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Mailchimp vs MailerLite

Updated

Mailchimp or MailerLite: which should you pick?

Two suites, two very different free plans. Free plans, pricing basis, automation and transactional email from each vendor's pricing page, plus who should pick which.

Mailchimp free emails
500/mo
Mailchimp free emails
MailerLite free emails
2,500/mo
MailerLite free emails
Lumail free emails
3,000/mo
Lumail free emails

TL;DR

Both free plans stop at 250 contacts, but MailerLite allows 2,500 emails a month to Mailchimp's 500 and publishes a clear entry price (Comfort from $12). Choose Mailchimp for the larger established suite and integration ecosystem. Choose MailerLite for a cheaper creator suite with websites and digital products.

Mailchimp vs MailerLite side by side

Every Mailchimp and MailerLite cell comes from the vendor's public pricing page, verified on August 17, 2026. Lumail is the third column, as the alternative.

Mailchimp vs MailerLite comparison with Lumail
MailchimpMailerLiteLumail (alternative)
Free plan250 contacts and 500 sends/month250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month$0, 3,000 emails/month
Paid fromVaries by plan and contact tierComfort from $12/month; Power from $25/month$20/month, 40,000 included, then $0.60/1,000
Pricing basisPlan plus contact tier and monthly send allowanceSubscriber tier plus plan sending allowanceUnlimited subscribers; pricing follows email volume
AutomationWelcome automation on Free; broader journeys on paid plansVisual automations with plan-specific limitsGraph workflows with triggers, branches, goals, exits, and A/B paths
AI and developer accessBuilt-in marketing AI and integrationsClaude and ChatGPT integrations; paid sending via API or MCPChatGPT OAuth, MCP, skills, CLI, SDK, REST API, and visual editor
Transactional emailAvailable through Mailchimp Transactional add-onProvided separately through MailerSendIncluded through API, SMTP, SDK, CLI, and agent tools
PublishingLanding pages, forms, and website plansWebsites, landing pages, forms, and digital productsCapture pages and custom web domains; not a general website builder
Best forTeams that want one established suite for multiple marketing channelsCreators who want email and no-code web publishing in one suiteTeams that want campaigns, workflows and transactional email priced by volume

Choose Mailchimp if

  • You want the most established general-purpose marketing suite
  • You need transactional email from the same brand via the Mailchimp Transactional add-on
  • Your stack depends on Mailchimp integrations

Choose MailerLite if

  • You want 2,500 free emails a month instead of 500
  • You sell digital products and want a website builder in the same tool
  • You want a published entry price: Comfort from $12, Power from $25 a month

Where Lumail fits

Both tools charge by list size. If your list is large and you send occasionally, a send-based plan with unlimited subscribers changes the math.

Lumail prices by emails sent, with unlimited subscribers on every plan: $0 for 3,000 emails a month, Premium at $20 a month for 40,000 emails then $0.60 per 1,000, and Business at $200 a month for 400,000 emails then $0.40 per 1,000. Campaigns, graph workflows and transactional email (API and SMTP) live in one account, and agents can run it through MCP, the CLI or the SDK.

Read the full Lumail vs Mailchimp and Lumail vs MailerLite breakdowns, or the long-form Mailchimp and MailerLite articles.

Start for freeSee Lumail pricing

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp?

At the entry level, usually. MailerLite publishes Comfort from $12 and Power from $25 a month. Mailchimp's paid price varies by plan and contact tier. Both rise as your subscriber count grows.

Do MailerLite and Mailchimp send transactional email?

Not from the core plans. Mailchimp sells a Transactional add-on, and MailerLite routes transactional email through its separate product, MailerSend.

Do Mailchimp and MailerLite include transactional email?

Mailchimp: Available through Mailchimp Transactional add-on. MailerLite: Provided separately through MailerSend.

Is there an alternative to Mailchimp and MailerLite that prices by emails sent?

Lumail. It is $0 for 3,000 emails a month, then $20 a month for 40,000 emails and $0.60 per extra 1,000, with unlimited subscribers on every plan. Campaigns, workflows and transactional email share one account.

Where do these numbers come from?

From each vendor's public pricing page (Mailchimp pricing plans and MailerLite pricing), last verified on August 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.

Keep comparing

Not sold on Mailchimp or MailerLite?

3,000 emails a month free. Unlimited subscribers on every plan. Campaigns, automations and transactional email on one domain.

Start for freeMore comparisons