27 minute read time

18 MailerLite Alternatives for Growing Businesses (2025 Picks)

Campaign Monitor - May 20, 2025

Disclaimer: The features, pricing, and details mentioned for each product are as of May 2025, and may have changed since then.

Feeling like MailerLite isn’t quite hitting the mark for your email marketing needs? Considering online reviews, we’ve tested 18 MailerLite alternatives that offer stronger automation, better deliverability, and more flexible pricing. Ready to discover the best options that might fit your business better? Let’s jump in.

(TL;DR) MailerLite alternatives at a glance

What’s “wrong” with MailerLite?

MailerLite is a solid email marketing platform, especially for beginners on a budget. However, after analyzing hundreds of reviews online from G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and Gartner, several recurring issues kept surfacing:

• Deliverability problems with emails frequently landing in spam folders, undermining campaign effectiveness and ROI
• Customer support delays: Support responsiveness can vary, with some users reporting slow replies or difficulties in resolving technical issues quickly, especially on lower-tier plans without priority support.
• Limited automation capabilities in lower-tier plans, restricting advanced marketing workflows
• Interface usability issues with discrepancies between help documentation and the actual platform, leading to wasted time
• Account suspension concerns where users report unexpected deactivations after already paying for services

1) Campaign Monitor by Marigold – The #1 MailerLite alternative in the market right now

4.7/5 (1000+ reviews)

Campaign Monitor by Marigold stands out with its exceptional email deliverability, stunning templates, and intuitive design tools that make creating professional campaigns a breeze—even for non-designers.

With Campaign Monitor, you get a platform that balances sophisticated features with user-friendly interfaces, making it perfect for growing businesses that want to elevate their email marketing beyond the basics.

Campaign Monitor by Marigold vs. MailerLite: Key differences

Key features

• Drag-and-Drop Email Builder: Create stunning, responsive emails with an intuitive editor that gives you pixel-perfect control without requiring technical skills.
• Prebuilt Automated Journeys: Leverage prebuilt journeys (welcome series, abandoned cart, anniversaries, and events) to save time, boost engagement, and drive conversions.
• Template Management – Campaign Monitor allows you to lock certain sections of templates, letting team members update content while maintaining brand consistency
• Dynamic Content – Personalize emails at scale with content blocks that change based on subscriber data.

Campaign Monitor has a free plan, but pricing starts at $12 USD/month

What else can you do with Campaign Monitor?

Beyond email marketing, Campaign Monitor offers SMS marketing capabilities, transactional emails, and integration with over 250+ tools including Salesforce, WordPress, and Shopify. The platform’s loyalty program features allow you to build and manage tiered rewards programs directly within your email marketing system—something MailerLite simply doesn’t offer.

2) Mailchimp – Good for multi-channel customer journeys

4.4/5 (5000+ reviews)

Mailchimp has evolved from a simple email service provider into a comprehensive marketing platform with AI-powered tools that help small businesses create more effective campaigns with less effort—addressing MailerLite’s limitations in content creation and automation.

Key features

• AI-Powered Tools – Intuit Assist generates subject lines and body content, saving time compared to MailerLite’s manual approach
• Customer Journey Builder – Create sophisticated automations with 60+ triggers based on user behavior
• Website and Landing Page Builder – Build SEO-optimized, mobile-responsive websites with unlimited pages
• Predictive Demographics – Target by demographic segments even without direct input from customers

Mailchimp has a free plan, but pricing starts at $13/month

Considerations before going with Mailchimp

While Mailchimp offers a robust feature set, many advanced tools are locked behind the Premium plan’s steep $350/month price tag. The platform imposes strict automation limits on the Essentials plan (only 4 journey points), and SMS and transactional emails cost extra. For businesses needing sophisticated automation without the premium price, Campaign Monitor offers better value.

Read more: 17 Mailchimp Alternatives (Reviewed & Ranked)

3) ActiveCampaign – Decent automation capabilities

4.5/5 (13,000+ reviews)

ActiveCampaign stands out with its deeply customizable automation capabilities and integrated CRM, making it ideal for businesses that want to create sophisticated, personalized customer journeys beyond what MailerLite can offer.

Key features

• AI-Powered Automation Builder – Generate automated workflows instantly by simply inputting your marketing goal
• 900+ Pre-built Automation Recipes – Deploy proven workflows for abandoned carts, lead scoring, and more
• Win Probability & Lead Scoring – Predict conversions and prioritize leads based on behavior
• Conversation Intelligence – Record, transcribe, and analyze sales calls to improve team performance and identify opportunities.
• Site Tracking and Event Monitoring – Track visitor behavior on your website and trigger relevant emails based on specific actions, offering much deeper engagement capabilities than Constant Contact.

Pricing starts at $15/month

Considerations before going with ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign’s interface can be overwhelming for beginners. Additionally, full access to ActiveCampaign’s robust feature set requires the Pro or Enterprise tier, which can be significantly more expensive than Campaign Monitor’s comparable plans.

Read more: Top ActiveCampaign Alternatives That are Easy to Use

4) Constant Contact – Good for event marketing

4.1/5 (6000+ reviews)

Constant Contact excels at combining email marketing with robust event management tools, making it perfect for businesses that regularly host events—a significant advantage over MailerLite’s limited event capabilities.

Key features

• Event Marketing Suite: Host events, sell tickets, and take payments via Stripe or PayPal, offering event capabilities.
• Built-in Event Tools: Manage events directly within the platform, eliminating the need for additional third-party integrations.
• AI-Powered Content Creation: Create engaging campaigns quickly with AI tools that optimize for better performance.
• Social Media Integration: Seamlessly connect email marketing with Facebook and Instagram campaigns for cohesive multi-channel marketing.

Pricing starts at $12/month

Considerations before going with Constant Contact

Constant Contact limits automation capabilities in lower tiers, and advanced reporting and segmentation require the Premium plan. Additionally, it offers fewer ecommerce-specific features than competitors like Campaign Monitor.

Read more: 17 Constant Contact Alternatives That Offer Better Automation

5) Brevo – Affordable MailerLite Alternative

4.5/5 (2000+ reviews)

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers a compelling alternative to MailerLite with its generous free plan and affordable pricing structure, while still providing advanced features like AI-powered tools and multi-channel marketing capabilities.

Key features

• Unlimited Contacts – Store as many contacts as you need without affecting your monthly price.
• Integrated SMS Marketing – Send text messages alongside email campaigns from the same platform, providing multi-channel capabilities.
• Integrated Pipeline: Manage sales pipeline and customer support conversations within the same platform as your email marketing.
• Universal Inbox: Centralize messages from multiple channels in one unified inbox for streamlined communication management.
• 360° Customer View: Gain comprehensive insights through an integrated Customer Data Platform for deeper understanding.

Brevo has a free plan, but pricing starts at $9/month

Considerations before going with Brevo

The Lite and Standard tiers offer limited automation capabilities. The platform requires additional add-ons for custom branding removal even on paid plans, affecting professional presentation. Additionally, the email builder lacks some of the design flexibility and advanced customization options offered by more design-focused competitors.

Read next: We Compared 17 Brevo Alternatives – Here are Top 3

6) Klaviyo – Good for e-commerce brands

4.6/5 (1000+ reviews)

Klaviyo is purpose-built for e-commerce brands, offering deep integration with online stores and powerful data-driven marketing tools that far exceed MailerLite’s e-commerce capabilities.

Key features

• E-commerce-Specific Segmentation – Create highly targeted segments based on purchase history, product views, and cart activity.
• Pre-Built Automation Flows – Deploy ready-made sequences for abandoned carts, browse abandonment, and post-purchase follow-ups that generate revenue automatically.
• Reviews Platform – Collect and display customer reviews for Shopify and WooCommerce
• Predictive Analytics – Forecast customer lifetime value, churn risk, and next purchase date

Klaviyo has a free plan, but pricing starts at $45/month

Considerations before going with Klaviyo

Klaviyo’s reviews and advanced data tools require add-on fees, adding to the total cost. Additionally, the platform is optimized for ecommerce and may not be ideal for B2B marketers or those with longer sales cycles..

7) SendGrid – Developer-friendly platform

4/5 (300+ reviews)

SendGrid provides a developer-first email platform with robust APIs and SDKs, making it ideal for technical teams that need programmatic control over their email marketing—something MailerLite doesn’t specialize in.

Key features

• RESTful Email API – Send emails programmatically with SMTP and SDKs for Python, Java, Node, etc.
• Advanced Deliverability Tools – Monitor and improve inbox placement with dedicated IPs, domain authentication, and deliverability insights.
• Email Testing – Preview how emails render across 30+ email clients and devices before sending.
• Webhook Event Notifications – Receive real-time data on email events like opens, clicks, and bounces directly to your application.
• Subuser Management – Create separate logins with specific permissions for team members or clients.

SendGrid has a free plan, but pricing starts at $19.95/month

Considerations before going with SendGrid

SendGrid isn’t beginner-friendly for non-technical marketers, and many key features like automation and dedicated IPs are only available on higher plans. The marketing campaign features aren’t as intuitive as some marketing-focused platforms. Additionally, users primarily seeking a drag-and-drop experience might find SendGrid’s approach challenging.

Read more: SendGrid Alternatives That Don’t Require Technical Expertise

8) GetResponse – Good for course creators

4.3/5 (700+ reviews)

GetResponse combines email marketing with webinar hosting and course creation tools, making it an excellent choice for educators and content creators who want to monetize their expertise—features that MailerLite doesn’t offer.

Key features

• AI Course Creator – Structure courses, modules, and quizzes automatically from topic description.
• Conversion Funnels – Create complete marketing funnels from ad to sale with landing pages, forms, emails, and payment processing.
• Webinar Marketing – Host and promote webinars directly within the same platform as your email marketing, offering integrated event capabilities.
• Dynamic Templates with Handlebars — Create advanced personalization with flexible template variables and conditional rendering.
• Conversion Funnels – Use preconfigured templates for opt-ins, webinars, sales, and lead magnets

Pricing starts at $19/month

Considerations before going with GetResponse

While GetResponse offers many features beyond email marketing, this can make the platform feel overwhelming for users who just need simple email capabilities. Many key features are gated behind higher plans, requiring significant investment to access advanced capabilities. The platform also lacks native ecommerce CRM or review tools that might be important for retail businesses.

Read next: We Compared 17 GetResponse Alternatives – Here’s #1

9) ConvertKit (Kit) – Creator-focused email marketing

4.4/5 (200+ reviews)

ConvertKit (now Kit) is designed specifically for independent creators, offering tools to build, engage, and monetize audiences through email—with features tailored to writers, podcasters, and artists in ways MailerLite isn’t.

Key features

• Creator-First Workflow: Enjoy an interface designed specifically for content creators, with intuitive tools for managing subscribers.
• Commerce Tools: Sell digital products, paid newsletter subscriptions, and one-off donations directly within the platform.
• Built-in Creator Network: Tap into a recommendations network that helps promote your content to relevant audiences.
• Reliable Deliverability: Ensure your emails reach subscribers’ inboxes with effective reputation management and optimization.

ConvertKit has a free plan, but pricing starts at $29/month

Considerations before going with ConvertKit

Power users may find the learning curve steep, as the deep feature set (Commerce, Sponsor Network) can overwhelm beginners. Additionally, the platform’s analytics capabilities are more creator-focused than data-heavy, offering fewer advanced reporting options.

Read more: 17 ConvertKit Alternatives That Offer More Business Features

10) AWeber – AI-enhanced email marketing 

4.2/5 (600+ reviews)

AWeber stands out with its comprehensive AI tools that help small businesses overcome content creation challenges, offering more sophisticated writing assistance than MailerLite’s basic editor.

Key features

• AI Writing Assistant: Generate full emails or newsletter drafts in your brand voice, offering advanced AI writing.
• Subject Line Assistant — Craft high-impact subject lines optimized for open rates with AI-powered suggestions.
• Monetization Tools — Sell digital goods, subscriptions, and payment plans in 100+ currencies with low transaction fees.
• Web Push Notifications — Re-engage site visitors with one-click subscription to push notifications that complement email campaigns.

Pricing starts at $15/month

Considerations before going with AWeber

AWeber’s deep feature set can be overwhelming for absolute beginners. Additionally, AWeber lacks native SMS capabilities beyond web push notifications, limiting multi-channel marketing options.

Read more: 15 AWeber Alternatives That are Cost-Effective

11) Omnisend – Omnichannel marketing platform for ecommerce businesses

4.6/5 (900+ reviews)

Omnisend specializes in e-commerce marketing with built-in product reviews, web push notifications, and SMS capabilities that create a true omnichannel experience—far beyond MailerLite’s basic e-commerce features.

Key features

• Channel Integration – Coordinate email, SMS, push notifications, and social media ads from a single platform.
• E-commerce-Specific Workflows – Deploy pre-built automation sequences for cart recovery, browse abandonment, and order follow-ups.
• Product Recommendation Blocks – Automatically include personalized product suggestions based on customer behavior.
• Shoppable Email Blocks: Use product pickers, dynamic discount codes, and “Wheel of Fortune” spin-to-win elements with more shopping-focused features than Brevo.

Pricing starts at $16/month

Considerations before going with Omnisend

Omnisend is heavily optimized for e-commerce, which means service businesses or content creators might not benefit from all the specialized features. Additionally, some features like product reviews only work with Shopify, and the 30% discount requires quarterly pre-payment, which may not suit monthly budgets.

Read next: We Compared 11+ Omnisend Alternatives – Here are Top 3

12) Moosend – Budget-friendly MailerLite alternative

4.7/5 (700+ reviews)

Moosend offers competitive pricing with a feature set that rivals more expensive platforms, making it an excellent alternative for budget-conscious marketers who find MailerLite’s pricing increasing as they grow.

Key features

• AI-Enhanced Content Generation: Create email copy, subject lines, and product descriptions with Moosend AI.
• Visual Workflow Builder: Build automation flows with triggers for opens, clicks, purchases, and custom events.
• Landing Pages & Forms: Create unlimited landing pages and subscription forms with templates and customization options.
• Built-in SMTP Server — Send via Moosend’s infrastructure with deliverability monitoring and optimization tools.
• Unlimited Lists & Tags — Organize subscribers flexibly without the constraints of separate list management.

Pricing starts at $9/month

Considerations before going with Moosend

Moosend’s advanced features like transactional email and SSO require higher plans or add-ons. Some users report that the onboarding process could be more comprehensive for new users transitioning from other platforms.

Read more: 15+ Moosend Alternatives (Ranked & Reviewed)

13) Drip – Data-driven e-commerce marketing

4.4/5 (400+ reviews)

Drip focuses on behavior-driven segmentation and personalization for e-commerce brands, offering more sophisticated targeting capabilities than MailerLite’s basic segmentation features.

Key features

• Revenue Attribution – Track exactly how much revenue each campaign, automation, and workflow generates
• Behavior-Based Automation – Trigger highly targeted messages based on specific customer actions and purchase behaviors
• Visual Workflow Builder – Design complex customer journeys with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Deliverability Support: Ensure optimal inbox placement with expert support for deliverability challenges.
• Comprehensive Resources: Access responsive customer service and detailed documentation to maximize platform value.

Pricing starts at $39/month

Considerations before going with Drip

Drip offers only a single pricing tier, with no lower-cost “lite” plan for small lists, potentially making it more expensive for businesses just starting out. The pricing increases as per your contact list.

Some of its onsite features may overlap with third-party pop-up tools you’re already using. Additionally, Drip doesn’t include a built-in SMS channel, focusing primarily on email and onsite experiences.

Read more: 11+ Drip Alternatives with Scalable Pricing Models

14) HubSpot Email Marketing – Marketing platform with CRM integration

4.4/5 (12K+ reviews)

HubSpot’s email marketing tool integrates seamlessly with its powerful CRM, providing a unified platform for marketing, sales, and customer service that far exceeds MailerLite’s limited CRM capabilities.

Key features

• Free CRM with Unlimited Contacts: Store and manage customer data with no limits.
• Marketing Hub Integration: Connect email marketing seamlessly with ads, landing pages, forms, and live chat for a more unified approach.
• Conversation Intelligence: Analyze calls and meetings with AI-powered insights.
• Service Hub Connection: Link marketing efforts directly to customer service tickets and knowledge base, creating a comprehensive customer experience.

HubSpot has a free plan, but pricing starts at $15/month

Considerations before going with HubSpot

HubSpot’s pricing structure involves a significant jump between Starter and Professional tiers, making advanced features inaccessible to smaller businesses.

The platform’s comprehensive nature means you’re paying for an entire ecosystem, which may be excessive if you only need email marketing. While powerful, HubSpot’s workflow builder and segmentation tools can be complex for marketing teams without technical expertise.

15) Benchmark Email – Decent for international businesses

4.3/5 (100+ reviews)

Benchmark Email stands out with its multilingual interface and international support, making it ideal for global businesses that need to manage email marketing across different regions and languages—a capability MailerLite doesn’t fully match.

Key features

• Multi-Language Interface – Access the platform in 9 different languages, making it more accessible for international teams.
• Global Compliance Tools – Ensure campaigns meet regulations across different countries with built-in compliance features.
• Send-Based Pricing – Pay based on email volume rather than contact count, potentially saving money.
• Localized Templates: Choose from region-specific templates designed for different cultural contexts.
• GDPR and International Compliance Tools: Access built-in features for managing consent and privacy across different regulatory environments.

Benchmark Email has a free plan, but pricing starts at $15/month

Considerations before going with Benchmark Email

The platform’s automation capabilities are somewhat limited compared to more advanced alternatives like Campaign Monitor. Additionally, some advanced features require higher-tier plans, which can increase costs for growing businesses.

Additionally, some advanced features require higher-tier plans, which can increase costs for growing businesses.

16) Flodesk – Good for visual-focused brands

4.2/5 (60+ reviews)

Flodesk caters to photographers, designers, and other visual creators with its aesthetically pleasing templates and intuitive design tools—offering a more visually oriented alternative to MailerLite’s functional but sometimes basic templates.

Key features

• Beautiful Templates: Access design-centric templates created by professional designers, offering visually striking options.
• Unlimited Subscribers: Pay one flat rate regardless of list size, eliminating the scaling costs that frustrate many MailLite users.
• Intuitive Workflow Builder: Create automated sequences with a visual editor that makes complex customer journeys simple to implement.
• Integrated Form Builder: Capture leads with stylish, on-brand forms that maintain your aesthetic across all customer touchpoints.
• Simplified Analytics: Access essential performance metrics without the overwhelming complexity of more technical platforms.

Flodesk has a free plan, but pricing starts at $38/month

Considerations before going with Flodesk

Flodesk prioritizes design aesthetics over advanced marketing features, lacking the deep segmentation and analytics capabilities found in other alternatives like Campaign Monitor and ActiveCampaign.

Additionally, while the unlimited subscriber model is attractive, it may not be cost-effective for users with very small lists.

17) Stripo – Decent for ESP integration

4.8/5 (100+ reviews)

Stripo is a specialized email design platform that allows marketers to create stunning, responsive emails that can be exported to various ESPs including MailerLite—ideal for those who want better design capabilities while keeping their current platform.

Key features

• Advanced Email Builder: Craft visually rich, fully responsive emails using drag-and-drop and HTML editing tools—no coding skills needed.
• Extensive Template Library: Choose from over 1,600 professionally designed templates tailored for various industries and campaign types.
• Seamless ESP Integration: Export your email designs directly to more than 80 popular email service providers, simplifying your workflow.
• Collaboration Tools: Work simultaneously with team members, leave comments, and manage design versions for streamlined teamwork.

Pricing starts at $15/month

Considerations before going with Stripo

Stripo is primarily an email design tool, not a full-featured ESP, so you’ll still need another platform to send campaigns. Additionally, the free version of Stripo restricts the number of projects, templates, and template exports, which might be limiting for some users.

18) Beehiiv – Decent newsletter platform for content creators

4.6/5 (20+ reviews)

Beehiiv is a newsletter-first platform designed for creators who want simple, effective tools to grow and monetize their audience. It offers built-in referrals, easy monetization, and clear analytics—all without extra complexity. Perfect for those focused on newsletters rather than full ecommerce features.

Key features

• Focused on Newsletters: Beehiiv is designed specifically for newsletter creators, streamlining the whole publishing process so you can focus on your content and your readers.
• Referral Program Built-In: Easily boost your subscriber base with a referral system that rewards your audience for sharing your newsletter—a feature many other platforms don’t include by default.
• Monetization Made Simple: Whether it’s paid subscriptions, sponsored placements, or ads, Beehiiv lets you set it all up directly, no need for extra tools.
• Clear Analytics Dashboard: Keep track of opens, clicks, growth, and revenue all in one place, so you always know how your newsletter is performing.

Beehiiv has a free plan, but the pricing starts at $49/mo

Considerations before going with Beehiiv

Beehiiv is great if newsletters are your main game, but if you need heavy-duty marketing automation or tight ecommerce integration, it might feel a bit basic. Also, some advanced audience targeting features are limited compared to more full-service platforms.

The verdict: Which MailerLite alternative should you choose? (Our top 3 picks)

After extensive testing and analysis, here are our top recommendations:

1. Campaign Monitor: The clear winner for businesses seeking professional-grade email marketing with superior deliverability, beautiful templates, and intuitive automation tools. Its visual journey designer and template management features make it ideal for growing teams that need both power and ease of use.
2. Brevo: Best for budget-conscious marketers who need multi-channel capabilities (email, SMS, chat) without breaking the bank. The generous free plan and affordable paid tiers make it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
3. Klaviyo: The top choice for e-commerce businesses that need deep integration with their online stores and powerful data-driven marketing capabilities to drive sales and customer retention.

The right choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, but Campaign Monitor stands out for its perfect balance of power, usability, and value.

With its exceptional deliverability, intuitive design tools, and responsive support, Campaign Monitor offers the most complete solution for businesses seeking a better email marketing experience.