MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign is one of the most common comparisons in email marketing, and I've run real campaigns on both platforms. While MailerLite leads with a 9/10 rating, the "better" choice depends heavily on your business model and technical comfort level.
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Quick Answer
MailerLite beats ActiveCampaign for most users. It scores 9/10 vs 8.7/10 and very affordable pricing from $10/mo. Choose ActiveCampaign if you need most powerful automation builder.
MailerLite
WinnerSimple, affordable email marketing with generous free plan
Starting from
$10/mo
ActiveCampaign
Advanced automation with built-in CRM
Starting from
$29/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.0/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Starting Price | $10/mo | $29/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Contacts | 500 (free) | Starts at 1,000 |
| Emails per Month | 12,000 (free) | 10x contacts |
| Automation & Testing | ||
| Automation | ||
| A/B Testing | ||
| Segmentation | ||
| Features | ||
| Landing Pages | ||
| Templates | 100+ | 250+ |
| Analytics | ||
| Integrations | 140+ | 900+ |
| API Access | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
MailerLite
- Very affordable pricing from $10/mo
- Generous free plan (500 subscribers)
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
- Landing pages and website builder included
- Excellent deliverability rates
- 4.8/5 customer support rating
- Automation on free plan
- Free plan reduced from 1,000 to 500 subscribers
- Limited advanced automation
- Basic reporting compared to competitors
- Strict approval process for new accounts
ActiveCampaign
- Most powerful automation builder
- Built-in CRM included
- Excellent deliverability rates
- Site and event tracking
- Advanced segmentation
- Great for complex workflows
- No free plan
- Can be overwhelming for beginners
- CRM features require higher tier
Key Difference
The most significant difference is value positioning. MailerLite offers excellent quality at a lower price point ($0.00/mo), while ActiveCampaign ($29.00/mo) targets users who want premium features and are willing to pay for them.
Which Should You Choose?
MailerLite
Choose MailerLite if you prioritize very affordable pricing from $10/mo, want to start with a free tier, or value generous free plan (500 subscribers).
ActiveCampaign
Choose ActiveCampaign if you prioritize most powerful automation builder, or value built-in crm included.
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, MailerLite is our winner with a rating of 9/10 compared to ActiveCampaign's 8.7/10. MailerLite stands out for its very affordable pricing from $10/mo and generous free plan (500 subscribers). MailerLite also offers better value at its price point. However, ActiveCampaign remains an excellent choice if most powerful automation builder is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Moving email lists between MailerLite and ActiveCampaign is doable but plan carefully. Export your subscriber data, recreate your templates, and rebuild automations. Give yourself at least a week for a proper migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MailerLite better than ActiveCampaign?
MailerLite scores higher in our testing (9/10 vs 8.7/10). MailerLite excels at very affordable pricing from $10/mo, while ActiveCampaign is better for most powerful automation builder.
Which is cheaper, MailerLite or ActiveCampaign?
MailerLite is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $29.00/mo. MailerLite offers 100% savings.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: which should I choose?
Choose MailerLite if you prioritize very affordable pricing from $10/mo. Choose ActiveCampaign if you need most powerful automation builder. Both are solid email marketing options.
What's the main difference between MailerLite and ActiveCampaign?
The main difference is MailerLite offers simple, affordable email marketing with generous free plan, while ActiveCampaign focuses on advanced automation with built-in crm.