Email marketing is one of the most effective and affordable ways to reach and engage your audience, grow your brand, and generate leads and sales. According to a recent study by Litmus, email marketing has an average return on investment (ROI) of 42:1, meaning that for every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect to earn $42 in revenue.
But to achieve these results, you need a reliable and powerful email marketing platform that can help you create, send, and manage your email campaigns. There are many email marketing platforms available in the market, but two of the most popular ones are MailerLite and Mailchimp.
MailerLite and Mailchimp are both cloud-based email marketing platforms that offer a range of features and tools to help you design, automate, segment, personalise, analyse, and optimise your email campaigns. They also integrate with various other platforms and services to enhance your email marketing efforts.
But how do they compare with each other? Which one is better suited for your needs and goals? And what are the main factors to consider when choosing an email marketing platform? is mailerlite better than mailchimp?
In this article, we will compare MailerLite and Mailchimp based on six key criteria: pricing, features, ease of use, performance, customer reviews, and alternatives. We will also provide you with a clear and unbiased recommendation based on our comparison. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of which email marketing platform is better for you.
Pricing
One of the first things to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is how much it will cost you. Both MailerLite and Mailchimp offer free plans that allow you to send a limited number of emails per month to a limited number of subscribers. However, if you want to access more features and send more emails, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan.
MailerLite’s free plan allows you to send up to 12,000 emails per month to up to 1,000 subscribers. It includes features such as drag-and-drop editor, landing pages, pop-ups, surveys, automation, segmentation, A/B testing, analytics, etc. MailerLite’s paid plans start from $10 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers and unlimited emails. The price increases as you add more subscribers. You can also get a 30% discount if you pay annually.
Mailchimp’s free plan allows you to send up to 10,000 emails per month to up to 2,000 contacts. It includes features such as drag-and-drop editor, landing pages, pop-ups, automation, segmentation, basic templates, etc. Mailchimp’s paid plans start from $9.99 per month for up to 500 contacts and 500k emails. The price increases as you add more contacts or emails. You can also get a 10% discount if you enable two-factor authentication or a 15% discount if you are a non-profit organisation.
The pros and cons of their pricing plans are:
- MailerLite has a more generous free plan in terms of email limit and features.
- MailerLite has cheaper paid plans in terms of subscriber limit and email limit.
- MailerLite has a larger annual discount than Mailchimp.
- Mailchimp has a more generous free plan in terms of contact limit.
- Mailchimp has more flexible paid plans in terms of contact or email limit.
- Mailchimp has additional discounts for security or non-profit reasons.
Based on these pros and cons, we can say that MailerLite offers more value for money than Mailchimp. However, if you have a large contact list or need more flexibility in your email limit, you may prefer Mailchimp.
Features
Another important factor to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is what features it offers. Both MailerLite and Mailchimp offer a range of features that can help you create and manage your email campaigns. However, they differ in terms of design, automation, segmentation, personalisation, analytics, integrations, etc.
Here is how they compare in terms of these features:
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Design:
Both platforms offer drag-and-drop editors that allow you to create beautiful and responsive emails without coding. They also offer templates that you can customise according to your brand and style. However, MailerLite has more templates than Mailchimp, and they are also more modern and professional-looking. MailerLite also offers more design options, such as custom HTML, rich text editor, dynamic content, etc. Mailchimp’s templates are more basic and limited, and they also require you to upgrade to a paid plan to access some of them.
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Automation:
Both platforms offer automation features that allow you to send triggered or scheduled emails based on your subscribers’ actions or behaviour. They also offer workflows that you can use to create complex or multi-step email sequences. However, MailerLite has more automation options than Mailchimp, such as time-based triggers, webhooks, RSS campaigns, etc. MailerLite also has a more intuitive and visual automation builder than Mailchimp, which makes it easier to create and edit your workflows.
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Segmentation:
Both platforms offer segmentation features that allow you to divide your subscribers into groups based on their attributes or behaviour. This can help you target them with more relevant and personalised emails. However, MailerLite has more segmentation options than Mailchimp, such as custom fields, tags, activity history, etc. MailerLite also allows you to create unlimited segments for free, while Mailchimp limits you to five segments per audience on the free plan.
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Personalization:
Both platforms offer personalisation features that allow you to customise your emails with your subscribers’ names, preferences, interests, etc. This can help you increase your engagement and conversion rates. However, MailerLite has more personalisation options than Mailchimp, such as dynamic content, conditional logic, emojis, etc. MailerLite also allows you to personalise your subject lines, sender names, and preheaders for free, while Mailchimp requires you to upgrade to a paid plan to do so.
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Analytics:
Both platforms offer analytics features that allow you to track and measure the performance of your email campaigns. They provide you with metrics such as open rates, click rates, bounce rates, unsubscribe rates, etc. They also offer reports that show you the trends and insights of your email marketing efforts. However, MailerLite has more analytics options than Mailchimp, such as click maps, heat maps, campaign comparison, etc. MailerLite also integrates with Google Analytics for free, while Mailchimp requires you to upgrade to a paid plan to do so.
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Integrations:
Both platforms offer integrations with various other platforms and services that can enhance your email marketing efforts. They integrate with popular tools such as WordPress, Shopify, Facebook, Zapier, etc. However, MailerLite has more integrations than Mailchimp, and they are also more seamless and easy to set up. MailerLite also offers a free API that allows you to connect with any other platform or service that you need. Mailchimp’s integrations are more limited and complex, and they also require you to upgrade to a paid plan to access some of them.
Based on these features, we can say that MailerLite has more advanced or unique features than Mailchimp. However, if you need a specific feature that Mailchimp offers and MailerLite doesn’t, you may prefer Mailchimp.
Ease of Use
Another crucial factor to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is how easy or difficult it is to set up and use. Both MailerLite and Mailchimp are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, but they have some differences in terms of their interfaces and tools.
Here is how they compare in terms of ease of use:
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Setup:
Both platforms are easy to set up and get started with. They both require you to sign up with your email address and verify your account. They also provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to create your first email campaign. However, MailerLite has a simpler and faster setup process than Mailchimp, as it doesn’t ask you for too much information or require you to complete a survey. MailerLite also has a more straightforward and clear dashboard than Mailchimp, which makes it easier to navigate and find what you need.
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Interface:
Both platforms have modern and sleek interfaces that are responsive and adaptable to different devices and screen sizes. They also have similar layouts and menus that allow you to access your campaigns, audiences, reports, etc. However, MailerLite has a more minimalist and clean interface than Mailchimp, which makes it more pleasant and less cluttered to look at. MailerLite also has more consistent and intuitive icons and labels than Mailchimp, which makes it easier to understand and use.
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Tools:
Both platforms have powerful and versatile tools that allow you to create and manage your email campaigns. They both have drag-and-drop editors, templates, automation builders, segmentation tools, personalisation tools, analytics tools, etc. However, MailerLite has more user-friendly and flexible tools than Mailchimp, as they offer more options and customisation. MailerLite’s tools are also more reliable and bug-free than Mailchimp’s tools, which can sometimes malfunction or crash.
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Support:
Both platforms offer customer support and resources that can help you solve any issues or questions that you may have. They both have email support, live chat support, knowledge bases, blogs, webinars, etc. However, MailerLite has more responsive and helpful support than Mailchimp, as they reply faster and provide more solutions. MailerLite also offers 24/7 support for all plans, while Mailchimp only offers it for the premium plan. MailerLite’s resources are also more comprehensive and updated than Mailchimp’s resources, which can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate.
Based on these aspects of ease of use, we can say that MailerLite is easier and more convenient to use than Mailchimp. However, if you are already familiar with Mailchimp’s interface and tools, you may prefer Mailchimp.
Performance
Another vital factor to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is how well it performs in terms of reliability, security, speed, and compliance. Both MailerLite and Mailchimp are reputable and trustworthy platforms that have been in the industry for a long time. They both have high standards and practices to ensure the quality and safety of their services.
Here is how they compare in terms of performance:
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Reliability:
Both platforms are reliable and stable, as they have high uptime and availability. They both have backup servers and data centers that can prevent any downtime or data loss.
They also have status pages that show you their current and past performance. However, MailerLite has a slightly higher reliability than Mailchimp, as it has a 99.99% uptime guarantee, while Mailchimp has a 99.9% uptime guarantee. MailerLite also has fewer incidents and issues than Mailchimp, according to their status pages.
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Security:
Both platforms are secure and protect your data and privacy. They both use encryption, firewalls, authentication, etc. to prevent any unauthorized access or breach. They also comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which are the most stringent data protection laws in the world.
However, MailerLite has a slightly higher security than Mailchimp, as it has an ISO 27001 certification, which is the highest level of information security management. MailerLite also has a more transparent and detailed privacy policy than Mailchimp, which explains how they collect, use, and share your data.
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Speed:
Both platforms are fast and consistent in delivering your emails to your subscribers’ inboxes. They both have high delivery rates and open rates, which indicate how well your emails reach and engage your audience. They also have features that can help you improve your email deliverability, such as spam testing, authentication, etc.
However, MailerLite has a slightly higher speed than Mailchimp, as it has a faster and more efficient email-sending infrastructure. MailerLite also has a feature that allows you to choose the best time to send your emails based on your subscribers’ behaviour, which can increase your email performance.
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Compliance:
Both platforms are compliant with the email regulations and best practices that govern the email marketing industry. They both follow the CAN-SPAM Act, the CASL, the DMARC, etc., which are the laws and standards that regulate how you can send and receive emails.
They also have features that can help you comply with these regulations, such as unsubscribe links, consent forms, etc. However, MailerLite has a slightly higher compliance than Mailchimp, as it has more features and tools that can help you comply with the GDPR and the CCPA, such as cookie consent banners, data processing agreements, etc.
Based on these aspects of performance, we can say that MailerLite has a slightly higher performance than Mailchimp. However, if you are satisfied with Mailchimp’s performance, you may prefer Mailchimp.
Customer Reviews
Another useful factor to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is what other customers have to say about it. Both MailerLite and Mailchimp have a large and loyal customer base that use and review their services. They both have positive and negative feedback from their users, which can help you get a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses.
Here are some of the common praises and complaints from MailerLite vs Mailchimp users:
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Praises:
Both platforms are praised for their ease of use, features, support, pricing, etc. Some of the specific praises are:
- MailerLite users praise its simple and clean interface, its generous and affordable plans, its advanced and flexible automation features, its responsive and helpful support team, etc.
- Mailchimp users praise its modern and sleek interface, its large and diverse contact limit, its integrations with various platforms and services, its reports and analytics features, etc.
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Complaints:
Both platforms complained about their limitations, bugs, issues, pricing, etc. Some of the specific complaints are:
- MailerLite users complain about its lack of templates, its strict approval process, its occasional glitches and errors, its limited integrations with some platforms and services, etc.
- Mailchimp users complain about its high and confusing pricing plans, its basic and limited features, its slow and unhelpful support team, its frequent changes and updates, etc.
How do they rate their overall satisfaction and loyalty? According to Trustpilot, one of the most popular and credible review platforms, MailerLite has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, based on 1,263 reviews. Mailchimp has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 12,951 reviews. This means that MailerLite has slightly higher customer satisfaction and loyalty than Mailchimp.
How do they compare on third-party review sites and platforms? According to Capterra, another popular and credible review platform, MailerLite has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 420 reviews. Mailchimp has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 14,163 reviews. This means that MailerLite has slightly higher customer satisfaction and loyalty than Mailchimp.
Based on these customer reviews, we can say that MailerLite has slightly higher customer satisfaction and loyalty than Mailchimp. However, if you have a different experience or opinion with Mailchimp, you may prefer Mailchimp.
Alternatives
Another helpful factor to consider when choosing an email marketing platform is what other alternatives are available in the market. MailerLite vs Mailchimp have many competitors that offer similar or different services. Some of these alternatives are:
- ConvertKit: ConvertKit is an email marketing platform that is designed for creators, such as bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, etc. It offers features such as landing pages, forms, automation, segmentation, personalisation, analytics, etc. It has a free plan that allows you to send unlimited emails to up to 1,000 subscribers. Its paid plans start from $29 per month for up to 1,000 subscribers and unlimited emails.
- AWeber: AWeber is an email marketing platform that is designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It offers features such as drag-and-drop editor, templates, automation, segmentation, personalisation, analytics, integrations, etc. It has a free plan that allows you to send unlimited emails to up to 500 subscribers. Its paid plans start from $19 per month for up to 500 subscribers and unlimited emails.
- Sendinblue: Sendinblue is an email marketing platform that is designed for all types of businesses and organisations. It offers features such as drag-and-drop editor, templates, automation, segmentation, personalisation, analytics, integrations, etc. It also offers other features such as SMS marketing, chat, CRM, etc. It has a free plan that allows you to send up to 300 emails per day to unlimited contacts. Its paid plans start from €19 per month for up to 40,000 emails per month and unlimited contacts.
How do they compare with MailerLite and Mailchimp in terms of pricing, features, ease of use, performance, and customer reviews?
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing them over MailerLite and Mailchimp:
- ConvertKit: ConvertKit has the advantage of being more focused and tailored for creators, who can benefit from its landing pages, forms, and automation features. It also has a more generous free plan than Mailchimp in terms of email limit. However, ConvertKit has the disadvantage of being more expensive than MailerLite in terms of subscriber limit. It also has fewer templates and integrations than MailerLite and Mailchimp.
- AWeber: AWeber has the advantage of being more established and experienced in the email marketing industry, as it has been around since 1998. It also has a more generous free plan than Mailchimp in terms of email limit. However, AWeber has the disadvantage of being more expensive than MailerLite in terms of subscriber limit. It also has fewer features and integrations than MailerLite and Mailchimp.
- Sendinblue: Sendinblue has the advantage of being more versatile and comprehensive in its services, as it offers not only email marketing but also SMS marketing, chat, CRM, etc. It also has a more generous free plan than Mailchimp in terms of contact limit. However, Sendinblue has the disadvantage of being more limited and restrictive in its email limit, as it only allows you to send up to 300 emails per day on the free plan. It also has fewer templates and automation options than MailerLite and Mailchimp.
Based on these alternatives, we can say that none of them are clearly better or worse than MailerLite or Mailchimp. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses that may appeal to different users and needs. Therefore, you should consider your own preferences and goals when choosing an email marketing platform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have compared MailerLite and Mailchimp based on six key criteria: pricing, features, ease of use, performance, customer reviews, and alternatives. We have found that MailerLite has a slight edge over Mailchimp in most of these criteria, as it offers more value for money, more advanced or unique features, more ease and convenience of use, more reliability and security, and more customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, Mailchimp also has some advantages over MailerLite, such as a larger and more diverse contact limit, more flexibility in email limit, more integrations with various platforms and services, and more experience and reputation in the industry.
Therefore, our clear and unbiased recommendation is to choose MailerLite over Mailchimp if you are looking for an email marketing platform that is affordable, feature-rich, user-friendly, reliable, secure, and satisfying. However, if you have a specific need or preference that Mailchimp can meet better than MailerLite, such as a large contact list or a specific integration, you may prefer Mailchimp over MailerLite.
We hope that this article has helped you make an informed decision on which email marketing platform is better for you. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions that you may have about MailerLite and Mailchimp:
Can I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite or vice versa?
Yes, you can switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite or vice versa at any time. You can export your contacts and campaigns from one platform and import them to the other platform. You can also cancel your subscription or delete your account on one platform and sign up for the other platform.
Can I use both MailerLite vs Mailchimp at the same time?
Yes, you can use both MailerLite and Mailchimp at the same time. However, this may not be advisable or necessary, as it may cause confusion, duplication, or inconsistency in your email marketing efforts. It may also cost you more money and time to manage two platforms instead of one.
Which platform has better deliverability?
Deliverability is the ability of your emails to reach your subscribers’ inboxes without being blocked or filtered by spam filters or email providers. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp have high deliverability rates, as they follow the email regulations and best practices that govern the email marketing industry. However, deliverability also depends on other factors,
such as your email content, design, subject line, sender name, etc. Therefore, you should also follow the email marketing tips and guidelines that both platforms provide to improve your deliverability.
Which platform has better customer support?
Customer support is the assistance and guidance that a platform provides to its users when they encounter any issues or questions. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer customer support and resources that can help you solve any problems or queries that you may have. However, MailerLite has better customer support than Mailchimp, as it offers 24/7 support for all plans, while Mailchimp only offers it for the premium plan. MailerLite also has more responsive and helpful support than Mailchimp, as it replies faster and provides more solutions.
Which platform has better templates?
Templates are pre-designed layouts and formats that you can use to create your emails without coding. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer templates that you can customise according to your brand and style. However, MailerLite has better templates than Mailchimp, as it has more templates than Mailchimp, and they are also more modern and professional-looking. MailerLite also offers more design options, such as custom HTML, rich text editor, dynamic content, etc. Mailchimp’s templates are more basic and limited, and they also require you to upgrade to a paid plan to access some of them.
Which platform has better automation?
Automation is the process of sending triggered or scheduled emails based on your subscribers’ actions or behaviour. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer automation features that allow you to create complex or multi-step email sequences. However, MailerLite has better automation than Mailchimp, as it offers more automation options than Mailchimp, such as time-based triggers, webhooks, RSS campaigns, etc. MailerLite also has a more intuitive and visual automation builder than Mailchimp, which makes it easier to create and edit your workflows.
Which platform has better segmentation?
Segmentation is the process of dividing your subscribers into groups based on their attributes or behaviour. This can help you target them with more relevant and personalised emails. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer segmentation features that allow you to create unlimited segments for free. However, MailerLite has better segmentation than Mailchimp, as it offers more segmentation options than Mailchimp, such as custom fields, tags, activity history, etc.
Which platform has better personalisation?
Personalisation is the process of customising your emails with your subscribers’ names, preferences, interests, etc. This can help you increase your engagement and conversion rates. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer personalisation features that allow you to customise your emails with dynamic content, conditional logic, emojis, etc.
However, MailerLite has better personalisation than Mailchimp, as it allows you to personalise your subject lines, sender names, and preheaders for free, while Mailchimp requires you to upgrade to a paid plan to do so.
Which platform has better analytics?
Analytics is the process of tracking and measuring the performance of your email campaigns. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer analytics features that provide you with metrics such as open rates, click rates, bounce rates, unsubscribe rates, etc. They also offer reports that show you the trends and insights of your email marketing efforts.
However, MailerLite has better analytics than Mailchimp, as it offers more analytics options than Mailchimp, such as click maps, heat maps, campaign comparison, etc. MailerLite also integrates with Google Analytics for free, while Mailchimp requires you to upgrade to a paid plan to do so.
Which platform has better integrations?
Integrations are the connections that a platform has with other platforms and services that can enhance your email marketing efforts. Both MailerLite vs Mailchimp offer integrations with popular tools such as WordPress, Shopify, Facebook, Zapier, etc.
However, MailerLite has better integrations than Mailchimp, as it has more integrations than Mailchimp, and they are also more seamless and easy to set up. MailerLite also offers a free API that allows you to connect with any other platform or service that you need. Mailchimp’s integrations are more limited and complex, and they also require you to upgrade to a paid plan to access some of them.
