Mailchimp vs MailerLite (2026 comparison)
Mailchimp and MailerLite are both email marketing tools. Mailchimp is best for small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email (free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts). MailerLite is best for budget-conscious small lists that want a simple drag-and-drop builder without an enterprise price tag (free plan for 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month, cut from 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails in June 2026; paid Comfort from about $12 per month for 500 subscribers).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-12. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing from | Free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts | Free plan for 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month, cut from 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails in June 2026; paid Comfort from about $12 per month for 500 subscribers |
| Best for | small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email | budget-conscious small lists that want a simple drag-and-drop builder without an enterprise price tag |
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose Mailchimp for small businesses already using Intuit/QuickBooks who want an all-in-one marketing platform, not just email. Choose MailerLite for budget-conscious small lists that want a simple drag-and-drop builder without an enterprise price tag. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is Mailchimp or MailerLite cheaper?
- As published, Mailchimp starts at Free plan for 250 contacts and 500 sends per month; paid Essentials from about $13 per month for 500 contacts and MailerLite starts at Free plan for 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month, cut from 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails in June 2026; paid Comfort from about $12 per month for 500 subscribers. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
- Yes, Mailchimp has a free plan as of 2026-09-12.