Our verdict: match the method to how often rows change
A sheet that gets a batch of event sign-ups once a month does not need an automation. A sheet that a sales assistant or form fills every day does, because manual imports get forgotten and new contacts wait days for a welcome email. Choose by frequency first, then by cost.
Whatever you choose, make the destination call an update-or-create. MailerLite's API documentation says that if a subscriber already exists, the create call updates it with the new values, and that fields or groups you leave out are not removed [1]. That makes repeat rows safe, provided you do not map blank cells over good data.
| Method | Best for | Handles edited rows | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite CSV import | Occasional batches | Re-import; choose whether empty cells overwrite fields [2] | Your time |
| Make scenario | Daily new rows; precise control | Yes, with Watch Changes (add-on or script) [3] | 1 credit per check + 1 per row per module [4] |
| Pabbly Connect workflow | Many rows; triggers and checks not billed | Depends on the Google Sheets trigger you choose in Pabbly | 1 task per external action [5] |
Option 1: manual CSV import, which is free and often enough
MailerLite's help page lists five import routes: CSV or TXT upload, copy and paste from Excel, single manual adds, a direct Mailchimp import and the API [2]. Google Sheets is not one of them, so download the sheet as CSV and upload it.
Two import rules matter for a sync. MailerLite removes duplicate addresses within an upload, and it does not import addresses that are already unsubscribed, bounced, unconfirmed, marked as a spam complaint or banned [2]. That protects you from re-adding someone who left. The import also offers a choice about whether to update subscriber fields with empty data [2]; leave that off unless you really mean to clear fields. Save the CSV as UTF-8 if names contain accents, and keep all data on one sheet [2].
Option 2: a Make scenario for new rows and edited rows
Make's Google Sheets app offers Watch New Rows, which triggers when a new row is added, and Watch Changes, which triggers when a cell is updated [6]. Watch Changes is an instant trigger; Make's documentation says its webhook can be set up with the Make Google Sheets add-on or with a script in the sheet using an on-edit trigger [3].
For new rows: Watch New Rows, a filter that skips rows without consent or email, then MailerLite Create/Update a Subscriber. For edited rows: a second scenario on Watch Changes that sends the same row to Create/Update. Because Watch Changes fires on cell updates, editing three cells in one row can start three runs; each run is harmless thanks to the upsert, but it costs credits. Add a status column such as Ready and filter on it, so only finished rows reach MailerLite. The filter does not save the trigger's credit: every edit still starts a run.
Credit math from Make's operations page: a trigger uses one operation per check regardless of how many rows it returns, and each downstream module uses one per row [4]. Make's billing FAQ says most actions use 1 credit [7].
Option 3: a Pabbly Connect workflow
Pabbly Connect counts tasks differently. Its pricing page says a task is an action performed on an external app; triggers are not counted, and internal steps such as Filter, Router, Formatter and Iterator are free [5]. It also says checks against external apps are operations, which Pabbly does not charge for [5]. So a Google Sheets row that passes a filter and creates a MailerLite subscriber is one task.
The plan sizes are the constraint. Pabbly's page lists Free with 100 tasks a month, Standard with 10,000 tasks at $19 billed monthly or $194 billed yearly, and Unlimited at $79 monthly or $828 yearly [5]. We have not built this workflow; check in the Pabbly builder which Google Sheets trigger your account offers and whether it reports edited rows as well as new ones.
Monthly cost worked through
Assumptions, all labeled: 200 new rows a month, 50 rows edited once after creation (each edit touching 2 cells), everyone has consent, one MailerLite action per row. Make Free includes 1,000 credits a month [7]; Pabbly Free includes 100 tasks [5].
| Setup | New rows | Edited rows | Monthly total | Fits which plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make, Watch New Rows hourly | 720 checks + 200 = 920 | Watch Changes: 50 x 2 edits x 2 credits = 200 | About 1,120 credits | Over Make Free's 1,000 |
| Make, Watch New Rows once a day | 30 checks + 200 = 230 | 200 (as above) | About 430 credits | Make Free |
| Pabbly Connect | 200 tasks | Up to 100 tasks | About 300 tasks | Pabbly Standard: $19/month or $194/year [5] |
| Manual CSV import | $0 | $0 | Your time each import | MailerLite only |
Set the sheet up so any method works
- One row per person; email in its own column, trimmed and lowercase.
- A consent column with the date and source of opt-in; do not sync rows without it [2].
- A Ready or Sync column so edits only sync when the row is finished.
- A Synced at column written back after success, so you can see what reached MailerLite.
- Never use the sheet to unsubscribe people; handle unsubscribes in MailerLite, and do not set the API's resubscribe flag to true in a sync [1].
- For a one-off backfill of hundreds of rows, use the CSV import rather than the automation; MailerLite's API has a global limit of 120 requests per minute [8].
Questions before you decide
Can MailerLite import directly from Google Sheets?
MailerLite's import help page lists CSV or TXT upload, copy and paste from Excel, manual entry, a direct Mailchimp import and the API. Google Sheets is not listed, so the manual route is File, Download, CSV from Sheets and then upload.
Does Make notice when I edit an existing row?
Make's Google Sheets Watch New Rows trigger fires when a new row is added. Watch Changes triggers when a cell is updated and needs the Make add-on or a script in the sheet. Because it fires per edit, several edits to one row can start several runs.
Which is cheaper for 200 new rows a month, Make or Pabbly?
Make's Free plan has 1,000 credits a month; a daily check plus 200 rows is about 230 credits. Pabbly Connect Free has 100 tasks, so 200 MailerLite actions need Standard at $19 per month or $194 per year. Make is cheaper here unless you need much more frequent checks.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- MailerLite API: Subscribers (create/upsert) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MailerLite Help: How to import subscribers Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make apps documentation: Google Sheets (Watch Changes setup) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make Help Center: Operations Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Pabbly Connect plans and task counting (USD) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make integrations: Google Sheets modules Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make pricing and billing FAQ Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MailerLite API documentation: authentication and rate limits Accessed 29 Oct 2026
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