Campaign Monitor vs MailerLite
Campaign Monitor and MailerLite are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Campaign Monitor has been around since 2004, giving it a 6-year head start over MailerLite (founded 2010). MailerLite is the more affordable option at $10/mo — that's $2 less than Campaign Monitor's $12/mo entry point. MailerLite offers a free plan (500 subscribers), while Campaign Monitor does not. Campaign Monitor stands out with SMS marketing, while MailerLite offers landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Campaign Monitor wins on deliverability, integrations.
MailerLite wins on price, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: MailerLite (small businesses).
Campaign Monitor
Beautifully crafted email marketing
Campaign Monitor is particularly well-suited for agencies and brands that need polished, branded email campaigns. Its client management features and beautiful template builder make it a popular choice for marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts.
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 | Campaign Monitor | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 500 subscribers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 120 | 90 |
| Integrations | 250 | 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Campaign Monitor: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent email template builder
- +Strong agency features and client management
- +Good deliverability
- +Time zone sending optimization
- +Link review feature prevents broken links
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Lite plan caps at 2,500 emails
- −Premier plan expensive ($159/mo)
- −No landing page builder
- −Limited automation on lower tiers
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
MailerLite edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to Campaign Monitor's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from support (4.7 vs 3.8) and value for money (4.8 vs 4.1). On deliverability, Campaign Monitor reports 97.5% compared to 97% for MailerLite — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Campaign Monitor | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 250 | 140 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Campaign Monitor if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a agencies
- + You're a brands
Choose MailerLite if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($10/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a small businesses