Kit (formerly ConvertKit) vs MailerLite: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is built for creators and newsletters, while MailerLite suits budget-conscious senders. For most users MailerLite is the stronger default, but Kit (formerly ConvertKit) can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
Both Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and MailerLite get recommended a lot, but they solve the job differently. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Email Marketing | Email Marketing |
| What it's known for | Creator-first email marketing with visual automations, landing pages and a built-in commerce/newsletter ecosystem. | Clean, affordable email marketing with drag-and-drop editor, automations, landing pages and websites. |
| Pricing | Free up to 10,000 subscribers (limited); Creator from ~$15/mo; Creator Pro from ~$29/mo, scaling with list size. | Free up to 1,000 subscribers; Growing Business and Advanced paid tiers scaling with subscribers. |
| Best audience | Creators, newsletter writers, coaches and digital-product sellers who value list growth and simple automation over heavy ecommerce features. | Budget-conscious beginners, bloggers and small businesses wanting simple automation and landing pages cheaply. |
| Best for | Creators and newsletters, Coaches and digital product sellers, Visual automation | Budget-conscious senders, Beginners, Simple automations + landing pages |
| Entry price | $0 | $0 |
| Biggest strength | Excellent for creators: one subscriber counted once, clean tagging model. | Among the cheapest credible tools with a clean, modern UX. |
| Main caveat | Prices rose roughly 35% in September 2025; now pricier than budget rivals. | Free tier dropped to 500 subscribers / 12,000 emails per month with branding. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) key features
- Visual automation builder with unlimited automations and email sequences on paid plans
- Built-in landing pages, opt-in forms and a free newsletter/creator hub
- Commerce: sell digital products and paid newsletter subscriptions natively
- Subscriber tagging and segmentation (single subscriber, no list duplication)
MailerLite key features
- Clean drag-and-drop email editor with unlimited monthly emails on paid plans
- Automation workflows with multiple triggers (more on Advanced)
- Landing pages, signup forms and a website builder
- AI writing assistant and custom HTML editor (Advanced)
Pricing tiers side by side
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter (Free) | $0 | up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited emails, but only 1 automation/sequence |
| Creator | from ~$25/mo (was ~$15 before Sept 2025 hike); ~$39/mo at 1,000 subs | unlimited automations, removes Kit branding, scales with list size |
| Creator Pro | from ~$50/mo; ~$79/mo at 1,000 subs | engagement scoring, deliverability reporting, newsletter referral system, unlimited team |
MailerLite plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | up to 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo, MailerLite branding |
| Growing Business | from $10/mo (500 subs) | unlimited emails, 3 users, removes branding |
| Advanced | from $20/mo (500 subs) | unlimited users, custom HTML, AI assistant, live chat, more triggers |
| Enterprise | custom | for 100k+ subscribers |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Kit (formerly ConvertKit) wins
The default newsletter platform for creators who want tagging, automations and built-in product/subscription selling in one tool.
- Excellent for creators: one subscriber counted once, clean tagging model.
- Generous free Newsletter plan up to 10,000 subscribers.
That makes it the stronger pick for creators, newsletter writers, coaches and digital-product sellers who value list growth and simple automation over heavy ecommerce features.
Where MailerLite wins
The value pick: a genuinely pleasant interface and core features at one of the lowest price points in the category.
- Among the cheapest credible tools with a clean, modern UX.
- Free plan and low-cost paid tiers good for beginners.
That makes it the stronger pick for budget-conscious beginners, bloggers and small businesses wanting simple automation and landing pages cheaply.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Kit (formerly ConvertKit) if you fit its core audience — creators, newsletter writers, coaches and digital-product sellers who value list growth and simple automation over heavy ecommerce features.
- Choose MailerLite if you fit its core audience — budget-conscious beginners, bloggers and small businesses wanting simple automation and landing pages cheaply.
FAQ
Is Kit (formerly ConvertKit) better than MailerLite?
MailerLite is the stronger default for most users, but Kit (formerly ConvertKit) can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and MailerLite?
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is the default newsletter platform for creators who want tagging, automations and built-in product/subscription selling in one tool. MailerLite is the value pick: a genuinely pleasant interface and core features at one of the lowest price points in the category.
Which is cheaper, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) or MailerLite?
Entry pricing differs: Kit (formerly ConvertKit) starts at $0, while MailerLite starts at $0. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and MailerLite: