ActiveCampaign vs MailerLite: Which Email Marketing Tool Is Better in 2026?
ActiveCampaign
From $15MailerLite
From $10Quick verdict
Overall pick: Tie
MailerLite is the lower-cost entry point at a $10 starting price and is the only one of the two offering a free plan and paid newsletter subscriptions, making it the fit for budget-conscious teams and newsletter publishers. ActiveCampaign starts at $15 with no free plan but adds SMS marketing and positions itself for B2B automation and sales-plus-marketing alignment. Buyers who need SMS or B2B automation should pay the higher starting price for ActiveCampaign; buyers focused on newsletters and low entry cost should pick MailerLite.
- MailerLite's entry plan ($10) is 33% cheaper than ActiveCampaign's ($15).
- MailerLite has a free plan; ActiveCampaign does not.
- Only ActiveCampaign offers: sms marketing.
- Only MailerLite offers: paid subscriptions.
Cost calculator
| Tool | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign · flat | $15.00 | $180 |
| MailerLite · flat | $10.00 | $120 |
Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.
Which one should you choose?
| If you need… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious team wanting to start without upfront cost | MailerLite | MailerLite offers a free plan and a $10 starting price; ActiveCampaign has no free plan and starts at $15. |
| Publisher monetizing a newsletter through paid subscriptions | MailerLite | MailerLite supports paid subscriptions; ActiveCampaign does not list this feature. |
| B2B company aligning sales and marketing automation | ActiveCampaign | ActiveCampaign lists B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment as its best-fit uses. |
| Team that needs SMS marketing alongside email | ActiveCampaign | ActiveCampaign includes SMS marketing; MailerLite does not. |
| Team needing visual automation, landing pages, and A/B testing on a tight budget | MailerLite | Both tools include all three features, but MailerLite starts at $10 versus $15 for ActiveCampaign. |
Feature comparison: ActiveCampaign vs MailerLite
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ❌ | ✅ |
| Starting price | $15 /mo | $10 /mo |
| Visual automation flows | ✅ | ✅ |
| Landing pages | ✅ | ✅ |
| A/B testing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Paid subscriptions | — | ✅ |
| E-commerce integrations | ✅ | ✅ |
| SMS marketing | ✅ | — |
| AI writing assistant | ✅ | ✅ |
| Public API | ✅ | ✅ |
Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.
Pros and cons
ActiveCampaign
- Includes SMS marketing, which MailerLite lacks
- Covers automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce, AI assistant, and API
- Positioned for B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment
- Longer operating history, founded in 2003
- No free plan
- Higher starting price at $15 versus $10 for MailerLite
- No paid newsletter subscription feature
MailerLite
- Offers a free plan
- Lower starting price at $10
- Supports paid newsletter subscriptions, which ActiveCampaign does not
- Covers automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce, AI assistant, and API
- No SMS marketing
- Does not list B2B automation or sales alignment as a focus
- Founded later, in 2010, versus 2003 for ActiveCampaign
At a glance
Advanced marketing automation and CRM.
Founded 2003 · From $15 · 7/8 tracked features
Best for: B2B automation, sales + marketing alignment
See ActiveCampaign alternatives →Affordable, clean email marketing.
Founded 2010 · From $10 · 7/8 tracked features
Best for: budget-conscious teams, newsletters
See MailerLite alternatives →FAQ
Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than MailerLite?
No. ActiveCampaign starts at $15 and has no free plan, while MailerLite starts at $10 and offers a free plan.
Does MailerLite offer SMS marketing?
No. SMS marketing is listed for ActiveCampaign but not for MailerLite.
Which tool supports paid newsletter subscriptions?
MailerLite supports paid subscriptions; ActiveCampaign does not list this feature.
Do both tools include automation flows and landing pages?
Yes. Both list visual automation flows, landing pages, A/B testing, e-commerce integrations, an AI writing assistant, and a public API.
Which tool is better for B2B automation?
ActiveCampaign lists B2B automation and sales + marketing alignment as its best-fit uses; MailerLite lists budget-conscious teams and newsletters.
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Data last reviewed: pending verification. All Email Marketing tools →