The honest verdict on Mailchimp vs MailerLite
For most creators and small businesses in 2026, MailerLite is the better value: cleaner automation, honest pricing that counts subscribers not sends, and a genuinely usable free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. Mailchimp still wins if you want a full CRM, deep ecommerce integrations, and a mature reporting suite, and you are willing to pay a premium that climbs fast as your list grows. Below I rank both against three alternatives so you pick the right fit rather than the loudest brand.
MailerLite
MailerLite is the tool I recommend to most people comparing it with Mailchimp, because it does 90% of what Mailchimp does at close to half the price. The drag-and-drop editor is clean, automations are straightforward to build, and pricing is based on subscriber count with unlimited emails on paid plans. The main tradeoff is a slower, more manual account approval process and a support experience that is email-first unless you pay up.
Visit MailerLite →| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MailerLite | Creators & small businesses | 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo | ~$9/mo (500 subs, annual) | Try free |
| 2 | Beehiiv | Newsletter creators & monetization | Up to 2,500 subscribers | ~$39/mo (Scale plan billed annually) | Try free |
| 3 | Mailchimp | Ecommerce & marketing teams | 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/mo | ~$13/mo (Essentials, 500 contacts) | Try free |
| 4 | AWeber | Small businesses wanting phone support | 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/mo | ~$15/mo (Lite plan) | Try free |
| 5 | ConvertKit (Kit) | Professional creators & courses | 10,000 subscribers (limited features) | ~$25/mo (Creator, 1,000 subs) | Try free |
MailerLite
Creators & small businessesMailerLite is the tool I recommend to most people comparing it with Mailchimp, because it does 90% of what Mailchimp does at close to half the price. The drag-and-drop editor is clean, automations are straightforward to build, and pricing is based on subscriber count with unlimited emails on paid plans. The main tradeoff is a slower, more manual account approval process and a support experience that is email-first unless you pay up.
Pros
- Free plan covers 1,000 subscribers with real automation access
- Unlimited monthly emails on paid plans, priced by list size
- Clean editor and landing pages that beginners actually finish
Cons
- Manual account review can delay your first send by a day or two
- Live chat and phone support are reserved for higher tiers
Beehiiv
Newsletter creators & monetizationBeehiiv was built by ex-Morning Brew people specifically for newsletters, and it shows in the growth and revenue tools. You get a built-in ad network, paid subscriptions, referral programs, and a recommendation network to grow your list, none of which Mailchimp or MailerLite match for pure newsletter work. It is less suited to transactional or ecommerce email, and the cheapest paid tier that removes Beehiiv branding costs more than MailerLite's entry plan.
Pros
- Built-in monetization: ad network, paid tiers, and referrals
- Recommendation network drives real subscriber growth
- Free plan reaches 2,500 subscribers before you pay
Cons
- Not designed for ecommerce or transactional email
- Removing branding and unlocking ads needs a paid plan
Mailchimp
Ecommerce & marketing teamsMailchimp remains the most feature-complete option here, with a real CRM, deep Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, and reporting that marketing teams rely on. The catch is cost: pricing counts total contacts including unsubscribed ones unless you clean your list, and the bill climbs steeply past a few thousand contacts. The free plan was cut to 500 contacts and a single audience, so it is more of a trial than a home base now.
Pros
- Deepest ecommerce integrations and product recommendations
- Mature analytics, A/B testing, and CRM features
- Huge integration library with almost every app you use
Cons
- Gets expensive fast and can bill you for non-subscribed contacts
- Free plan is limited to 500 contacts and one audience
AWeber
Small businesses wanting phone supportAWeber is a solid, no-drama choice for small businesses that value real human support, including live chat and phone help that Mailchimp and MailerLite gate behind higher tiers. It has been around since 1998, so deliverability and reliability are proven, and the free plan covers 500 subscribers. The editor and templates feel dated next to MailerLite, and its automation is more basic than what Mailchimp offers.
Pros
- Phone and live chat support even on lower tiers
- Reliable deliverability with a long track record
- Free plan with 500 subscribers and no send-only trial trap
Cons
- Templates and editor look dated compared to rivals
- Automation is basic next to Mailchimp and MailerLite
Frequently asked questions
Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp?
Yes, in most cases. MailerLite starts around $9/mo for 500 subscribers with unlimited emails, while Mailchimp's Essentials starts around $13/mo for 500 contacts with send caps. The gap widens as your list grows, since Mailchimp counts total contacts including unsubscribed ones unless you actively clean your audience. For a 5,000-subscriber list, MailerLite typically runs noticeably less per month.
Which has the better free plan, Mailchimp or MailerLite?
MailerLite, clearly. Its free plan covers 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month with access to automation and landing pages. Mailchimp's free plan was reduced to 500 contacts, 1,000 monthly sends, and a single audience, which makes it feel more like a trial. If you want a free plan you can actually build on, MailerLite wins.
How hard is it to migrate from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
Not very. You export your Mailchimp audience as a CSV and import it into MailerLite, which preserves your custom fields and lets you map them during import. Automations and templates do not transfer automatically, so budget an afternoon to rebuild those. MailerLite also offers a free migration service on paid plans if you want help moving larger accounts.
Which is better for ecommerce, Mailchimp or MailerLite?
Mailchimp, for now. Its Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, product recommendations, and abandoned-cart automations are deeper and more mature. MailerLite covers the ecommerce basics and is improving, but if product-level automation and revenue reporting are central to your business, Mailchimp still leads.
Should I use Beehiiv instead of either one for a newsletter?
If your business is the newsletter itself, seriously consider it. Beehiiv includes an ad network, paid subscriptions, referral programs, and a recommendation network that neither Mailchimp nor MailerLite match for growth and monetization. It is a weaker fit for ecommerce or transactional email, so choose based on whether you are growing a publication or running store marketing.
Which one should you pick?
If you are a creator or small business comparing these two head to head, start with MailerLite: you get most of what Mailchimp offers at roughly half the cost, and the free plan is enough to launch. Choose Mailchimp only if you need its CRM, ecommerce depth, or the analytics that larger teams lean on. And if newsletters and growth are your whole game, look hard at Beehiiv before you sign anything.
Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend tools we would use ourselves, and commissions never change our rankings.