MailerLite vs Sender
MailerLite and Sender are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Sender is the more affordable option at $10/mo — that's $2 less than MailerLite's $12/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. MailerLite stands out with advanced analytics, while Sender offers SMS marketing. Both tools work well for small businesses and beginners.
Quick Verdict
MailerLite wins on integrations.
Sender wins on price, rating.
Best for most users: Sender (small businesses).
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.
Sender
Affordable email and SMS marketing
Sender offers one of the most generous free plans in email marketing, combined with built-in SMS capabilities. It's an excellent choice for budget-conscious businesses that need both email and SMS marketing without breaking the bank.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MailerLite | Sender |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month | 2,500 subscribers |
| Founded | 2010 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 90 | 50 |
| Integrations | 140 | 50 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97% | 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 | ✓ | ✕ |
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
Sender: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Extremely generous free plan (2,500 subs, 15,000 emails)
- +Built-in SMS marketing on all plans
- +Very affordable paid plans
- +Ecommerce integrations for abandoned cart
- +No credit card required for free plan
Cons
- −No A/B testing
- −No landing page builder
- −Smaller integration ecosystem
- −Less well-known brand
- −Limited advanced features
The Verdict
MailerLite and Sender 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.
| Criterion | Weight | MailerLite | Sender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 140 | 50 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose MailerLite if…
- + You need advanced analytics
- + You're a bloggers
- + You're a freelancers
Choose Sender if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($10/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a indie and bootstrapped