ConvertKit vs MailerLite
Compare ConvertKit and MailerLite for drip email campaigns. Analysis of automation builders, pricing, templates, and creator-focused features.
Last updated: 2026-03-15
ConvertKit
convertkit.comEmail marketing built for creators
Best for: Creators, bloggers, and solopreneurs selling digital products
MailerLite
mailerlite.comSimple email marketing tools for small businesses
Best for: Small businesses and freelancers wanting simplicity and value
TL;DR: ConvertKit vs MailerLite for Drip Campaigns
Both are excellent choices for creators and small businesses, but they serve slightly different needs. ConvertKit excels at tag-based automation and digital product sales, while MailerLite offers better email design tools and website building at a lower price. For straightforward drip campaigns, MailerLite offers more value per dollar.
Best for creators selling digital products who want clean, tag-based drip automation.
Best value for small businesses wanting beautiful emails and simple drip sequences.
Purpose-built for SaaS drip campaigns with native billing integration at $19/mo.
Editor's Note
This is one of the closest comparisons in the email marketing space. Both tools are well-designed and focused. The choice often comes down to whether you need native commerce (ConvertKit) or better templates at lower cost (MailerLite). SaaS companies should look at Sequenzy for billing-integrated drip sequences.
ConvertKit vs MailerLite vs Sequenzy: Quick Comparison
| Feature | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Automation Builder | Visual Automations with tag-based logic | Visual workflow editor | Pre-built sequences with visual editor | ConvertKit |
| Email Design | Minimalist, text-first (3 templates) | 80+ modern templates with rich design | SaaS-focused templates | MailerLite |
| Pricing (5K subs) | $66/mo | $32/mo | $19/mo | Sequenzy |
| Free Plan | 1,000 subs, no automations | 1,000 subs, basic automations | No free plan, $19/mo | MailerLite |
| Digital Product Sales | Built-in commerce (tip jars, products) | Via Stripe integration | Native Stripe/Paddle integration | ConvertKit |
| Tag-Based Architecture | Core design principle | Supported but group-based primary | Tags with behavioral tracking | ConvertKit |
| Website Builder | Basic landing pages | Full website and blog builder | Not included | MailerLite |
| Auto-Resend | Not available | Built-in auto-resend feature | Configurable resend rules | MailerLite |
Score Breakdown
Totals: ConvertKit 60/80, MailerLite 62/80, Sequenzy 66/80.
Drip Email Feature Comparison
Feature-by-feature analysis of drip campaign capabilities.
Sequence Building
| Feature | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-step sequences | 8/10 Clean sequence builder with delays and conditions | 8/10 Multi-step workflows with visual editor | 9/10 Pre-built SaaS sequences |
| Conditional branching | 8/10 Tag-based conditions with visual branching | 7/10 Condition-based splits | 8/10 Event-driven branching |
| Time-based delays | 8/10 Day-based and day-of-week targeting | 8/10 Flexible time, date, and day delays | 9/10 Smart delays with timezone awareness |
| Goal-based exits | 7/10 Tag-based goal completion triggers | 5/10 Manual subscriber removal | 8/10 Automatic conversion-based exits |
Personalization
| Feature | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic content | 6/10 Liquid templating for conditionals | 7/10 Dynamic content based on subscriber data | 7/10 Conditional blocks with merge tags |
| Merge fields | 7/10 Liquid-based custom fields | 7/10 Custom fields and merge tags | 8/10 Standard and custom merges |
| Behavioral targeting | 7/10 Tag and link-click targeting | 6/10 Basic open/click behavior | 9/10 SaaS usage and billing targeting |
List Management
| Feature | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscriber architecture | 9/10 Tag-first, single subscriber record | 8/10 Groups and segments with unified profiles | 9/10 Unified profiles with SaaS data |
| Segmentation depth | 7/10 Tag-based segments, simpler logic | 7/10 Multi-condition segments | 8/10 Behavioral segments for SaaS |
| List hygiene | 8/10 Cold subscriber identification and cleanup | 8/10 Inactive subscriber auto-management | 8/10 Proactive list hygiene tools |
Pricing Comparison
MailerLite is significantly cheaper than ConvertKit at every tier while offering more generous free plan features. ConvertKit justifies its premium with creator-focused commerce features and a tag-based system designed for digital product sellers.
Up to 1,000 subscribers. No automations, no sequences, broadcast-only.
Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo. Basic automations included.
No free plan. $19/mo for all features and 15,000 emails.
| Tier | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 subscribers | $15/mo (Creator) Full automations and sequences | $10/mo (Growing Business) Full automations, unlimited emails | $19/mo All features, 15K emails |
| 5,000 subscribers | $66/mo (Creator) Unlimited sends | $32/mo (Growing Business) Unlimited sends | $19/mo Up to 15K emails |
| 10,000 subscribers | $100/mo (Creator) All features at every tier | $54/mo (Growing Business) All features included | $39/mo Up to 50K emails |
| 25,000 subscribers | $166/mo (Creator) Same features | $139/mo (Growing Business) Same feature set | $69/mo Up to 150K emails |
Pricing Verdict: MailerLite costs 30-50% less than ConvertKit for comparable drip email features. ConvertKit higher price is justified if you use its built-in commerce features for selling digital products. Sequenzy offers the best value for SaaS-specific drip campaigns.
Cost Note
The pricing gap narrows at higher subscriber counts but MailerLite remains consistently cheaper. ConvertKit premium is justified if you actively use its commerce features to sell digital products.
Drip Campaign Types Comparison
How each platform handles different types of drip email campaigns.
Welcome Series
Onboarding new subscribers
ConvertKit
Clean text-based welcome sequences
MailerLite
Designed welcome series with rich templates
Sequenzy
SaaS-optimized onboarding flows
Verdict: Both handle welcome series well. MailerLite offers better visual design.
Course Delivery
Drip-fed educational content over time
ConvertKit
Excellent sequence timing for lesson delivery
MailerLite
Good timing with richer formatting options
Sequenzy
Feature adoption sequences
Verdict: ConvertKit is the go-to for drip-fed courses and content.
Product Launch
Pre-launch, launch, and post-launch sequence
ConvertKit
Tag-based launch sequences with commerce integration
MailerLite
Time-based launch sequences
Sequenzy
Not a primary use case
Verdict: ConvertKit commerce features make it ideal for product launches.
Nurture Sequence
Long-term subscriber engagement
ConvertKit
Tag-based nurture with clean delivery
MailerLite
Visually appealing nurture emails
Sequenzy
Behavior-driven nurture for SaaS
Verdict: Both platforms handle nurture sequences well.
Re-engagement
Win-back for inactive subscribers
ConvertKit
Cold subscriber tagging and cleanup
MailerLite
Inactive targeting with auto-cleanup
Sequenzy
Usage-based churn detection
Verdict: MailerLite auto-cleanup features give it a slight edge.
The Bigger Picture
ConvertKit shines for course delivery and product launches. MailerLite is stronger for newsletter-style drips and visual content. Both handle standard drip campaign types competently.
Automation Builder Comparison
| Feature | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual automation builder | Yes Visual Automations with drag-and-drop | Yes Visual workflow editor on paid plan | Yes Visual editor with templates |
| Tag-based triggers | Yes Core architecture built on tags | Yes Tags supported as triggers | Yes Tags plus behavioral triggers |
| If/else branching | Yes Tag and event-based conditions | Yes Condition-based splits | Yes Behavior and billing conditions |
| Wait/delay steps | Yes Day-based and day-of-week | Yes Time, date, day-of-week | Yes Smart delays with timezone support |
| Commerce triggers | Yes Native purchase and product triggers | Yes Via Stripe and e-commerce integrations | Yes Native Stripe/Paddle billing events |
| Auto-resend | No Not available | Yes Automatic resend to non-openers | Yes Configurable resend rules |
| Goal-based exits | Yes Exit when goal tag is applied | No Not available | Yes Conversion-based exits |
Email Templates & Editor
| Aspect | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editor Type | Minimalist text editor (3 templates) | Drag-and-drop with 80+ templates | Block editor for SaaS emails |
| Design Philosophy | Text-first, newsletter-style (intentional) | Visual, designed emails with rich layouts | Clean, professional SaaS emails |
| Mobile Responsiveness | Always responsive (simple layouts) | Responsive with preview | Responsive with preview |
| Image Handling | Basic image support | Built-in image editor | Image support included |
| HTML Editing | Supported but not encouraged | Full HTML editor available | HTML editing supported |
Deliverability Comparison
| Factor | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Inbox Placement | 90-94% | 90-94% | 92-96% |
| SPF/DKIM Authentication | Supported with custom domain | Supported with easy setup | Required with guided wizard |
| DMARC Support | Supported | Supported | Supported with monitoring |
| Text-First Emails | Default approach, avoids spam triggers | HTML-heavy templates may trigger some filters | Clean, balanced email format |
| Bounce Handling | Automatic with list cleaning | Automatic with proactive cleanup | Automatic with proactive hygiene |
| List Quality Controls | Cold subscriber identification | Strict approval and inactive cleanup | SaaS-focused verification |
Both platforms achieve excellent deliverability. ConvertKit text-first approach naturally avoids many spam triggers. MailerLite strict account approval protects shared IP reputation. Deliverability is essentially a tie.
Integration Ecosystem
ConvertKit: ~120 integrations. MailerLite: ~140. Sequenzy: ~35.
E-commerce/Products
| Service | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | Yes (Native integration) | No (Via Zapier) | No (Not supported) |
| Teachable | Yes (Native integration) | Yes (Via Zapier) | No (Not supported) |
| Shopify | Yes (Native integration) | Yes (Native integration) | No (Not supported) |
Payment/Billing
| Service | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | Yes (Native for ConvertKit Commerce) | Yes (Native integration) | Yes (Native, real-time billing events) |
| Paddle | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) | Yes (Native, real-time billing events) |
Website/CMS
| Service | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | Yes (Native plugin) | Yes (Native plugin) | Yes (Via embed code) |
| Squarespace | Yes (Via embed) | Yes (Via embed) | No (Not supported) |
Analytics & Reporting
| Metric | ConvertKit | MailerLite | Sequenzy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Rate Tracking | Yes, per-email and sequence level | Yes, with campaign comparison | Yes, with sequence trends |
| Click Rate Tracking | Yes, per-link stats | Yes, with link tracking | Yes, with conversion attribution |
| Revenue Tracking | For ConvertKit Commerce products | For e-commerce integrations | Native billing revenue tracking |
| Subscriber Growth | Growth reporting by source | Growth with source attribution | Subscriber lifecycle tracking |
| Sequence Performance | Per-email stats in sequences | Workflow-level reporting | Full funnel with drop-off analysis |
ConvertKit: Unique
- + Creator earnings dashboard
- + Tag distribution insights
- + Subscriber source tracking
MailerLite: Unique
- + Click maps
- + Opens by location
- + Auto-resend performance
Sequenzy: Unique
- + SaaS conversion funnels
- + MRR impact tracking
- + Billing event correlation
Pros & Cons
ConvertKit
Pros
- + Tag-based architecture prevents duplicate charges
- + Excellent for selling digital products natively
- + Clean, focused drip sequence builder
- + Strong deliverability with text-first emails
- + Creator-community with strong support resources
Cons
- - 30-50% more expensive than MailerLite
- - Very limited email design options
- - No auto-resend feature
- - No automations on free plan
- - Reporting is basic
MailerLite
Pros
- + Significantly lower pricing at every tier
- + 80+ modern email templates
- + Built-in website and blog builder
- + Auto-resend to non-openers
- + Basic automations on free plan
Cons
- - Less creator-focused than ConvertKit
- - No native digital product sales
- - No goal-based automation exits
- - Strict account approval may delay setup
- - Tag architecture less central than ConvertKit
Best For: Who Should Use What?
SaaS Trial Onboarding
Converting trial users to paid
Sequenzy is purpose-built for SaaS with native billing triggers and pre-built onboarding sequences.
Online Course Creator
Selling and delivering courses via email
ConvertKit built-in commerce and clean sequence builder make it ideal for course creators.
Budget Blogger
Newsletter and drip campaigns on a budget
MailerLite offers better value with its lower pricing, free plan automations, and beautiful templates.
Digital Product Launch
Pre-launch and launch email sequences
ConvertKit commerce features and tag-based automation are purpose-built for product launches.
Small Business Newsletter
Regular newsletters with drip onboarding
MailerLite template variety and website builder make it ideal for small business marketing.
Migration Guide
ConvertKit to MailerLite
- 1. Export subscribers from ConvertKit with tags
- 2. Import into MailerLite with tag-to-group mapping
- 3. Recreate sequences in MailerLite workflow builder
- 4. Rebuild templates with MailerLite design tools
- 5. Update forms and landing pages
- 6. Configure domain authentication
Watch Out
- ! ConvertKit tag-based logic needs to be adapted for MailerLite groups
- ! Commerce/product integrations will need alternative setup
- ! MailerLite account approval may take 24-48 hours
MailerLite to ConvertKit
- 1. Export subscribers from MailerLite
- 2. Import into ConvertKit with appropriate tags
- 3. Recreate workflows as ConvertKit sequences and automations
- 4. Simplify email designs for ConvertKit editor
- 5. Update forms and integrations
- 6. Set up domain authentication
Watch Out
- ! Designed email templates will need to be simplified
- ! Budget for higher monthly costs
- ! Auto-resend feature will not be available
The Bottom Line
Choose ConvertKit if...
- ✓ You sell digital products or courses and want built-in commerce
- ✓ You prefer a tag-first subscriber management system
- ✓ You prioritize text-based emails for high deliverability
- ✓ You are a creator who values community and support resources
Choose MailerLite if...
- ✓ Budget is a key factor in your decision
- ✓ You want beautiful, designed email templates
- ✓ You need a built-in website and blog builder
- ✓ You want automations available on the free plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ConvertKit worth the extra cost over MailerLite?
If you sell digital products or courses and need native commerce features, yes. If you primarily need drip email automation and nice-looking templates, MailerLite delivers comparable functionality at 30-50% less cost.
Which has better email deliverability?
Both achieve excellent deliverability (90-94% inbox placement). ConvertKit text-first emails naturally avoid spam filters, while MailerLite strict account approval keeps shared IP reputation high.
Can I sell products with MailerLite?
MailerLite does not have a built-in commerce platform like ConvertKit. You can sell products through Stripe integration or e-commerce platforms, but it requires more setup compared to ConvertKit native commerce.
Which free plan is better for drip campaigns?
MailerLite free plan includes basic automations, while ConvertKit free plan does not include automations or sequences. For testing drip email, MailerLite free tier is significantly more useful.