Both free plans stop at 250 contacts, so the difference is what you can do with them. MailerLite Free allows 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations. Mailchimp Free allows 500 emails a month (250 a day) and no automation flows. Once you pay, MailerLite is cheaper at most sizes, and Mailchimp also bills for unsubscribed contacts.
- You want Mailchimp's 300+ integrations and a well-known tool
- You want the cheapest entry plan with automations at 500 contacts ($13 Essentials)
- You plan to grow into bigger automations on Standard (up to 200 flows)
Plain link.
- You want automations on a free plan (3, up to 5 steps each)
- You send more than 500 emails a month to under 250 people
- You don't want to pay for unsubscribed contacts
Plain link.
Key facts side by side
Source: Mailchimp pricing, MailerLite pricing, checked 2026-10-21 · Bars show size only. Paid prices are Mailchimp Essentials and MailerLite Comfort.
Free plans compared
| Mailchimp Free | MailerLite Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | 250 | 250 active subscribers |
| Emails | 500 a month, 250 a day | 2,500 a month |
| Automations | None (preview only) | 3 active, up to 5 steps each |
| Branding | Mailchimp referral badge | MailerLite logo |
| Over 250 contacts | All sending on hold until you upgrade or cut your list | Campaigns and automations paused until you upgrade or remove subscribers |
| Free footer address | No | No |
Sources: Mailchimp pricing plans, Mailchimp email footers, MailerLite pricing, MailerLite free plan update.
Prices as your list grows
Monthly billing, USD.
| Contacts | Mailchimp Essentials | Mailchimp Standard | MailerLite Comfort | MailerLite Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $13 | $20 | $12 | $25 |
| 2,500 | $45 | $60 | $33 | $49 |
| 5,000 | $75 | $100 | $49 | $69 |
| 10,000 | $110 | $135 | $89 | $129 |
Source: mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing · www.mailerlite.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-21. Prices change; the vendor's page is the final word.
Mailchimp prices are for its contact tiers (up to 500, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000). At 5,001–10,000 Mailchimp currently shows 15% off the first 12 months. MailerLite yearly billing is 10% less; Mailchimp doesn't offer yearly billing on small lists.
Catches on each side
- Mailchimp: unsubscribed contacts count. Your bill covers all stored contacts, including unsubscribed and non-subscribed ones (your contacts).
- Mailchimp: overages are billed automatically on paid plans, and you pay for the month's highest contact count (additional charges).
- Mailchimp: the trial needs a card. The 14-day trial of Essentials or Standard asks for payment details at the start (Mailchimp pricing).
- MailerLite: deleted subscribers count until your billing date. Anyone active at any point in the billing cycle counts (MailerLite pricing).
- MailerLite: Comfort has a send cap. 10 times the top of your tier each month; past it, you upgrade to Power or wait (MailerLite pricing).
- Both: no free footer address. You need your own postal address on both (Mailchimp address ideas, MailerLite company profile).
Verdict
Pick Mailchimp if you're paying anyway and want its integrations and a path to Standard's larger automations. Keep your list clean, because unsubscribed contacts count toward the bill.
Pick MailerLite if you want the better free plan (5 times the emails and 3 automations) or the lower bill once you pay: $33 against $45 at 2,500 contacts, and $89 against $110 at 10,000.
Full reviews: Mailchimp review and MailerLite review.
FAQ
Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp?
Yes at most sizes: $12 vs $13 at 500 contacts, $33 vs $45 at 2,500 and $89 vs $110 at 10,000 (MailerLite Comfort vs Mailchimp Essentials, monthly, checked 2026-10-21).
Which free plan is better?
Both stop at 250 contacts. MailerLite Free allows 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations; Mailchimp Free allows 500 emails a month (250 a day) and no automation flows.
Does either trial need a credit card?
Mailchimp's 14-day trial does. MailerLite's 14-day premium trial is added to new accounts with no payment method (MailerLite trial).
What changed
- 2026-10-21: Rewritten from both vendors' official pricing and help pages. Replaces an older draft.
Sources
All accessed 2026-10-21 (America/New_York).
- Mailchimp pricing, trial terms and FAQ: https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/
- Mailchimp, "About Mailchimp Pricing Plans": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/
- Mailchimp, "About Your Contacts": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-your-contacts/
- Mailchimp, "About Additional Charges": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-additional-charges/
- Mailchimp, "About Email Footers": https://mailchimp.com/help/about-campaign-footers/
- Mailchimp, "Alternative Physical Address Ideas": https://mailchimp.com/help/alternative-physical-address-ideas/
- MailerLite pricing and FAQ: https://www.mailerlite.com/pricing
- MailerLite, "Free plan update: What you need to know": https://www.mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq
- MailerLite, "What is included in MailerLite's 14-day premium trial?": https://www.mailerlite.com/help/what-is-included-in-mailerlite-s-14-day-premium-trial
- MailerLite, company profile: https://www.mailerlite.com/help/how-to-update-your-company-profile