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MailerLite and Mailchimp are two of the most popular email marketing platforms for small businesses — and two of the most frequently compared. Both offer free plans, both are beginner-friendly, and both are widely used. But they have meaningfully different strengths, pricing structures, and ideal use cases.
In this guide I will break down exactly how MailerLite and Mailchimp compare across free plans, pricing, features, automation, ease of use, and value for money — so you can make the right decision for your business in 2026.
MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Quick Verdict
| MailerLite | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bloggers, creators and small businesses wanting a generous free plan | Businesses needing the widest integration library |
| Free plan contacts | 1,000 | 500 |
| Free email sends | 12,000/month | 1,000/month |
| Paid from | $10/month | $13/month |
| Automation on free plan | Yes | Very basic only |
| Landing pages | Yes — free plan | 1 page on free plan |
| Built-in blog | Yes | No |
| Paid newsletters | Yes | No |
| Ease of use | Very beginner friendly | Beginner friendly |
| Integrations | 150+ | 300+ |
| Value for money | Excellent | Moderate |
| Overall rating | 4.6/5 | 4.0/5 |
Bottom line: MailerLite wins for most small businesses — a more generous free plan, lower paid pricing, automation included from the start, a built-in blog, and paid newsletter functionality that Mailchimp does not offer. Mailchimp’s main advantage is its larger integration library. For businesses that need more automation depth than either platform offers, Brevo and Moosend are worth considering as stronger alternatives.
Who Is Each Platform Built For?
MailerLite is built for small businesses, bloggers, creators, and solopreneurs who want straightforward, affordable email marketing without unnecessary complexity. Its clean interface, generous free plan, and built-in tools for content creators — including a blog, website builder, and paid newsletter subscriptions — make it particularly well suited to people building an audience around their expertise or content.
Mailchimp is a general-purpose email marketing platform that has expanded into a broader marketing suite — adding website building, social media advertising, appointment scheduling, and more alongside its email tools. Its brand recognition and large integration library make it a familiar default choice for many first-time email marketers, though its pricing has increased significantly in recent years while competitors have overtaken it on features and value.
Free Plan Comparison
This is where the difference between the two platforms is most significant — and most important for small businesses just starting out.
| Free Plan Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Contact limit | 1,000 | 500 |
| Email sends | 12,000/month | 1,000/month |
| Automation | Yes — included | Very basic only |
| Landing pages | Yes — unlimited | 1 page only |
| Pop-ups and forms | Yes — included | Yes — included |
| Built-in blog | Yes | No |
| Website builder | Yes | Yes |
| Paid newsletter subscriptions | Yes | No |
| A/B testing | No | No |
| Email support | No — help centre only | 30 days only |
| MailerLite/Mailchimp branding | Yes — on emails | Yes — on emails |
MailerLite’s free plan is significantly more generous than Mailchimp’s in every meaningful way. Double the contacts, twelve times the monthly email sends, automation included, unlimited landing pages, a built-in blog, and paid newsletter functionality — all at no cost. Mailchimp caps its free users at 500 contacts and just 1,000 emails per month, locks automation behind paid tiers, and offers only a single landing page.
The one area where Mailchimp has an edge on the free plan is support — offering 30 days of email support versus MailerLite’s help centre only approach for free users. But the feature gap strongly favours MailerLite for most businesses.
Free plan winner: MailerLite — by a significant margin.
Pricing Comparison
MailerLite Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month, automation, landing pages, blog |
| Growing Business | From $10/month | Unlimited emails, remove MailerLite branding, A/B testing, 24/7 support |
| Advanced | From $20/month | Custom HTML editor, promotion pop-ups, AI writing assistant, multiple users |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Dedicated account manager, custom onboarding, SLA |
Mailchimp Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, basic templates |
| Essentials | From $13/month | 5,000 emails/month, A/B testing, 24/7 support |
| Standard | From $20/month | Automation, retargeting ads, 6,000 emails/month |
| Premium | From $350/month | Unlimited contacts, advanced segmentation |
Pricing by List Size
| Contacts | MailerLite Growing Business | Mailchimp Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $10/month | $26/month |
| 2,500 | $15/month | $45/month |
| 5,000 | $30/month | $75/month |
| 10,000 | $55/month | $100/month |
| 25,000 | $115/month | $270/month |
| 50,000 | $220/month | $500/month |
MailerLite is consistently and significantly cheaper than Mailchimp at every contact level. At 1,000 contacts MailerLite costs $10/month versus Mailchimp’s $26/month. At 25,000 contacts MailerLite costs $115/month versus Mailchimp’s $270/month. Over 12 months at 25,000 contacts, MailerLite saves you $1,860 compared to Mailchimp for comparable features.
Pricing winner: MailerLite — cheaper at every contact level.
Feature by Feature Comparison
Email Templates and Design
Mailchimp has a larger template library — 100+ professionally designed templates versus MailerLite’s more curated selection. Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop editor is also slightly more feature-rich and has been refined over more years. For businesses where template variety and design flexibility are priorities, Mailchimp has an edge.
MailerLite’s email editor is clean, fast, and produces professional results. Its templates are fewer but well-designed, and the interface is arguably simpler to use for complete beginners. MailerLite also offers a custom HTML editor on its Advanced plan for users who want full design control.
Winner: Mailchimp — larger template library and more mature editor.
Marketing Automation
| Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Automation on free plan | Yes | No — paid plans only |
| Visual automation builder | Yes — all paid plans | Yes — Standard plan only |
| Welcome sequences | Yes — free plan | Paid plans only |
| Behaviour-based triggers | Yes — paid plans | Yes — Standard plan only |
| Abandoned cart sequences | Yes — e-commerce plans | Yes — Standard plan |
| RSS to email | Yes | Yes |
| A/B testing in automations | Limited | Limited |
MailerLite includes basic automation on its free plan — welcome sequences and simple triggers — which Mailchimp locks behind paid tiers. For small businesses just starting with automation, this is a meaningful advantage that allows you to set up a welcome email sequence and basic nurture flow before spending a penny.
Neither platform’s automation depth matches Moosend at $9/month — which includes lead scoring, heatmaps, and behaviour-based triggers that both MailerLite and Mailchimp reserve for higher tiers or do not offer at all.
Winner: MailerLite — automation included on free plan. Both are limited at entry level compared to Moosend.
Content Creator Features
This is MailerLite’s strongest differentiator. It is the only major email platform in this comparison that includes a built-in blog, a website builder with multiple pages, and a paid newsletter subscription tool — all on the free plan. For bloggers, consultants, coaches, and content creators who want to build and monetise an audience, these features are genuinely valuable and not available on Mailchimp at any price.
- Built-in blog — publish content directly within MailerLite with SEO settings and custom domains
- Website builder — create a full website with multiple pages, not just landing pages
- Paid newsletter subscriptions — charge subscribers for premium content, managed entirely within MailerLite
- Digital product selling — sell guides, templates, and downloads directly through your MailerLite account
Mailchimp offers a website builder and basic landing pages but has no blog, no paid newsletter functionality, and no digital product selling tools.
Winner: MailerLite — significantly more useful for content creators.
Integrations
Mailchimp has a larger integration library — 300+ native integrations versus MailerLite’s 150+. Mailchimp’s integrations include Facebook and Instagram advertising, deeper Shopify and WooCommerce connectivity, and a wider range of CRM and business tool connections. For businesses that use specific niche tools, Mailchimp’s broader library may be a deciding factor.
MailerLite covers all the major integrations — Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, Stripe, PayPal — but if your business uses a specialist or less mainstream tool, check MailerLite’s integration list before switching.
Winner: Mailchimp — larger native integration library.
Deliverability
Both MailerLite and Mailchimp have strong deliverability track records — typically achieving inbox placement rates of 95%+ in independent testing. MailerLite is known for particularly rigorous account approval processes, which keeps the quality of senders on its platform high and benefits all users through strong shared IP reputation.
Mailchimp’s free plan attracts a higher volume of lower-quality senders, which can occasionally affect shared IP deliverability. Both platforms offer dedicated IP addresses on higher-tier plans for businesses needing maximum deliverability control.
Winner: Tie — both are strong performers. MailerLite marginally ahead on shared IP quality.
Ease of Use
Both platforms are genuinely beginner-friendly — most new users can set up an account and send their first email within an hour on either platform. MailerLite has a slight edge in interface simplicity — its dashboard is less cluttered and its email builder faster to navigate than Mailchimp’s, which has grown more complex as the platform expanded. Mailchimp has the advantage of more widely available tutorials and community resources given its larger user base.
Winner: Tie — both are accessible. MailerLite slightly cleaner, Mailchimp better documented.
Customer Support
| Support | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan support | Help centre only | Email — 30 days only |
| Paid plan support | 24/7 live chat and email | 24/7 chat and email (Essentials+) |
| Phone support | No | No |
| Help centre quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| Community resources | Good | Extensive |
Mailchimp’s 30-day email support for free users is more helpful than MailerLite’s help centre only approach during the critical initial setup period. On paid plans both platforms offer comparable 24/7 live chat and email support. Neither offers phone support. Mailchimp has the advantage of a larger community with more third-party tutorials, YouTube guides, and forum answers due to its market share.
Winner: Mailchimp marginally — 30 days of free support and a larger community resource base.
MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Which Should You Choose?
Do you want the most generous free plan available?
Choose MailerLite — 1,000 contacts, 12,000 monthly sends, automation, unlimited landing pages, and a built-in blog all at no cost. Mailchimp’s 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends are far more restrictive.
Are you a blogger, creator, or consultant building a content audience?
Choose MailerLite — its built-in blog, website builder, and paid newsletter functionality are specifically designed for your needs. Mailchimp does not offer any of these tools.
Do you want automation without paying for it?
Choose MailerLite — basic automation is included on the free plan. Mailchimp locks all meaningful automation behind paid tiers.
Do you need the widest possible integration library?
Choose Mailchimp — 300+ native integrations cover more third-party tools than MailerLite’s 150+.
Do you need social media advertising integrated with email?
Choose Mailchimp — Facebook and Instagram ad management is built in.
Are you already on Mailchimp and considering switching?
MailerLite is the most popular Mailchimp alternative — the switch is straightforward, export your list as CSV, import to MailerLite, and most businesses save meaningful money immediately. Most businesses with 1,000+ contacts save $15-25/month by switching at the entry paid tier alone.
Is There a Better Alternative to Both?
For businesses wanting more automation depth or unlimited contacts, yes — there are stronger options than either platform.
Brevo — Best for Unlimited Contacts and Multi-Channel
Brevo offers unlimited contacts on its free plan — significantly more generous than MailerLite’s 1,000 or Mailchimp’s 500. It also includes SMS marketing, WhatsApp campaigns, live chat, and a basic CRM on the free plan. For businesses with a large contact database that want to keep costs low as they scale, Brevo’s contact-unlimited pricing model is the most affordable option available.
Try Brevo for free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9
Moosend — Best for Automation Depth
Moosend at $9/month delivers automation capabilities that outperform both MailerLite and Mailchimp at their entry paid tiers — including lead scoring, heatmap reporting, behaviour-based triggers, and product recommendations. For businesses where automation is the priority rather than content creator tools or integration breadth, Moosend is the most cost-effective option available. Its 30-day free trial gives you full access to all features before committing.
Try Moosend free for 30 days: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha
AWeber — Best for Unlimited Sends and Simplicity
AWeber offers 500 free subscribers with unlimited email sends — far more monthly sends than either MailerLite or Mailchimp’s free plans. Its 600+ template library is the largest available at this price point, and its Smart Designer tool automatically creates branded email templates from your website URL. For businesses where unlimited sends and template variety matter most, AWeber is a strong alternative.
Try AWeber free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MailerLite better than Mailchimp?
For most small businesses, yes — MailerLite offers a more generous free plan, lower paid pricing, automation on the free plan, a built-in blog, and paid newsletter functionality that Mailchimp does not provide. Mailchimp’s advantages are its larger integration library and better community resources. If neither of those is a priority for your business, MailerLite is the stronger choice.
Is MailerLite free?
Yes — MailerLite has a genuinely useful free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 emails per month. It includes automation, unlimited landing pages, a built-in blog, website builder, and paid newsletter subscriptions — all at no cost. The free plan does not include A/B testing, 24/7 support, or the custom HTML editor, which are reserved for paid plans. No credit card is required to sign up.
Why is Mailchimp more expensive than MailerLite?
Mailchimp’s pricing has increased significantly over recent years as the platform expanded into a broader marketing suite. At comparable feature levels, MailerLite is typically 50-60% cheaper than Mailchimp — at 25,000 contacts the saving is over $1,800 per year. Many businesses that have been with Mailchimp for years are unaware of how much cheaper comparable alternatives have become.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite easily?
Yes — switching is straightforward. Export your Mailchimp audience as a CSV file and import it directly to MailerLite. Your automations and email templates will need to be recreated, but MailerLite’s interface makes this quick and the cost saving typically makes the one-time effort worthwhile. MailerLite’s support team can assist if needed, and there are extensive migration guides available on their help centre.
Is MailerLite good for beginners?
Yes — MailerLite is one of the most beginner-friendly email platforms available. Its clean, uncluttered interface makes it easy to navigate without prior email marketing experience. Most new users can set up their first campaign and automation within an hour. The generous free plan also means beginners can learn the platform without any financial commitment before deciding whether to upgrade.
Does MailerLite have automation?
Yes — MailerLite includes basic automation on its free plan, including welcome sequences and simple trigger-based emails. The Growing Business paid plan adds more advanced automation workflows, behaviour-based triggers, and integration-triggered automations. Mailchimp by comparison locks all meaningful automation behind paid plans — making MailerLite the stronger choice for small businesses that want automation without paying for it.
What is the best Mailchimp alternative?
The best Mailchimp alternative depends on what you need most. MailerLite is the best alternative for most small businesses — more generous free plan, lower pricing, and better content creator features. Brevo is the best alternative for businesses with large contact lists — unlimited contacts free and cheaper at scale. Moosend is the best alternative for automation depth — more powerful triggers and lead scoring from $9/month. AWeber is the best alternative for deliverability and unlimited sends.
Final Verdict
MailerLite wins this comparison for most small businesses — a more generous free plan, significantly lower paid pricing, automation on the free plan, content creator features Mailchimp does not offer, and comparable ease of use. The free plan alone — 1,000 contacts with 12,000 monthly sends — is twelve times the monthly sending allowance Mailchimp provides free.
Mailchimp wins for businesses that specifically need its larger integration library or Facebook and Instagram advertising integration. If neither of those is a priority, MailerLite is the stronger and more affordable choice between the two.
For businesses wanting more than either platform offers — unlimited contacts, deeper automation, or multi-channel marketing — Brevo and Moosend are worth comparing before committing to either.
Try Brevo for free: https://get.brevo.com/943m12izdnt9
Try Moosend free for 30 days: https://trymoo.moosend.com/parekekwi2ha
Try AWeber free: https://www.aweber.com/easy-email.htm?id=561741
Last updated: October 2026
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not affect my recommendations — I only feature tools I genuinely believe are worth using.