7 Pros + Cons of MailerLite Email Marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most reliable digital marketing tools, offering stability that social media platforms simply can’t match. While most email platforms constantly add complex features, finding one that’s both straightforward and dependable can be challenging.

After MailChimp’s unexpected merger with Intuit (why?) and ConvertKit’s shift toward premium pricing (why?), I’ve settled on MailerLite for both my personal site and client projects. Its simplicity and functionality make it stand out in an increasingly complicated market.

Pros

Affordable Pricing To Feature Mix

I’ve found MailerLite’s pricing structure refreshingly straightforward and budget-friendly. The premium plans start at just $10/month for up to 500 subscribers which includes all advanced features. What impressed me most is that pricing scales reasonably as your list grows – I’m paying significantly less compared to competitors like ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign for similar features. The value proposition becomes even more apparent when you consider that all paid plans include unlimited emails and access to premium features.

High Deliverability & Solid Technical Features

During my two years with MailerLite, I’ve maintained a consistent delivery rate across campaigns. The platform automatically handles SPF and DKIM authentication which helped my emails land in primary inboxes rather than spam folders. The clean HTML editor produces mobile-responsive emails that render perfectly across different email clients which saved me countless hours of troubleshooting. It all just works.

Excellent Email Automation Tool

The automation builder has become my favorite feature for creating marketing sequences. I can easily set up welcome series, purchase follow-ups, and subscriber re-engagement campaigns through their workflow builder. For one site, I’ve got an entire year planned out. The platform also offers detailed analytics for each automation step helping me optimize conversion rates by fixing or deleting emails.

Full Suite of Complementary Products (Landing Pages, etc)

Beyond email marketing, MailerLite provides a comprehensive toolkit that can eliminate some client’s needs for multiple subscriptions. I love their landing page builder for lead generation campaigns and the website builder for quick promotional sites (again, better than depending on a social platform). The forms pop-ups and surveys integrate seamlessly with email campaigns.

Focused on Features & Integrations

MailerLite’s integration ecosystem has grown impressively. I connect it easily with Shopify stores, WordPress sites, and payment processors like Strupe. The API access lets me create custom integrations & triggers when needed. What stands out is how they regularly add new features based on user feedback – I’ve seen significant improvements in their template editor and automation capabilities since I started using the platform.

Generous Free Plan

The free plan offers exceptional value for new businesses. It’s like Mailchimp back in 2012 again. I started with it and love access to core features like automation, landing pages, and up to 12000(!) emails monthly. Unlike other providers, MailerLite doesn’t restrict essential features like email templates or basic automation in their free tier. This makes it perfect for testing the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Cons

Everybody has tradeoffs, including MailerLite.

No RSS To Email on Free Tier

One of my biggest frustrations with MailerLite’s free plan is the absence of RSS-to-email functionality. As someone who regularly publishes blog content, I initially had to manually create campaigns for each new post. This feature only becomes available with paid plans starting at $10/month (and one reason I switched to MailPoet for this site). For content creators and bloggers who rely heavily on automated blog post distribution this limitation can be a deal-breaker.

No Sexy Branding Like Kit or MailChimp

The visual identity of MailerLite lacks the polish and personality I’ve seen in platforms like MailChimp or Kit. While functionality should come first I’ve noticed that clients sometimes perceive the brand as less professional due to its minimal aesthetic. The templates and design elements feel functional but uninspired. This bare-bones approach to branding extends to their marketplace resources which don’t quite match the creative variety offered by competitors.

Interface Has a Barebones Technical Vibe

I’ve found MailerLite’s interface to be distinctly utilitarian (which I like, but is not as much of a draw as competitors). The dashboard uses a stark, white background with minimal design flourishes which can feel clinical and outdated. Navigation requires more clicks than necessary and some features aren’t intuitively placed (like settings are not all grouped in one area). When I’m training new team members they often struggle to locate specific functions like A/B testing or automation workflows. While the interface is functional it lacks the modern UX touches that make platforms like ConvertKit feel more user-friendly and engaging.

Best Use Cases

• Solopreneurs managing subscriber lists under 10000
• Content creators sending weekly newsletters (not RSS triggered)
• eCommerce businesses with straightforward marketing needs
• Service providers with client nurture sequences who don’t have a CRM yet
• Small teams without dedicated email marketing specialists

Next Steps

While MailerLite is not perfect the platform delivers where it matters most: dependable delivery rates user-friendly automation and flexible pricing that scales with your business. I’ve found its feature set hits the sweet spot between simplicity and functionality.

I suggest just trying the free plan to test core features and see if MailerLite aligns with your needs. Pay special attention to the automation builder and landing page tools as these can significantly boost your marketing efforts right from day one.

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