MailerLite vs Mailchimp: Which Free Plan Is Actually Better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of MailerLite and Mailchimp free plans with current 2026 data. Subscribers, sends, automation, and what you actually get.
Both MailerLite and Mailchimp have free plans. Both keep shrinking them. Here is what you actually get as of 2026, with numbers I verified directly from their pricing pages.
Free Plan Comparison (April 2026)
| Feature | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free subscribers | 500 | 250 |
| Monthly emails | 12,000 | 1,000 |
| Daily send limit | None | 500 |
| Automation | Yes | No |
| A/B testing | Yes | No |
| Landing pages | 10 | Limited |
| Website builder | 1 site | 1 site |
| Signup forms | Yes | Yes |
| Their branding? | No | Yes |
| Paid plans from | $10/mo | $13/mo |
Both free plans have been reduced in the past year. MailerLite dropped from 1,000 to 500 subscribers in September 2025. Mailchimp dropped from 500 to 250 contacts (and from 1,000 to 500 sends on some accounts). If you are reading older comparison articles, their numbers are likely outdated.
MailerLite Free Plan
500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month. That is a 24x send-to-subscriber ratio. You can email your full list multiple times per week without hitting the cap.
What you get:
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Email automation builder (included on free, unlike Mailchimp)
- A/B testing for subject lines and content
- 10 landing pages
- Built-in website builder (1 site)
- Signup forms and popups
- No MailerLite branding on emails
Limitations:
- 500 subscriber cap (reduced from 1,000 in September 2025)
- No pre-built newsletter templates on free (you use the drag-and-drop editor)
- Single user seat
- Email support only for the first 14 days, then knowledge base only
Mailchimp Free Plan
250 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, 500/day limit. With 250 contacts and a weekly newsletter, you use roughly 1,000 sends per month. There is almost no room for additional campaigns, welcome emails, or re-sends.
What you get:
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Marketing CRM
- Landing pages
- Website builder (1 site)
- Forms and popups
- 300+ integrations
Limitations:
- 250 contact limit (reduced from 500)
- 1,000 monthly send cap
- 500 daily send limit
- No automation whatsoever
- No A/B testing
- Mailchimp branding on every email
- Only 1 audience (list)
- Sending paused if you exceed either limit
Where MailerLite Wins
Sends. 12,000 vs 1,000. That is 12x more emails per month. On Mailchimp's free plan, a weekly send to 250 people uses your entire monthly allowance. On MailerLite, you could email 500 people twice a week and still have 8,000 sends left.
Automation. MailerLite includes the automation builder on the free plan. You can create welcome sequences, drip campaigns, and triggered emails. Mailchimp removed automation from their free plan entirely.
No branding. MailerLite removed their branding from free plan emails. Mailchimp still adds "Sent with Mailchimp" to every email.
Subscribers. 500 vs 250. Double the list size before you hit the paywall.
Where Mailchimp Wins
Integrations. Mailchimp connects to 300+ tools out of the box. MailerLite has fewer native integrations, though Zapier fills most gaps.
Brand recognition. Mailchimp is the most recognized email marketing brand. If your audience includes enterprise contacts, the name carries some weight.
CRM. Mailchimp includes a basic marketing CRM for tracking contact interactions. MailerLite is more focused on email.
The Verdict
MailerLite is the better free plan. Double the subscribers, 12x the sends, automation included, no branding. The only reasons to choose Mailchimp's free plan are the integration library and brand familiarity.
If you are starting fresh and choosing between these two, MailerLite gives you significantly more room to grow before needing to pay.
Both tools have been cutting their free plans over the past two years. If you want the most generous free email marketing plan available right now, Kit offers 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends and Sender offers 2,500 subscribers with 15,000 emails/month.
Related:
- Brevo vs Mailchimp - Another strong Mailchimp alternative compared
- Free Alternatives to Mailchimp - 5 tools with better free plans
- Best Free Email Marketing Software - Full comparison of 12 tools
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