The Quick Verdict: AI Assistant Preferences in Email Marketing Tools
GetResponse appeared in 11% of responses to email marketing questions. Mailchimp, by contrast, was named in 63% of answers. This substantial difference, measured on June 4, 2026, across 320 buyer questions, indicates a strong general lean among AI assistants. These assistants — ChatGPT, Perplexity, Cohere, Mistral, DeepSeek, Claude, Gemini, and Grok — collectively favored Mailchimp more than five times as often as GetResponse. The data reflects how these language models, trained on vast quantities of internet text, prioritize and present information about popular email marketing solutions. Their recommendations aren't based on real-time market analysis, but rather on patterns and prominence found within their training datasets.
This disparity suggests Mailchimp holds a much more visible and frequently discussed position in the online discourse that informs these AI models. GetResponse, while a recognized player, doesn't capture the same level of conversational or informational density within the training data. This makes it less likely to be suggested by default, even when questions are open-ended. The models generally reflect the perceived market dominance and brand recognition of Mailchimp.
How AI Assistants Choose: Underlying Factors
AI assistants don't consciously "choose" tools; their outputs reflect the statistical likelihood of certain information appearing together in their training data. When a user asks about "email marketing platforms for small businesses," the AI retrieves information patterns where such a query is associated with specific tool names. Mailchimp's overwhelming 63% share suggests it frequently appears in discussions, comparisons, and recommendations related to email marketing across diverse online content. This broad exposure likely includes tutorials, reviews, marketing blogs, and user forums.
Conversely, GetResponse's 11% share implies a more specialized or less ubiquitous presence in the same body of text. It might be mentioned in more niche discussions, or perhaps its feature set doesn't align as broadly with the most common "email marketing" search intents. The sheer volume and variety of mentions in training data directly influence how often a tool is suggested. A tool frequently discussed in "top lists," "beginner guides," or "e-commerce integrations" will naturally gain higher visibility within these models.
Assistant Divergence: Who Prefers What?
The preference for Mailchimp isn't uniform across all AI assistants. ChatGPT, for instance, named GetResponse in 25% of its answers, while Mailchimp appeared in 70%. That's a strong lean, but not as extreme as some others. Perplexity showed a similar, though slightly less pronounced, split: GetResponse 20% to Mailchimp 55%. These two models appear to give GetResponse a comparatively higher share than the average.
Other assistants displayed a much stronger inclination towards Mailchimp. Cohere and Mistral both cited GetResponse in 13% of responses, compared to Mailchimp's 78%. DeepSeek also heavily favored Mailchimp, naming GetResponse in 8% of cases and Mailchimp in 75%. Claude's numbers were even more skewed: GetResponse 5%, Mailchimp 73%. These models show a very pronounced preference for the more dominant platform.
Grok and Gemini provided the lowest mentions for GetResponse, both at 3%. Grok still named Mailchimp frequently, at 58%. Gemini, however, was an outlier; it mentioned Mailchimp only 23% of the time, a significantly lower rate than any other assistant. This suggests Gemini's internal weighting or training data might differ considerably, either deprioritizing Mailchimp or diversifying its recommendations more broadly, even if GetResponse didn't benefit from that diversification. The varying splits across assistants highlight differences in their training data, model architecture, or perhaps even their intended use cases.
What Each Tool is Cited For: Insights from AI Recommendations
The types of questions asked — "top email marketing platforms for small businesses," "Looking for an email marketing tool with solid automation features," "Email marketing tools that integrate well with e-commerce platforms?," "I need an email marketing tool with good reporting and analytics" — offer clues about why certain tools appear. Mailchimp's consistent high citation rate across most assistants likely reflects its broad appeal and feature set, often positioned as a generalist solution suitable for small businesses and e-commerce. Its frequent mention for "non-technical founders" or "top platforms" suggests it's seen as accessible and widely applicable.
GetResponse, despite its lower overall share, did appear in a notable percentage of responses from some assistants. Its mentions might stem from its perceived strengths in specific areas. For example, questions about "solid automation features" or "advanced segmentation" could lead to GetResponse appearing, as these are often highlighted features. While the data doesn't explicitly link features to mentions, the relative prominence suggests Mailchimp's general utility and brand recognition are its primary drivers, while GetResponse may be recognized for more specialized capabilities by some models.
When an AI assistant suggests Mailchimp for "email marketing tools that integrate well with e-commerce platforms," it's probably drawing from countless online articles and discussions that feature Mailchimp's integrations. If GetResponse appears for "lead nurturing," it's plausible its reputation for marketing automation workflows is reflected in the training data. The data indicates Mailchimp is the default answer for many general queries, while GetResponse might surface when the query implies a need for more specific, perhaps advanced, marketing functionalities.
Choosing Your Email Marketing Tool: A Buyer's Perspective
For a buyer asking "What are the top email marketing platforms for small businesses?", the AI assistant data strongly points to Mailchimp as a primary consideration. Its high mention rate across most models indicates its widespread recognition and suitability for general use cases. If you're a "non-technical founder" seeking an accessible solution, Mailchimp's consistent appearance suggests it's often recommended for ease of use. This broad consensus among AI models makes it a safe starting point for many.
However, if your needs are more specific, such as "solid automation features" or "advanced segmentation," GetResponse might warrant a closer look, especially given its higher mentions from ChatGPT and Perplexity. These models, while still favoring Mailchimp, give GetResponse a more significant share, perhaps reflecting its reputation in those niche areas. The buyer questions about "agency with multiple clients" or "lead nurturing" could also be areas where GetResponse's features are more frequently highlighted in certain datasets. Don't just pick the most cited tool; consider which platform aligns with your specific feature requirements, even if it's less universally recommended by AI.
The data suggests a buyer prioritizing general utility, brand recognition, and a broad feature set would likely find Mailchimp a strong contender. If the buyer's focus shifts to more advanced marketing automation, deeper segmentation, or specific funnel-building capabilities, GetResponse, despite its lower overall visibility, could be a more appropriate fit for some users. The AI recommendations provide a general market pulse, but individual feature needs always dictate the final choice.
The Road to AI Visibility: How Tools Appear in Answers
For an email marketing tool to appear frequently in AI assistant answers, it needs a significant and consistent presence in the vast datasets these models are trained on. Mailchimp's 63% overall share is a direct result of its extensive digital footprint. This includes widespread usage, frequent mentions in industry blogs, comprehensive review coverage, and inclusion in countless "best of" lists. High brand recognition translates directly into higher statistical probability of being suggested by an AI.
Conversely, GetResponse's 11% share implies a smaller, though still substantial, digital presence. It might be featured in more specialized content, or its market share might simply be smaller, leading to fewer mentions overall. For any tool aiming for AI visibility, the objective isn't just to exist, but to be widely discussed and recommended across a diverse range of online sources. This includes organic search results, social media conversations, industry analyses, and educational content.
The prominence of a tool in AI answers isn't a measure of its quality alone. It's a reflection of its digital footprint and how broadly and frequently it's discussed in relation to common search queries. A tool that consistently appears in content addressing various buyer questions — from "small businesses" to "e-commerce integration" — stands a much higher chance of being named by an AI assistant. The data from June 4, 2026, clearly illustrates that Mailchimp has achieved this broad digital saturation, while GetResponse holds a more focused, but still recognized, position.