The verdict
MailerLite vs Mailchimp
MailerLite is the better choice for most small businesses, because it pairs a clean editor, landing pages and solid automation with lower prices and a more generous free plan. Mailchimp is the better pick for teams that depend on a wide range of integrations, want more seats on entry plans, or need phone support and multivariate testing on Premium.
Best for small businesses that want value and simplicity
MailerLite
- Our rating: 4.6 / 5
- Starting price: $12 / month
- Free plan: Yes (250 subscribers)
Best for teams that want the most integrations
Mailchimp
- Our rating: 4.5 / 5
- Starting price: From $13 / month
- Free plan: Yes (250 contacts)
At a glance
| MailerLite | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses that want value and simplicity | Teams that want the most integrations |
| Starting price | $12 / month (Comfort) | From $13 / month (Essentials) |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan: 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails / month | Free plan: 250 contacts, 500 sends / month; 14-day trial on Essentials and Standard |
| Pricing model | By subscriber count; annual billing saves 10% | By contact count, with send limits tied to contacts |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Automation | 3 automations free, 50 on Comfort, unlimited on Power | None on Free, 4 flow steps on Essentials, up to 200 flows on Standard |
| Monthly send limits | 10x subscriber tier on Comfort; unlimited (fair use) on Power | 10x to 15x contacts by plan; overages billed |
| Users | 2 seats on the free plan | 1 on Free, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Standard, unlimited on Premium |
| Support | Email; live chat on Power and on large Comfort lists | 24/7 email and chat on paid plans; phone on Premium |
MailerLite is the better fit for small businesses that want a clean, affordable platform with automation, forms and landing pages included, while Mailchimp suits teams that need a very large integrations marketplace, more seats on entry plans, or premium features such as phone support. Both cover the basics well, so the real differences show up in price, plan limits and how much automation you get for your money.
We rate MailerLite 4.6 out of 5 and Mailchimp 4.5, first and second on our ranked list of the best email marketing software. Below, we compare them head to head on the points small businesses care about most.
Pricing and total cost
On paper the entry prices are close. MailerLite’s Comfort plan starts at $12 a month and Power at $25, and both rise with list size. Mailchimp’s Essentials plan starts at $13, Standard at $20 and Premium at $350, and those rise with contacts too. Annual billing on MailerLite saves 10 percent.
The gap opens as your list grows. Mailchimp’s costs climb quickly with list size, and its most useful automation sits on Standard and above. Mailchimp also ties sending to contacts: Essentials allows 10 times your contact count in monthly sends, Standard 12 times and Premium 15 times, with overages billed on paid plans. MailerLite’s Comfort plan allows 10 times your subscriber tier’s ceiling each month, and Power allows unlimited sends under a fair use policy.
Winner: MailerLite. It costs less at most list sizes and includes more features at the entry price.
Free plans
Both free plans are small, but MailerLite’s is more useful. It covers 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, 2 user seats, 3 automations, 3 signup forms and popups, a landing page and a website. Mailchimp’s free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 sends a month (with a daily cap of 250), one user and no automation flows. Mailchimp only offers email support for the first 30 days on Free, and MailerLite offers 24/7 support for the first 14 days before moving you to its help library.
Winner: MailerLite. Five times the monthly sends and working automations make it the better free starting point.
Ease of use and design
MailerLite’s drag-and-drop editor is one of its strongest points. New users learn it quickly, the layout stays uncluttered, and the same builder handles emails, landing pages and simple websites. Mailchimp has a familiar interface, a large template library and plenty of help content, which helps teams that want polished designs without starting from a blank canvas.
Winner: MailerLite for speed and simplicity. Mailchimp wins if you want the widest choice of ready-made templates.
Automation
MailerLite includes automation on every plan, starting with three automations on the free plan. Comfort allows 50 active automations, and Power removes the cap. That covers welcome series, lead magnet delivery, re-engagement and simple ecommerce flows for most small businesses.
Mailchimp calls its automation the customer journey builder. Free has none, Essentials limits flows to four steps, and Standard allows up to 200 flows. In practice, that means Mailchimp users who want multi-step journeys need Standard, which narrows the price gap.
Neither tool matches ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo for complex branching or store data, so businesses that need that depth should look further down our list.
Winner: MailerLite. More automation at each price point, including on the free plan.
Forms, landing pages and websites
MailerLite treats list growth as part of the core product. Signup forms, popups, landing pages and a simple website builder are included on every plan, and they all use the same editor as your emails. The free plan includes 3 forms, a landing page and a website. Comfort raises that to 10 forms and 10 landing pages and websites combined, and Power removes the limits. MailerLite also sells digital products from the same account, capped at 5 on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
For a small business without a developer, that means one tool can run the lead magnet page, the signup form and the follow-up sequence. Mailchimp connects to most website builders through its integrations, so its signup forms can also sit on a site you already run.
Winner: MailerLite. Having pages, forms and email in one builder saves time and another subscription.
Deliverability and compliance
Both platforms walk you through authenticating your sending domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, which Gmail and Yahoo require of bulk senders. Both include unsubscribe links, double opt-in options and contact exports for consent records. MailerLite’s Comfort and Power plans also include a preference center, so subscribers can choose topics instead of leaving your list, and a smart sending feature.
Winner: Tie. Deliverability depends far more on list quality and authentication than on which of these two you use.
Integrations
This is Mailchimp’s clearest advantage. Its integrations marketplace is one of the largest in email marketing, so it connects to almost any website builder, store, CRM or booking tool, often without a connector like Zapier. MailerLite integrates with the common platforms, including popular website builders and ecommerce tools, but its list is shorter.
Winner: Mailchimp. If your setup relies on less common software, Mailchimp is more likely to have a native connection.
Teams and support
Mailchimp includes 3 seats on Essentials, 5 on Standard and unlimited seats on Premium, which suits teams where several people write, approve and report on campaigns. Paid Mailchimp plans include 24/7 email and chat support, and Premium adds phone and priority support.
MailerLite’s free plan includes 2 user seats. On paid plans, Comfort gets email support, with live chat for lists of 50,000 subscribers or more, and Power gets live chat. Teams that want fast live help on a small list will need Power.
Winner: Mailchimp for larger teams and support options, especially on Premium.
Testing and reporting
Mailchimp’s Premium plan lists multivariate and A/B testing, aimed at teams with large lists and dedicated marketers. Both tools give the standard campaign reports most small businesses use: opens, clicks, unsubscribes and the performance of each link. MailerLite’s reporting is basic next to ecommerce specialists such as Klaviyo, and that is fair to say of Mailchimp’s lower tiers as well.
Winner: Mailchimp at the top end, though most small businesses will not pay for Premium.
Trials and switching
Mailchimp offers a 14-day trial on Essentials and Standard. You enter payment details at signup and can cancel during the trial without a charge. MailerLite’s free plan works as an open-ended trial for small lists. Both let you export contacts as a CSV, but automations and templates do not carry over, so plan time to rebuild them if you switch.
Who should pick which
- Solo founders and small service businesses: MailerLite, for its lower cost, simple editor and built-in pages.
- Creators selling a few digital products: MailerLite, since products, pages and email live in one account.
- Teams of three to five marketers: Mailchimp Standard, for included seats and 24/7 chat support.
- Businesses with many connected tools: Mailchimp, for its integrations marketplace.
- Large lists with dedicated marketers: Mailchimp Premium, for multivariate testing and phone support, if the budget allows.
The bottom line
For a typical small business with a few thousand subscribers, a weekly or monthly newsletter and a handful of automations, MailerLite does the job for less and is easier to learn. Choose Mailchimp when integrations or team size drive the decision, or when you need the testing and phone support that come with Premium.
Pros and cons
MailerLite
Pros
- Paid plans from $12 a month
- Clean editor that new users learn quickly
- Landing pages and forms included
Cons
- Free plan capped at 250 subscribers
- Less automation depth than ActiveCampaign
- Reporting is basic next to Klaviyo
Mailchimp
Pros
- Huge library of templates and integrations
- Familiar interface with plenty of help content
- 14-day trial on Essentials and Standard
Cons
- Costs rise quickly with list size
- Free plan is very limited
- Best automation requires Standard or higher
Which should you choose?
Choose MailerLite if
- Lower cost as your list grows
- Automations included on every plan
- Landing pages and a website builder included
- Free plan with 2,500 emails a month
Choose Mailchimp if
- Very large integrations marketplace
- 3 to 5 seats on Essentials and Standard
- 24/7 email and chat support on paid plans
- Phone support and multivariate testing on Premium
See the full ranking
Best Email Marketing Software in 2026
We compare six email marketing platforms on price, automation, and ease of use, and name the best fit for small businesses, creators, and online stores.
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to move your list from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
No. Export your audience from Mailchimp as a CSV and import it into MailerLite, keeping tags and consent fields mapped. Automations, templates and engagement history do not transfer, so rebuild your key flows first. Authenticate your sending domain before your first campaign, and send to engaged subscribers first to protect deliverability.
Which free plan should you pick if your list is tiny?
Pick MailerLite. Both cap the list at 250, but MailerLite allows 2,500 emails a month against Mailchimp’s 500, and includes three automations, forms, a landing page and two user seats. Mailchimp’s free plan has no automation flows, so even a basic welcome series requires a paid plan.
Do you need Mailchimp Standard to automate emails?
For real multi-step journeys, yes. Essentials limits flows to four steps, while Standard allows up to 200 flows. That means the $20 Standard plan is the fair comparison with MailerLite’s $12 Comfort plan, which already includes up to 50 active automations. Price both at your actual list size.
Which tool works better if several people manage your email?
Mailchimp usually does. It includes 3 seats on Essentials, 5 on Standard and unlimited seats on Premium, plus 24/7 chat support on paid plans. MailerLite’s free plan has 2 seats, and live chat support on paid plans depends on your plan and list size, so check seat limits before you commit.