Tool matchup
Mailchimp vs MailerLite: Mailchimp's free plan covers under 250 contacts, MailerLite's 250 subscribers. At 5,000 contacts Mailchimp Essentials is $75/mo, MailerLite Comfort $49 (both monthly billing).
Email marketing and automation with a free plan for fewer than 250 contacts. Paid plans start at $13/mo at 500 contacts and rise with list size.
Prices checked October 23, 2026mailchimp.com pricing page
Email newsletters, automations, landing pages and simple digital products. Free up to 250 subscribers; paid from $12/mo.
Prices checked October 23, 2026mailerlite.com pricing page
Mailchimp scores 81/100 and MailerLite 79/100. Mailchimp leads on integrations (14/15 vs 12/15) and trust (10/10 vs 9/10); MailerLite leads on pricing (12/15 vs 11/15). Outcome fit (20/25), setup speed (14/20) and UX (12/15) are level. The score gap is small and does not mean Mailchimp is cheaper: at the same list size MailerLite costs less. Billed monthly, at 500 contacts Mailchimp Essentials is $13 and Standard $20, against MailerLite Comfort $12 and Power $25. At 5,000 contacts it is $75 and $100 against $49 and $69. Mailchimp's free plan is for fewer than 250 contacts; MailerLite's covers 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, with 3 active automations. What Mailchimp adds is reach: its pricing page states 300+ integrations on every plan and 4.5/5 from 33,000+ reviews across G2, Capterra and TrustRadius, and Standard adds generative AI features, enhanced automations and custom-coded templates. Choose Mailchimp if the integrations directory or brand recognition matters. Choose MailerLite if price at your list size matters most. Both vendors' prices were read from their own pages on October 23, 2026, and both rise with list size.
Mailchimp leads by 2 points (close call).
Decision shortcuts
Both send newsletters and automations to a list. Mailchimp is the better-known platform with a larger integrations directory; MailerLite charges less at the same list size.
Client-ready brief
Send a concise summary of winner, trade-offs, and rollout recommendation.
Best fit
Best for: Consultants who want a well-known email platform with a large integrations directory and expect to start with a small list.
Why pick it: A free plan to start, 300+ integrations and automations on the paid plans.
Watch for: Prices climb quickly with list size: Essentials is $13 at up to 500 contacts and $75 at up to 5,000. If you mostly send occasional newsletters to a bigger list, compare Kit's free plan, which covers up to 10,000 subscribers.
Best for: Consultants starting an email list who want automations and landing pages at a low price.
Why pick it: One of the cheapest credible ways to run a newsletter with welcome sequences and landing pages, with a free plan to start.
Watch for: The free plan is small (250 subscribers). If you want discovery and growth tools for a media-style newsletter, Beehiiv or Substack fit better.
Swipe sideways to compare all columns.
Mailchimp | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Quick facts | ||
| Pricing sanity | Free, paid from $13/mo | Free, paid from $10.80/mo |
| Integrations | 2+ | 6+ |
| Score breakdown | ||
| Outcome fit | 20/25 | 20/25 |
| Setup speed | 14/20 | 14/20 |
| Pricing sanity | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| Integrations | 14/15 | 12/15 |
| UX polish | 12/15 | 12/15 |
| Trust & support | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Summary | ||
| Best for | Consultants who want a well-known email platform with a large integrations directory and expect to start with a small list. | Consultants starting an email list who want automations and landing pages at a low price. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Limits (vendor's wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | For fewer than 250 contacts; basic free plan |
| Essentials | $13 per account / month, billed monthly | From $13/mo at up to 500 contacts; $26.50 at up to 1,500; $75 at up to 5,000; $93.50/mo for the first 12 months then $110 at up to 10,000. Testing and scheduling features; 14-day free trial |
| Standard | $20 per account / month, billed monthly | From $20/mo at up to 500 contacts; $45 at up to 1,500; $100 at up to 5,000; $114.75/mo for the first 12 months then $135 at up to 10,000. Generative AI features, enhanced automations, custom-coded templates; 14-day free trial |
| Premium | $350 per account / month, billed monthly | From $350/mo; shown at $297.50/mo for the first 12 months. Most advanced tools, unlimited contacts, priority support; request a demo |
Prices checked October 23, 2026mailchimp.com pricing page
| Plan | Price | Limits (vendor's wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month; 2 user seats; 3 active automations; 1 landing page; signup forms |
| Comfort | $10.80 per account / month, billed annually$12 per account / month, billed monthly | Quoted at 500 subscribers ($12 monthly; $10.80/mo billed yearly, $129.60/yr); $17.10 billed yearly at 1,000 subscribers; price rises with list size. 5,000 monthly emails at 500 subscribers, 50 automations, 3 user seats |
| Power | $22.50 per account / month, billed annually$25 per account / month, billed monthly | Quoted at 500 subscribers ($25 monthly; $22.50/mo billed yearly, $270/yr); $35.10 billed yearly at 1,000 subscribers; price rises with list size. Unlimited emails, automations and user seats |
Prices checked October 23, 2026mailerlite.com pricing page
Cost calculator
No paid plan with a listed Annual price fits this team size. Contact sales or check the vendor's page.
$10.80 per month · $129.60 per year
Cheapest plan that fits: Comfort, $10.80 per seat or user
Uses list prices from each vendor's pricing page, before tax and discounts. Free plans and custom-quote plans are left out.
Method
Used by consultants
From a consultant who wrote about this tool. This does not affect the score.
Common questions
Mailchimp's pricing page says 'Under 250 contacts? It's free.' Paid plans start with Essentials at $13 a month for up to 500 contacts and Standard at $20. Read on October 23, 2026.
Billed monthly, MailerLite Comfort is $49 and Power $69; Mailchimp Essentials is $75 and Standard $100. Mailchimp showed 15% off for the first 12 months at 5,000+ contacts.
Mailchimp's pricing page lists 300+ integrations, included on every plan.
Mailchimp scores 81/100 and MailerLite scores 79/100 on Curalo's consultant rubric. The biggest gap is Integrations: Mailchimp 14/15 vs 12/15.
Mailchimp's cheapest paid plan is Essentials at $13 per account / month, billed monthly. MailerLite's cheapest paid plan is Comfort at $10.80 per account / month, billed annually.
Mailchimp has a free plan: For fewer than 250 contacts; basic free plan. MailerLite has a free plan: Up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month; 2 user seats; 3 active automations; 1 landing page; signup forms.
Mailchimp: $13 a month on Essentials. MailerLite: $10.80 a month on Comfort. Annual list prices where available, before tax.
Prices climb quickly with list size: Essentials is $13 at up to 500 contacts and $75 at up to 5,000. If you mostly send occasional newsletters to a bigger list, compare Kit's free plan, which covers up to 10,000 subscribers.
The free plan is small (250 subscribers). If you want discovery and growth tools for a media-style newsletter, Beehiiv or Substack fit better.
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