ActiveCampaign vs MailerLite
ActiveCampaign is a all-in-one marketing platform while MailerLite is a email marketing platform. ActiveCampaign has been around since 2003, giving it a 7-year head start over MailerLite (founded 2010). MailerLite is the more affordable option at $12/mo — that's $7 less than ActiveCampaign's $19/mo entry point. MailerLite offers a free plan (250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month), while ActiveCampaign does not. ActiveCampaign has the edge with SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign wins on deliverability, integrations.
MailerLite wins on price, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: MailerLite (small businesses).
ActiveCampaign
Marketing automation that drives growth
ActiveCampaign is widely regarded as having the best marketing automation capabilities in the email marketing space. It combines email marketing with a built-in CRM, making it ideal for businesses that need sophisticated automation workflows and sales pipeline management.
MailerLite
Email marketing tools for growing businesses
MailerLite is known for its simplicity, affordability, and clean design. It's one of the best options for small businesses and beginners who want professional email marketing without complexity. The built-in website builder and digital product sales features add extra value.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2003 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 250 | 90 |
| Integrations | 900 | 140 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✓ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
ActiveCampaign: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Industry-leading automation builder
- +Built-in CRM for sales teams
- +900+ integrations (largest ecosystem)
- +Excellent deliverability
- +Powerful segmentation and contact scoring
Cons
- −No free plan available
- −Steep learning curve for beginners
- −Gets expensive with higher-tier features
- −Reporting could be more intuitive
- −Landing page builder is basic compared to dedicated tools
MailerLite: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent value for money — most affordable paid plans
- +Clean, intuitive interface perfect for beginners
- +Built-in website and landing page builder
- +Sell digital products directly
- +Strong drag-and-drop email editor
Cons
- −Free plan limited to 1,000 subscribers
- −No SMS marketing
- −Fewer integrations than competitors
- −Strict approval process for new accounts
- −Limited automation compared to ActiveCampaign
The Verdict
ActiveCampaign and MailerLite are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, ActiveCampaign reports 97.5% compared to 97% for MailerLite — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | ActiveCampaign | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $19/mo | $12/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 900 | 140 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose ActiveCampaign if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a agencies
Choose MailerLite if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a beginners