Quick Summary
- Pricing
- Free tier available · from $10.00/mo
- Pricing Model
- per month
- Category
- Email Marketing
- Founded
- 2010
- Best For
- Simple email marketing with advanced features at affordable prices
- Top Features
-
- Visual Builder
- A/B Testing
- Analytics
- Template Library
- Scheduling
- Integrations
-
WordPress Shopify Zapier WooCommerce Stripe
About MailerLite
MailerLite is a lightweight yet capable email marketing platform built for creators, small businesses, and growing e-commerce brands. Founded in 2010, it combines a drag-and-drop email editor, landing page builder, website builder, and marketing automation into a single dashboard. The platform runs on a modern cloud infrastructure with a deliverability-first architecture, maintaining consistently high inbox placement rates. MailerLite's automation engine supports multi-step workflows with conditional branching, time delays, and action triggers based on subscriber behavior, purchases, or custom field updates. Native integrations with WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Stripe make it a natural fit for content publishers and online stores. The AI writing assistant helps generate subject lines and email copy directly within the editor. In 2026, MailerLite has expanded its e-commerce toolkit with improved abandoned cart sequences, product recommendation blocks, and enhanced segmentation based on purchase history. The platform also offers A/B testing for subject lines, content, and send times, plus built-in signup forms, pop-ups, and an embedded survey tool.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generous free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails with core automation included
- Paid plans start at $10/month, significantly undercutting Mailchimp and ConvertKit at comparable subscriber counts
- Built-in website and landing page builder eliminates the need for separate tools like Leadpages or Carrd
- AI writing assistant generates subject lines and email copy directly in the editor, reducing production time
- Native Shopify and WooCommerce integrations enable automated e-commerce flows without third-party middleware
- Drag-and-drop automation builder supports multi-step workflows with conditional logic and behavioral triggers
Cons
- Advanced segmentation and automation features are locked behind the Advanced plan, limiting the free and Growing Business tiers
- No built-in CRM — subscriber management is list-based, which can feel limiting for sales-driven teams
- Approval process for new accounts can delay launch by 24–48 hours as MailerLite manually reviews sending domains
- Reporting is functional but lacks the depth of platforms like ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo for multi-touch attribution
- Template library is smaller than Mailchimp's, and custom HTML editing requires the Advanced plan
Expert Verdict
“MailerLite is the right pick if you need polished email marketing and automation without enterprise complexity or enterprise pricing. It outperforms Mailchimp on value per subscriber and matches ConvertKit on creator-focused workflows, while undercutting both on cost. Skip it if you need advanced CRM functionality, deep multi-channel orchestration, or granular API-level control — that's where ActiveCampaign or Brevo pull ahead. For teams under 50K subscribers who prioritize clean UX and fast execution, MailerLite remains one of the strongest options in 2026.”
— AppSage Editorial Team
Feature Checklist
- Visual Builder
- Available
- A/B Testing
- Available
- Analytics
- Available
- Template Library
- Available
- Scheduling
- Available
- Mobile App
- Available
- Email Automation
- Available
- AI Assistant
- Available
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actual limits on MailerLite's free plan in 2026?
The free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly email sends. You get access to the drag-and-drop editor, 10 landing pages, signup forms, and basic automation. However, you lose access to dynamic emails, auto-resend campaigns, the HTML editor, promotion pop-ups, and priority support. Once you exceed 1,000 subscribers, you must upgrade to a paid plan.
How does MailerLite's pricing scale as my subscriber list grows?
Paid plans start at $10/month for up to 500 subscribers on the Growing Business tier. Pricing scales based on subscriber count: roughly $15/month at 1,000 subscribers, $25/month at 2,500, and $45/month at 5,000. The Advanced plan runs approximately 2x the Growing Business price at each tier. Watch for the jump at 50K+ subscribers where costs increase more steeply, and compare against Brevo's contact-unlimited, send-based model if your list is large but engagement is low.
MailerLite vs. Mailchimp — which is better for small businesses?
MailerLite wins on pricing and simplicity. At 5,000 subscribers, MailerLite's Growing Business plan costs roughly $45/month versus Mailchimp's Standard plan at around $75/month. MailerLite also includes a free website builder and landing pages at no extra cost. Mailchimp edges ahead on template variety, third-party integrations, and advanced analytics. If you need multi-channel marketing with SMS and social ads, Mailchimp offers more. For pure email marketing on a budget, MailerLite delivers better value.
MailerLite vs. ConvertKit — which is better for creators?
Both platforms target creators, but they differ on approach. ConvertKit uses a tag-based subscriber system ideal for complex segmentation across multiple products and funnels. MailerLite offers a more visual editor, built-in website builder, and lower pricing — its paid plans start at $10/month versus ConvertKit's $15/month. ConvertKit has stronger creator-specific features like paid newsletter subscriptions and a native tip jar. Choose MailerLite for design flexibility and cost savings; choose ConvertKit if subscriber tagging and creator monetization are priorities.
Does MailerLite support e-commerce automation with Shopify and WooCommerce?
Yes. MailerLite integrates natively with both Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling abandoned cart emails, post-purchase follow-ups, product recommendation blocks, and purchase-based segmentation. The Stripe integration supports payment-triggered automations for digital products. These e-commerce features are available on paid plans, with advanced product recommendation logic requiring the Advanced tier.
What are MailerLite's email deliverability rates compared to competitors?
MailerLite consistently ranks among the top platforms for deliverability in independent tests, often placing above Mailchimp and ConvertKit. This is partly due to their strict account approval process — every new account is manually reviewed, which keeps spammers off the platform and protects shared IP reputation. Dedicated IP addresses are available on the Advanced plan for high-volume senders who want full control over their sender reputation.
Can MailerLite replace my website builder or do I still need WordPress?
MailerLite's built-in website builder can handle simple sites — portfolio pages, single-product sites, or blog-style content. It includes a blog engine, custom domains, and basic SEO settings. However, it lacks plugin ecosystems, advanced SEO control, and custom code flexibility that WordPress provides. If your site is primarily a subscriber funnel or landing hub, MailerLite's builder is sufficient. For content-heavy sites or complex functionality, keep WordPress and use the MailerLite WordPress integration for forms and subscriber syncing.
How much does MailerLite cost?
MailerLite has a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month. Paid plans start at $10/month (Growing Business) for up to 500 subscribers with unlimited emails, and scale up based on subscriber count. The Advanced plan adds features like Facebook integration, auto-resend, and a custom HTML editor. MailerLite is one of the most affordable email marketing platforms, especially compared to Mailchimp.
Is MailerLite better than Mailchimp?
For small businesses and creators, MailerLite is often the better choice. It's significantly cheaper at every subscriber tier, has a more intuitive interface, and its free plan is more generous. Mailchimp has more advanced marketing automation and a larger template library, but its pricing rises steeply as your list grows. If email is your primary marketing channel and budget matters, MailerLite is the stronger pick.
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