the list | Comfort: $12 a month for 500 contacts |
| Omnisend | Lithuania | Contacts on the list | Standard: $16 a month for 500 contacts |
| Sender | Lithuania | Contacts on the list | Standard: $9 a month for 500 contacts (billed yearly) |
| GetResponse | Poland | Contacts on the list | Starter: $19 a month for 1,000 contacts |
| EmailOctopus | United Kingdom | Contacts on the list | Pro: $10 a month for 500 contacts |
| Moosend | United Kingdom | Contacts on the list | Pro: $9 a month for 500 contacts |
- This is the country the company is based in, not always where the servers are: check each provider’s DPA.
- Prices exclude VAT, in the currency of the official price list.
A word of caution: where a company is based does not tell the whole story. A European provider may use servers or services outside the EU, and an American one may offer servers in Europe. What counts is written in the DPA and the list of sub-processors.
What to check before you choose
- Where the servers are: the database and the email sending, not just the website.
- Who the sub-processors are: the providers the platform itself uses, and which countries they are in.
- The DPA: it should exist and be easy to find.
- Consent features: double opt-in, proof of sign-up, one-click unsubscribe.
- The price over 12 months, in euros and with VAT.
Spedito: European, with data in the EU
Spedito was built in Europe for small European businesses, in five languages. Data stays in the European Union: the database is in Frankfurt, emails are sent from servers in Ireland, and the website is hosted in the EU region. Every provider is listed in the privacy policy, and the DPA applies to every customer without having to ask.
The AI writing and translation features only send the provider the text you choose to have written or translated, under the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, and that text is not used to train models.
And on price: at 10,000 contacts you save about €876 a year compared with Mailchimp. The full comparison is in Spedito vs Mailchimp.
Moving from Mailchimp to Spedito
- In Mailchimp, export your contacts to a CSV file from the Audience section.
- In Spedito, drop the file into the import window: columns are recognised automatically. Anyone who had unsubscribed stays unsubscribed.
- Verify your domain with the DNS records we show you, step by step for your provider.
- Recreate your sign-up form and welcome automation, and send yourself a test.
Frequently asked questions
Is using Mailchimp against GDPR?
Not in itself: transfers to the United States currently rely on the Data Privacy Framework, which is in force. But you need to inform subscribers, have a DPA in place and keep an eye on the appeal before the Court of Justice. With a provider that keeps data in the EU, it is all simpler.
What is the best European alternative to Mailchimp?
It depends on what you need. Brevo (France) if you also send SMS and WhatsApp, CleverReach or rapidmail (Germany) if you work mostly in German, Spedito if you want the simplest and cheapest option, with data in the EU and emails in each contact’s language.
Where is the data stored on Spedito?
In the European Union: the database in Frankfurt, email sending from servers in Ireland, the website in the EU region. The list of providers is in the privacy policy.
Can I bring my contacts over from Mailchimp?
Yes: export a CSV from Mailchimp and drop it into Spedito’s import. Unsubscribed and bouncing addresses will not receive emails.