Why people leave MailerLite

MailerLite built its reputation on being the affordable, easy-to-use alternative to Mailchimp. And it delivers on that promise. But as businesses grow, the cracks start showing. To understand what modern email platforms offer, read our guide to best email marketing tools for SaaS.

The transactional email problem

MailerLite is marketing-only. Need password reset emails? Purchase receipts? Account notifications? You'll need MailerSend—their separate transactional email product. That means two dashboards, two bills, and two sets of analytics. Platforms like Sequenzy or Brevo combine both.

The SaaS gap

If you're running a SaaS business, MailerLite wasn't built for you. There's no native Stripe integration, no subscription lifecycle automations, no MRR tracking. You can make it work, but you'll be fighting the tool instead of using it. Check our MailerLite comparison page for details.

Automation limits

MailerLite's automation builder is fine for simple workflows—welcome sequences, basic drips. But when you need complex conditional logic, multiple triggers, or behavior-based branches, it hits a ceiling. ActiveCampaign and Customer.io are leagues ahead.

The shrinking free tier

MailerLite recently cut their free tier from 1,000 to 500 subscribers. Still generous, but the trend isn't encouraging. If you're planning for growth, factor in that costs will escalate.

The alternatives, honestly

If you're building SaaS: Sequenzy

Sequenzy combines transactional and marketing emails with AI-powered content generation. Describe what you want ("a 5-email trial expiry sequence for a project management SaaS") and it writes the emails. Stripe syncs automatically—MRR, churn signals, subscription status.

It's $19/mo for 10k emails vs MailerLite's $73. The catch: no landing pages. If you need those, MailerLite wins. See our MailerLite comparison for details.

If you're a creator: ConvertKit

ConvertKit is purpose-built for newsletter writers and creators. The interface is cleaner than MailerLite, the automation is more robust for creator workflows, and they have monetization features MailerLite doesn't. More expensive at $79/mo, but worth it for creators. Check our ConvertKit comparison.

If budget is everything: Brevo

Brevo offers unlimited contacts on all plans—including free. Pay per email sent instead of per subscriber. At low volume, it's cheaper than anything. Plus transactional emails and SMS are included. The interface is dated, but the value is unbeatable. See our Brevo comparison.

If you need serious automation: ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the automation powerhouse. CRM included, lead scoring, site tracking, predictive sending. It costs roughly $79/mo at 10k—similar to MailerLite's Growing Business plan. If automation is your priority, ActiveCampaign justifies the price. Check our ActiveCampaign comparison.

If you run e-commerce: Klaviyo

MailerLite has basic e-commerce integrations. Klaviyo is purpose-built for Shopify and WooCommerce with abandoned cart flows, product recommendations, and customer lifetime value tracking. More expensive but dramatically better for online stores. See our Klaviyo comparison.

The pricing comparison

At 10,000 subscribers/contacts:

• MailerLite Growing Business: $73/month

• MailerLite Advanced: $110/month

• Sequenzy: $19/month (transactional + AI included)

• Brevo: $25/month (pay per email, unlimited contacts)

• ConvertKit: $79/month (creator-focused)

• ActiveCampaign: $79/month (best automation)

• Moosend: $44/month (budget alternative)

Note: Some platforms charge per email (Brevo) while others charge per subscriber. Compare based on your actual usage patterns. See our pricing page for Sequenzy details.

When MailerLite is still the right choice

MailerLite wins if:

• You need landing pages and website builder included

• You're a blogger, creator, or small business

• Budget is your primary concern

• You want a proven, stable platform

• The free tier (500 subscribers) is enough to start

Don't switch just to switch. If MailerLite handles your needs and the price is right, stick with it. But if you're hitting its limitations—especially around transactional emails, SaaS features, or automation—the alternatives are genuinely better for those use cases. Use our email warmup calculator to plan your transition.