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MailerLite is a popular, affordable email marketing software designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers an easy-to-use platform to create professional email campaigns, pop-ups, automation workflows, landing pages, and websites. But how does it stack up against other email marketing tools?
In this MailerLite review, we’ll explore its key features, pricing plans, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your email marketing efforts.
Overview & Ratings
MailerLite stands out for its user-friendly interface, clean dashboard, and intuitive drag-and-drop editor. It’s well-suited for beginners and small businesses looking for an affordable email marketing platform with essential features like automation, segmentation, and good email deliverability.
While MailerLite offers valuable tools, it lacks some advanced features and in-depth reporting found in other platforms. Its free forever plan is generous but has limitations compared to paid plans.
Rating Summary:
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Email Editor: 4/5
- Automation: 2/5
- Reporting and Analytics: 2/5
- Pricing: 5/5
- Support: 3/5
Pros
- Modern drag-and-drop email editor with social media post integration
- Access to over 90 responsive email templates (available on paid plans only)
- Strong deliverability with a 91.7% deliverability score reported in 2023
- Intuitive landing page and website builders
- Built-in compliance features such as GDPR and reCAPTCHA
- More than 140 integrations with popular platforms like Shopify and Zapier
Cons
- Automation workflows are limited and lack advanced features such as drag-and-drop rearrangement or conditional branching
- Reporting tools are basic and there is no dedicated analytics dashboard
- No tools available for spam or design testing across email clients
- Account review and domain authentication processes are time-consuming
- Customer support options are restricted for lower-tier plans, with live chat only for higher tiers and no phone support
Detailed Feature Analysis
Email Campaign Builder
MailerLite provides three main types of campaigns: regular, A/B split tests, and RSS-based campaigns. Auto-resend functionality is also supported. Users can select from three editing options: drag-and-drop (most commonly used), rich text, and custom HTML (available only on the Advanced plan). The AI writing assistant is particularly helpful for generating subject lines and newsletter content. Content blocks include product showcases, surveys, countdown timers, and social embeds.
Templates
The platform includes a gallery of over 90 pre-designed email templates categorized for different use cases such as newsletters, events, and promotions. Users can save their own designs or import them in .zip or .gz format. Access to this template gallery is restricted to users on paid plans.
Forms and Pop-ups
Users can build three types of forms: pop-ups, embedded forms, and promotional forms (the latter available only to Advanced plan subscribers). The drag-and-drop form editor includes a variety of content blocks like images, social buttons, and timers. Advanced customization includes GDPR checkboxes, confirmation pages, interest group tagging, and post-subscription success messages.
Landing Pages and Websites
MailerLite offers a landing page builder accessible via the "Sites" tab. Users can select from 49 pre-made templates or start from scratch. The editor operates similarly to the email builder, making it easy to adapt for users already familiar with the interface. Pages can be published to MailerLite’s subdomain or a custom domain (available on paid plans). The same builder is used for creating multi-page websites.
Automation and Segmentation
The automation tools in MailerLite include 15 templates for common use cases like welcome emails and cart abandonment. However, the editor lacks the ability to rearrange steps visually or apply advanced logic such as if/then/else conditions. Only three of the templates are restricted to Advanced users. Segmentation is available based on subscriber behavior, tags, signup source, and demographic fields.
Deliverability and Reporting
MailerLite has maintained a high deliverability score, reaching 91.7% in 2023. This is due in part to a strict domain authentication and account verification process. Reporting features include open rate breakdowns, click maps, and location-specific performance data. However, the platform lacks a centralized analytics dashboard, and eCommerce tracking is only available for Shopify and WooCommerce integrations.
Integrations
With over 140 native integrations, MailerLite can connect with major platforms such as WordPress, Shopify, Google Analytics, and Facebook. For developers or users requiring more flexibility, the platform supports API integration and works well with Zapier to facilitate custom workflows.
Pricing Structure
Free Forever Plan
- Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails
- Includes drag-and-drop editor, basic automation, website builder, and 10 landing pages
- Email and chat support available for the first 30 days only
Growing Business Plan – Starting at $10/month
- Unlimited monthly emails
- Access to all templates, dynamic campaigns, auto-resend functionality
- Basic customer support without live chat
Advanced Plan – Starting at $21/month
- Access to custom HTML editor, promotional pop-ups, Facebook integration, and multiple automation triggers
- Includes up to three users and a preference center
Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing
- Tailored for businesses with more than 100,000 contacts
- Includes a dedicated success manager, custom newsletter and landing page designs, and deliverability consulting
Competitor Comparison
MailerLite vs. Mailchimp
MailerLite is more affordable and easier to use but lacks Mailchimp’s advanced automation and reporting tools. Mailchimp may be better suited for mid-sized and enterprise businesses.
MailerLite vs. Moosend
Moosend includes design and spam testing tools and provides more advanced reporting capabilities. Both are beginner-friendly and cost-effective.
MailerLite vs. Constant Contact
Constant Contact offers basic CRM functionality and a slightly more comprehensive feature set for small businesses but may lag behind in design flexibility.
Areas for Improvement
- Introduce drag-and-drop functionality in automation workflows
- Expand personalization options with conditional logic
- Add spam and design testing tools to preview emails across different clients
- Improve the onboarding process to speed up domain authentication and approval
- Provide a centralized analytics dashboard for better performance tracking
Ready to Boost Your Email Marketing with MailerLite?
MailerLite offers excellent value for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and beginners entering the email marketing space. The platform’s ease of use, modern templates, and strong deliverability make it an attractive choice for straightforward marketing campaigns. However, it may not be suitable for businesses that require complex automation, detailed analytics, or more extensive customer support.
For those with advanced needs, alternatives like ActiveCampaign, Moosend, or Mailchimp should be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is MailerLite a safe and reliable email marketing service?
Yes, MailerLite prioritizes security with strict anti-spam policies, GDPR compliance, and domain authentication to ensure your email campaigns are safe and trustworthy.
2. Does MailerLite offer a free plan, and what does it include?
MailerLite provides a free forever plan that supports up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails. This plan includes access to essential features like the drag-and-drop editor, automation, and basic templates.
3. How does MailerLite compare to Mailchimp?
MailerLite is generally more affordable and easier to use, making it ideal for small businesses and beginners. While Mailchimp offers more advanced features and integrations, MailerLite covers the essentials with a simpler interface.
4. Can I use my own custom domain with MailerLite?
Yes, paid plans allow you to publish landing pages and websites using your custom domain, helping you maintain brand consistency and professionalism.
5. What are some popular alternatives to MailerLite?
Some well-regarded alternatives include Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Moosend, and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), each offering unique features tailored to different marketing needs.
6. Does MailerLite support email automation and multiple triggers?
Yes, MailerLite offers an automation feature that lets you create workflows with multiple triggers such as form submissions, clicks, and purchases, helping you engage subscribers effectively.
7. Is live chat support available with MailerLite?
Live chat support is available for paid plans, providing great customer support. Free version users have access to email support and a comprehensive knowledge base for assistance.
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