MailerLite vs Mailchimp 2026: Which is Better

Email marketing continues to be one of the highest-ROI channels for businesses of all sizes. According to the latest email marketing insights, many small businesses report noticeable improvements in response rates and conversions after adopting dedicated tracking and analytics tools. Knowing when a lead opens an email or clicks a link can be the difference between a missed opportunity and a closed sale.

In this detailed comparison, we analyze two popular email marketing platforms, MailerLite and Mailchimp, examining their features, pricing structures, automation capabilities, and overall value proposition to help you make an informed decision.

The Quick Overview

Before diving into the details, here's what distinguishes these two platforms:

Mailchimp is a leading email marketing platform with over two decades of experience serving millions of users worldwide. The platform offers a comprehensive marketing suite with extensive integrations, robust automation features, and a familiar interface that many marketers have come to trust.

MailerLite positions itself as the smart, budget-friendly alternative that doesn't compromise on functionality. Built with simplicity and affordability in mind, MailerLite delivers powerful email marketing features, including advanced automation, landing pages, a website builder, and e-commerce capabilities, at a fraction of the cost of Mailchimp.

Key Differences at a Glance

Email Marketing Features: Head-to-Head Comparison

Email Creation and Design

The quality and ease of creating emails directly impact how quickly you can launch campaigns and maintain professional brand standards.

MailerLite offers three flexible options for email creation: an enhanced drag-and-drop builder with over 80 pre-built content blocks, a streamlined rich-text editor for simpler campaigns, and a custom HTML editor for developers requiring full control. The drag-and-drop builder features inline editing, allowing you to click directly on elements and modify them without navigating through multiple panels. The platform includes AI-powered tools to generate compelling subject lines, email content, headlines, and calls-to-action, significantly reducing content creation time.

Mailchimp recently updated its email builder with a more modern interface that supports inline editing for faster customization. The drag-and-drop editor provides standard functionality with content blocks for images, text, buttons, social media links, and product recommendations. Mailchimp offers AI assistance for subject line suggestions and content generation based on campaign objectives, though these features are less comprehensive than MailerLite's AI capabilities. 

Winner: MailerLite takes this category with its more intuitive interface, enhanced drag-and-drop capabilities, and comprehensive AI assistance that speeds up the entire email creation process.

Email Templates

Professional templates help you launch campaigns quickly while maintaining a consistent brand identity.

Through MailerLite, you'll have a vast amount of modern, mobile-responsive template options available at your fingertips, sorted by industry and campaign type. The drag-and-drop editing tool that is built into each one of these templates allows you to fully customize how they look. The templates were created by following current best practices in email design to create a strong visual hierarchy and provide compelling call-to-action opportunities. In addition to the easy-to-use tools provided with these templates is the ability to save your customized templates for later reuse. 

Mailchimp recently improved its email builder interface to be more modern while allowing for inline editing, so you can edit your emails more quickly. The drag-and-drop feature retains all the same features of the previous email builder, and you can add content using standard blocks, such as images, text, buttons, social media links, and product recommendations. Mailchimp also uses AI to assist users in developing subject lines and generating content based on the objectives of the campaign.

Winner: MailerLite wins with a more extensive collection of modern, professionally-designed templates that better reflect current email marketing trends and offer greater customization flexibility.

Marketing Automation: Building Customer Journeys

Effective automation transforms email marketing from manual campaign sending to intelligent, behavior-driven customer communication.

Mailerlite offers a complete Automation system for all levels, including its free plan. The Automation system is a visual builder that allows companies without any technical knowledge of software to create extensive customer journeys. The Automation visual provides a sequential method of developing an automated system with numerous steps, conditional rules, time delays, and action-based triggers. Mailerlite also offers automation systems that have Automation Templates created for Marketing Automation. These Automation Templates contain a variety of automation systems for welcome series, abandoned cart recovery, post-purchase follow-ups, re-engagement, and birthday wishes.

Mailchimp does provide an excellent Automation feature set; however, it can only be accessed with the Standard Plan or higher. The Automation feature set includes pre-built customer journeys for standard Marketing Automation use cases, as well as the building blocks of multi-step sequences with conditional branches, triggers based on email engagement and other online activities, and ecommerce site activity. One of the biggest complaints users make regarding Mailchimp's Automation feature set is that there is no true "visual builder" for creating Automated Workflows. Companies can build complex Automation Workflows with Mailchimp, but visualizing the complete customer journey or identifying problems becomes more difficult due to the absence of a true visual workflow builder.

Winner: MailerLite significantly outperforms with automation available on all plans, including free, a more intuitive visual workflow builder, and easier implementation of complex customer journeys.

Audience Segmentation and Personalization

Delivering targeted messages to specific audience segments separates mediocre campaigns from highly successful ones.

Segmentation in MailerLite can be easily and effectively achieved. The tool provides you with unlimited segments and groups without any duplication of subscribers in the segments. This is a major advantage as it reduces costs. Using MailerLite’s email builder and contact list, you can segment your subscribers based on demographics, location, engagement information, custom field information, sign-up information, tags, e-commerce data, and site actions. The segments can be created using advanced logic options such as AND/OR. MailerLite doesn't charge you for each segment; it charges you based on how many actual subscribers you have.

Mailchimp offers a robust segmentation feature with the CRM tool they have. It allows the creation of a segment on the grounds of demographics, purchase history, email interaction, website behavior, predicted demographics, and customer lifetime value. The segmentation system uses advanced conditional logic to determine complex audience segmentation. The problem with using Mailchimp is that it counts contacts as unsubscribing or subscribing to multiple lists. This means that if a subscriber is on multiple lists, they all count, thereby significantly increasing the cost of your segmentation strategy. This system of costing hampers segmentation best practices.

Winner: MailerLite wins decisively by counting subscribers only once across all segments, offering unlimited segmentation, and making advanced targeting accessible on all plans.

Landing Pages and Signup Forms

Growing your subscriber list requires effective signup mechanisms and landing pages that convert website visitors into engaged subscribers.

MailerLite offers a free landing page creator as part of all subscription tiers and provides unlimited pages. The landing page creator uses the same drag-and-drop tool used for creating email content. Templates are available for many types of content, such as lead magnets, product launches, event registrations, webinars, and more. MailerLite also offers substantial options for how a subscriber can sign up, supporting both embedded and pop-up forms with multiple triggering methods. The ability to include promotional pop-ups with gamification and floating bars, as well as an iPad app for collecting subscribers offline at events, makes it easy to create a strong subscriber base.

Mailchimp does provide landing page functionality; however, the feature set is limited. The Mailchimp landing page builders use the same interface as all the other Mailchimp features, and they allow for basic customization in terms of colors, images, text, and form fields. The three different types of signup forms that Mailchimp offers are embedded, pop-up, and hosted. While Mailchimp's signup form customization options will meet essential needs, they do not include many of the advanced options available from MailerLite; for example, Mailchimp does not offer exit-intent triggers, multi-step signup forms, and gamification. 

Winner: MailerLite provides more comprehensive landing page and form capabilities with unlimited landing pages, advanced form types, and features that drive higher conversion rates.

Email Deliverability: Reaching the Inbox

The most beautifully designed email campaign delivers no value if it lands in the spam folder instead of subscribers' inboxes.

You'll be able to view detailed reporting of all the key metrics: open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, unsubscribe rates, and more geographic data on where your subscribers are. Also, MailerLite provides the click map that visually points out which links in your emails get the most action, so you may find out what resonates with your audience. Reporting is crystal clear in the interface, with charts and graphs making trends obvious at a single glance.

Mailchimp offers comprehensive analytics across all email metrics, with particularly strong reporting features on higher-tier plans. Standard reports include open rates, click rates, social sharing, e-commerce performance, and geographic data. Click map visualization helps identify which content drives the most engagement. Advanced reporting features available on its Premium plans include comparative reports, multivariate testing analysis, revenue per email, customer lifetime value calculations, and even some prediction tools forecasting subscriber behavior.

Winner: MailerLite significantly outperforms with higher inbox placement rates, proactive deliverability support, and authentication assistance that directly impacts campaign ROI.

Reporting and Analytics

Understanding campaign performance and identifying optimization opportunities requires comprehensive, actionable analytics.

MailerLite provides detailed reporting on all essential email metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, unsubscribe rates, and geographic data showing subscriber locations. The click map feature visually displays which links receive the most engagement within your emails, helping identify content that resonates with your audience.The reporting interface presents data clearly with visual charts and graphs that make trends immediately apparent. 

Mailchimp offers comprehensive analytics across all email metrics with particularly strong reporting features on higher-tier plans. Standard reports include open rates, click rates, social sharing, e-commerce performance, and geographic data. The click map visualization helps identify which content drives the most engagement. Advanced reporting features available on Premium plans include comparative reports, multivariate testing analysis, revenue per email, customer lifetime value calculations, and prediction tools that forecast subscriber behavior.

Winner: This category is relatively even, with Mailchimp offering slightly more advanced reporting on premium plans, but MailerLite providing more accessible analytics across all plan tiers.

Website Builder

Some businesses need more than just email marketing; they need an integrated platform for building their entire web presence.

MailerLite includes a full website builder that allows you to create professional websites without coding knowledge. The builder uses the same intuitive drag-and-drop interface as the email and landing page editors, ensuring consistency across your digital presence. Features include blog functionality for content marketing, custom domain connection, mobile-responsive designs, SEO settings, and the ability to sell digital products directly through your website. The integration between website and email marketing is seamless, website visitors can easily subscribe, website activity can trigger email automation, and you can track visitor behavior to personalize email campaigns.

Mailchimp introduced a basic website builder on select plans, but the functionality is significantly more limited compared to MailerLite's offering. The builder provides simple templates for creating one-page websites with basic customization options. The website builder is primarily positioned as an additional feature rather than a core platform capability. Most users requiring sophisticated website functionality choose dedicated website builders or content management systems, using Mailchimp primarily for email marketing.

Winner: MailerLite wins decisively with a more comprehensive, fully-featured website builder that provides genuine value beyond basic email marketing.

Third-Party Integrations

Your email marketing platform must work seamlessly with other tools in your marketing technology stack.

MailerLite provides many integrations with commonly used platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress, Stripe, Make, Zapier, Facebook, Eventbrite, and many others. While MailChimp has more direct Connections in place than MailerLite has, through its integration with Zapier, MailerLite can tap into the capabilities and functionalities of thousands of additional Applications. The API Documentation provided by MailerLite is very thorough and detailed, enabling Developers to create custom integrations with other Software Applications as needed. Setting up an Integration is generally a simple process due to the clear instructions provided by MailerLite for authenticating and configuring each Service that is connected.

MailChimp supports over 300 direct Integrations with everything from E-Commerce, CRM, Social Media, Analytics, Advertising, Content Management, and Productivity Tools, making this an incredibly large and diverse Integration ecosystem based on the length of time in the market and the size of the MailChimp User Community. Because of the large volume of Integration options available to Users of MailChimp, it is relatively easy to connect MailChimp with nearly any Service or Tool you are using in your Technology Stack without having to go through Zapier or develop a Custom Integration. The Integration Marketplace offers well-organized user feedback and thorough descriptions of each Integration option available to help Users determine which Integrations are best suited to their particular needs.

Winner: Mailchimp wins on sheer volume of integrations, providing more direct connections that eliminate the need for middleware services, though MailerLite covers all essential integrations effectively.

A/B Testing

Continuous testing and optimization separate good email marketers from great ones.

MailerLite includes A/B testing functionality that allows you to test subject lines, sender names, email content, and send times. You can test up to three variations simultaneously, and the platform automatically sends the winning version to the remaining subscribers once statistical significance is reached. The testing interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to set up tests without confusion. MailerLite also supports split testing within automation workflows, allowing you to test different paths and optimize your customer journeys based on real performance data.

Mailchimp provides A/B testing for subject lines, content, sender name, and send time with up to three variations on Standard plans. Premium plan subscribers can access multivariate testing to test up to eight different combinations of elements simultaneously. The testing interface is functional but can feel complex for beginners. Advanced testing features like multivariate testing and the ability to test more variables simultaneously are powerful but require upgrading to expensive premium plans.

Winner: MailerLite provides competitive A/B testing capabilities at all price points, while Mailchimp reserves the most powerful testing features for expensive premium plans.

Pricing Comparison by List Size (2026)

Ease of Use: Learning Curve and Interface Design

User-friendly interfaces reduce training time and enable your team to work more efficiently.

MailerLite

The philosophy behind the MailerLite interface is to keep it simple while still providing all necessary features. At first glance, the dashboard is straightforward and provides a simple summary of recent campaigns, growth of your subscribers, and all automation that you have created for upcoming releases. The menu items are organized into logical categories that include Campaigns, Subscribers, Automations, Websites, and Integrations, making it easy to navigate the software. 

When you first get started with MailerLite, you will be taken through the onboarding process, which will walk you through the basic things that you need to do before using the platform, such as completing your domain authentication, creating your email audience, and setting up your first email campaign.

The majority of users believe they can learn to use the essential features of the MailerLite platform within just a couple of hours of their first use. More advanced features, such as automation workflows, can be learned after your initial learning period. The uniform design of the MailerLite interface across all three areas (emails, landing pages, and website builders) minimizes the mental load of switching between different tools.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's interface reflects its evolution from a simple email tool to a comprehensive marketing platform. The dashboard presents considerable information, including campaign performance, audience insights, and recommendations. While feature-rich, some users find the interface cluttered and overwhelming, particularly when first starting.

Navigation requires more clicks to access certain features compared to MailerLite's more streamlined approach. The various settings, options, and feature locations can be confusing, with users sometimes struggling to find specific functionality buried in menus.

The learning curve is steeper, particularly for users new to email marketing. However, once you understand where features are located and how the platform is organized, day-to-day operations become more straightforward. The extensive help documentation assists with overcoming initial confusion.

Winner: MailerLite wins with a cleaner, more intuitive interface that reduces learning time and enables faster campaign execution.

Unique Features and Strengths

What Makes MailerLite Stand Out?

• Fair pricing that counts subscribers only once across all segments

• Unlimited email sends on all plans, including free

• Complete website builder included at all price tiers

• Advanced automation is available on the free plan

• Sell digital products directly through the platform

• iPad app for collecting subscribers offline at events

• Auto-resend feature that automatically resends campaigns to non-openers

• Paid email newsletter subscription functionality for monetizing content

• 24/7 multilingual support, even on free plans

What Makes Mailchimp Stand Out?

• Over 20 years of brand recognition and market presence

• 300+ native integrations covering virtually every tool category

• Built-in CRM for managing customer relationships

• Postcard and direct mail marketing options

• Advanced predictive analytics on Premium plans

• Extensive template library and design resources

Real User Experiences

MailerLite users consistently highlight several key benefits in their reviews. Small businesses and freelancers particularly appreciate the transparent pricing and how much money they save compared to Mailchimp, especially as subscriber counts grow. Users frequently mention the quick learning curve that allows new team members to become productive rapidly.

The automation capabilities receive praise for being powerful yet accessible, enabling sophisticated customer journeys without requiring technical expertise. The support team earns consistently positive feedback for being responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. One common theme is users wishing they had switched from Mailchimp sooner after seeing the improved deliverability and cost savings.

Mailchimp reviews present a more mixed picture. Long-time users appreciate the platform's reliability and the comfort of working with familiar tools. The extensive integration ecosystem remains a significant advantage for businesses with complex technology stacks.

However, recent reviews frequently cite concerns about rapidly increasing costs that make the platform unaffordable as lists grow. Deliverability issues appear in numerous reviews, with users reporting more emails landing in spam folders. Support quality has declined according to many users, with slower response times and less helpful resolution of issues. The interface receives criticism for becoming increasingly cluttered as new features are added.

Use Case Recommendations

Choose MailerLite if:

• You're a small business, freelancer, or creator wanting maximum value

• Budget-friendly pricing is important as your list grows

• You need powerful automation without paying premium prices

• Simple, intuitive interfaces appeal to you and your team

• You want to build landing pages and websites without additional tools

• Responsive, helpful customer support matters to you

• You value unlimited email sends without worrying about limits

• You want to sell digital products directly through your platform

Choose Mailchimp if:

• You need specific niche integrations that MailerLite doesn't offer

• You're already invested in Mailchimp with complex automation workflows

• Advanced predictive analytics justify the higher premium pricing

• Multichannel marketing, including postcards, interests you

• You have a budget for expensive Premium plans with advanced features

• Brand recognition and familiarity are primary decision factors

• You require sophisticated multivariate testing capabilities

Final Verdict: Which Platform Should You Choose?

Both platforms are capable email marketing solutions with proven reliability and strong core features. Each supports campaign creation, automation, audience management, and analytics, making them suitable for a wide range of businesses.

MailerLite is often preferred for its simplicity, transparent pricing, and ease of use, making it a strong option for beginners and growing businesses. Mailchimp, on the other hand, appeals to teams that need a broader ecosystem, advanced integrations, and more complex marketing tools. The best choice depends on your budget, business size, and how advanced your email marketing strategy needs to be.