MailChimp vs MailerLite (2025): Honest Comparison & Key Differences

Trying to pick between Mailchimp and MailerLite?
Yeah, it’s a tough call. Both are popular. Both help you send emails. But they’re totally different under the hood.

Maybe you’re just starting out. Or maybe your current tool isn’t cutting it anymore. Either way, it helps to know what each platform actually offers.

You want something easy. Something that grows with you. And most of all—something that doesn’t hold you back when your list explodes.

So let’s compare them side by side.
We’ll break it all down—from automation to pricing—so you can pick what fits you. Ready? Let’s go.

Wondering Which Platform is Best for You?

Mailchimp and MailerLite are two of the most popular email marketing platforms out there. They both help you design emails, automate campaigns, and manage your audience with ease. But depending on your business stage, one may be a much better fit than the other.

MailerLite is known for its clean interface, generous free plan, and powerful automation features that scale as you grow. Meanwhile, Mailchimp is often the first stop for beginners—popular for its brand recognition, drag-and-drop builder, and entry-level simplicity.

If you’re stuck choosing between them, this guide is for you.

Let’s break it all down.

Who is Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is one of the most recognizable names in email marketing. Founded in 2001, it started as a side project and eventually became the go-to for beginners and small businesses wanting to dip their toes into email campaigns.

Over the years, Mailchimp expanded its platform into a marketing hub—adding basic CRM tools, landing pages, and even social media scheduling. Still, it’s best known for its email campaign builder and pre-designed templates.

That said, many users eventually outgrow Mailchimp’s limits—especially when it comes to automation and contact segmentation.

What to expect with Mailchimp:

• 500-contact limit on free plan
• Basic automation and segmentation
• Drag-and-drop email builder
• Basic reporting and templates
• Slightly higher pricing on scaling

Who is MailerLite?

MailerLite may not have the same name recognition as Mailchimp, but it’s been quietly gaining loyal users since its launch in 2010. It offers many of the same features—email creation, automation, landing pages, sign-up forms—but with more flexibility at lower prices.

Its user interface is sleek and minimal, making it beginner-friendly while still offering powerful features under the hood. For creators, startups, and lean marketing teams, MailerLite is a compelling alternative.

It shines with generous limits on its free plan, flexible automations, and modern templates that don’t feel locked behind a paywall.

What to expect with MailerLite:

• 1,000-contact limit on free plan
• Advanced automation (even on free plan)
• A/B testing and dynamic content
• Custom HTML email support
• Excellent deliverability and support

How Do Mailchimp and MailerLite Compare?

It’s not just about who came first—it’s about who’s better for you right now.

Here’s how Mailchimp and MailerLite stack up on the features that matter most:

Automation: Simplicity vs. Smart Scaling

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp’s automation tools are okay for getting started—but they feel restricted as you scale. Their free plan allows only single-step automations, and their automation builder isn’t available at all unless you’re on a paid plan.

You can set up basic flows like welcome emails or abandoned cart reminders, but anything more complex (multi-step workflows, branching logic, etc.) requires an upgrade to Standard or Premium.

Bottom line: Good for beginners, but limited for long-term growth.

MailerLite:

MailerLite’s automation builder is one of its most beloved features. It allows you to create multi-step automations with conditions, time delays, actions, and triggers—on all plans, including the free one.

That means even small businesses can start sending smarter emails based on real customer behavior—without paying extra.

You can:

• Set up branching workflows
• Use conditional splits
• Trigger emails based on activity, links clicked, or site visits
• Automate entire customer journeys

Bottom line: You get enterprise-level automation without enterprise-level pricing.

Segmentation and Audience Management: Tagging vs. List Fatigue

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp uses a list-based structure, which can get messy fast. You’ll have to manage separate lists for different audiences, and if the same contact is in more than one list—you pay for them twice.

Segmentation is possible with tags and groups, but you’ll hit limitations on logic-based segmentation and combining different conditions unless you’re on higher-tier plans.

Key Limitations:

• Charges per contact—even duplicates
• Can’t send one campaign to contacts across multiple lists
• Segmentation options are limited unless you upgrade

MailerLite:

MailerLite takes a much more flexible approach. You can tag subscribers, create segments using behavior and custom fields, and manage everything from one clean dashboard.

You’re not penalized for having overlapping subscribers in different groups, and segmentation works across your entire list. Plus, their logic builder is far more advanced—even on the free plan.

Key Wins:

• One list to manage everything
• Unlimited segments and tags
• Use behavior, fields, and custom rules to target with precision
• Free plan includes advanced segmentation tools

Email Design and Templates: Who Gives You More Freedom?

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp’s design tools are decent—drag-and-drop, mobile-responsive, and easy to learn. But here’s the catch: the best-looking templates are locked behind their higher-tier plans.

And while the editor is smooth, you don’t get much design flexibility if you want to code your own HTML or create branded templates unless you pay for Premium.

Templates available on free plan: Limited
HTML customization: Restricted on lower tiers
Modern templates: Only on Standard or Premium

MailerLite:

MailerLite offers over 50 beautiful, modern email templates—and they’re included even on the free plan. Their drag-and-drop builder is minimal and lightning fast, and for power users, there’s a full HTML editor built right in.

They also have a built-in AI-powered design assistant, which can help generate on-brand emails from a few keywords. Plus, their auto-save feature prevents any design hiccups.

Templates available on free plan: Full access
HTML customization: Full access
Extras: AI-assisted design, saved blocks, dark mode preview

Email Builder: User-Friendly vs. Full Control

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp’s email builder is often praised for its ease of use. If you’ve never sent a marketing email before, you’ll love how intuitive it feels.

But as your needs grow, you may find it lacks depth. You’ll start noticing you can’t tweak mobile formatting, insert conditional blocks, or get deep personalization without switching plans.

Great for: Total beginners
Limitations: No conditional content, less dynamic flexibility

MailerLite:

MailerLite’s builder is just as user-friendly but offers more power. You can edit content blocks, save reusable sections, preview emails in dark mode, and even insert conditional visibility based on the subscriber’s behavior or attributes.

It also supports AMP emails—so you can send interactive content like surveys, forms, or live polls directly inside your emails.

Great for: Beginners and advanced users
Standout features: AMP email, dark mode preview, custom blocks, conditional logic

Landing Pages: Included in Both, But Not Created Equal

Mailchimp:

Landing pages are included in all Mailchimp plans, even the free one. You’ll get basic layouts and drag-and-drop editing for things like lead capture, product promotion, or thank-you pages.

But Mailchimp’s customization is limited. You’ll run into layout restrictions and a relatively small set of templates. There’s also no dynamic content or advanced form logic.

Included on all plans: Yes
Templates: Basic
Customization: Limited

MailerLite:

MailerLite takes landing pages seriously. You get a full-fledged landing page builder on every plan—free or paid—with modern templates, flexible layouts, and even the ability to A/B test.

You can insert forms, countdown timers, videos, and dynamic blocks. Want to show a different message based on where the visitor came from? You can. And they’re fully mobile-optimized too.

Included on all plans: Yes
Templates: 50+ high-converting designs
Customization: Extensive, with support for A/B testing and dynamic content

Reporting and Analytics: Depth vs. Simplicity

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp’s reports cover the basics: open rates, clicks, bounces, unsubscribes, and engagement over time. They also provide campaign comparisons and e-commerce reporting if you connect your store.

But their analytics are often surface-level and focused on top-line stats. Advanced insights like heat maps or engagement scoring aren’t available unless you pay more.

Included on free plan: Yes (basic reporting)
E-commerce tracking: Yes
Limitations: Limited drill-down capabilities

MailerLite:

MailerLite offers detailed analytics on every plan. You’ll get real-time reporting on opens, clicks, locations, devices, and more. Want to know who clicked a specific link? Done. Need heatmaps for engagement? Also included.

They also include link tracking, conversion tracking, and integrations with Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

Included on all plans: Yes
Advanced reporting: Yes
E-commerce and web tracking: Yes, through integrations

Forms and Opt-ins: Simplicity vs. Smart Targeting

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp includes a simple form builder that helps you collect emails through embedded forms, popups, and landing pages. You can customize a few elements—like colors, fields, and success messages—but advanced behavior logic (like showing different forms to different users) is missing.

You’ll also need third-party tools if you want more styling control or deeper integration with your campaigns.

Form types: Embedded, pop-up
Customization: Limited
Behavioral triggers: Not included

MailerLite:

MailerLite’s form builder gives you a lot more control. You can create pop-ups, banners, slide-ins, or embedded forms—and trigger them based on user behavior, scroll depth, or exit intent.

Plus, forms are directly tied into automations, tags, and segments. This means you can add people to specific workflows the moment they sign up, no extra steps required.

Form types: Inline, pop-up, slide-in, full-screen
Customization: High
Behavioral triggers: Yes (scroll, delay, exit)
Automation integration: Seamless

CRM and Contact Management

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp markets itself as an “all-in-one” platform, but its CRM is pretty lightweight. You can tag and group contacts, but deal tracking, lead scoring, and detailed sales pipelines aren’t part of the core offering.

It’s fine for newsletters and basic campaigns—but it’s not built for real sales workflows or relationship management.

Includes: Tags, basic fields, limited audience dashboard
Missing: Lead scoring, pipelines, automation triggers

MailerLite:

MailerLite doesn’t offer a full sales CRM either, but it gives you more structure for managing contacts. You can apply tags, set custom fields, track engagement, and build advanced segments to run campaigns based on contact behavior.

For teams that want to use email + automation to nurture leads without a separate CRM tool, MailerLite’s features go a long way.

Includes: Tags, custom fields, engagement tracking, segments
Missing: Pipelines and deal tracking

Integrations: Who Plays Better with Others?

Mailchimp:

Mailchimp offers around 250 integrations, including major platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, and Zapier. However, some advanced integrations require higher-tier plans or aren’t as flexible when mapping data fields.

They also have their own ecosystem of tools—but don’t always play well with external platforms.

MailerLite:

MailerLite offers over 140 integrations, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, WordPress, and Zapier. While the total number is smaller, its integrations tend to be cleaner and more modern—with simple setup and strong support for data syncing.

Plus, you can connect nearly anything using MailerLite’s API or no-code tools like Make or Pabbly.

Bonus: MailerLite also includes native Stripe integration on all plans for simple paid newsletters or product sales.

Deliverability: Who Actually Gets into Inboxes?

This is a big one.

According to EmailToolTester’s 2024 deliverability report, MailerLite outperformed Mailchimp in inbox placement.

• MailerLite: 94.2% inbox rate
• Mailchimp: 92.6% inbox rate

That 1.6% gap might not sound like a lot—but when you’re sending to thousands of people, it’s the difference between engagement and crickets.

Verdict: MailerLite wins on deliverability.

Pricing Breakdown: Let’s Talk Money

Mailchimp Pricing (2025)

• Free: 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month (very limited)
• Essentials: Starts at $13/month for 500 contacts
• Standard: Starts at $20/month for 500 contacts
• Premium: Starts at $350/month for 10,000 contacts

Pricing increases significantly as you grow your list. And remember: you pay for every subscriber, even if they’re in multiple lists.

MailerLite Pricing (2025)

• Free: 1,000 contacts, 12,000 emails/month, automations, forms, templates
• Growing Business: Starts at $10/month for 1,000 contacts
• Advanced: Starts at $21/month for 1,000 contacts
• Enterprise: Custom quote (includes migration, dedicated support)

MailerLite is significantly more affordable for most businesses—especially if you’re just getting started or scaling gradually.

Winner: MailerLite

Why Do People Switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?

Here’s the simple truth: Mailchimp is easy to start with but hard to grow with.

Once businesses hit limits around automation, segmentation, or design customization, they start looking elsewhere. And MailerLite’s transparent pricing, modern builder, and powerful free plan make it an easy yes.

Many users report better inbox rates, faster workflows, and more control over their campaigns after switching.

Plus, MailerLite offers free migration from Mailchimp—making it painless to move your lists, templates, and workflows.

What Real Customers Say

“MailerLite has been a breath of fresh air after Mailchimp. It’s easier, faster, and more flexible.”
– G2 Review

“I outgrew Mailchimp fast. MailerLite’s automation saved me hours and helped me target my emails better.”
– Capterra Review

“I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I switched. MailerLite makes me feel in control.”
– Trustpilot Review

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Mailchimp if:

• You’re just starting out and want the easiest path to send your first email
• You don’t need advanced automation yet
• You’re okay with upgrading as your needs grow

Choose MailerLite if:

• You want smart automation, powerful design, and clean segmentation
• You don’t want to pay more for the same contact twice
• You’re looking for the best value in email marketing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MailerLite really free?

Yes! You can use MailerLite free for up to 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month, with access to automation, landing pages, forms, and templates.

Can I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?

Absolutely. MailerLite offers a free migration service for most Mailchimp users, making the process easy and smooth.

Which platform is better for automation?

MailerLite offers more powerful automation features—even on the free plan. Mailchimp’s advanced workflows are limited to their paid tiers.

Which platform is better for e-commerce?

Both offer integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. However, MailerLite provides more flexible segmentation and automation for small e-commerce brands.