Mailchimp vs MailerLite
MailerLite offers lower baseline rates with predictable subscriber-based costs, while Mailchimp applies aggressive pricing jumps and strict overage penalties.
MailerLite Comfort is the clear winner for small businesses looking to cut email expenses by 50-70% without sacrificing essential marketing automation.
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Interactive Volume Simulator
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| Platform | Rate (monthly) | Annual Total | Effective $/1k Sends | Capacity Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mailchimp(Standard) | $60/mo | $720/yr | $3.00 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit Mailchimp → |
MailerLite(Comfort)Best Value | $25/mo | $228/yr | $1.25 | ✓ Within Limits | Visit MailerLite → |
Structural Billing Differences
Mailchimp (Standard)
Billing Metric: contact_tiers_with_send_caps
Audited Date: 2026-09-14 ✓ Verified: Sep 14, 2026
Target Audience: Traditional SMBs & legacy e-commerce
Free Tier: Free up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo limit
MailerLite (Comfort)
Billing Metric: subscriber_tiers_with_send_ceiling
Audited Date: 2026-09-14 ✓ Verified: Sep 14, 2026
Target Audience: Small to medium businesses wanting high deliverability on budget
Free Tier: Free up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly sends
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save switching from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
At 5,000 subscribers, Mailchimp costs $100/mo ($1,200/yr), whereas MailerLite Comfort costs $42/mo ($504/yr) — saving $696 every year.
Does MailerLite charge for unsubscribed contacts?
No. MailerLite only charges for active subscribers. Unsubscribed contacts are stored for compliance but never count toward your billing bracket.
Is migrating audiences between them difficult?
No. Both platforms support direct CSV exports and imports including custom tags, custom fields, and unsubscribe histories.