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MailerLite vs Mailchimp
Both have a free plan for 250 subscribers, and paid plans start at about the same price: MailerLite from $12 and Mailchimp from about $13 a month. MailerLite's free plan sends more email, and its paid plans include more automation for the money.
MailerLite gives more for less on most small lists, including a more generous free plan and unlimited automations on Power. Mailchimp is the better choice if you need its very large integration ecosystem or the familiarity of a household name.
Choose MailerLite if…
you want the most features for your money, a free plan that sends more email, and simple automation without a high bill.
Choose Mailchimp if…
you depend on Mailchimp's integrations, want advanced reporting at scale, or your team already knows it.
At a glance
MailerLite
Mailchimp
Best for
Budget-friendly email marketing with a clean editor
Small businesses that want a familiar, easy email tool with many integrations
Starting price
Free plan; paid from $12/mo
Free plan; paid from $13/mo
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Trial
Free plan for up to 250 subscribers
Free plan (250 contacts, 500 emails a month)
Fees
No transaction fees listed.
No transaction fees; price depends on contact count.
Prices in USD from each provider's pricing page, checked November 2, 2026. Plans and prices change; confirm before you buy.
US starting prices for 500 contacts (Premium starts at 10,000 contacts), compiled from several pricing trackers because Mailchimp shows local currency. Prices rise with list size.
Free
$0/month
✓250 contacts
✓500 emails a month
✓1 user
Essentials
$13/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 10× contacts a month
✓3 users
✓Basic automation (up to 4 steps)
Standard
$20/month
✓From 500 contacts
✓Sends 12× contacts a month
✓5 users
✓Up to 200 automation flows
Premium
$350/month
✓From 10,000 contacts
✓Sends 15× contacts a month
✓Unlimited users
✓Phone and priority support
Pricing compared
MailerLite
Mailchimp
Free plan
250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, 2 seats
250 contacts, 500 emails a month, 1 user
Entry paid plan
Comfort, from $12/month
Essentials, from about $13/month
Automation plan
Power, from $25/month (unlimited automations)
Standard, from about $20/month (up to 200 flows)
Yearly discount
10%
Varies by promotion
Both raise prices as your list grows.
Key differences
Free plan. Both allow 250 subscribers, but MailerLite allows 2,500 emails a month vs Mailchimp's 500, and 2 seats instead of 1.
Automation. MailerLite Comfort includes 50 automations; Power makes them unlimited. Mailchimp Essentials only allows basic automation (up to 4 steps); Standard unlocks up to 200 flows.
Selling. MailerLite lets you sell digital products (5 on Comfort, unlimited on Power). Mailchimp focuses on email and integrations with stores.
Ecosystem. Mailchimp lists 300+ integrations on all plans; MailerLite lists 100+ on Free and unlimited integrations on paid plans.
Which should you choose?
For a new list or a tight budget, MailerLite usually gives more value. Choose Mailchimp if a specific integration or your team's experience makes it the better fit. See more options in Mailchimp alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp?+
At entry level they are close ($12 vs about $13 a month). MailerLite tends to include more automation per dollar.
Which free plan is better?+
MailerLite's: same 250-subscriber limit, but 2,500 emails a month instead of 500 and two seats.
Can I move from Mailchimp to MailerLite?+
Yes. Both let you export and import subscriber lists; check that you also recreate forms and automations.
Which is better for beginners?+
Both are beginner-friendly. MailerLite's simpler plans and generous free tier make it an easy start.
This comparison is based on each provider's official pricing page, documentation and published features, checked on November 2, 2026.
Where a provider shows prices in local currency or loads them dynamically, US prices were cross-checked against several pricing trackers and are labelled as such.
See how we review software.