Email Marketing comparison · 2026
Mailchimp vs MailerLite (2026 Comparison)
Side-by-side: pricing, features, pros, cons, and our editorial winner for email marketing.
Winner summary
Mailchimp vs MailerLite: how they differ
We have not scored Mailchimp against our rubric yet, so we are not naming an overall winner here. The dimensions below are still directly comparable.
Cheaper
MailerLite
Higher rated
Not compared
Better free tier
Tie
Feature comparison
| Dimension | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $13/mo | $0/mo |
| Free trial | Free up to 500 contacts | Free up to 1k subs |
| Best for | Small businesses | Small business value |
| Badge | — | Best Value |
Mailchimp key features
- Drag-drop email builder
- Audience segmentation
- Customer journeys
- Built-in CRM
- 1000+ integrations
MailerLite key features
- Drag-drop builder
- Automation workflows
- Landing pages & websites
- AI writing assistant
- Free up to 1k subs
Mailchimp — pros & cons
Pros
- Familiar brand & UI
- Huge integration ecosystem
Cons
- Pricing scales aggressively
- Free tier deliberately limited
MailerLite — pros & cons
Pros
- Best value at the low end
- Cleanest UI in the budget tier
Cons
- Approval process for new accounts can be strict
- Advanced automation behind paid tier
When to pick which
Choose Mailchimp if…
- Small business email
- E-commerce drip
Choose MailerLite if…
- Bloggers
- Small e-commerce
- Service businesses