MailerLite vs ConvertKit (2026): Which Should You Choose?

Quick Answer

MailerLite is the affordable, template-rich email tool for small businesses who want a balance of simplicity and features. ConvertKit (now branded as Kit) is the creator economy platform with the most generous free plan (10,000 subscribers), tag-based subscribers, and built-in tools to sell digital products and paid newsletters. Creators should choose ConvertKit; traditional small businesses often prefer MailerLite's templates and lower paid pricing.

MailerLite

8.8/10

Best for template-focused marketing

ConvertKit

9.0/10

Best for creators and newsletters

Feature Comparison

Feature	MailerLite	ConvertKit
Pricing	Free / $9–$19+/mo	Free / $25+/mo
Free Plan	1,000 subscribers, 12k emails/mo	10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends
Email Templates	Excellent (visual templates)	Minimal (text-focused by design)
Deliverability	Excellent	Excellent (often 2-5% higher open rates)
Digital Product Sales	Yes (basic)	Excellent (built-in commerce)
Subscriber Tags	Good	Excellent (tag-based, no duplicates)
Automation	Good visual builder	Good visual builder
Best For	SMBs, bloggers wanting templates	Creators, newsletter writers

Which do you use?

MailerLite

ConvertKit

Who Should Choose What?

Choose MailerLite if:

You want beautiful email templates for a small business or blog, prefer more affordable paid plans as your list grows, or are not primarily a content creator but need solid email marketing with visual design options.

Choose ConvertKit if:

You are a content creator — blogger, YouTuber, podcaster, or newsletter writer. ConvertKit's 10,000 subscriber free plan, tag-based system, and built-in digital product sales make it the best free starting point and long-term platform for creators.

FAQ

Is MailerLite or ConvertKit better?

MailerLite is better for template-rich email marketing at lower paid prices. ConvertKit is better for creators — its 10,000 subscriber free plan, deliverability, and built-in commerce make it the creator economy standard. Both have excellent free plans; ConvertKit's is more generous on subscriber count.

Which has a better free plan — MailerLite or ConvertKit?

ConvertKit free allows 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends. MailerLite free allows 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 emails/month. For subscriber count, ConvertKit's free plan is dramatically more generous — 10x more subscribers at no cost.

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