BestSends Guide · Tested by Carlos Gil
7 Best MailerLite Alternatives in 2026
MailerLite is one of the easiest ESPs to use, which is exactly why some people pick it and then outgrow it fast. These are the platforms worth considering, whether you want something simpler or a real upgrade path.
MailerLite is consistently one of the friendliest platforms to start with — clean UI, honest pricing, generous free plan. People leave it for one of two reasons: they need automation or CRM depth MailerLite does not offer, or they never needed that much platform in the first place and want something even simpler. Below is the ranked list covering both directions, plus who each pick actually fits.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | From | Free plan | Rating | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrevoTop pick | Similar price, more included | $9/mo | 300 emails/day | 4.7 | Visit → |
| ActiveCampaign | Outgrowing MailerLite’s automation | $15/mo | 14-day trial | 4.8 | Visit → |
| Kit | Newsletters and digital products | Free | 10K subs | 4.7 | Visit → |
| Flodesk | Visually polished emails | $25/mo | Forms & landing pages only | 4.2 | Visit → |
| beehiiv | Newsletter growth and revenue | Free | 2,500 subs | 4.6 | Visit → |
| Moosend | Tight budgets | $9/mo | 30-day trial | 4.0 | Visit → |
| Mailchimp | Teams that want a known quantity | $13/mo | 500 subs | 4.0 | Visit → |
What we love · what we don't
What we love
- Most alternatives here have a free tier you can test before switching.
- Whether you want simpler or more powerful, there is a clear option on this list.
- Migration off MailerLite is well documented for the major moves.
What we don't
- None of these match MailerLite’s combination of price, simplicity, and free landing pages all at once.
- The automation upgrades (ActiveCampaign) come with a real learning curve.
The ranking
1. Brevo
Brevo lands at a similar price point to MailerLite but bills by emails sent rather than contacts stored, which favors larger or less-frequently-emailed lists.
A light CRM and SMS ship in the same account, where MailerLite keeps things email-focused.
The interface is not as polished as MailerLite’s, so it is a tradeoff of features for simplicity.
Pros
- Pay-per-send pricing
- CRM and SMS included
- Strong free plan
Cons
- Less polished UI than MailerLite
- Automation builder is less intuitive
Who it's for
Senders who want more built-in beyond email.
Skip it if
You picked MailerLite specifically for its simplicity.
2. ActiveCampaign
MailerLite’s automation is capable for straightforward sequences, but branching logic, lead scoring, and a real CRM all live in ActiveCampaign instead.
It costs more and takes longer to set up, so this move only makes sense if you will actually use the added depth.
Pros
- Deep automation builder
- CRM included
- Strong deliverability reputation
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- No permanent free plan
Who it's for
Teams that have outgrown simple automation.
Skip it if
Your workflows are still basic.
3. Kit
If your MailerLite account is mostly a newsletter, Kit adds paid subscriptions, digital product sales, and a tag-based model built specifically for creators.
The free plan covers 10,000 subscribers, ahead of MailerLite’s 1,000.
Pros
- 10K free subscribers
- Native digital product sales
- Creator-focused tag model
Cons
- Templates are more basic
- Not built for transactional email
Who it's for
Newsletter writers and course creators.
Skip it if
You need landing pages and a website builder in the same tool.
4. Flodesk
Flodesk’s templates look noticeably more polished out of the box than MailerLite’s, which matters for brands where visual presentation is part of the product.
Pricing is flat rather than tiered by subscriber count, which can be a real advantage as your list grows.
Automation and reporting are lighter than MailerLite’s, so it is a tradeoff of design for depth.
Pros
- Flat pricing regardless of list size
- Most polished templates in the category
- Built-in checkout and payment plans
Cons
- Lighter automation than MailerLite
- No true free sending plan
Who it's for
Brands and solopreneurs prioritizing visual design.
Skip it if
You need robust automation or reporting.
5. beehiiv
beehiiv adds a native ad network, referral program, and paid subscriptions on top of the newsletter fundamentals — tools MailerLite was never built around.
Automation is lighter than MailerLite’s, so it is a better fit if your core business is the newsletter itself.
Pros
- Native ad network
- Referral program built in
- Strong SEO-friendly archives
Cons
- Lighter automation
- Fewer general marketing features
Who it's for
Newsletter operators focused on growth and monetization.
Skip it if
You need broader marketing automation beyond the newsletter.
6. Moosend
If price was the only thing pulling you toward MailerLite, Moosend sits just under it with automation included on the starting plan.
The integration ecosystem and template library are smaller, so check your stack before switching.
Pros
- Competitive entry pricing
- Automation on entry plan
- Simple setup
Cons
- Smaller integration ecosystem
- Older interface than MailerLite
Who it's for
Bootstrapped senders on a tight budget.
Skip it if
You rely on MailerLite’s landing page builder or specific integrations.
7. Mailchimp
Mailchimp costs more than MailerLite at most tiers and has a smaller free plan, but some teams still pick it for the sheer breadth of integrations and agency familiarity.
It is a lateral or downgrade move for most senders leaving MailerLite — pick it only for the ecosystem, not for price or simplicity.
Pros
- Widely known and documented
- Huge integration library
- Large template selection
Cons
- Smaller free plan than MailerLite
- Pricier at scale
Who it's for
Teams prioritizing ecosystem breadth over cost.
Skip it if
Price or simplicity is what drew you to MailerLite.
Best for...
Best for most senders
Brevo
Similar price, CRM and SMS included.
Best for automation upgrade
ActiveCampaign
Depth MailerLite does not attempt.
Best for creators
Kit
Built for newsletters and digital products.
Best for design-first brands
Flodesk
Flat pricing, the most polished templates.
Best for newsletter monetization
beehiiv
Native ad network and referral program.
Best for tightest budget
Moosend
Automation included on the entry plan.
Pricing at every list size
Estimated monthly cost on each platform's standard plan, billed monthly. Cheapest at each tier highlighted.
| Tool | 1,000 | 10,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | $10 | $73 | $289 | $489 |
| Brevo | $9 | $25 | $65 | $179 |
| Kit | Free | $66 | $316 | $566 |
| Flodesk | $25 | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Moosend | $9 | $56 | $208 | $455 |
What these platforms cost right now
Tracked weekly from vendor pricing pages · updated October 5, 2026
| Platform | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan | Change since May | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mailerlite | $10.80/mo | Up to 250 contacts | +8.0% | Visit → |
| Brevo | $8.08/mo | Up to 500 contacts | Unchanged | Visit → |
| Kit | $33/mo | Up to 10,000 contacts | Unchanged | Visit → |
| ActiveCampaign | $15/mo | — | Unchanged | Visit → |
| Flodesk | $25/mo | No free plan | Unchanged | Visit → |
| beehiiv | $43/mo | Up to 2,500 contacts | Unchanged | Visit → |
| Moosend | $9/mo | Up to 1,000 contacts | +28.6% | Visit → |
| Mailchimp | $13/mo | Up to 250 contacts | Unchanged | Visit → |
Full methodology and 90-day price history: Email Platform Pricing Report 2026.
Should you actually switch?
MailerLite is a genuinely good default. Here is how to tell whether an alternative is actually worth the switch.
Switch if
- You are hitting the ceiling of MailerLite’s automation builder and need branching logic or a CRM.
- Your business is really a newsletter and you want monetization tools MailerLite does not offer.
- Design and brand polish matter more to you than automation depth or list size flexibility.
- You want CRM and SMS bundled into the same account as your email sends.
Stay put if
- You like MailerLite’s simplicity and have not hit any real limitation yet.
- You rely on its free landing pages and website builder.
- Your automations are straightforward and already working.
Step-by-step migration guides
Frequently asked questions
Usually one of two reasons: they need automation or CRM depth MailerLite does not offer (the ActiveCampaign move), or they never needed a full ESP and want something simpler and more design-focused, like Flodesk or Kit.
Keep reading
Our top pick
Brevo leads our testing
Tested hands on against every platform in this guide, on real accounts and real campaigns.
Still deciding?
Put any two platforms head-to-head on price, automation, and deliverability.
Related reading
About the Author
Carlos Gil is the bestselling author of The End of Marketing, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and founder of The Best Network. He brings 15+ years in marketing to practical reviews of AI, SaaS, email marketing, and creator tools.
Read more about Carlos