The short verdict
For most small lists that need even a simple welcome series, MailerLite gives more automation for the money on its entry paid plan, and its contact counting is kinder to lists with many unsubscribes. [1] Mailchimp makes more sense if you want 24/7 chat support on the cheapest paid plan, its listed 300+ integrations, or Premium features such as phone support. [2]
This is a feature and price comparison. If you have already decided to move, the existing Mailchimp to MailerLite move guide covers the export and import steps.
Free plans side by side
Both free plans now cap you at 250 contacts, so the differences are in sends, automation and support. Mailchimp's help center lists Free at 500 sends a month, a 250 daily send limit, one audience and one seat. [3] Its pricing page lists automation flows as not included on Free and support as email support for the first 30 days. [2] MailerLite Free lists 2,500 monthly emails, three active automations, one landing page, three active forms, two seats and knowledge-base support. [1]
How each one counts your contacts
This rule changes your bill more than the headline price. Mailchimp counts subscribed, unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts, and only archived, cleaned and deleted contacts are excluded. [3] MailerLite bills on active subscribers, says unsubscribed and bounced subscribers do not count, and uses a cumulative count within each billing cycle. [1]
Hypothetical example: you have 1,000 subscribed contacts and 400 old unsubscribes. Mailchimp counts 1,400 contacts, which falls in its 501 to 1,500 tier, unless you archive the unsubscribes first. [3] [2] MailerLite counts 1,000 active subscribers, which falls in its up-to-1,000 tier at $19 per month on Comfort. [1] On Mailchimp, archiving is the step that keeps unsubscribes from raising your tier.
Paid tiers and automation
Mailchimp's pricing page displayed Essentials at $13 per month, Standard at $20 per month and Premium at $350 per month, each labelled for 12 months next to an offer of 15% off the first 12 months for businesses with 10,000+ contacts; the price that applies after that period was not shown on the page when we read it. [2] Mailchimp's help center says the Essentials and Standard starting prices include up to 500 contacts, and Premium's base price includes 10,000. [3] MailerLite's slider showed Comfort at $12 per month and Power at $25 per month for 500 subscribers, and $19 and $39 at 1,000. [1]
| Plan | Starting price shown | Monthly send limit | Automation | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite Comfort | $12/mo at 500 [1] | 10x the top of your tier [1] | 50 active automations [1] | Email [1] |
| MailerLite Power | $25/mo at 500 [1] | Unlimited, fair use [1] | Unlimited, multiple triggers [1] | Priority email and 24/7 live chat [1] |
| Mailchimp Essentials | $13/mo for 12 months [2] | 10x contact limit [3] | Flows up to 4 steps [2] | 24/7 email and chat [2] |
| Mailchimp Standard | $20/mo for 12 months [2] | 12x contact limit [3] | Up to 200 flows [2] | 24/7 email and chat [2] |
| Mailchimp Premium | $350/mo for 12 months [2] | 15x contact limit [3] | Up to 200 flows [2] | Phone and priority [2] |
Templates, seats and reporting
- Templates: Mailchimp Free has limited pre-built templates, and on Free and Essentials you can create custom-coded templates but must upgrade to send them. [2] MailerLite Free has limited templates; Comfort lists unlimited templates. [1]
- Seats: Mailchimp lists 1 seat on Free, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Standard and unlimited on Premium. [2] MailerLite lists 2 on Free, 3 on Comfort and unlimited on Power. [1]
- Audiences: Mailchimp lists 1 audience on Free, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Standard and unlimited on Premium. [2]
- Reporting: Mailchimp lists custom reports on Standard and Premium, not on Free or Essentials. [2]
- Integrations: Mailchimp lists 300+ integrations on every plan. [2]
Who each fits
| Situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 250 contacts, want a welcome series | MailerLite Free | 3 active automations vs no flows on Mailchimp Free [1] [2] |
| 1,000 subscribers, several automations, tight budget | MailerLite Comfort | $19/mo at 1,000 with 50 automations [1] |
| Need chat support on the cheapest paid plan | Mailchimp Essentials | 24/7 email and chat listed [2] |
| Many unsubscribes you cannot archive | MailerLite | Unsubscribes do not count toward billing [1] |
| Need phone support or unlimited seats on one plan | Mailchimp Premium | Phone and priority support, unlimited seats [2] |
| Need a niche app connection | Check both | Mailchimp lists 300+ integrations; confirm your app on each [2] |
Before you decide
- Export your contact counts by status, then price both tools on the number each will actually bill.
- List every automation you run and count the steps; Mailchimp Essentials stops at 4 flow steps. [2]
- Read the price that applies after Mailchimp's 12-month offer before comparing annual totals.
- Multiply your list by sends per month and compare with each plan's send limit.
- Recheck both pricing pages on the day you buy; figures here were recorded on October 29, 2026.
Questions before you decide
Which free plan is bigger, MailerLite or Mailchimp?
The contact caps match at 250. MailerLite Free allows 2,500 monthly emails and three active automations; Mailchimp Free allows 500 sends a month with a 250 daily limit and lists automation flows as not included.
Does Mailchimp charge for unsubscribed contacts?
Mailchimp's help center says subscribed, unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts all count toward your contact total, while archived, cleaned and deleted contacts do not. MailerLite's pricing FAQ says unsubscribed and bounced subscribers do not count.
Which has better support on the cheapest paid plan?
Mailchimp lists 24/7 email and chat support on Essentials. MailerLite lists email support on Comfort and adds 24/7 live chat on Power.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- MailerLite pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Mailchimp marketing pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Mailchimp Help: About Mailchimp pricing plans Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.