ConvertKit vs MailerLite: Which Is Better in 2026?
ConvertKit, now called Kit, is email marketing for creators: writers, podcasters, course sellers and newsletter operators. MailerLite is a simple, inexpensive email tool with a clean editor. ConvertKit’s strength is growing and selling to an audience without a marketing team; MailerLite’s is covering the essentials well for very little money.
01Pricing
ConvertKit: paid plans start at $33/mo for 1,000 subscribers. 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. ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers). MailerLite has a free plan (up to 250 subscribers).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers | |
| Creator † | $33 | $39 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Full set of core email marketing tools |
| Pro † | $66 | $79 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Advanced reporting; Advanced automation, audience and growth features |
| 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. ConvertKit pricing and MailerLite pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
ConvertKit
ConvertKit, now called Kit, is email marketing for creators: writers, podcasters, course sellers and newsletter operators. Subscribers are organized with tags instead of lists, automations are drawn as simple visual flows, and you can sell digital products and paid subscriptions from the same account. Emails are plain and text-first by intent.
- Best at
- Growing and selling to an audience without a marketing team.
- Falls short
- Design options and reporting are limited, and it is not built for stores or sales teams.
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 | 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 | ConvertKit | Made for creators: tagging, simple automations and built-in ways to sell. |
| Agencies | MailerLite | Easy to hand over to small clients with small budgets. |
04Verdict
Choose ConvertKit if you are a creator building and monetizing an audience. Choose MailerLite if you want the essentials done well at a low price.
05FAQ
Is ConvertKit or MailerLite cheaper?
ConvertKit starts at $33/mo and MailerLite at $10.80/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing.
Do ConvertKit and MailerLite have free plans?
ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers). MailerLite has a free plan (up to 250 subscribers).
Which is easier to learn, ConvertKit or MailerLite?
There is little between them: both are quick to set up.
Which is better for small business, ConvertKit or MailerLite?
MailerLite. Covers the essentials for less money, with an editor that needs no training.