Mailchimp vs MailerLite
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. MailerLite has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $13 for Mailchimp.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Email templates
- Customer journeys
- Intuit Assist AI
- Landing pages
- SMS marketing
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Automations
- Landing pages
- AI writing assistant
- Paid newsletters
| Feature | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI | Affordable email marketing with an AI writing assistant |
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $13/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Intuit | MailerLite |
| Based in | United States | Lithuania |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Landing pages.
Pricing compared
MailerLite has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $13 for Mailchimp.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 250 contacts
- 500 sends/mo (250/day)
- 1 seat
Essentials
$13/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Sends up to 10x contacts
- 3 seats
Standard
$20/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Generative AI and enhanced automations
- Sends up to 12x contacts, 5 seats
Premium
$350/mo
- Starting price, scales with contacts
- Predictive segmentation
- Sends up to 15x contacts, unlimited seats
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 250 subscribers
- 2,500 monthly emails
- Knowledge base support
Comfort
$12/mo
- Starting price for 500 subscribers
- 50 automations, 10 forms
- 10 sites, 5 digital products
Power
$25/mo
- Starting price for 500 subscribers
- Unlimited emails and automations
- Live chat support
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Dedicated IP
- Deliverability support
- Onboarding and training
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Mailchimp
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
- Small free plan
- Price rises quickly with contacts
MailerLite
- Low cost
- Clean interface
- Free plan available
- Strict account approval
- Fewer advanced features
Which one should you choose?
Choose Mailchimp if you want:
- Very well known and easy to start
- Many integrations
- Good templates
Watch out: small free plan.
Choose MailerLite if you want:
- Low cost
- Clean interface
- Free plan available
Watch out: strict account approval.
Mailchimp vs MailerLite FAQ
What is the difference between Mailchimp and MailerLite?
Mailchimp: Email marketing and automation with Intuit Assist AI. MailerLite: Affordable email marketing with an AI writing assistant. Both are marketing tools.
Is Mailchimp or MailerLite cheaper?
MailerLite has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $13 for Mailchimp.
Do Mailchimp and MailerLite have free plans?
Mailchimp: Yes. MailerLite: Yes.
Who makes Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes MailerLite?
MailerLite is made by MailerLite, based in Lithuania.
Which should I choose, Mailchimp or MailerLite?
Choose Mailchimp if you value very well known and easy to start and many integrations. Choose MailerLite if you value low cost and clean interface.