Constant Contact vs MailerLite: Which Is Better in 2026?
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. MailerLite is a simple, inexpensive email tool with a clean editor. Constant Contact’s strength is helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand; MailerLite’s is covering the essentials well for very little money.
01Pricing
Constant Contact: paid plans start at $10.20/mo for 500 contacts. MailerLite: paid plans start at $10.80/mo for 500 subscribers. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. MailerLite has a free plan (up to 250 subscribers).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite † | $10.20 | $12 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 10x contacts; 1 user; 1 automation template | Basic reporting |
| Standard † | $29.75 | $35 | Monthly sends 12x contacts; 3 users; 3 automation templates | Email scheduling; A/B testing; Advanced reporting |
| Premium † | $68 | $80 | Monthly sends 24x contacts; Unlimited users | Unlimited automations and segments; Dynamic content; Dedicated priority support team |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 250 subscribers; 2,500 emails per month; 2 user seats; 3 automations | |
| Comfort | $10.80 | $12 | 500 subscribers at this price; 5,000 emails per month (10x tier ceiling); 3 user seats; 50 automations | Unlimited templates; AI writing assistant; Smart sending; 5 digital products |
| Power | $22.50 | $25 | 500 subscribers at this price; Unlimited monthly emails (fair use); Unlimited user seats | Unlimited automations; Unlimited landing pages and digital products; Multiple automation triggers; 24/7 live chat support |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | 200K+ subscribers; Custom sending volume | Dedicated success manager; Account audits; Dedicated IP option; Deliverability support |
Prices are per month on annual billing. † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. Constant Contact pricing and MailerLite pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Beyond email it handles event registration, social posting and surveys, and it backs them with phone support and plenty of guidance. Automation is basic, and there is a trial instead of a free plan.
- Best at
- Helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand.
- Falls short
- Automation and segmentation are limited, and you pay from the start.
MailerLite
MailerLite is a simple, inexpensive email tool with a clean editor. Newsletters, landing pages, forms and straightforward automations are all there, and the free plan is usable. It leaves out the heavier features, which keeps both the interface and the bill small.
- Best at
- Covering the essentials well for very little money.
- Falls short
- Automation, reporting and integrations are lighter than in the bigger platforms.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Either | Constant Contact: Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers. MailerLite: Covers the essentials for less money, with an editor that needs no training. |
| Ecommerce | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for ecommerce. |
| Startups | MailerLite | Cheap, quick to set up and good enough until marketing becomes someone’s full-time job. |
| Creators | MailerLite | A low-cost start for creators who mostly need to send. |
| Agencies | MailerLite | Easy to hand over to small clients with small budgets. |
04Verdict
Choose Constant Contact if you are a small business or nonprofit that wants hand-holding and event tools. Choose MailerLite if you want the essentials done well at a low price.
05FAQ
Is Constant Contact or MailerLite cheaper?
Constant Contact starts at $10.20/mo and MailerLite at $10.80/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing.
Do Constant Contact and MailerLite have free plans?
Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days. MailerLite has a free plan (up to 250 subscribers).
Which is easier to learn, Constant Contact or MailerLite?
There is little between them: both are quick to set up.
Which is better for startups, Constant Contact or MailerLite?
MailerLite. Cheap, quick to set up and good enough until marketing becomes someone’s full-time job.