Best MailerLite Alternatives in 2026 (Feature & Pricing Comparison)

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• Best Overall Alternative: Brevo is the top contender for most businesses. It offers unlimited contacts, robust SMS features, and a pricing model that scales based on email volume rather than list size, solving a common MailerLite pain point.
• Best for Automation Power Users: ActiveCampaign remains the king of complex automation. If MailerLite’s linear workflows are holding you back, ActiveCampaign’s multi-conditional logic and built-in CRM are the upgrade you need.
• Best for E-commerce: Klaviyo and Omnisend are the industry standards for online stores. Their deep integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, along with predictive analytics, far outpace MailerLite’s e-commerce capabilities.
• Best for SaaS & App Engagement: Customer.io excels at data-driven messaging triggered by real-time user behavior within your product, making it superior for tech companies.
• Best Budget-Friendly Option: Moosend offers an incredible feature set (including landing pages and advanced automation) at a price point that rivals MailerLite, without the strict approval process.
• The "Done-For-You" Solution: If managing these tools sounds like a headache, ColdIQ can build and manage your entire outbound and inbound tech stack for you, delivering results without the operational burden.

Top MailerLite Alternatives at a Glance

Why Search for a MailerLite Alternative?

MailerLite has long been a favorite for its simplicity and generous free plan. It’s clean, easy to use, and great for getting a newsletter off the ground.

However, as businesses mature, cracks often start to appear in the "lite" approach. While it serves a specific segment of the market well, growing companies often hit a ceiling.

Here are the most common reasons we see teams migrating away from MailerLite in 2026:

1. Strict Approval Processes: MailerLite is notorious for its rigorous account approval process. Legitimate businesses often find themselves locked out or waiting days for approval before they can send a single email. In a fast-moving market, this friction is unacceptable.
2. Limited Automation Logic: While MailerLite has improved its automation, it still relies on relatively linear workflows. If you need complex "if/then" branching based on granular user behavior, lead scoring, or third-party event data, you will find the platform restricting.
3. Pricing Scaling: MailerLite is cheap when you are small. However, the price jump as you hit 10,000, 50,000, or 100,000 subscribers can be steeper than expected compared to competitors who offer more features for the same volume.
4. Deliverability Concerns for Niche Industries: While generally good, some industries (like affiliate marketing or crypto) find MailerLite’s terms of service restrictive, leading to sudden account bans.
5. Support Response Times: On lower-tier plans, support can be slower than what is required for mission-critical campaigns.

According to Salesforce’s "State of Marketing" report, 84% of customers say the experience a company provides is as important as its products or services. If your email tool prevents you from delivering a seamless, personalized experience due to feature limitations, you aren't just losing time - you're losing revenue.

How to Choose the Right Email Marketing Tool

Before diving into the specific reviews, it is vital to understand the criteria you should be evaluating. 

The "best" MailerLite alternative isn't the one with the most features; it's the one that aligns with your business model.

List Size vs. Email Volume

If you have a massive email list but only send emails occasionally, consider tools like Brevo that charge based on the number of emails sent rather than the size of your contact list. This allows you to keep costs low while still reaching your audience as needed.

On the other hand, if you frequently email a smaller list, perhaps even daily, choose tools that offer unlimited email sends. This can help you save on costs while maximizing efficiency and keeping consistent communication with your subscribers.

Automation Complexity

Before selecting an email tool, it’s essential to outline your ideal customer journey. If you need advanced automation, such as tagging users based on how much of a video they watched, you’ll want a more robust platform like ActiveCampaign. These platforms provide the flexibility and depth needed for more complex workflows.

However, if you only require simpler automation, such as setting up a basic welcome sequence, a tool like Moosend may be more cost-effective and sufficient for your needs. Matching the automation features to your processes ensures you don’t overpay for unnecessary functionalities.

Integration Stack

Your email marketing tool shouldn't function in isolation. It needs to seamlessly connect with your CRM, payment processor, and landing page builder to ensure smooth operations across all systems.

Tools like HubSpot and Mailchimp stand out by offering some of the most comprehensive native integration libraries. These options can help you create a streamlined workflow, saving you time and effort while enhancing your overall marketing strategy.

Content Type

The type of content you send should also guide your choice of email platform. If your focus is on text-heavy newsletters, consider tools like Kit. These platforms are specifically designed for simplicity and efficiency in delivering written content.

For highly visual email campaigns, such as showcasing products or running promotions, platforms like Klaviyo or Omnisend are better suited to your needs. They provide the design tools and templates necessary to make your visual content stand out and engage your audience effectively.

The Best MailerLite Alternatives in 2026: Full Review

1. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo has firmly established itself as the leading MailerLite alternative for businesses that want to scale without being punished for growing their contact list.

Rebranding from Sendinblue, Brevo has expanded into a full CRM suite, but its heart remains in robust, accessible email marketing.

Brevo distinguishes itself with a pricing model based on the number of emails sent rather than the number of contacts stored. This is a game-changer for businesses that collect many leads but engage them selectively.

Beyond email, it is a true multi-channel platform, integrating SMS, WhatsApp, and chat natively.

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), startups, and agencies that need a unified marketing platform and want to avoid paying for inactive contacts.

Pros (Key Features)

• Unlimited Contacts: Store as many contacts as you want for free; you only pay for what you send.
• Multi-Channel Campaigns: Seamlessly integrate SMS and WhatsApp marketing into your automated workflows.
• Sales Pipeline Management: Includes a built-in CRM to track deals and manage customer relationships alongside marketing efforts.
• Transactional Emails: One of the best SMTP services on the market for sending password resets, invoices, and order confirmations.
• Advanced Automation: Visual workflow builder that rivals high-end tools, allowing for behavior-based triggers and lead scoring.

Cons (Limitations)

• Daily Sending Limit on Free Plan: The free plan is capped at 300 emails per day, which can be restrictive for launching a blast campaign.
• Template Design: While functional, the template library is not as aesthetically modern out-of-the-box as some design-focused competitors.

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0/mo (Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day).
• Starter: Starts at $25/mo (20k emails/mo, no daily limit, removing Brevo branding).
• Business: Starts at $65/mo (Marketing automation, A/B testing, multi-user access).
• Brevo Plus: Custom pricing for enterprise needs.

2. Moosend

Moosend is often cited as the most direct competitor to MailerLite in terms of user-friendliness and affordability. 

However, it packs a significantly heavier punch regarding features. It is a robust marketing automation platform that doesn't hide advanced features behind expensive paywalls.

Moosend offers a clean, modern interface that simplifies the creation of complex campaigns. It is particularly strong in automation, providing pre-built "recipes" for common scenarios like abandoned cart recovery and onboarding sequences.

Best For

Budget-conscious marketers, SaaS startups, and e-commerce businesses that need advanced automation without the enterprise price tag.

Pros (Key Features)

• Advanced Automation: Access to sophisticated workflow builders on the lowest tier plans.
• Landing Page Builder: Includes a drag-and-drop landing page builder to assist with lead generation.
• AI-Powered Content Suggestions: Helps generate subject lines and body copy to improve open rates.
• Real-Time Analytics: Detailed reporting on user location, device, and click heatmaps.
• No "Contact Tax": Moosend generally offers a very forgiving pricing structure regarding subscriber counts.

Cons (Limitatons)

• Native Integrations: While it connects to Zapier, the library of native integrations is smaller than Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign.
• Support: Live chat is excellent, but phone support is reserved for enterprise customers.

Pricing Plans

• Free Trial: 30-day free trial with most features.
• Pro: Starts at $9/mo (Unlimited emails, landing pages, transactional emails).
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (Dedicated IP, account manager, SSO).

3. SendPulse

SendPulse positions itself as a multi-channel marketing automation platform. 

It goes beyond being just an email tool by acting as a central hub for chatbots, web push notifications, and SMS.

If your audience hangs out on messaging apps as much as they do in their inbox, SendPulse is a powerful MailerLite alternative. It allows you to build chatbots for Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and WhatsApp and integrate these interactions into your email marketing workflows.

Best For

Marketers who rely heavily on chat automation and multi-channel touchpoints.

Pros (Key Features)

• Chatbot Builder: Create visual chatbot flows for Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram.
• Web Push Notifications: A built-in tool to re-engage visitors even if they haven't opened an email.
• Free CRM: A straightforward CRM is included to manage sales pipelines.
• Landing Page Builder: Create standalone pages for lead capture.
• Campaigns 360: A feature that automates the flow between email, SMS, and web push based on user reaction (e.g., if they don't open the email, send a web push).

Cons (Limitations)

• Interface Complexity: With so many channels, the dashboard can feel cluttered compared to MailerLite’s minimalism.
• Template Quality: Email templates can feel slightly dated compared to design-first platforms like Flodesk or Squarespace.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 500 subscribers and 15,000 emails.
• Standard: Starts at $8/mo (Expanded features and limits).
• Pro: Starts at $12/mo (Full automation access).
• Enterprise: Starts at $16/mo (Advanced features).

4. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is the behemoth of the industry. 

While it has grown more complex and expensive over the years, it remains a default choice for many because of its ubiquity and reliability.

Mailchimp has evolved into an all-in-one marketing platform. It now offers website hosting, social media scheduling, and even postcard sending. Its biggest strength is its ecosystem; virtually every other software tool on the planet integrates with Mailchimp.

Best For

Generalist marketers and small businesses who want a tool that "just works" with their existing tech stack.

Pros (Key Features)

• Massive Integration Library: Connects with over 300+ apps and services natively.
• AI & Data Tools: "Content Optimizer" analyzes your drafts and suggests improvements based on millions of data points.
• Customer Journey Builder: A revamped visual automation builder that allows for multi-point branching.
• Predictive Demographics: Uses data to predict the gender and age of your contacts (on higher plans).
• Onboarding: Personalized onboarding support and a vast knowledge base.

Cons (Limitations)

• Pricing: Mailchimp has become significantly more expensive, with strict limits on contacts and sends on lower tiers.
• Affiliate Marketing Rules: Like MailerLite, they are strict about affiliate marketing content and can ban accounts quickly.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 500 contacts, limited sends (1,000/mo).
• Essentials: Starts at $13/mo (Removes branding, scheduling).
• Standard: Starts at $20/mo (Optimization tools, advanced journeys).
• Premium: Starts at $350/mo (Enterprise features).

5. Customer io

Customer io is a sophisticated automated messaging platform for tech-savvy businesses.

It is less about "newsletters" and more about data-driven lifecycle emails.

Customer.io integrates directly with your app or website data. Instead of uploading lists, you stream real-time events (like "user clicked upgrade" or "user hasn't logged in for 30 days"). This allows for incredibly precise targeting.

Best For

SaaS companies, mobile apps, and tech platforms requiring behavioral messaging.

Pros (Key Features)

• Data-Driven Segments: Build segments based on complex real-time data and historical behavior.
• Liquid Templating: Use advanced logic within the email content itself to personalize messages deeply.
• Omni-channel Workflows: Send emails, push notifications, SMS, and in-app messages from a single workflow.
• A/B Testing: Test not just subject lines but entire workflow branches.
• Visual Workflow Builder: Highly flexible canvas for mapping out complex user journeys.

Cons (Limitations)

• Technical Setup: Requires developer resources to integrate properly; not for the non-technical user.
• Price: Significantly more expensive starting point than MailerLite.

Pricing Plans

• Essentials: Starts at $100/mo (Includes 5,000 profiles, visual workflow builder).
• Premium: Starts at $1,000/mo (Dedicated success manager, HIPAA compliance).

6. Klaviyo

Klaviyo is the undisputed heavyweight champion for e-commerce email marketing. 

If you use Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, Klaviyo is likely the best choice.

Klaviyo is built entirely around online sales data. It doesn't just see "subscribers"; it sees "VIP customers," "window shoppers," and "churn risks." Its ability to attribute revenue directly to specific emails makes ROI tracking effortless.

Best For

E-commerce brands (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce).

Pros (Key Features)

• Deep E-commerce Integration: Pulls in product data, purchase history, and browsing behavior automatically.
• Predictive Analytics: Uses AI to predict churn risk, next purchase date, and customer lifetime value (CLV).
• Dynamic Product Blocks: Automatically populate emails with products a specific user viewed or left in their cart.
• Pre-built E-commerce Flows: Hundreds of ready-to-go templates for back-in-stock, abandoned cart, and post-purchase thank-yous.
• Benchmark Data: Compare your performance against thousands of other brands in your specific vertical.

Cons (Limitations)

• Cost: Klaviyo is premium software with a price tag to match. As you scale, it gets expensive quickly.
• Learning Curve: The depth of data can be overwhelming for beginners.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 250 contacts and 500 monthly email sends.
• Email: Starts at $20/mo (Up to 500 contacts, scales with list size).
• Email & SMS: Starts at $35/mo (Includes SMS credits).

7. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is frequently cited as the gold standard for marketing automation.

If MailerLite is a bicycle, ActiveCampaign is a jet engine.

ActiveCampaign combines email marketing, marketing automation, and sales CRM into one platform. Its "Customer Experience Automation" (CXA) focus means you can orchestrate very complex journeys based on site tracking, email engagement, and sales team activity.

Best For

Advanced marketers, B2B companies, and businesses that need sales CRM integration.

Pros (Key Features)

• Unrivaled Automation: The visual automation builder supports virtually any logic, split testing within automations, and goal tracking.
• Built-in CRM: Manage pipelines, lead scoring, and automated task assignment for sales reps.
• Site Tracking: See what leads are doing on your website and trigger emails based on page views.
• Predictive Sending: Uses AI to send emails at the exact time a specific contact is most likely to open.
• Integrations: Over 950+ integrations, ensuring it fits into any tech stack.

Cons (Limitations)

• Complexity: Can be overkill for simple newsletter needs.
• Performance: The interface can sometimes be slow due to the heavy feature load.

Pricing Plans

• Starter: Starts at $29/mo (Basic automation and email).
• Plus: Starts at $49/mo (CRM, landing pages, lead scoring).
• Professional: Starts at $149/mo (Predictive sending, split automations).
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.

8. GetResponse

GetResponse has transformed from a simple email tool into a complete online marketing suite. 

It is one of the few platforms that natively includes webinar hosting.

For businesses that want to consolidate their tool stack, GetResponse is compelling. You can run webinars, build landing pages, create sales funnels, and manage email marketing all from one dashboard.

Best For

Info-product sellers, coaches, and marketers who use webinars for lead generation.

Pros (Key Features)

• Webinar Hosting: Host webinars directly in the platform and automate follow-up sequences.
• Conversion Funnels: Visual funnel builder that pre-connects landing pages, emails, and checkout pages.
• AI Email Generator: Uses OpenAI technology to draft emails and subject lines.
• Paid Newsletters: Built-in tools to monetize your newsletter content.

Cons (Limitations)

• Automation limits: Lower tiers have restricted automation capabilities.
• Deliverability: Historically slightly more variable than ActiveCampaign or Postmark.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 500 contacts (very limited).
• Email Marketing: Starts at $19/mo.
• Marketing Automation: Starts at $59/mo (Webinars, advanced automation).
• Ecommerce Marketing: Starts at $119/mo.

9. Omnisend

Omnisend is the primary challenger to Klaviyo in the e-commerce space.

It focuses on making omnichannel marketing (Email + SMS + Push) accessible.

Omnisend differentiates itself with a very user-friendly interface that simplifies e-commerce automation. Its unique "Campaign Booster" automatically resends campaigns to non-openers, capturing easy revenue.

Best For

E-commerce merchants who want a simpler, slightly more affordable alternative to Klaviyo.

Pros (Key Features)

• Product Picker: Drag and drop products from your store directly into emails.
• Gamification: Built-in "Wheel of Fortune" and scratch card forms to boost sign-up rates.
• SMS & Push: Integrated natively into workflows alongside email.
• Pre-built Workflows: Excellent library of e-commerce specific automation templates.

Cons (Limitations)

• E-commerce Focus: Not suitable for non-retail businesses (bloggers, B2B).
• Design Flexibility: Less design freedom than Mailchimp or Campaign Monitor.

Pricing Plans

• Free: 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo, 60 SMS.
• Standard: Starts at $16/mo (Email only).
• Pro: Starts at $59/mo (Unlimited email + Free SMS credits).

10. AWeber

AWeber is one of the oldest names in the game, known for its reliability and stellar customer support.

Recently, it has modernized its platform to better serve creators and small businesses.

AWeber keeps things simple. It doesn't have the complex automation of ActiveCampaign, but it is rock-solid reliable and offers 24/7 phone support, which is rare.

Best For

Small business owners and non-technical creators who value support and stability.

Pros (Key Features)

• Canva Integration: Design graphics in Canva directly inside AWeber.
• 24/7 Support: Phone, chat, and email support available around the clock.
• AMP for Email: Supports interactive email elements (like carousels) natively.
• Curated Newsletter: "Smart Designer" builds branded templates from your URL.

Cons (Limitations)

• Dated Interface: The UI still feels a bit older than modern tools like Brevo.
• Basic Automation: Not suitable for complex behavioral targeting.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 500 subscribers.
• Lite: Starts at $12.50/mo.
• Plus: Starts at $20/mo (Unlimited lists, advanced reporting).
• Unlimited: Starts at $899/mo.

11. HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot is more than an email tool; it's a platform for scaling companies. It brings marketing, sales, and service together.

If you plan to grow into a large enterprise, starting with HubSpot can save migration headaches later. The free CRM is powerful, and the email marketing tool is deeply integrated with it.

Best For

Scaling B2B companies and enterprises needing full funnel visibility.

Pros (Key Features)

• Unified Database: Email data lives in the same place as sales and support data.
• Smart Content: Personalize email content based on CRM data points.
• Ad Retargeting: Manage Facebook and LinkedIn ads directly from the platform.
• Ecosystem: Incredible training (HubSpot Academy) and community support.

Cons (Limitations)

• Price Hikes: Moving from the "Starter" plan to "Professional" is a massive price jump (often $800+/mo).
• Contract Lock-in: Higher tiers often require annual contracts.

Pricing Plans

• Free Tools: Basic email and CRM.
• Starter: Starts at $20/mo (Removes branding, basic automation).
• Professional: Starts at $800/mo (Omni-channel automation, custom reporting).

12. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit (rebranded from ConvertKit) is the darling of the creator economy. It is built specifically for bloggers, podcasters, and authors.

Kit strips away the visual clutter. It prioritizes plain-text emails that feel personal, ensuring high deliverability. Its "Creator Network" feature allows users to recommend each other, driving massive list growth.

Best For

Creators, bloggers, and influencers building a personal brand.

Pros (Key Features)

• Creator Network: Built-in referral engine to grow your list via other creators.
• Commerce: Sell digital products and subscriptions directly.
• Tag-Based System: Flexible subscriber management without duplicate contacts.
• Visual Automations: Simple yet powerful sequence builder.

Cons (Limitations)

• Limited Design: Not good for image-heavy, magazine-style newsletters.
• Reporting: Reporting is relatively basic compared to HubSpot or ActiveCampaign.

Pricing Plans

• Free: Up to 10,000 subscribers (No automation).
• Creator: Starts at $29/mo (Automation, sequences).
• Creator Pro: Starts at $59/mo (Subscriber scoring, advanced reporting).

Let ColdIQ Handle Your Stack

Comparing MailerLite alternatives can be exhausting. You have to evaluate pricing, test deliverability, set up DKIM/SPF records, and migrate data - all while trying to run your business.

For B2B founders and GTM teams, the goal isn't just to "send emails." The goal is to build a revenue pipeline.

ColdIQ takes this burden off your shoulders. We don't just recommend tools; we build and manage the entire outbound and inbound infrastructure for you:

• We Select the Best Stack: Whether it’s Brevo for newsletters, Smartlead for cold outreach, or Clay for data enrichment, we configure the perfect setup for your goals.
• We Handle Technical Setup: From domain warming to inbox rotation, we ensure your emails actually land in the primary tab.
• We Drive Results: We use these tools to book qualified meetings directly on your calendar.

Stop wrestling with software comparisons and start closing deals.

Book a Strategy Call with ColdIQ