Mailchimp is the most recognized name in email marketing. MailerLite is less well-known but consistently outperforms Mailchimp on value for money. Both are beginner-friendly, both have free plans, and both are popular with small businesses and bloggers.
The honest comparison: MailerLite gives you more for less money. Mailchimp charges more as your list grows and has tightened its free plan significantly in recent years. That said, Mailchimp has brand recognition and an ecosystem of integrations that some businesses value.
| Feature | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Yes (up to 500 contacts) | ✓ Yes (up to 1,000 subscribers) |
| Starting paid price | $13/mo | $9/mo |
| Email automation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Landing pages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| CRM built-in | Basic | ✗ No |
| SMS marketing | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Ease of use | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
| Best for | Businesses that want brand familiarity | Businesses that want more for less |
Free plans compared
MailerLite's free plan is more generous. You get 1,000 subscribers vs Mailchimp's 500, plus you get automation workflows included. Mailchimp's free plan has tightened over the years and automations are limited on the free tier.
Paid pricing
MailerLite is cheaper at every tier. Mailchimp's pricing is notoriously aggressive as list size grows, and it bills for unsubscribed contacts on some plans. If you have a list of 5,000+ contacts, the difference in monthly cost between the two tools can be substantial.
Features
Both tools cover the essentials well: email campaigns, automation sequences, landing pages, forms, and e-commerce integrations. Mailchimp has a broader app ecosystem and a slightly more polished template library. MailerLite has better automation on lower-tier plans.
Deliverability
Both have strong deliverability. Mailchimp's large sending volume and established reputation mean it is rarely flagged. MailerLite has competitive deliverability and has improved significantly in recent years.
Consider Mailchimp if...
- Brand recognition matters to you or your clients
- You rely on a specific integration that Mailchimp supports and MailerLite does not
- You want a slightly more polished template library
- Your team already knows Mailchimp and switching cost is a concern
Choose MailerLite if...
- You want more subscribers on the free plan
- You want automation included on lower-tier paid plans
- Price matters and you want the most affordable tool in this category
- You are starting fresh with no existing tool preference
The bottom line
For most businesses comparing these two, MailerLite is the better value. Mailchimp makes sense if you have a specific integration dependency or your team already knows it well. If you are starting fresh, MailerLite does more for less.
Still not sure? Take the Marketing Automation Buyer's Guide quiz. It asks six questions and recommends the right platform based on your specific needs and budget.