Mailchimp vs MailerLite
Free-plan headroom and true monthly cost as the list grows. Paid columns use Essentials vs Comfort. At 10k: Mailchimp $110 · MailerLite $89.
Free plans
| Feature | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free available | Yes | Yes |
| Contacts | 250 | 250 |
| Sends / mo | 500 | 2500 |
| Automations on free | false | true |
| Remove branding | No | No |
Monthly cost by list size
| Subscribers | Mailchimp | MailerLite | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $13 | $12 | MailerLite |
| 1k | $26.50 | $19 | MailerLite |
| 2.5k | $45 | $33 | MailerLite |
| 5k | $75 | $49 | MailerLite |
| 10k | $110 | $89 | MailerLite |
| 25k | $270 | $179 | MailerLite |
| 50k | $385 | $319 | MailerLite |
| 100k | $800 | $439 | MailerLite |
Mailchimp gotchas.
- Free plan cut to 250 contacts / 500 sends — poorly suited for real newsletters
- Unsubscribed contacts still count toward paid tiers
- Often more expensive than MailerLite/Kit at same list size
MailerLite gotchas.
- Free capped at only 250 contacts (much tighter than Kit/beehiiv)
- Comfort send limit = 10× subscriber tier ceiling
- Cumulative active count within billing cycle (deleted still count until anniversary)
Mailchimp vs MailerLite FAQ
Which is cheaper at 10,000 subscribers — Mailchimp or MailerLite?
On the plans we track (Essentials vs Comfort), the cheaper verified bill at 10k is MailerLite ($89 vs $110). Unknown cells stay blank.
Which has the better free plan — Mailchimp or MailerLite?
Mailchimp: free contacts 250. MailerLite: free contacts 250.
Should I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
Use free-plan headroom and the cost table on this page — not feature star ratings. Read gotchas on each tool page and confirm live vendor pricing before migrating.