Both MailerLite and ConvertKit are built specifically for creators. Both have strong reputations. But they’ve made very different product decisions — and depending on where you are in your blogging journey, one is clearly the better fit.
Quick verdict
MailerLite wins for bloggers starting out or scaling to 25K subscribers. ConvertKit’s advantages — creator-native commerce, better tagging system, and Sparkloop integration — become meaningful at larger scale or if you’re building a paid newsletter business from the ground up.
Pricing comparison
- MailerLite free: 1,000 subscribers, full automation access, 12K emails/mo
- ConvertKit free: unlimited subscribers, but NO automation on free plan — you need paid to send automated sequences
- MailerLite at 5K subs: ~$19/mo
- ConvertKit at 5K subs: ~$79/mo (Creator plan)
- MailerLite at 10K subs: ~$34/mo
- ConvertKit at 10K subs: ~$111/mo
The price gap is significant. MailerLite costs 3–4x less than ConvertKit at comparable subscriber counts. That difference is $600–$1,200+ per year at 10K subscribers.
Automation: where MailerLite actually wins
ConvertKit is known for its sequences, but MailerLite’s visual automation builder is genuinely excellent — and available on the free plan. You can build multi-step welcome sequences, conditional branches, and behavior-triggered campaigns without paying anything.
ConvertKit’s automation is powerful but requires a paid plan to unlock, and the interface is less visual than MailerLite’s. For bloggers who need to build automation quickly, MailerLite has the edge.
Where ConvertKit wins
- Creator commerce: ConvertKit has native paid newsletter and digital product selling built in — if your primary business is a paid subscription, this matters
- Subscriber tagging: ConvertKit’s tag-based system is more flexible for complex segmentation than MailerLite’s group/segment model
- Sparkloop integration: ConvertKit’s referral system for growing your list through newsletter swaps is powerful if you’re newsletter-first
- Creator community: ConvertKit has a stronger community and creator-focused support ecosystem
Who should use MailerLite
- Bloggers monetizing primarily through ads, affiliates, or product sales (not paid subscriptions)
- Anyone under 25K subscribers who wants automation without a high monthly bill
- Creators who want landing pages, email, and automation in one affordable platform
Who should use ConvertKit
- Creators building paid newsletter businesses from day one
- Bloggers with large lists (50K+) who need advanced segmentation
- Anyone whose primary revenue is from paid subscriptions or Sparkloop referrals
Bottom line
For the majority of bloggers — especially those in the 0–25K subscriber range monetizing through ads and affiliate income — MailerLite delivers more value per dollar than ConvertKit. The automation access on the free plan alone makes it the better starting point. Start free here — no credit card needed.