Email marketing
MailerLite vs Mailchimp
MailerLite is the better value for a small list that mostly needs newsletters and simple automation. Mailchimp still wins on integrations, templates and reporting depth once you need them.
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MailerLite or Mailchimp — which should you use?
MailerLite is the better value for a small list that mostly needs newsletters and simple automation. Mailchimp still wins on integrations, templates and reporting depth once you need them. MailerLite starts at Paid plans from roughly $10/month (free tier: Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers with core features and MailerLite branding.); Mailchimp starts at Essentials from roughly $13/month, rising with contact count (free tier: Free plan for small lists with limited monthly sends and branding.). Prices are list prices and change, so check the vendor pages before buying.
Last updated 3 August 2026
MailerLite built its reputation on being the cheaper, simpler alternative to Mailchimp, and that's still the honest summary. Its editor is clean, its free plan is generous for a small list, and its pricing rises more slowly.
Mailchimp has spent longer building integrations, a template library and reporting, which shows once your needs get more specific — multi-step ecommerce automation, granular A/B testing, or a plugin that only lists Mailchimp as a partner.
Side by side
MailerLite and Mailchimp in short.
MailerLite
Simple, low-cost email marketing with a clean drag-and-drop editor.
- Free
- Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers with core features and MailerLite branding.
- Paid from
- Paid plans from roughly $10/month
Good at
- Cheaper than Mailchimp at nearly every list size
- Editor is fast to learn and produces clean campaigns
- Landing pages and basic automation included on lower tiers
Weak at
- Fewer integrations than Mailchimp
- Advanced segmentation and reporting are thinner
Mailchimp
The best-known email marketing platform, priced per contact.
- Free
- Free plan for small lists with limited monthly sends and branding.
- Paid from
- Essentials from roughly $13/month, rising with contact count
Good at
- Broadest integration ecosystem of any mainstream email tool
- Better reporting, A/B testing and template library
- Ecommerce features go a step deeper than MailerLite's
Weak at
- More expensive as a list grows
- Interface has more to learn than MailerLite's
The differences
Where they actually diverge.
| Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limit | 1,000 subscribers | Small list, limited sends |
| Entry price | ~$10/month | ~$13/month |
| Editor simplicity | Very simple | More options, more to learn |
| Integrations | Moderate | Very broad |
| A/B testing | Basic | Mature |
| Landing pages | Included | Included on paid tiers |
| Ecommerce automation | Basic | More developed |
| Best for | Small lists, tight budgets | Teams needing integrations and reporting |
Pick one
Which one fits you.
Choose MailerLite if
- Your list is under a few thousand and budget matters
- You want a simple editor with no learning curve
- You don't rely on a specific third-party integration
Choose Mailchimp if
- You need a plugin or integration that only supports Mailchimp
- Reporting depth and A/B testing matter to you
- You run ecommerce automation beyond a basic abandoned-cart email
When neither is the answer
For a list you email rarely but that's large, Brevo's send-based pricing usually beats both.
Questions
Common questions.
Is MailerLite good enough for ecommerce?
For basic abandoned-cart and order emails, yes. For deep purchase-history segmentation, Klaviyo or Mailchimp go further.
Does MailerLite support automation?
Yes, with a visual builder covering triggers, delays and conditional steps, though it's less deep than Mailchimp's higher tiers or dedicated automation tools.
Which has better deliverability?
Both use reputable sending infrastructure. Deliverability depends more on your list hygiene and domain authentication than the platform choice.
Can I move a list between them?
Yes, CSV export and import work both ways. Automations and templates need to be rebuilt manually.
Does MailerLite have a website builder?
Yes, it includes a simple website and landing page builder, which Mailchimp also offers on paid plans.
Prices are list prices published by each vendor and change often — check the linked pricing pages before you buy. We take no affiliate commission and nobody pays to appear here.
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