Best for
Best for teams that want an email marketing platform with designed templates, automation and AI writing tools, and a Marketing API to connect their own data.
- Freelancers
- Small and mid-sized
- Enterprise
Email Marketing Comparison
Mailchimp vs. MailerLite
At a glance
At a glance
Best for
Best for creators and small teams that want a straightforward email marketing platform with a flexible editor, automation and landing pages.
- Freelancers
- Small and mid-sized
- Enterprise
Cataleo does not name a winner. Both statements come from the vendors themselves.
Full Comparison
| Criterion | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $13 / month Essentials plan; the price scales with the number of contacts. | lower value From $12 / month Comfort plan; the price scales with the number of subscribers. |
| Free trial | Free plan available for up to 500 contacts | Free plan available for up to 250 subscribers |
| API | Yes, a Marketing API for audiences, automations and data sync, plus more than 300 integrations | Yes, API access on all paid plans |
| Hosting | Cloud (SaaS) | Cloud (SaaS) |
| Campaign types | Yes, email newsletters and campaigns, with A/B testing and scheduling on paid plans | Yes, email campaigns and newsletters, plus landing pages and websites |
| Automation and journeys | Yes, automation flows, up to 3 steps on Essentials and up to 200 flows on Standard and Premium | Yes, automation workflows, unlimited on the paid plans |
| Segmentation and personalisation | Yes, segmentation and dynamic content, with predictive segmentation on Premium | Yes, dynamic segments, tags and dynamic content, with Smart Sending timing delivery per subscriber |
| Templates and editor | Yes, professionally designed templates and an editor, with custom-coded templates on Premium | Yes, drag-and-drop, simple and custom HTML editors with customizable templates |
| Deliverability and testing | Yes, A/B testing and scheduling on paid plans | Yes, A/B testing on every plan, with a deliverability consultation and dedicated IP on higher plans |
| Ecommerce and CRM data | Yes, audience data with tags and more than 300 integrations | Yes, integrations with Stripe, Shopify and WooCommerce |
| Integrations and API | Yes, a Marketing API for audiences, automations and data sync | Yes, API access on all paid plans |
| AI features | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based | Cloud (SaaS), Browser-based |
| Support | Email helpdesk, Chat, Phone | Email helpdesk, Chat, Community forum |
| Company size | Freelancers, Small and mid-sized, Enterprise | Freelancers, Small and mid-sized, Enterprise |
| Integrations | Not stated | Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce |
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Adds a column to the table, from the tools in this category.
Row where the values differ The small markers point at the lower number, the longer list or the stated feature. They describe the data, they are not a verdict.
The short version
Key Differences
- Starting price Mailchimp From $13 / month MailerLite From $12 / month
- Free trial Mailchimp Free plan available for up to 500 contacts MailerLite Free plan available for up to 250 subscribers
- Support Mailchimp Email helpdesk, Chat, Phone MailerLite Email helpdesk, Chat, Community forum
- API Mailchimp Yes, a Marketing API for audiences, automations and data sync, plus more than 300 integrations MailerLite Yes, API access on all paid plans
- Campaign types Mailchimp Yes, email newsletters and campaigns, with A/B testing and scheduling on paid plans MailerLite Yes, email campaigns and newsletters, plus landing pages and websites
Every line is one datapoint from the table above, picked automatically. Nothing here is written text.
The trade-offs
Strengths and Limitations
Mailchimp
Strengths
- Generative AI writing and design tools on the Standard and Premium plans
- Marketing API with webhooks and OAuth 2 for audiences and automations
- More than 300 integrations
- Free plan for up to 500 contacts
Limitations
- Prices scale with the number of contacts
- Predictive segmentation and custom-coded templates are reserved for the top plans
MailerLite
Strengths
- Drag-and-drop, simple and custom HTML editors on every plan
- A/B testing available on every plan, including the free tier
- AI email and subject line generator
- Free plan for up to 250 subscribers
Limitations
- Prices scale with the number of subscribers
- Deliverability consultation and dedicated IP are reserved for the higher plans
Plans
Pricing
Mailchimp
- Free $0 / month Up to 500 monthly sends and 250 contacts, with a limited set of templates.
- Essentials From $13 / month Designed templates, A/B testing, scheduling and up to 3 automation flow steps. Scales with contacts.
- Standard From $20 / month Adds AI writing and design tools and up to 200 automation flows. Scales with contacts.
- Premium From $350 / month Adds unlimited contacts and seats, predictive segmentation, phone and priority support and custom-coded templates.
MailerLite
- Free $0 / month Up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails, with 3 automations and community support.
- Comfort From $12 / month Adds 50 automations, an AI writing assistant and 24/7 email support. Scales with subscribers.
- Power From $25 / month Adds unlimited automations and monthly emails, a deliverability consultation and 24/7 live chat support. Scales with subscribers.
- Enterprise Not stated Custom pricing for 200K+ subscribers, with a dedicated success manager, priority support and a dedicated IP option.
What users say
Review Scores · opens after launch
Mailchimp
- Ease of use
- Not rated yet
- User interface
- Not rated yet
- Onboarding
- Not rated yet
- Support and service
- Not rated yet
- Value for money
- Not rated yet
- Features
- Not rated yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this tool. Every review is checked for fairness before it appears, and the vendor cannot have one removed.
MailerLite
- Ease of use
- Not rated yet
- User interface
- Not rated yet
- Onboarding
- Not rated yet
- Support and service
- Not rated yet
- Value for money
- Not rated yet
- Features
- Not rated yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to review this tool. Every review is checked for fairness before it appears, and the vendor cannot have one removed.
Where this comes from
Where this comes from
Mailchimp https://mailchimp.com · checked against the official source on 2026-08-19
MailerLite https://www.mailerlite.com · checked against the official source on 2026-08-19
This table lists factual criteria taken from information the vendors publish themselves. For how we put it together, see the methodology.