Verdict in 30 Seconds
Pros
- Best free plan among email tools (1,000 subs)
- Clean, modern interface
- Excellent deliverability rates
Cons
- Approval process for new accounts
- Fewer advanced automation features
- Limited integrations compared to Mailchimp
MailerLite is the value champion of email marketing, affordable pricing, a modern drag-and-drop editor, and a surprisingly capable free plan. If budget is your primary concern but you still want quality, this is the answer.
How We Rate MailerLite
Weighted score: 4/5. Our full methodology →
Key Features
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
- Automation Workflows
- Landing Pages
- Website Builder
- A/B Testing
- Surveys
Pricing Breakdown
Plans and pricing as of our latest review. Always check the provider’s site for current rates.
Free
$0/mo
- 1,000 subscribers
- 12,000 emails/month
- 1 user
Growing Business
$10/mo
- 1,000 subscribers
- Unlimited emails
- 3 users
Advanced
$21/mo
- 1,000 subscribers
- AI writing tools
- Custom HTML editor
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best free plan among email tools (1,000 subs)
- Clean, modern interface
- Excellent deliverability rates
- Website and landing page builder included
Cons
- Approval process for new accounts
- Fewer advanced automation features
- Limited integrations compared to Mailchimp
- List hygiene requirements are strict
Who MailerLite Is For
MailerLite is best for budget-friendly email marketing.
There's a free trial, so test it on a real project before you commit.
When to Choose MailerLite
Different tools suit different teams. Here’s where MailerLite fits best.
Solo founders and bloggers watching the budget
You get a real email platform for $10/mo. The free plan covers you up to 1,000 subscribers. There's no reason to pay Mailchimp's per-contact premium when MailerLite does the same job for a fraction of the cost.
Newsletter writers who care about deliverability
MailerLite's inbox placement is consistently strong, and their account approval process is why. If your whole business is the email list, you want the platform that actually lands in the inbox.
Course creators who want email + landing pages together
The landing page builder, while basic, removes the need for a separate Leadpages or ConvertKit subscription at the entry level. Build a signup page, deliver your lead magnet by automation, and drip your course content by tag.
How We Tested MailerLite
How it went
I imported a 1,000-contact list, built a welcome automation with a branching condition based on link clicks, ran a newsletter through the drag-and-drop editor, and tested deliverability against Gmail and Outlook inboxes over a week. I also built a simple landing page using the built-in builder. The editor is genuinely the best at this price, and the landing page builder, while basic, worked without issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is MailerLite's free plan?
The best free tier in email, full stop. 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month, with the same drag-and-drop editor the paid plans use. Most free plans cripple the editor or hide automations; MailerLite doesn't. It's the reason this tool keeps winning the budget category.
Why does MailerLite need to approve new accounts?
Their approval process, which reviews new accounts before they can send, is a deliverability play. It keeps spammers off their shared IPs, which keeps inbox placement high for everyone else. It's mildly annoying when you sign up, approval can take a few hours, but it's the reason MailerLite's deliverability is consistently better than tools that let anyone sign up and blast.
Is MailerLite good enough for a serious business?
For most small businesses, yes. The automation builder covers welcome series, abandoned cart, and behavioural triggers. What you miss versus ActiveCampaign is deep conditional logic and a built-in CRM. If you're under 10,000 subscribers and don't need complex journeys, MailerLite does 90% of what the expensive tools do for a tenth of the price.
Final Verdict
If budget is the brief, MailerLite is the answer. The best free plan in email, and $10 a month for the paid tier. You give up deep automation and a CRM, but under 10,000 subscribers it does 90% of what the expensive tools do.
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Not sure MailerLite is right for you? Here are some top alternatives worth considering.