Is MailerLite better than Mailchimp?

For most small businesses focused on email marketing, MailerLite offers better value: more generous free plan, unlimited sends on paid plans, and ~30% lower pricing at scale. Mailchimp is better for teams needing advanced reporting, multivariate testing, or deep app integrations.

Does MailerLite have a free plan?

Yes. MailerLite's free plan supports 500 subscribers and 12,000 monthly email sends, including basic automation. The subscriber cap was reduced from 1,000 to 500 in September 2025.

Did Mailchimp change its free plan in 2026?

Yes. Mailchimp restricted its free plan in January 2026, reducing monthly sends to 1,000 and removing automation and A/B testing. The free plan now supports 500 contacts — the same as MailerLite — but with 12x fewer monthly sends.

Does MailerLite charge overage fees?

No. All MailerLite paid plans include unlimited email sends with no overage fees, regardless of how frequently you mail your list.

Can I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?

Yes. MailerLite supports contact import via CSV export from Mailchimp. You'll need to rebuild automation sequences and re-verify your sending domain, but the migration process is well-documented by MailerLite.

Which has better deliverability — MailerLite or Mailchimp?

Independent 2026 tests show MailerLite with higher inbox placement rates. Mailchimp tested at 82–85% inbox placement with an 11.8% spam flagging rate in the same period. Individual results vary based on list quality and sending practices.

MailerLite vs Mailchimp (2026)

Email Marketing

Two email marketing platforms compared — one built for value and simplicity, the other for breadth and brand recognition

Our verdict

—

MailerLite for value and simplicity, Mailchimp for advanced reporting and app ecosystem

MailerLite

Mailchimp

Free plan

500 subs, 12K sends/mo

500 contacts, 1K sends/mo

Entry paid plan

$10/mo (unlimited sends)

$13/mo (send limits apply)

At 10K subscribers

~$73/mo (unlimited sends)

~$100–110/mo + overage fees

G2 rating

4.7/5

4.3/5

Last updated: June 2026

MailerLite

Best value email platform — unlimited sends on paid plans

From $10/month (paid) — free plan available

Try MailerLite Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to MailerLite directly.

Mailchimp

Best for advanced reporting and app ecosystem breadth

From $13/month (paid) — free plan available

Try Mailchimp Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to Mailchimp directly.

MailerLite Free Plan

12,000

Sends per month, free

Mailchimp Free Plan

1,000

Sends per month, free

Both Entry Paid

$10–13

Per month starting price

MailerLite Savings

~30%

Cheaper at 10K subscribers

MailerLite and Mailchimp both dominate the email marketing conversation for small businesses, but they’ve diverged significantly in 2026. Mailchimp has evolved into a broader all-in-one marketing suite with social ads, CRM, and advanced reporting — but at significantly higher prices and with a heavily restricted free plan (cut again in January 2026). MailerLite has stayed focused on email with unlimited sends on paid plans, a more generous free tier, and pricing that doesn’t penalize list growth. The question is whether Mailchimp’s extra features justify roughly double the cost at scale.

Quick Verdict

Best value

MailerLite~30% cheaper than Mailchimp at 10K subscribers with unlimited sends on all paid plans

Best for advanced reporting

MailchimpRevenue attribution, multivariate testing, and deeper analytics not available on MailerLite

Best free plan

MailerLite12K sends/mo vs Mailchimp's 1K sends/mo — plus basic automation included at no cost

Best app ecosystem

MailchimpLargest third-party integration library in email marketing

Best deliverability

MailerLiteHigher inbox placement rates in independent 2026 tests; Mailchimp tested at 82–85% inbox

Best for growing lists

MailerLitePricing doesn't punish list growth; no send limits or overage fees on paid plans

MailerLite is best for:

Small businesses and creators who want email-first simplicity at lower cost — with unlimited sends, a stronger free plan, and no overage fee surprises

Mailchimp is best for:

Data-driven teams needing advanced segmentation, revenue attribution, multivariate testing, and a broad app ecosystem alongside email

Pricing

MailerLite

Free: 500 subscribers, 12,000 sends/mo, basic automation, email support

Growing Business ($10/mo): Unlimited sends, 3 users, 24/7 email support, A/B testing, auto resend

Advanced ($20/mo+): Unlimited users, custom HTML editor, promotion popups, priority support

Enterprise: Custom pricing — dedicated support and infrastructure

All paid plans include unlimited email sends — no overage fees regardless of how often you mail.

Try MailerLite Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to MailerLite directly.

Mailchimp

Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo, no automation, no A/B testing (restricted January 2026)

Essentials ($13/mo): 500 contacts, send limits apply, basic automation, A/B testing

Standard (~$20/mo): 500 contacts, more automation, send time optimization

Premium (~$350/mo): Advanced segmentation, multivariate testing, phone support

Mailchimp charges for unsubscribed contacts toward your contact limit, and overage fees apply if you exceed your monthly send limit.

Try Mailchimp Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to Mailchimp directly.

Full Feature Comparison

Feature	MailerLite	Mailchimp
Free plan sends	Winner12,000/mo	1,000/mo
Free plan automation	Winner✓ Basic included	✗ Not included
Paid entry price	Winner$10/mo	$13/mo
Send limits on paid plans	WinnerNone (unlimited)	Yes + overage fees
Deliverability (2026)	WinnerHigher inbox placement rate	82–85% inbox, 11.8% spam rate
Advanced reporting	Basic analytics	WinnerRevenue attribution, multivariate testing
App integrations	Good selection	WinnerIndustry-leading ecosystem
Social ads	✗ Not included	Winner✓ Built-in
Digital product sales	Winner✓ 0% commission	✗ Not native
Auto resend to non-openers	Winner✓ Included	✗ Not included
G2 rating	Winner4.7/5	4.3/5

MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Which Is Worth It?

For most small businesses and creators focused on email as a primary channel, MailerLite’s unlimited sends, stronger free plan, and ~30% lower pricing at scale make it the better value proposition in 2026. Mailchimp’s higher price is harder to justify unless you specifically need its advanced reporting suite, revenue attribution, multivariate testing, or deep social and CRM integrations.

One important note: Mailchimp’s free plan was significantly restricted in January 2026 — if you’re currently on Mailchimp’s free plan and hitting send limits, MailerLite’s free plan now offers 12x more monthly sends at the same contact count. That single difference makes MailerLite the default recommendation for anyone starting out or migrating off a constrained free plan.

Pros & Cons

MailerLite

PROS

+Unlimited sends on all paid plans — no overage fees
+More generous free plan: 12K sends/mo vs Mailchimp's 1K
+~30% cheaper than Mailchimp at comparable list sizes
+4.7/5 on G2 — higher than Mailchimp's 4.3/5
+0% commission on digital product sales
+Auto resend to non-openers built in
+24/7 email support on paid plans

CONS

−Smaller app integration library vs Mailchimp
−No social ads or CRM features
−Free plan reduced from 1,000 to 500 subscribers in September 2025
−Less advanced reporting and analytics than Mailchimp

Mailchimp

PROS

+Industry-leading app ecosystem and integrations
+Advanced reporting with revenue attribution
+Multivariate testing on Premium plan
+Social ads and basic CRM included
+Brand recognition — widely supported by third-party tools

CONS

−Free plan heavily restricted since January 2026 (1K sends/mo, no automation)
−Send limits and overage fees on paid plans
−Charges for unsubscribed contacts toward contact limit
−~30% more expensive than MailerLite at scale
−Deliverability declined in independent 2026 tests (82–85% inbox rate)

Who Should Choose MailerLite

MailerLite is the better fit if you are:

✓A small business or creator focused on email as a primary channel
✓Currently on Mailchimp's free plan and hitting send limits
✓Selling digital products or paid newsletters (0% commission)
✓A team that wants unlimited sends without worrying about overage fees
✓A budget-conscious marketer who doesn't need social ads or advanced CRM

Who Should Choose Mailchimp

Mailchimp is the better fit if you are:

✓A data-driven team that needs revenue attribution and multivariate testing
✓A business that relies heavily on third-party app integrations
✓Already deep in the Mailchimp ecosystem with existing automations
✓A marketer who needs social ad management alongside email in one platform

For a detailed breakdown, read our full Mailchimp review.

What Real Users Are Saying

We reviewed hundreds of user ratings across Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot to surface the most representative opinions. Here is what real users say about MailerLite and Mailchimp in 2026.

★★★★★

“Switched from Mailchimp to MailerLite when the free plan restrictions hit in January 2026. I'm getting more sends, better deliverability, and paying less. I wish I'd switched sooner.”

— Olivia P., Newsletter Creator

★★★★★

Capterra

“Stayed with Mailchimp for the Shopify integration and advanced reporting. The segmentation and revenue attribution tools are genuinely better than what MailerLite offers at this stage.”

— Carlos R., E-commerce Store Owner

★★★★★

Trustpilot

“MailerLite for value and simplicity. Mailchimp if you need the app ecosystem and advanced analytics. Mailchimp's free plan has become too restricted to recommend for getting started in 2026.”

— Angela W., Freelance Marketer

Frequently asked questions

Final Verdict

Best Value for Email

📧

MailerLite

Unlimited sends, stronger free plan, better deliverability, and ~30% lower pricing at scale

Best for Advanced Teams

📊

Mailchimp

Advanced reporting, revenue attribution, multivariate testing, and the broadest app ecosystem

For most small businesses and creators, MailerLite’s combination of unlimited sends, stronger free plan, better deliverability, and lower pricing makes it the stronger choice in 2026. The cost difference compounds quickly — at 10,000 subscribers you’re looking at roughly $73/mo on MailerLite vs $100–110/mo on Mailchimp, with no send limits on the former.

Mailchimp retains a clear edge for data-driven teams who need revenue attribution, multivariate testing, and the broadest possible app ecosystem. If you’re already deeply integrated with Mailchimp’s platform and using its advanced analytics, the migration cost probably outweighs the savings. For everyone else, MailerLite is the more pragmatic starting point.

MailerLite

Best for small businesses and creators who want email-first simplicity, unlimited sends, and pricing that scales without surprises.

Try MailerLite Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to both tools directly.

Mailchimp

Best for data-driven teams needing advanced reporting, multivariate testing, and the broadest third-party app integrations.

Try Mailchimp Free →

No affiliate relationship — linking to both tools directly.

Comparing more tools? Browse all our tool comparisons or see our ConvertKit vs Mailchimp comparison for another popular alternative.