Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite (2026)
Two creator-friendly email platforms. MailerLite wins on price. ConvertKit wins on the overall creator experience.
Kit (ConvertKit)
MailerLite
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) Winner | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| A/B testing | No | Yes |
| Automations | No | Yes |
| Creator network | Yes | No |
| Digital product sales | Yes | No |
| Email builder | No | Yes |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| Paid newsletter support | No | Yes |
| Paid newsletters | Yes | No |
| Subscriber tagging | Yes | No |
| Visual automations | Yes | No |
| Websites | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | Free / $25/mo | Free / $9/mo |
| Sultan's Score | 8.3 | 8.0 |
The Sultan's Verdict
ConvertKit has a stronger creator ecosystem and better automations. MailerLite is cheaper and a legitimate contender, but ConvertKit's edge in deliverability and community gives it the win.
The Creator Email Showdown
MailerLite and ConvertKit (now rebranded as Kit) are the two most popular email platforms for creators, bloggers, and small businesses. Both are simple to use. Both have free tiers. Both are dramatically better values than Mailchimp. The difference comes down to what you're optimizing for: savings or ecosystem.
MailerLite is the budget champion. Their free plan gives you 1,000 subscribers with automation, landing pages, and a drag-and-drop email editor. The Growing Business plan at $10/month for 500 subscribers includes everything most creators need. ConvertKit's free plan gives you 10,000 subscribers but limits you to broadcasts only (no automations, no sequences). Their Creator plan starts at $25/month for 300 subscribers.
On raw pricing, MailerLite wins by a wide margin. The question is whether ConvertKit's advantages justify the 2-3x premium.
Pricing Breakdown: The Real Numbers
At 1,000 subscribers: MailerLite costs $10/month. ConvertKit costs $25/month. MailerLite is 60% cheaper.
At 5,000 subscribers: MailerLite costs $32/month. ConvertKit costs $66/month. Still roughly half the price.
At 10,000 subscribers: MailerLite costs $54/month. ConvertKit costs $100/month.
At 25,000 subscribers: MailerLite costs $139/month. ConvertKit costs $166/month. The gap narrows as lists grow.
Over a year with 5,000 subscribers, MailerLite saves you $408 compared to ConvertKit. That's real money for a solo creator. The question is whether ConvertKit's automations, deliverability, and creator network are worth $34/month more.
Automation: ConvertKit's Edge
ConvertKit's visual automation builder is more intuitive and more powerful than MailerLite's. You can build multi-step sequences with conditional branching, tag-based triggers, and subscriber scoring. The automation library includes pre-built templates for common creator workflows: welcome sequences, product launches, webinar funnels, and course drips.
MailerLite has automation too, and it's gotten much better in the past two years. You can build multi-step workflows with triggers, conditions, and actions. For basic sequences (welcome series, abandoned cart, simple nurture), MailerLite covers the use case. For complex branching logic and multi-path automations, ConvertKit has more flexibility.
If your email strategy is "send weekly newsletter + welcome sequence," MailerLite's automation is sufficient. If you're running a product business with segmented launches, course funnels, and behavior-based sequences, ConvertKit's automation builder handles more complexity with less friction.
Deliverability
ConvertKit historically has strong deliverability. They actively manage their sending reputation, offer dedicated IP addresses for larger senders, and maintain strict anti-spam policies. Multiple independent deliverability tests place ConvertKit in the top 3 for inbox placement rates.
MailerLite's deliverability is good, not great. They've improved significantly, but some users report lower inbox placement rates compared to ConvertKit, particularly for cold subscribers and re-engagement campaigns. MailerLite's free tier also shares sending infrastructure, which can impact deliverability if other users on the same IP have poor practices.
For creators whose business depends on emails reaching the inbox (course creators, paid newsletter operators, coaches), ConvertKit's deliverability advantage is worth the premium. If you're sending a casual weekly newsletter to an engaged list, MailerLite's deliverability is perfectly adequate.
MailerLite's Advantages
Website builder. MailerLite includes a basic website builder with blog functionality. ConvertKit doesn't. If you need a simple landing site without paying for a separate host, MailerLite covers it.
Email design. MailerLite's drag-and-drop editor produces better-looking emails with less effort. ConvertKit's editor is intentionally minimal (text-focused, plain-looking). If your brand requires visually rich emails with images, columns, and custom styling, MailerLite's editor is superior.
E-commerce features. MailerLite's paid plans include a built-in digital product and subscription selling feature. You can sell downloads, courses, and memberships directly through MailerLite without Gumroad or Teachable. ConvertKit has a commerce feature too, but MailerLite's is more developed and charges lower transaction fees.
The Sultan's Bottom Line
If you're a creator on a budget and your email needs are straightforward (newsletters, basic automations, landing pages), MailerLite at $10/month is the best value in email marketing. Full stop. No other platform gives you this much for this little.
If you're building a serious email-driven business (courses, paid products, complex funnels), ConvertKit's automation depth and deliverability are worth the premium. The $34/month difference at 5,000 subscribers is an investment in your email infrastructure, not an expense.
Both are excellent. Both are dramatically better than Mailchimp. You won't regret either choice. But if I'm spending my own money and building a creator business, I'd start with MailerLite and upgrade to ConvertKit when my automation needs outgrow it.
Is MailerLite better value than ConvertKit?
On pricing, yes. MailerLite costs 40-60% less than ConvertKit at every subscriber tier. For basic email marketing needs (newsletters, simple automations, landing pages), MailerLite delivers comparable value at a lower price.
Is ConvertKit worth the higher price?
For creators running product businesses with complex automations, yes. ConvertKit's visual automation builder, stronger deliverability, and creator ecosystem justify the premium. For simple newsletter senders, probably not.
Which has better free plans?
It depends. MailerLite's free plan gives 1,000 subscribers with automations and landing pages. ConvertKit's free plan gives 10,000 subscribers but limits you to broadcasts only. If you need automations on free, MailerLite. If you have a large list but simple needs, ConvertKit Free.
Can I switch from MailerLite to ConvertKit later?
Yes. Both platforms support CSV import/export of subscriber data. ConvertKit also has direct migration tools for MailerLite users. Most migrations take a few hours for lists under 10K subscribers.
Which is better for selling digital products?
Both offer commerce features. MailerLite's is more developed with lower transaction fees and a built-in digital product storefront. ConvertKit's commerce works but is more basic. For serious digital product businesses, consider Gumroad or Teachable alongside either email platform.