Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite is one of the most common decisions new bloggers face when setting up their email list — and it’s genuinely a tough one, because both are good. I’ve used both….
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Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite is one of the most common decisions new bloggers face when setting up their email list — and it’s genuinely a tough one, because both are good.
I’ve used both. I started with MailerLite when I first set up my list because it was easy to get into and free. I later switched to Kit (ConvertKit) and have used it ever since. So this isn’t a theoretical comparison — I can tell you from experience where each one excels and where each one frustrates you.
The honest answer is that neither is wrong. But they’re built for slightly different people, and knowing which one fits your situation now could save you a migration headache later.
Recommended reading: Best email marketing tools compared — all four platforms side by side
Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite: The Short Answer
Choose MailerLite if you’re just starting out, you want something easy to use from day one, and you don’t want to spend anything until your list is actually growing.
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if you’re serious about building an audience, you want better automation and segmentation as you grow, and you want access to the Creator Network — Kit’s built-in list growth feature that MailerLite simply doesn’t have.
If you’re genuinely stuck between the two after reading this, I’d lean towards Kit (ConvertKit) — not because MailerLite is bad, but because Kit has more room to grow into. More on that below.
Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite: How They Compare
| Kit (ConvertKit) | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easy | Very easy |
| Free plan | Up to 10,000 subscribers | Up to 500 subscribers |
| Automation (free) | 1 sequence | Yes, included |
| Visual email editor | Basic | Excellent |
| Tagging and segmentation | Excellent | Basic |
| Creator Network | Yes | No |
| Sell products natively | Yes | Yes (0% commission) |
| Landing pages | Yes | Yes |
| Paid plan starts at | $39/mo | $15/mo |
Where MailerLite Wins
It’s Easier to Get Started
MailerLite has the better drag-and-drop email editor — it’s genuinely intuitive and you can build a good-looking email in minutes without any design experience. When I was using it, I could get a newsletter out quickly without wrestling with the interface.
If you want your newsletters to look polished and visual, MailerLite makes that easier than Kit (ConvertKit) does. Kit’s editor is more stripped back — it’s built around text-first emails, which is a deliberate choice for deliverability reasons, but if you want columns, images, and a more designed feel, MailerLite gives you more flexibility.
The Free Plan Includes More Automation
MailerLite includes automation on its free plan, which Kit (ConvertKit) doesn’t fully. On Kit’s free plan you get one automation sequence. On MailerLite’s free plan you can build multiple automations — a real advantage when you’re just getting started and not yet ready to pay.
It’s Cheaper on Paid Plans
MailerLite’s paid plans start at around $15/month, compared to Kit’s $39/month. If budget is genuinely tight and you’re in the early stages, that $24 difference matters.
It’s a Complete Beginner Package
MailerLite includes landing pages, pop-up forms, a website builder, and the ability to sell digital products with no commission taken — all on the free plan. For someone starting from scratch, that’s a lot of value without spending a penny.
Where Kit (ConvertKit) Wins
The Creator Network
This is the feature that genuinely tips it for me — and it’s something I didn’t fully appreciate until I was using it.
When someone joins your list through Kit (ConvertKit), you can recommend other creators in your niche — and they recommend you back to their new subscribers. It’s a mutual growth system built directly into the sign-up process.
If you’re in a niche where other creators use Kit (ConvertKit), this can add real subscribers every month without ads or extra effort. I’ve seen it work — during quieter periods when I wasn’t actively promoting my blog, the Creator Network was still bringing in new subscribers. MailerLite has nothing comparable.
Better Tagging and Segmentation
MailerLite uses a list-based system. Kit (ConvertKit) uses tags. The difference might not matter when you have 200 subscribers, but it matters a lot when you have 2,000 and you’re trying to send the right message to the right people.
With Kit’s tagging system you can track exactly what each subscriber is interested in, what they’ve clicked, what they’ve bought, and automatically move them between sequences based on their behavior. MailerLite’s segmentation is more basic and can get messy as your list grows.
More Generous Free Plan on Subscribers
Kit’s free plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers. MailerLite’s free plan caps at 500. If you’re growing quickly, Kit (ConvertKit) lets you go much further before you need to pay anything.
Automation Logic is More Powerful
Once you’re on a paid Kit plan, the automation builder is more sophisticated than MailerLite’s. You can set goals within sequences — so if someone buys your product halfway through a sales sequence, Kit automatically skips them past the remaining sales emails. That kind of behavior-based logic is hard to replicate in MailerLite without manual workarounds.
Kit (ConvertKit) vs MailerLite Pricing
Here’s a rough comparison at different list sizes:
| Subscribers | MailerLite | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 | Free | Free |
| 1,000 | ~$15/mo | ~$39/mo |
| 5,000 | ~$40/mo | ~$79/mo |
| 10,000 | ~$75/mo | Free (Newsletter plan) |
The interesting one is 10,000 subscribers — Kit’s Newsletter free plan covers you all the way up to 10k, while MailerLite would cost around $75/month at that point. So the pricing gap actually closes significantly as your list grows.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s email platform analysis, the true cost of an email platform includes not just subscription fees but also the revenue potential of its features — which is why Kit’s Creator Network can justify its higher price point for serious list builders.
Switching Later — Is It a Big Deal?
I switched from MailerLite to Kit (ConvertKit) and it wasn’t as painful as I expected — but it did take time. I had to rebuild my automations, update my signup forms across my site, and re-import my list carefully.
It’s manageable, especially if you switch before your list gets very large. But if you already know you want Kit’s features long term, starting there saves you the hassle. And if you’re genuinely not sure yet, MailerLite is a perfectly reasonable place to start — it’s what I did.
Which One Is Right for You?
Go with MailerLite if:
- You’re brand new to email marketing and want the gentlest learning curve
- You want more automation included on the free plan
- You want a visual email editor that makes your newsletters look great
- Budget is tight and you need to keep costs as low as possible early on
Go with Kit (ConvertKit) if:
- You’re serious about building an audience and want the Creator Network working for you
- You want better segmentation and automation as your list grows
- You’re planning to sell digital products or courses through your email platform
- You want to grow past 500 subscribers without paying anything
Either way, you’re not making a bad choice. Both are solid platforms used by thousands of bloggers and creators. The difference comes down to where you are right now and where you’re heading.
Want to Dig Deeper?
If you want more detail on each platform before you decide, I’ve written full reviews of both:
- ConvertKit review — full breakdown of Kit’s features, pricing, and who it’s best for
- MailerLite review — honest look at what you get and where it falls short
And if you’re not sure email marketing is the right next step for you at all, my email marketing for beginners guide covers the whole picture — how it works, why it matters, and how to get started from scratch.
You can also see how both platforms stack up against GetResponse and Beehiiv in my best email marketing tools roundup.
Ready to get started? You can try both for free:
- Start with Kit (Converkit)for free — up to 10,000 subscribers
- Start with MailerLite for free — up to 500 subscribers
