MailerLite Free Plan
Here’s the thing about email marketing — everyone knows it works, but most small business tools either cost too much upfront or give you just enough free features to be annoying. MailerLite’s free plan? It’s different.
500 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails, completely free. Plus automation, landing pages, and A/B testing that other platforms lock behind $50+ monthly plans. Sounds too good to be true, right? I thought so too. But after digging into what you actually get (and where they draw the line), MailerLite’s approach makes more sense than most.
What Is the MailerLite Pricing Plan?
MailerLite keeps things refreshingly simple. Free forever plan, then two paid tiers that scale with your list size. Growing Business starts at $10/month, Advanced at $20/month.
What caught my attention: they count subscribers, not emails sent. So if someone bounces or unsubscribes, they don’t count toward your limit anymore. Most platforms still charge you for dead emails sitting in your account — which always felt like getting billed for expired milk in your fridge.
The pricing jumps happen based on your active subscriber count, not some arbitrary feature wall. Hit 1,001 subscribers? Time to pay. But until then, you get access to tools that would cost you elsewhere.
A Quick Overview of MailerLite and Its Features
Started in Lithuania back in 2010, MailerLite began as a web design agency before pivoting to email marketing. Smart move — they now serve over 700,000 businesses worldwide.
The platform feels like someone actually thought about how real people work. Drag-and-drop editor that doesn’t fight you. Visual automation builder that makes sense on first glance. Landing pages and basic websites thrown in because, honestly, why not?
But here’s what sets them apart: they didn’t gut the free plan to push upgrades. Automation workflows? Included. A/B testing? Yep. Most competitors either charge for these features or give you such limited versions they’re basically useless.
What Do You Get with the MailerLite Free Plan?
The free plan hits that sweet spot where you can actually do email marketing, not just send occasional newsletters. 12,000 emails monthly for up to 500 subscribers — that’s enough for weekly newsletters plus some automation without sweating the math.
You get the core stuff: email campaigns, subscriber management, signup forms. But also the advanced stuff that usually costs extra: automation workflows, landing pages, basic analytics. And A/B testing — which, honestly, surprised me. That’s not a “let’s hook them with a taste” feature. That’s genuinely useful.
The interface doesn’t feel like a stripped-down version either. Same drag-and-drop builder as paid plans, same automation tools, same landing page creator. They just limit quantity, not quality.
Key Features of the Free Plan
Email Campaign Creation and Automation
This is where MailerLite gets serious about the free plan. Full automation workflows — not some watered-down version. Welcome sequences, abandoned cart emails (if you connect an e-commerce platform), re-engagement campaigns. The visual workflow builder lets you create branching logic based on opens, clicks, purchases.
I tested a simple welcome series: new subscriber gets email 1 immediately, email 2 after 3 days if they opened the first one, email 3 after a week regardless. Worked exactly like it should. No “upgrade to unlock advanced triggers” nonsense.
The email editor handles responsive design automatically and includes personalization tokens. You can drop in first names, custom fields, even conditional content blocks. Not revolutionary, but solid.
Landing Pages and Lead Generation
10 landing pages included. That’s generous — most free plans give you one or two, if any. Each page gets the full treatment: custom domains (if you’re on a paid plan), conversion tracking, integration with your email lists.
The landing page builder shares DNA with the email editor, so if you can handle one, you can handle the other. Templates feel modern enough, though you’ll probably want to customize colors and fonts to match your brand.
Signup forms and pop-ups work as expected. Embed codes, direct links, exit-intent triggers. Nothing groundbreaking, but they get the job done.
Website Builder and Content Tools
The website builder is… fine. Think of it as landing pages’ cousin who doesn’t get out much. You can build simple sites — portfolios, basic business pages, that kind of thing. But if you need something sophisticated, you’ll want WordPress or Squarespace.
What’s nice: 1 million+ stock photos and icons included. Plus GIFs, because apparently we’re all marketers in 2025. You can also embed surveys and polls directly in emails, which beats sending people to external forms.
What’s Missing in the MailerLite Free Plan?
Okay, reality check time. The free plan has limits, and some of them bite harder than others.
Restricted or Limited Features
Premium email templates — that’s the big one. Free users get basic building blocks but no fancy, professionally designed templates. If you’re not comfortable designing from scratch, this hurts. Paid plans unlock 100+ templates that actually look good.
Advanced automation gets partially clipped. Basic workflows work fine, but complex multi-branch sequences with advanced segmentation? Need to upgrade. Same with AI writing tools and RSS automation.
Customer support drops to email-only after your first 14 days. No live chat, no phone support. For simple questions, their help docs are solid. For urgent “why isn’t my campaign sending” moments? You’re waiting.
Hidden Costs and Limitations
The MailerLite branding at the bottom of every email — that’s staying put until you pay. Doesn’t scream “professional business communication” when your emails say “Powered by MailerLite.”
Hit that 500 subscriber limit? Campaigns stop sending immediately. No grace period, no overflow protection. You either remove subscribers or upgrade. It’s fair, but sudden growth can catch you off guard.
Advanced reporting stays basic too. Open rates, click rates, unsubscribe data — the essentials. But revenue tracking, conversion analytics, detailed subscriber insights? Paid plan territory.
Who’s the MailerLite Free Plan Perfect For?
Small businesses who need real email marketing but can’t justify $50+ monthly costs yet. Content creators building audiences, local service businesses staying in touch with customers, e-commerce startups testing automation before committing budget.
The automation capabilities alone make this worthwhile for most small businesses. Being able to nurture leads automatically, send welcome sequences, and re-engage inactive subscribers — that’s typically premium functionality.
Nonprofits love this plan. 12,000 emails covers monthly newsletters, event announcements, and fundraising campaigns without eating into tight budgets. The survey tools help with feedback collection and volunteer coordination.
Solopreneurs and consultants get solid value too. Landing pages for lead magnets, automation for client onboarding, professional email campaigns — all the basics covered.
How Does the MailerLite Free Plan Compare to Paid Plans?
MailerLite doesn’t cripple the free plan to force upgrades. Instead, they give you genuine functionality and expand it as you pay.
Feature Comparison
Growing Business removes the annoying restrictions while keeping costs reasonable. Unlimited emails, premium templates, custom domain support, MailerLite branding gone. For most growing businesses, that’s the sweet spot.
Advanced adds team collaboration, AI writing tools, Facebook integration, and priority support. Unless you’re running complex campaigns or managing multiple team members, Growing Business probably covers your needs.
Compared to Sender (their main competitor), MailerLite gives you fewer emails and subscribers on the free plan — Sender offers 15,000 emails to 2,500 subscribers.
When It Makes Sense to Upgrade
Hit 1,000 subscribers? You’re upgrading whether you want to or not. For most businesses, that happens somewhere between month 6 and 18, depending on growth speed.
Professional credibility often drives upgrades faster than subscriber limits. If you’re sending business communications with “Powered by MailerLite” footers, clients notice. Custom domains and branding removal become worth $10/month pretty quickly.
Template needs vary by person. If you’re comfortable building emails from scratch, the free plan lasts longer. If you want professional designs without the design work, those premium templates justify the upgrade.
Team access becomes essential as you grow. Free plans lock everything to one account owner. Paid plans let you add team members with different permission levels — crucial for agencies or companies with multiple people managing email marketing.
Bottom Line: MailerLite’s free plan delivers real value, not just a teaser. The automation tools alone compete with paid platforms, making it perfect for businesses under 500 subscribers who need sophisticated email marketing without monthly costs. Yes, there are limits — branding, templates, support — but the core functionality stays strong. For getting started with serious email marketing, it’s honestly hard to beat.
