MailerLite review 2026: we tested it hands-on and timed every step
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MailerLite is free for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, and the free plan includes 3 automations (up to 5 steps each), 3 signup forms, 1 landing page and 1 website. Paid plans start at $12 a month (Comfort, 500 subscribers, monthly billing). Every new account also gets a 14-day premium trial with no card. In our test on the trial, we authenticated a sending domain, imported 25 contacts, built a 3-email welcome series that counts as 5 steps (the free plan's cap) and sent a newsletter that reached all 25 of our test inboxes, all in under 5 minutes of clicking per task; the biggest snag was that MailerLite put our signup postal address in every email footer, with no shared-address option.
We are not in MailerLite's affiliate program. The MailerLite button above is a plain link and we earn nothing from it.
Results at a glance
Free-plan checks (the 5-step automation cap, what happens after day 14, templates on Free) and cancelling are scheduled for when our trial ends, around Nov 2, 2026. Until then, those parts reflect MailerLite's published free-plan limits.
| Task | Time | Result | Notes | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 Sign up | Not timed | Not tested | We didn't time sign-up. No account review held up our first campaign. | — |
| T2 Sending domain | 20:26 | Pass | 3 DNS records (DKIM CNAME, SPF, verification TXT); 1:18 of clicks in MailerLite, the rest was adding records at our DNS host. "Authenticated" on the first check. | — |
| T3 Import 25 contacts | 0:39 | Pass | 25 added, 0 skipped, all 4 columns auto-matched. A first try with plus-addressed emails (name+tag@) was rejected 25/25 as "Suspicious format email". | — |
| T4 Form + landing page | 3:17 | Pass | Form 1:37, landing page 1:35. Double opt-in on by default. Landing page carries a "Created with MailerLite" badge. We didn't submit the form, so opt-in delivery wasn't tested. | — |
| T5 Welcome automation | 3:43 | Pass | 3 emails with 1-day and 2-day waits = 5 steps; built on the trial, no tag branch. Cap on Free: scheduled ~Nov 2. | — |
| T6 Send a broadcast | 2:46 | Pass | Newsletter to 25 contacts; sending started 1:18 after Send. Footer auto-filled our signup postal address. | — |
| T7 Segment | 1:08 | Pass | City = Denver OR signup source = blog matched 15; count updates in about a second. | — |
| T8 Report + export | Not timed | Pass | Report: 25 sent, 25 delivered, 0 bounces, 0 spam complaints. CSV export ready instantly, not emailed. | — |
| T9 Support question | — | Not tested | Skipped. We didn't test live support. | — |
| T10 Cancel + export data | Scheduled ~Nov 2 | Not tested | Run when our trial ends. | — |
Time = minutes:seconds from our recording, start of task to done. Pass done on the tested plan · Limit hit done only partly, a plan limit stopped us · Fail could not be done · Not tested we did not run it, so we don't guess.
Signing up and getting approved
MailerLite applies its 14-day premium trial automatically when you register, and its help center says no payment method is needed. MailerLite also reviews accounts and content for compliance with its terms, so a new account can't send until it passes that check.
- We didn't time sign-up, so this review has no sign-up time or card and phone check.
- Approval: when we sent our first campaign, it went straight to the outbox with no review hold.
Authenticating your sending domain
During the trial, MailerLite lets a new account send before the custom domain is authenticated. After the trial ends, authentication is required to keep sending campaigns.
- DNS records MailerLite asked for: 3. A DKIM CNAME, an SPF TXT record, and a domain-verification TXT record. MailerLite's SPF value already merged in the SPF include our domain had, so we edited one record instead of adding a second. It didn't ask for DMARC; we added a basic
p=nonerecord ourselves. - Time until "Authenticated": 20 minutes 26 seconds from opening the screen. 1:18 of that was clicking in MailerLite; the rest was adding the records at our DNS host. The first "Check records" click said "Authenticated".
- Header check: our test inboxes don't show raw message headers, so we couldn't read the SPF, DKIM and DMARC results on received mail. What we can confirm is that MailerLite showed the domain as "Authenticated".
- Friction: "Add sending domain" asks for an email address, not a domain. A guided-tour popup covered the Add button, and the page has two buttons both labeled "Check records". An "upgrade to add custom domains" banner refers to website domains and didn't block sending-domain setup.
Importing contacts
We import the same 25-contact CSV (our own test addresses only) with 2 custom fields and 1 tag into every tool.
- Time: 39 seconds for the import that worked. Our CSV had 4 columns (email, name, city and a custom "signup source" field) and went into one group, MailerLite's version of a tag.
- Field-mapping problems: none. All 4 columns matched automatically, including the custom field we'd created earlier: 25 added, 0 updated, 0 skipped, no warnings.
- The catch: our first try used plus-addressed emails (name+tag@domain), and MailerLite rejected all 25 as "Suspicious format email" with no further explanation. Plain addresses imported fine. If your list has plus addresses, expect to lose them.
Forms and landing pages
The free plan allows 3 active forms, 1 landing page and 1 website (up to 5 pages, per MailerLite's free-plan update notice). Custom domains for sites aren't part of the trial.
- Embedded form: 1:37 over about 5 screens. 3 layouts, none locked. Double opt-in is on by default, and the embed code appears right after saving. reCAPTCHA is available but off by default.
- Landing page: 1:35 over about 6 screens. 30 templates plus a blank start and "Build with AI", none locked on the trial. The page shows a "Created with MailerLite" badge.
- Double opt-in and mobile view: not tested. We built the form but didn't submit it, so no confirmation email was sent, and we didn't check the form on a phone.
- Friction: the editors took 6 to 10 seconds to load. Clicks sometimes landed on the wrong block when the layout shifted, the toolbar undo button failed (Ctrl+Z worked), and selecting all text in a headline wiped its styling.
Automation: the welcome series
Free allows 3 active automations with up to 5 steps each. Our standard flow is 3 emails with 1-day delays and one tag-based branch. Counted as steps, that may not fit in 5. Paid plans allow 100 steps; MailerLite's trial page doesn't say whether the trial lifts the 5-step cap, so we test on both.
- What we built: trigger (joins group), email 1, wait 1 day, email 2, wait 2 days, email 3. Counting each email and wait as a step, that's 5, exactly the free plan's cap. We didn't add the tag branch, which would push it past 5.
- Build time on the trial: 3:43, about 12 screens and 45 clicks. We picked from 19 automation templates (3 marked Premium) but built from scratch.
- The trial let us add a 6th step with no warning, so the cap doesn't apply during the trial. Where it stops on Free: Checked after our trial ends (around Nov 2, 2026). Until then, this reflects MailerLite's published free-plan limits (pricing, trial help).
- Friction: small + buttons, an "Add step" list that shifts about 20 pixels as it opens (we misclicked), a wait field that once refused our input, and each email opens a 3-screen detour off the canvas.
- What happens to it after the trial: per MailerLite, automations with multiple triggers stop when the trial ends. Whether our flow keeps running after day 14: Checked after our trial ends (around Nov 2, 2026). Until then, this reflects MailerLite's published free-plan limits (pricing, trial help).
Sending a newsletter
- Template to sent: 2:46 to the Send button, then 1:18 in the outbox ("Soon") before sending started. There was no account review hold, and our authenticated address was accepted as the sender with no extra confirmation.
- Delivery: MailerLite's report showed 25 sent, 25 delivered, 0 bounces and 0 spam complaints, and all 25 copies reached our test inboxes within a few minutes.
- Opens: the report showed 0 opens, but that isn't a real result. Open tracking relies on a hidden image, and our test inboxes don't load images, so seed inboxes can't measure opens.
- The footer catch: MailerLite automatically filled the footer with the postal address from our account signup (a home address, in our case), with no prompt. US law (CAN-SPAM) requires a valid physical postal address in marketing email, and MailerLite doesn't offer a shared one, so you need your own business address or a registered P.O. box. Kit, by contrast, lets users put Kit's own address in the footer for free. The footer also adds a "Sent by MailerLite" badge.
- Editor notes: you pick a design before naming the campaign, the drag & drop editor hides under "Start from scratch", and the starter template comes with a placeholder logo and menu to delete. Editing one shared text box wiped a paragraph.
- On the trial we saw 130 email templates. Free plan templates are marked "Limited" on the pricing page. How many you can pick on Free: Checked after our trial ends (around Nov 2, 2026). Until then, this reflects MailerLite's published free-plan limits (pricing, trial help).
Segments, reports and export
- Segment: we built "city = Denver OR signup source = blog" in 1:08 (about 7 screens, 15 clicks). It matched 15 of 25, and the live count updated in about a second. Rules can use subscriber fields, engagement (campaign and automation activity, email actions, last emailed), and e-commerce data, with AND inside a block and OR between blocks. Nothing was locked on the trial.
- Report: the campaign report shows sent, delivered, opens, clicks, bounces, spam complaints and unsubscribes. Its "Sent on" time appears to be in UTC, not your local time.
- CSV export: from the group's Actions menu, one click on Export CSV, then Download once the file is ready. It was ready instantly, not emailed, and included each subscriber with their sent, opens, clicks, subscribe date, location and name columns. We didn't time this task.
Support
We didn't test live support. MailerLite's support page says Free accounts get email and live chat for the first 14 days, then only the self-service help center.
Cancelling and leaving
When the trial ends, the account reverts to the Free plan and MailerLite says no data is deleted.
- Ending the trial, deleting the account and exporting data: Checked after our trial ends (around Nov 2, 2026). Until then, this reflects MailerLite's published free-plan limits (pricing, trial help).
Pricing
Prices from MailerLite's calculator in USD. Comfort and Power include every paid feature; the price grows with subscribers and sending. Yearly billing saves 10%.
| Subscribers | Free | Comfort (monthly / yearly per month) | Power (monthly / yearly per month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | $0 | — | — |
| 500 | — | $12 / $10.80 | $25 / $22.50 |
| 2,500 | — | $33 / $29.70 | $49 / $44.10 |
| 10,000 | — | $89 / $80.10 | $129 / $116.10 |
Source: www.mailerlite.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-19. Prices change; the vendor's page is the final word.
Comfort sends 10x the top of your subscriber tier (5,000 a month at 500). Power has unlimited sends under a fair-use policy. Over your tier on a paid plan, MailerLite moves you up a tier and charges your card automatically.
A few billing rules from the pricing FAQ that catch people out:
- MailerLite counts active subscribers cumulatively within a billing cycle, so contacts you delete mid-cycle still count until your billing date.
- Downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle. Annual-to-monthly switches wait until the annual term ends.
- Nonprofits get 30% off paid plans with proof of status.
The free plan: what you actually get
| Limit | Free plan (official) | What we hit in testing |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 250 active | Not reached (we used 25) |
| Emails per month | 2,500 | Not reached (we sent 25) |
| Automations | 3 active, 5 steps each | A 3-email series counts as 5 steps; cap on Free checked ~Nov 2 |
| Forms | 3 active | Built 1 on the trial, nothing locked |
| Landing pages / websites | 1 + 1 (website up to 5 pages) | Built 1 landing page on the trial; it carries a MailerLite badge |
| User seats | 2 | — |
| Support | Community (live chat for first 14 days) | Not tested |
| Sending through the API | Not on Free | — |
If a free account goes over 250 active subscribers, MailerLite locks sending (campaigns and automations) until you upgrade or remove subscribers.
MailerLite cut the free plan on June 16, 2026: subscribers went from 500 to 250 and monthly emails from 12,000 to 2,500, while user seats went from 1 to 2 and more features were unlocked. Reviews written before that date may quote the old limits.
Pros and cons (from our test)
- Pro: Fast setup. Each core task took under 4 minutes of clicking, and our sending domain was authenticated on the first check, with MailerLite merging our existing SPF record for us.
- Pro: A basic 3-email welcome series fits in the free plan's 5 steps, which Kit and beehiiv don't offer on their free plans at all.
- Pro: Clean delivery in our test (25 of 25 delivered, 0 bounces), and the CSV export was ready instantly.
- Con: The email footer is auto-filled with your signup postal address, and MailerLite has no shared address option. Kit lets you use Kit's address instead.
- Con: The import rejected plus-addressed emails (name+tag@) with no explanation.
- Con: Fiddly editors: layout shifts caused misclicks, the undo button failed, and landing pages and emails carry MailerLite badges.
Who should pick MailerLite, and alternatives
Pick MailerLite if you want a working welcome series and newsletter on a free plan and your list is under 250. In our test, a beginner-sized setup (domain, import, form, automation, newsletter) took about 13 minutes of clicking in total, not counting DNS. Have a business address or P.O. box ready for the footer. Based on the official limits alone, it suits a small list that wants automations on a free plan, and a creator who wants a site, forms and newsletter in one place.
We haven't run our tests on these yet, so here are only their official, dated facts:
- Kit: if you need a bigger free list. Kit Free covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited forms, landing pages and broadcasts, but no visual automations or email sequences on Free. Creator starts at $39/month (1,000 subscribers, monthly billing). Kit pricing. Our test: not run yet.
- beehiiv: if you're starting a newsletter you may want to monetize. Free covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, but no automations on Free. Lite starts at $59/month monthly or $49/month billed yearly (1,000 subscribers). beehiiv pricing. Our test: not run yet.
- ActiveCampaign: if automation and CRM matter more than a free plan. No free plan; a 14-day trial with no card, capped at 100 email sends. Starter is $15/month billed yearly for 1,000 contacts, with 5 actions per automation. ActiveCampaign pricing. Our test: not run yet.
FAQ
Is MailerLite free?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0 for up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, with 3 automations, 3 forms, 1 landing page and 1 website. New accounts also get a 14-day premium trial with no card.
Is MailerLite free forever?
The Free plan has no end date on MailerLite's pricing page. The limits can change: MailerLite cut the free plan from 500 to 250 subscribers on June 16, 2026.
What happens if I go over 250 subscribers on the free plan?
MailerLite locks sending (campaigns and automations) until you upgrade or remove subscribers. It does not charge you automatically on Free.
How much does MailerLite cost?
Comfort is $12/month and Power $25/month at 500 subscribers with monthly billing (10% less billed yearly). At 2,500 subscribers it's $33 and $49; at 10,000 it's $89 and $129. Prices checked 2026-10-19.
Can I automate emails on the MailerLite free plan?
Yes, up to 3 active automations with up to 5 steps each. In our test, 3 emails with 2 waits between them came to exactly 5 steps. We'll confirm the cap on Free after our trial ends, around Nov 2, 2026.
Does MailerLite need a credit card for the trial?
No. MailerLite's help center says the 14-day premium trial is applied automatically with no payment method.
Is MailerLite better than Mailchimp?
On free plans, MailerLite allows 2,500 emails a month vs Mailchimp's 500, and includes automations, which Mailchimp Free doesn't. We haven't run our side-by-side test yet.
Does MailerLite put my address in emails?
Yes. MailerLite filled our email footer with the postal address from our account signup, and it doesn't offer a shared address. Use a business address or P.O. box. Kit, by contrast, lets users use Kit's own address.
How long does MailerLite account approval take?
MailerLite says it reviews accounts for compliance with its terms. We didn't time approval, but our first campaign went out with no review hold.
What changed
- 2026-10-19: Draft written. Prices and limits checked on MailerLite's official pages.
- 2026-10-19: Added results from our trial tests T2 to T8. Free-plan checks and cancelling are scheduled for when our trial ends, around Nov 2, 2026.
Sources
All accessed 2026-10-19 (America/New_York). Screenshots and page text are kept in our test files.
- MailerLite pricing, plan comparison and FAQ: https://www.mailerlite.com/pricing (calculator set to 500, 2,500 and 10,000 subscribers, monthly and yearly, USD)
- MailerLite, "What is included in MailerLite's 14-day premium trial?": https://www.mailerlite.com/help/what-is-included-in-mailerlite-s-14-day-premium-trial
- MailerLite, "Free plan update: What you need to know": https://www.mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq
- MailerLite, "How to create a MailerLite account" (approval and content review): https://www.mailerlite.com/help/how-to-get-approved
- MailerLite, "MailerLite customer support options": https://www.mailerlite.com/help/mailerlite-support-options
- FTC, "CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business": https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business
- Kit, "Alternatives for your physical address": https://help.kit.com/en/articles/2502494-alternatives-for-your-physical-address
- Kit pricing: https://kit.com/pricing and Kit Free plan help: https://help.kit.com/en/articles/16627071-the-kit-free-plan
- beehiiv pricing: https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing
- ActiveCampaign pricing: https://www.activecampaign.com/pricing and free trial help: https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/218789987-Free-trial-capabilities
- Mailchimp pricing plans help: https://mailchimp.com/help/about-mailchimp-pricing-plans/