Alternatives · Email

Best MailerLite alternatives

The email tools we would weigh against MailerLite when the smaller free plan, the lighter automation or the manual account review start to bite.

MailerLite earns its place on a clean editor, low prices and enough automation for most small senders, which is why it sits near the top of our email ranking. Buyers most often look elsewhere for one of three reasons: a free plan cut on the 16th of June 2026 to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, automation that stays lighter than a dedicated engine, and a strict manual account approval that can slow new senders down. The four below cover the usual exits, from a bigger free tier for creators to a send based model to a deeper automation platform. Each carries our editorial score and a verified entry price so you can match the tradeoff to your team.

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Reviewed by ·Updated JUNE 2026·How we vet
The shortlist

Four email tools we would weigh first

At a glance

How they compare

Scores are editorial assessments against our email marketing rubric. Price from as of June 2026; check the vendor for current pricing.

Tool Best for Price from Score
ActiveCampaign Deep automation and CRM $19 92
Brevo Send based pricing with SMS Free / $9 89
GetResponse All in one with webinars Free / $19 84
Kit Creators and a big free plan Free / $39 83
Decision framework

Which one fits you

Brevo you keep a large list but mail it less often than its size suggests, and would rather pay by emails sent with unlimited contacts and SMS included.
Kit you publish a newsletter or sell digital products and want a free plan that runs to 10,000 subscribers with simple sequences built for creators.
ActiveCampaign your automations have outgrown MailerLite and you need conditional workflows, a CRM and lead scoring in one platform.
GetResponse you want one tool for email, automation, webinars and funnels rather than adding apps around a simple sender.
Common questions

MailerLite alternatives FAQ

What is the best MailerLite alternative?

It depends on the gap. Brevo wins on send based pricing with SMS, Kit offers a far bigger free plan for creators, ActiveCampaign goes deepest on automation, and GetResponse adds webinars and funnels. Scores are editorial against our email rubric. Pricing as of June 2026; check the vendor for current pricing.

Is there a cheaper alternative to MailerLite?

MailerLite is already a value pick, so cheaper usually means a different model. Brevo's free plan allows 300 emails a day with unlimited contacts, and Kit is free to 10,000 subscribers for a simple newsletter. Both can cost less than a paid MailerLite plan at the right list size. Verified June 2026; check the vendor for current pricing.

Why did MailerLite change its free plan?

MailerLite cut its free plan on the 16th of June 2026 to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, down from the more generous earlier limits. A modest list now moves to a paid plan sooner, which is one reason buyers compare alternatives.

Which alternative has the best automation?

ActiveCampaign is our pick for automation depth, with conditional logic, a built in CRM and lead scoring. GetResponse is also capable and bundles webinars, while MailerLite's own automation suits most simple senders.

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