Mailchimp vs MailerLite: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right email marketing tool for your needs.

Our Pick: MailerLite (by a slight margin)

MailerLite edges out with a slightly higher rating (8.5 vs 8)

Quick Comparison

Aspect
M
Mailchimp
M
MailerLite(Winner)
Overall Rating
8/10
8.5/10
Starting Price
$13/mo
$9/mo
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best For
any
small
Ease of Use
9/10
10/10
Features
8/10
7/10
Value for Money
6/10
10/10
Support
7/10
8/10

Overview

M

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is the most popular email marketing platform, offering email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and CRM features. Known for ease of use and generous free tier.

M

MailerLite

MailerLite is a user-friendly email marketing tool with excellent value. Offers website builder, landing pages, and automation at competitive prices.

Pricing Comparison

Better value: MailerLite
M

Mailchimp

Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$13/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier
M

MailerLite

Better Value
Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$9/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier

Features Comparison

FeatureMailchimpMailerLite
Automation
Templates
Segmentation
Ab Testing
Landing Pages
Transactional Emails
Paid add-on
Ecommerce Features
Basic
Form Builder
Free Subscribers
500
1000
Emails Per Month
10x contacts
12,000 free

0

features unique to Mailchimp

0

features unique to MailerLite

Pros & Cons

M

Mailchimp

Pros

  • Free tier up to 500 contacts
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
  • Huge template library
  • Strong brand recognition
  • All-in-one marketing features

Cons

  • Gets expensive as list grows
  • Limited automation on free plan
  • Support quality varies
  • Pricing changed negatively
M

MailerLite

Pros

  • Excellent free tier (1,000 subscribers)
  • Beautiful, simple interface
  • Website builder included
  • Great value for money
  • Easy automation builder

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • Approval process for new accounts
  • Fewer integrations
  • Basic reporting

The Verdict: MailerLite Edges Out

This was a close comparison, but MailerLite edges out Mailchimp with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.5/10 versus 8/10. Both are solid choices, but MailerLite offers a marginally better overall package.

MailerLite's advantages include Excellent free tier (1,000 subscribers) and Beautiful, simple interface, though Mailchimp counters with Free tier up to 500 contacts and Intuitive drag-and-drop builder.

Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to MailerLite, but don't count out Mailchimp if its specific strengths align better with your needs.

Choose Mailchimp if you...

  • • Need small businesses starting email
  • • Need beginners needing simplicity
  • • Need those wanting all-in-one platform

Choose MailerLite if you...

  • • Need small businesses on budget
  • • Need content creators
  • • Need those wanting simplicity

Ready to Get Started?

Try MailchimpTry MailerLite

Read our full reviews:

Mailchimp Full ReviewMailerLite Full Review

* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.

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Mailchimp vs MailerLite FAQ

Based on our evaluation, MailerLite has a slight edge with an overall rating of 8.5/10. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
Yes, MailerLite is more affordable with plans starting at $9/month, compared to $13/month for the other.
MailerLite scores higher in ease of use (10/10) compared to Mailchimp (9/10).
Yes, migration between Mailchimp and MailerLite is possible. Most tools offer data export features. Check each tool's documentation for specific migration guides and import capabilities.
For small teams, MailerLite is specifically designed for this use case. Consider your budget and specific feature needs when choosing.
For startups, consider your growth trajectory. Mailchimp offers a free tier which is great for bootstrapped startups.
Yes, each tool has unique strengths. Mailchimp excels at: Small businesses starting email, Beginners needing simplicity. MailerLite is better for: Small businesses on budget, Content creators. Review our detailed feature comparison above.
MailerLite rates higher in customer support (8/10) compared to Mailchimp (7/10).
MailerLite offers better value for money with a rating of 10/10 compared to Mailchimp's 6/10.
Consider switching if MailerLite's strengths (Small businesses on budget) align better with your current needs. However, factor in migration effort and learning curve before making the switch.