Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve thoroughly researched.
MailerLite has long had a reputation as one of the best value email marketing tools around — clean interface, generous free plan, and prices that undercut most competitors. But its free plan has been trimmed twice in the past year, most recently down to 250 subscribers. Is it still the budget pick worth recommending in 2026?
This review covers what’s changed, what you actually get, and who MailerLite still makes sense for.
MailerLite at a Glance
| Best for | Solo creators and small businesses wanting a clean, affordable editor |
| Starting price | Free / $12 per month (Comfort plan) |
| Free plan | Yes — 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month, 2 user seats |
| Standout feature | Clean, beginner-friendly editor at a genuinely low price point |
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value for money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Overall rating | ⭐ 4.2/5 |
What is MailerLite?
MailerLite is a Lithuania-based email marketing platform known for a clean, minimal interface and pricing that has traditionally undercut Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and most other mainstream tools. It’s popular with solo creators, bloggers, and small businesses that want core email marketing, landing pages, and light ecommerce without a steep learning curve or a steep bill.
That said, MailerLite’s free plan has shrunk twice recently — first from 1,000 to 500 subscribers, then again to 250 subscribers with 2,500 monthly emails in a September 2025 update. From August 2026, the free plan also gains feature-use limits (3 automations, 3 forms, 1 landing page, 1 website, 1 digital product), so it’s worth checking these caps still fit your needs before relying on it long-term.
MailerLite Features
Email Marketing
- Drag-and-drop, custom HTML, and simple text email editors
- Unlimited templates on paid plans
- Dynamic email content and multivariate testing
- AI writing assistant and AI subject line generator
- Auto-resend campaigns to non-openers
Automation
- Visual automation builder with up to 100 steps per workflow on paid plans
- Behaviour-based triggers (opens, clicks, purchases)
- Free plan limited to 3 active automations from August 2026
- More trigger types and Facebook audience syncing on the Power plan
Landing Pages, Websites, and Signup Forms
- Free plan limited to 1 landing page and 1 website from August 2026
Ecommerce and Digital Products
- Sell digital products and set up recurring subscriptions directly
- Ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce)
- Free plan limited to 1 digital product from August 2026
Notably, pricing at MailerLite is usage-based rather than feature-gated on paid plans — the Comfort and Power tiers share most of the same tools, with Power adding unlimited feature use, live chat support, and a handful of extras like the custom HTML editor and Facebook sync.
MailerLite Pricing
| Plan | Price (500 subscribers) | Key Limits/Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month, 2 users; feature-use caps from Aug 2026 |
| Comfort | From $12/mo | Unlimited emails and templates, dynamic content, AI writing assistant, 3 users |
| Power | From $20/mo | Unlimited feature use, live chat, custom HTML editor, unlimited users |
| Enterprise | Custom | 200K+ subscribers, dedicated IP and account manager |
Billing is based on active subscribers — unsubscribed and bounced contacts don’t count, which is a genuine advantage over platforms that bill on total stored contacts. Pricing scales steeply at larger list sizes: the Power plan runs from around $20/month at 500 subscribers up to roughly $1,900/month at 500,000 — a near-100x increase, so MailerLite’s value proposition is strongest for small-to-mid lists rather than large ones.
Is MailerLite good value?
At small list sizes, yes — the $12/month Comfort plan undercuts Mailchimp Essentials and most competitors at the same tier while including unlimited sends. The free plan is now more of a genuine trial than a long-term solution, given the 250-subscriber cap and incoming feature-use limits.
👉 Try MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com
MailerLite Ease of Use
This is where MailerLite consistently earns praise — the interface is clean, uncluttered, and genuinely beginner-friendly. New users can build a campaign, set up a signup form, and launch a basic automation within minutes, with minimal onboarding needed.
Learning curve rating: Very Low — one of the easier platforms to pick up, on par with ConvertKit and Brevo.
MailerLite Deliverability
MailerLite’s deliverability is generally solid and well regarded for a platform at this price point, with standard domain authentication tools included. High-volume senders above roughly 50,000 emails/week can access a dedicated sending IP on the Enterprise plan.
MailerLite Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Clean, genuinely beginner-friendly interface
- Bills only on active subscribers — unsubscribed and bounced contacts don’t count
- Comfort plan undercuts most mainstream competitors at small list sizes
- Sells digital products and subscriptions natively
- AI writing assistant and landing page builder included
Cons:
- Free plan cut twice in the past year — now 250 subscribers with feature-use caps incoming
- Pricing scales steeply at larger list sizes (up to ~100x from 500 to 500,000 subscribers)
- Live chat support only on the Power plan
- Fewer advanced CRM and enterprise-level features than platforms like ActiveCampaign
MailerLite Customer Support
- Email support — Comfort plan and above (24/7)
- Live chat support — Power plan and above
- 14-day trial of premium support included with the Free plan
- Extensive help centre and migration assistance for larger lists
Who Is MailerLite Best For?
MailerLite is an excellent choice for:
- Solo creators and small businesses with lists under a few thousand subscribers
- Beginners who want a genuinely easy interface without sacrificing core automation
- Digital product sellers who want selling built directly into their email platform
MailerLite is less ideal for:
- Anyone relying on a permanently free plan — 250 subscribers is now quite restrictive
- Large lists — pricing climbs steeply past the 10,000-subscriber mark
- Businesses needing a full CRM — ActiveCampaign or HubSpot are stronger here
MailerLite vs Competitors
| MailerLite | Brevo | ConvertKit | Moosend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free / $12/mo | Free | $25/mo | $9/mo |
| Free plan | ⚠️ 250 subscribers | ✅ Unlimited contacts | ✅ 1,000 subscribers | ❌ Trial only |
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Automation depth | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value for money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MailerLite still free?
Yes, but the free plan now covers only 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, down from 1,000 subscribers previously, with feature-use limits (automations, forms, landing pages) arriving in August 2026.
Why has MailerLite’s free plan gotten smaller?
MailerLite reduced free-plan limits in stages through 2025 and 2026, alongside broader price increases across paid tiers — a similar pattern to several competitors tightening free offerings this year.
Does MailerLite charge for unsubscribed contacts?
No — billing is based on active subscribers only; unsubscribed and bounced contacts don’t count toward your plan limit.
Is MailerLite good for beginners?
Yes — it remains one of the most beginner-friendly platforms available, with a clean interface that requires little onboarding.
What’s a good MailerLite alternative?
Brevo offers unlimited free contacts, and Moosend offers stronger automation depth at a similar budget price point — both reviewed on this site.
Final Verdict
MailerLite remains one of the cleanest, easiest-to-use email platforms available, and the Comfort plan at $12/month is still genuinely good value for small lists. But its once-generous free plan has been trimmed twice in the past year, and it’s now better thought of as an extended trial than a long-term free option.
If you want the easiest possible learning curve at a low price and don’t need a large free tier, MailerLite is still an excellent choice. If unlimited free contacts matter more to you, Brevo is worth comparing first.
Overall rating: 4.2/5 ⭐
👉 Try MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com
Last updated: July 2026
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.