MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
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Short answer
In our email marketing ranking, MailerLite scores 85/100 and Mailchimp scores 79/100. MailerLite costs less at the list sizes we priced and puts multi-step automation on its $12 entry plan, while Mailchimp has more integrations, predictive segments on Standard and phone support on Premium.
Pick MailerLite if…
- You want the lower bill at the same list size ($12 vs $13 a month at 500 contacts; $129 for Power vs $200 for Standard at 10,000)
- You need multi-step automations on the entry plan (50 automations, 100 steps on Comfort)
- You want unlimited seats, unlimited monthly emails and 24/7 live chat on a mid-priced plan
Pick Mailchimp if…
- You want the most familiar editor and 300+ integrations
- You need phone support and a dedicated onboarding specialist (Premium)
- You want predictive segmentation built into Standard
What it costs
Monthly billing, 12 months, at the list sizes shown, from each vendor's list prices. Taxes, SMS and add-ons excluded.
| Need | MailerLite plan | MailerLite per year | Mailchimp plan | Mailchimp per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newsletters to 500 contacts | Comfort ($12) | $144 | Essentials ($13) | $156 |
| Plus multi-step automation, 500 contacts | Comfort ($12) | $144 | Standard ($20) | $240 |
| Advanced automation, 10,000 contacts | Power ($129) | $1,548 | Standard ($200) | $2,400 |
| Unlimited seats, 10,000 contacts | Power ($129) | $1,548 | Premium ($350) | $4,200 |
Mailchimp shows its paid prices for the first 12 months, and its 10,000-contact prices include a 15% promotional discount; confirm the rate after that at checkout. MailerLite takes 10% off yearly billing. MailerLite Comfort sends up to 10x your subscriber tier each month and Power has no monthly email cap (fair use); Mailchimp caps sends at 10x (Essentials), 12x (Standard) or 15x (Premium) contacts. Prices from MailerLite and Mailchimp pricing pages, checked Oct 29, 2026. Vendors change plans often; confirm before you buy.
Plans and features side by side
| Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, 3 automations, 2 seats | 250 contacts, 500 sends a month, no automation flows, 1 seat |
| How price is set | By subscriber tier; Comfort sends capped at 10x the tier | By contacts; sends capped at 10x to 15x contacts |
| Entry paid plan | Comfort, $12/mo up to 500 subscribers | Essentials, $13/mo up to 500 contacts |
| Automation | 50 automations, 100 steps on Comfort; unlimited and multiple triggers on Power | Up to 4 flow steps on Essentials; up to 200 flows on Standard |
| Multivariate testing | Listed from Comfort | Listed from Standard |
| Seats | 3 on Comfort, unlimited on Power | 3 on Essentials, 5 on Standard, unlimited on Premium |
| Support | Email on Comfort; 24/7 live chat on Power | 24/7 email and chat from Essentials; phone on Premium |
| Free trial | 14 days of premium features, no card | 14 days on Essentials and Standard |
| G2 user rating | 4.6/5 (1,114 reviews) | 4.3/5 (12,995 reviews) |
| Vettlo score | 85/100 | 79/100 |
"Listed from" means the feature first appears on that plan on the vendor's public pricing page.
Where MailerLite is stronger
- Price at the same list size. At 500 contacts Comfort is $12 a month against $13 for Essentials; at 10,000 contacts Power is $129 against $200 for Mailchimp Standard.
- Automation on the entry plan. Comfort includes 50 automations with up to 100 steps; Mailchimp Essentials caps flows at 4 steps, so multi-step journeys need Standard.
- Seats and sending on Power. Power includes unlimited seats, unlimited monthly emails and 24/7 live chat; on Mailchimp, unlimited seats start on Premium at $350 a month.
- A free plan you can automate. The free plan includes 3 automations and 2,500 emails a month; Mailchimp's free plan has no automation flows.
Where Mailchimp is stronger
- Editor and reporting. Its builder and reports are polished and quick to learn, which is why it rates 4.5/5 on ease of use and on deliverability and reporting in our ranking.
- Integrations. More than 300 integrations connect it to most stores, CRMs and form tools.
- Predictive segments and AI. Standard adds predictive segmentation, and generative AI features come at no additional cost on Standard and Premium.
- Phone and onboarding support. Premium includes phone and priority support and 4 onboarding sessions with a dedicated specialist.
How to decide
- Count your contacts and price both at your real tier, not the entry price.
- Decide whether you need multi-step automation; on MailerLite it starts on Comfort, on Mailchimp on Standard.
- Count the people who need access: 3 seats on each entry plan, unlimited on MailerLite Power or Mailchimp Premium.
- Check Mailchimp's rate after the first 12 months, then send one campaign and one automation from each trial before you migrate.
MailerLite vs Mailchimp FAQ
Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp?
Yes, at the list sizes we priced. At 500 contacts MailerLite Comfort is $12 a month against $13 for Mailchimp Essentials. At 10,000 contacts MailerLite Power is $129 a month against $200 for Mailchimp Standard and $350 for Premium, on monthly billing.
Which has the better free plan?
MailerLite's. Both cover 250 contacts, but MailerLite's free plan sends 2,500 emails a month and includes 3 automations and 2 seats. Mailchimp's sends 500 a month, with no automation flows and 1 seat.
Which is better for automation?
MailerLite for the money. Comfort ($12 at 500 subscribers) includes 50 automations with up to 100 steps. Mailchimp Essentials limits flows to 4 steps; Standard ($20 at 500 contacts) allows up to 200 flows.
Which scores higher in Vettlo's ranking?
MailerLite, with 85/100 against 79/100 for Mailchimp. MailerLite rates higher on price and ease of use; Mailchimp rates higher on its email builder and reporting.
Other options
If neither fits, see our full ranking of 6 email marketing tools, with who each one is for and what it costs. Or see our guide to the Mailchimp alternatives.