Add dynamic countdown timers to Mailchimp email campaigns in less than 2 minutes. No coding knowledge required.
Here is how to add urgency, FOMO, and ultimately improve conversions by adding countdown timers to your Mailchimp email campaigns and customer journeys.
Mailchimp doesn’t offer built-in countdown timers, but it does support the merge tags and dynamic variables needed to implement advanced countdown timers, including unique-user timers and Start-on-Send evergreen timers.
| Feature | Sendtric + Mailchimp | Native Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Countdown timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Start-on-Open timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Start-on-Send timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Evergreen timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Unique user timers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expiry redirects (dynamic links) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Works in Customer Journeys | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works in campaigns | ✓ | ✓ |
| No coding required | ✓ | ✓ |
Which Countdown Timers does Mailchimp support and what are they used for
You can add urgency, fear of missing out (FOMO), and scarcity to your Mailchimp emails by using one of the following countdown timer types provided by Sendtric:
-
Fixed Date & Time Timers
A live, animated countdown timer that counts down to a specific date and time. Fixed date timers are ideal for flash sales, limited-time promotions, product launches, events, and deadlines. You can use fixed date timers in Mailchimp without any merge tags or custom variables — just copy and paste the HTML code provided by Sendtric.
-
Start-on-Open Timers
A live, evergreen, animated countdown timer that begins counting down when the recipient first opens the email for a set duration. These timers are great for abandoned cart emails and general urgency-based campaigns. Mailchimp supports Start-on-Open timers without requiring merge tags or custom variables — simply paste the Sendtric code into a custom HTML block.
- Unique timers: Enable unique timers on the Start-on-Open timer type so Sendtric remembers each recipient’s timer from the moment they first opened the email. This allows the countdown to continue accurately if they reopen the email later. Unique timers work in Mailchimp by using subscriber-specific merge tags, such as
*|UNIQID|*, as a unique identifier.
- Unique timers: Enable unique timers on the Start-on-Open timer type so Sendtric remembers each recipient’s timer from the moment they first opened the email. This allows the countdown to continue accurately if they reopen the email later. Unique timers work in Mailchimp by using subscriber-specific merge tags, such as
-
Start-on-Send Timers
A live, evergreen, animated countdown timer that starts counting down when the email is sent for a specified duration. Mailchimp supports this timer type by using Mailchimp merge tags and variables to pass the send-time information needed by Sendtric. It’s a strong option for abandoned cart emails, trials, onboarding sequences, and other event-based emails. Just select Mailchimp as your ESP in the Sendtric dashboard, copy and paste the HTML code, and you can start using this powerful timer type.
How to add a countdown timer to Mailchimp
1. Create your countdown timer in Sendtric. Select the timer type you want to use, customize its appearance to match your brand and campaign, then copy the HTML code for your preferred alignment.
2. In your Mailchimp email template, add a Code content block where you want the countdown timer to appear. Paste the HTML code you copied from Sendtric into the code editor, then save your changes. The timer will be displayed in your email at the selected location.
3. That’s it! Your countdown timer is now live in Mailchimp and ready to help drive more clicks and conversions.
Mailchimp Inline Countdown Timer:
If you’d like to display the timer inline with other content, first add a Columns block to your Mailchimp email. Then place a Code block inside the desired column and paste in your Sendtric timer code.
Video guide - How To Add Countdown Timers to Mailchimp
Mailchimp Countdown Timer FAQ
How do I add a countdown timer to Mailchimp?
Follow the guide above to create your timer in Sendtric and copy and paste the provided code into a CODE block within your Mailchimp Template. It only takes a few minutes!
Can countdown timers be used in Mailchimp Customer Journeys?
Yes – Sendtric’s countdown timers can be used in Mailchimp’s customer journeys and automations. In fact, it’s a great way to provide highly personalized timers exactly when they have the biggest improvement on conversion rate.
Mailchimp also supports the most advanced countdown timer types such as start-on-send and unique timers.
Do countdown timers work in dark mode?
Yes, Sendtric’s countdown timers work in dark mode, even in Gmail who use aggressive dark mode algorithm. For tips on how to handle dark mode, please read our dark mode tips article.
Can I show unique timers to every user/segment?
Yes – Mailchimp supports both unique and start-on-send timers. Both of these are personalized to every user and/or segment.
To use these timers, simply select the timer you wish to use in the Sendtric dashboard, select Mailchimp as your ESP, and copy and paste the provided code into a CODE block within your Mailchimp Template.
What use cases are there for countdown timers in Mailchimp?
There are many use cases for countdown timers within your Mailchimp email campaign. Some of the most popular are:
- Flash sales
- Limited Time offers
- Product Launches
- Events
- Abandoned Carts Recovery
- Trials & Deadlines
All of these use cases add urgency to your campaigns and significantly improve your conversion rate.
To see examples of these use cases, please go to our use cases page.
Our email campaigns reach tens of millions people at once, can you handle this load?
Yes. Sendtric is built to handle enterprise level loads with no problem. This is why enterprises such as HP, Google, Walmart, Hilton and many more trust us.
Is Sendtric Free?
Sendtric has one of the most generous free plans with unlimited free views and up to 10,000 monthly views without a watermark. If you need more views or features, you can subscribe to one of our paid plans. You can compare each plan’s features here.
None of our paid plans have any setup fees and you can cancel at any time within the dashboard.
Who is the best countdown timer provider for Mailchimp?
The best countdown timer solution depends on your requirements, but Sendtric offers one of the most generous free plans available, along with highly competitive pricing across our paid plans.
In addition to standard countdown timers, Sendtric includes advanced features such as Start-on-Send timers, animated motion timers, dynamic expiry links, and flexible fallback options. These are capabilities that aren’t widely available across all countdown timer providers.
For a detailed and transparent comparison of popular countdown timer platforms, please read this article.
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