Mailchimp vs MailerLite
Compare Mailchimp and MailerLite using current free-plan limits, billing rules, automation, integrations, and the real cost of switching.
Quick Verdict
Choose MailerLite when a simpler email workflow, lower entry price, and billing based on active subscribers matter most. Choose Mailchimp when its broader integration and marketing ecosystem removes work your team would otherwise do manually. Test one complete campaign and automation before moving a live list.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | 500 active subscribers, 12,000 sends/mo |
| Paid Entry | Varies by plan and contact tier | Growing Business from $10/mo monthly for 500 subscribers |
| Automation | Good | Good |
| Templates | Broad template library | Unlimited templates on paid plans |
| Integrations | 300+ | 50+ |
| Ease of Use | Good | Excellent |
| Support | Email, chat | Email, chat, 24/7 |
| Best For | Growing businesses | Budget-conscious, beginners |
Pricing Comparison
The current free plans are much smaller than many older comparisons report. Mailchimp lists up to 250 contacts and 500 monthly sends. MailerLite lists up to 500 active subscribers and 12,000 monthly sends. MailerLite Growing Business starts at $10/month when billed monthly for up to 500 subscribers.
The billing definitions matter as much as the headline price. Mailchimp counts subscribed, unsubscribed, and non-subscribed contacts unless they are archived, cleaned, or deleted. MailerLite bills against active subscribers and uses a cumulative active count during each billing cycle. Export your audience and calculate both products at your real list size before switching.
Features & Functionality
Mailchimp's advantage is breadth: customer journeys, transactional email options, retargeting, ecommerce connections, and more than 300 advertised integrations. That breadth is useful when Mailchimp can become the hub for several marketing channels.
MailerLite keeps the core email workflow compact while still including automations, landing pages, forms, websites, and digital products. Its paid tiers add capabilities such as dynamic email, unlimited templates, multivariate testing, and enhanced automations. The right question is whether Mailchimp's extra surface replaces another paid tool or simply adds menus you will not use.
Best For
Choose MailerLite when you want a focused email-and-landing-page stack, have a small list, and can work within its integration catalog. It is also the stronger first trial when budget predictability is the main pain.
Choose Mailchimp when a required integration, multi-channel campaign, transactional workflow, or existing team process depends on it. Do not migrate for a small monthly saving until you have rebuilt and tested your forms, segments, automations, suppression rules, and domain authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MailerLite really free?
Yes. MailerLite currently lists a free plan for up to 500 active subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. Premium features are available during an initial trial, so confirm which features remain before building a permanent workflow around them.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
Yes, you can export your subscribers from Mailchimp and import them to MailerLite. The process takes about an hour for most lists. Automations and templates need to be recreated.
Which has better deliverability?
No provider can guarantee that one platform will always deliver better for your list. Authentication, consent, engagement, list hygiene, content, and sending history all affect placement. Run a controlled test and monitor bounces, complaints, and inbox placement.
The Verdict
Choose Mailchimp if:
Choose MailerLite when a simpler email workflow, lower entry price, and billing based on active subscribers matter most.
Try Mailchimp →Choose MailerLite if:
Choose Mailchimp when its broader integration and marketing ecosystem removes work your team would otherwise do manually. Test one complete campaign and automation before moving a live list.
Try MailerLite →