MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Full Comparison for 2026
Compare MailerLite vs Mailchimp on pricing, features, automation, and templates. Find out which email marketing platform is the better choice for your business.
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MailerLite and Mailchimp are two of the most popular email marketing platforms in the world. Both offer free plans, drag-and-drop editors, and automation — but they take very different approaches to pricing, design, and feature depth.
After testing both platforms hands-on, here is how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 1,000 subs, 12K emails/mo | 500 contacts, 1K emails/mo |
| Starting paid price | $9/mo | $13/mo |
| Email templates | Many (modern, clean) | 100+ (extensive library) |
| Automation | Visual builder (all plans) | Customer Journey Builder |
| Landing pages | Yes (free plan) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Website builder | Yes | No |
| CRM | No | Built-in |
| A/B testing | Subject, content, send time | Subject line (Standard+) |
| Nonprofit discount | 30% off | 15% off |
Pricing: MailerLite Wins Decisively
This is the clearest differentiator. MailerLite costs significantly less at every subscriber tier.
| Subscribers | MailerLite | Mailchimp Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Free | Free |
| 1,000 | Free / $9 | $26/mo |
| 2,500 | $15/mo | $45/mo |
| 5,000 | $29/mo | $75/mo |
| 10,000 | $47/mo | $110/mo |
| 25,000 | $139/mo | $270/mo |
| 50,000 | $239/mo | $385/mo |
At 10,000 subscribers, MailerLite saves you $756/year compared to Mailchimp. At 50,000, the gap widens to $1,752/year.
MailerLite’s free plan is also more generous: 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month versus Mailchimp’s 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month.
Email Design
Mailchimp has the edge on template variety. With 100+ pre-designed templates and a mature drag-and-drop editor, Mailchimp gives you more starting points for visual emails.
MailerLite’s editor is arguably more intuitive. It is cleaner, loads faster, and includes content blocks like countdown timers, product listings, and surveys. The templates are modern and well-designed, just fewer in number.
For most users, both editors are more than capable. The difference matters most if you send highly designed newsletters with complex layouts — Mailchimp gives you more flexibility there.
Automation
MailerLite includes automation on all plans, including the free plan. The visual workflow builder covers welcome sequences, abandoned cart flows, date-based triggers, and conditional branching.
Mailchimp reserves its Customer Journey Builder for paid plans. The builder is powerful and includes multivariate paths, but the entry point is higher: $13/month minimum to access any automation.
If you need automation on a budget, MailerLite is the clear choice. If you need CRM-integrated automation with audience management, Mailchimp’s approach is more comprehensive.
Reporting and Analytics
Mailchimp’s reporting is deeper. Campaign reports include click maps, social media performance, revenue tracking, and audience growth charts. The Audience Dashboard shows subscriber demographics, engagement tiers, and predicted lifetime value.
MailerLite’s reporting covers the essentials: opens, clicks, unsubscribes, click maps, and device stats. It is clean and easy to read but lacks the depth of Mailchimp’s analytics.
Deliverability
Both platforms have strong deliverability reputations. In independent tests, MailerLite and Mailchimp consistently achieve 95%+ inbox placement rates. Neither has a meaningful advantage here.
Who Should Choose MailerLite?
- Budget-conscious businesses and creators
- Anyone who needs automation on a free plan
- Users who want a website builder + email in one tool
- Small businesses looking for the best value
- Nonprofits (30% discount)
Read our full MailerLite review.
Who Should Choose Mailchimp?
- Businesses that need a built-in CRM
- Teams that want extensive email templates and design options
- Users who need deep reporting and audience analytics
- Ecommerce stores using Mailchimp’s product recommendation features
See our Mailchimp alternatives if you are considering switching away.
The Verdict
MailerLite wins on value. It costs 40-60% less than Mailchimp at every tier, includes automation on the free plan, and offers a website builder. For most small businesses and creators, MailerLite does everything Mailchimp does — at a fraction of the price.
Mailchimp wins on features. If you need a CRM, extensive template library, deep analytics, and a mature ecosystem of integrations, Mailchimp justifies the premium.
Both have free plans — test both before committing. For a broader comparison, see our best email marketing software roundup.
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