MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign (2026): Price, Automation and Verdict
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💲 Price it at your list size. Our email marketing cost calculator shows what Kit, MailerLite and ActiveCampaign cost today and in 12 months.
MailerLite is the better value for most small businesses and newsletters. At 5,000 subscribers it costs $44.10 a month on yearly billing, against $79 for ActiveCampaign Starter.
ActiveCampaign is worth the extra money when you need advanced automation, revenue attribution or a sales CRM.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: side by side
| Category | MailerLite | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month | None |
| Entry price, 1,000 contacts | $17.10 (Comfort) | $15 (Starter) |
| Price at 10,000 | $80.10 (Comfort) | $149 (Starter) |
| Automation | 50 on Comfort, unlimited on Power | Unlimited multi-step automation, 950+ recipes |
| Landing pages and websites | On every plan | Plus plan and above |
| Monthly email sends | Unlimited on Power | 10 to 15 times your contacts |
| User seats | 3 on Comfort, unlimited on Power | 1 on Starter and Plus, 3 on Pro |
| Sales CRM | Not included | Pipelines and deals as an add-on |
| Predictive sending | Not listed | Pro plan and above |
Prices are monthly rates on yearly billing. Sources: mailerlite.com/pricing and activecampaign.com/pricing, checked 29 October 2026.
Pricing by list size
| Subscribers | MailerLite Comfort | ActiveCampaign Starter | MailerLite Power | ActiveCampaign Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $17.10 | $15 | $35.10 | $49 |
| 2,500 | $29.70 | $39 | $44.10 | $95 |
| 5,000 | $44.10 | $79 | $62.10 | $145 |
| 10,000 | $80.10 | $149 | $116.10 | $189 |
Monthly price on yearly billing, 29 October 2026.
The gap widens fast as you grow. At 5,000 subscribers MailerLite Comfort saves about $419 a year over ActiveCampaign Starter, and at 10,000 it saves about $827.
Comparing the mid-tier plans, MailerLite Power costs less than ActiveCampaign Plus at every list size. See the full tables in our MailerLite pricing and ActiveCampaign pricing guides.
Automation: ActiveCampaign leads
ActiveCampaign was built around automation. Every plan includes multi-step workflows, an AI automation builder and more than 950 ready-made recipes.
Its Pro plan adds predictive sending, conditional content and revenue attribution. Those features matter most for stores and B2B companies with long sales cycles.
MailerLite covers the everyday essentials well. Welcome series and tag-based flows are included, with 50 automations on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
Landing pages and websites
MailerLite includes landing pages and simple websites on every plan, even Free. Comfort allows 10 sites and Power allows unlimited.
ActiveCampaign only adds landing pages and site messages from the Plus plan up. On Starter, you will need another tool for signup pages.
Teams, sending and CRM
MailerLite is friendlier to teams on a budget, with 3 seats on Comfort and unlimited seats on Power. ActiveCampaign includes 1 seat on Starter and Plus, and 3 on Pro.
ActiveCampaign wins if you run a sales team. Its CRM add-ons add pipelines, deal records and lead scoring, which MailerLite does not offer.
Who should choose which?
- You want the lowest price per subscriber
- You need landing pages and a simple site included
- You send newsletters and standard automations
- You have a small team on a budget
- Automation drives most of your revenue
- You need conditional content or attribution
- You want a sales CRM in the same tool
- Your list is under 1,000 and you want automation for $15
Our verdict
For most small businesses, bloggers and newsletters, MailerLite covers the essentials for roughly half the price of ActiveCampaign. Pick ActiveCampaign only when its advanced automation or CRM will clearly pay for the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is MailerLite cheaper than ActiveCampaign?
Yes, from about 2,500 subscribers up. At 10,000 subscribers on yearly billing, MailerLite Comfort costs $80.10 a month and ActiveCampaign Starter costs $149. At 1,000 contacts, ActiveCampaign Starter ($15) is slightly cheaper than Comfort ($17.10).
Does MailerLite have automation like ActiveCampaign?
MailerLite includes automation on every plan, with 50 automations on Comfort and unlimited on Power. ActiveCampaign goes further with predictive sending, conditional content, revenue attribution and 950+ automation recipes.
Does ActiveCampaign have a free plan?
No. MailerLite has a free plan for up to 250 subscribers. ActiveCampaign offers a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee instead.
Which is better for small businesses?
MailerLite for most small businesses, because it costs less and includes landing pages and websites on every plan. ActiveCampaign is better when you need a sales CRM or complex automation.
Can I send unlimited emails with either tool?
MailerLite Power includes unlimited monthly emails. ActiveCampaign caps sends at 10 to 15 times your contact count depending on the plan.
