MailerLite
Affordable email marketing built for growing creators
What it is
MailerLite is an email marketing platform covering newsletters, automations, landing pages, and sign-up forms. It suits indie creators, small newsletters, and course sellers who want a clean interface without paying enterprise prices. The free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers, and paid plans start around $9 per month. Deliverability is solid, though the template editor can feel limiting compared to more design-focused competitors.
Key features
- ●Drag-and-drop email editor with plain-text and HTML options
- ●Automation workflows triggered by subscriber behavior
- ●Landing page builder with custom domains on paid plans
- ●Paid newsletter subscriptions via Stripe integration
- ●A/B split testing for subject lines and content
- ●Subscriber segmentation and tagging
- ●Embedded and pop-up sign-up forms
- ●Campaign analytics covering opens, clicks, and unsubscribes
Pros and cons
Pros
- +Generous free tier up to 500 subscribers with automation included
- +Clean, low-friction interface that non-technical creators can navigate quickly
- +Built-in landing page and sign-up form builder reduces need for extra tools
- +Paid newsletter and selling features let creators monetize directly
- +Competitive pricing compared to Mailchimp and ConvertKit at similar subscriber counts
- +Solid deliverability reputation among mid-size senders
Cons
- –Template library is smaller and less polished than some rivals
- –Advanced segmentation and conditional logic are limited on lower-tier plans
- –Customer support response times can lag on the free plan
- –Reporting lacks the depth that data-focused creators may want
- –No native CRM, so it pairs poorly with teams managing complex sales pipelines
Who it's for
- ●Running a weekly newsletter and growing a subscriber list from scratch
- ●Selling a paid newsletter or digital product directly to an email audience
- ●Setting up welcome and onboarding automations for new subscribers
- ●Building landing pages to capture leads without a separate website tool
- ●Sending promotional emails for a course launch or product drop
- ●Testing subject lines to improve open rates on a small budget
Categories
Good for
Newsletter writers, Course creators
Frequently asked questions
What does MailerLite's free plan actually include?
The free plan covers up to 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. It includes automation, sign-up forms, and landing pages, though some advanced features like custom domains on landing pages and priority support require a paid plan.
How does MailerLite pricing scale as my list grows?
Pricing is subscriber-based. Plans start around $9 per month for up to 500 subscribers on the Growing Business tier, and costs increase as your list expands. Verify current pricing on the MailerLite website before committing, as promotional rates and annual discounts can shift the numbers.
Can I sell paid newsletter subscriptions through MailerLite?
Yes. MailerLite has a built-in paid newsletter feature that connects to Stripe, letting you charge subscribers a recurring fee. This is a practical option for creators who want to monetize without adding a separate platform like Substack.
How does MailerLite compare to ConvertKit for creators?
ConvertKit is more creator-focused with stronger tagging and a larger ecosystem of integrations, but it is more expensive at comparable subscriber counts. MailerLite is a reasonable choice if budget is the priority and you do not need ConvertKit's depth of segmentation.
Is MailerLite good for beginners with no email marketing experience?
It is one of the more approachable platforms for beginners. The interface is straightforward and setup is fast. The main limitation is that if you outgrow basic automations quickly, you may hit the ceiling of what MailerLite's workflow builder can handle.
Does MailerLite have good email deliverability?
MailerLite has a generally positive deliverability reputation, and it enforces list quality rules to protect its shared sending infrastructure. Deliverability always depends partly on your own list hygiene and engagement rates, not just the platform.