MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Which Email Marketing Tool is Best for Your Business in 2025?
Choosing between MailerLite and ActiveCampaign? This MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign comparison for 2025 breaks down features, pricing, and ease of use to help you pick the best email marketing tool for your business.
In the ever-evolving world of email marketing, choosing the right platform can make or break your business growth. Two of the most popular tools in 2025 are MailerLite and ActiveCampaign. Both offer unique features, but which one is the best fit for your business? In this MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign comparison, weâll dive into their key features, pricing, ease of use, and more to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Overview
What is MailerLite?
MailerLite is a user-friendly email marketing platform designed for small businesses and beginners. Itâs known for its simplicity, affordability, and essential features like email campaigns, automation, and landing pages. If youâre looking for a tool thatâs easy to use and doesnât break the bank, MailerLite is a strong contender.
What is ActiveCampaign?
ActiveCampaign is a powerhouse for advanced email marketing and automation. Itâs perfect for businesses that want to create personalized customer journeys, integrate with CRM systems, and leverage advanced analytics. If youâre ready to take your email marketing to the next level, ActiveCampaign is worth considering.
| MailerLite | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| â Rating | 4.7 âââââ | 4.5 âââââ |
| đľ Price (from) | Free plan available, Paid from $9/month | Paid from $29/month |
| đ§ Email Automation | Basic automation workflows | Advanced automation with triggers |
| đĽDeals | Get a free 30-day trial of premium features | Get a Free 14-day trial with email sign-up |
| đ CRM & Sales Features | â No built-in CRM | â Yes, advanced CRM features |
| đ Email Editor | Drag-and-drop + HTML editor | Drag-and-drop + HTML editor |
| đŻ Segmentation | Basic segmentation | Advanced segmentation |
| đ A/B Testing | â Yes, subject line & content | â Yes, multiple elements |
| đ˘ Landing Pages | â Yes | â Yes |
| đ Integrations | 100+ integrations | 870+ integrations |
| đŠ Transactional Emails | â No | â Yes, via Postmark |
| đž Storage & Contacts | Unlimited emails, Free up to 1,000 subscribers | Unlimited emails, pricing based on contacts |
| đ Customer Support | Email support (Live chat on paid plans) | Email, Live Chat & Phone support |
| đ° Money-back Guarantee | 30-day refund policy | No refunds |
| Visit MailerLite | Visit ActiveCampaign |
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Pricing
Pricing plays a major role when selecting an email marketing platform, and MailerLite and ActiveCampaign take different approaches in this area. MailerLite stands out for its budget-friendly pricing, offering a generous free plan and affordable premium optionsâperfect for startups and small businesses looking for cost-effective solutions. In contrast, ActiveCampaign is packed with advanced automation and CRM features but comes at a higher price, making it more suitable for businesses that need powerful marketing and customer management tools.
| Plan | MailerLite | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | â Yes, up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 monthly emails | â No free plan available |
| Starting Price | â $9/month for 500 subscribers (Unlimited emails) | â $29/month for 1,000 contacts (Limited emails) |
| Mid-Tier Plan | â $19/month for 2,500 subscribers | â $49/month for 2,500 contacts |
| Higher-Tier Plan | â $39/month for 10,000 subscribers | â $149/month for 10,000 contacts |
| Enterprise Plan | â Yes, custom pricing for large businesses | â Yes, custom pricing for large businesses |
| Users Included | Unlimited users on all paid plans | Limited users based on the plan |
| Email Send Limits | Unlimited emails on paid plans | Limited emails based on plan tier |
| Free Trial | â 30-day free trial on premium plans | â 14-day free trial |
Which One Offers the Best Value?
If you’re looking for an affordable email marketing platform with unlimited email sends on paid plans, MailerLite is a great choice. It provides a generous free plan, making it ideal for small businesses, bloggers, and startups that need basic email automation without a hefty price tag.
On the other hand, ActiveCampaign is a solid investment for businesses that require advanced automation, CRM integration, and AI-driven marketing tools. While it comes at a higher cost, it offers powerful features that MailerLite lacks, making it a better fit for businesses focused on customer engagement and sales growth.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your budget and specific needs. If you’re just starting out, MailerLite offers an affordable and user-friendly solution. However, if you need advanced automation and CRM capabilities, ActiveCampaignâs higher price is justified by its robust feature set.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Ease of Use
When choosing an email marketing platform, ease of use plays a crucial role in productivity and efficiency. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer, the intuitiveness of the platform determines how quickly you can set up campaigns, create automations, and manage your subscribers. While MailerLite prioritizes simplicity, ActiveCampaign offers a more complex but feature-rich experience.
MailerLite: Designed for Simplicity
MailerLite is widely praised for its clean and intuitive interface, making it an excellent choice for beginners and small businesses. The platform provides:
âď¸ Drag-and-drop editor â Easily create professional emails and landing pages without coding.
âď¸ Simple automation builder â Set up automated workflows effortlessly with a visual workflow editor.
âď¸ Beginner-friendly navigation â All features are neatly categorized, making it easy to find what you need.
âď¸ Quick setup process â Sign-up and account verification are straightforward, so you can start sending emails right away.
Mailerlite dashboard
Even users with no prior email marketing experience can quickly grasp how to create and send campaigns. The learning curve is minimal, making it an ideal choice for those who prioritize efficiency over complexity.
ActiveCampaign: Powerful but Complex
On the other hand, ActiveCampaign is feature-rich but comes with a steeper learning curve. It is designed for businesses that need advanced marketing automation and CRM functionalities. Hereâs what to expect:
âď¸ Highly customizable automation builder â Allows for complex multi-step automations with behavioral triggers.
âď¸ AI-powered features â Smart automation, content personalization, and predictive sending improve marketing efficiency.
âď¸ Robust CRM integration â Designed for sales teams, with deal tracking and lead scoring.
âď¸ More advanced email editor â Offers deep customization but may take longer to master.
activecampaign dashboard
While the platform offers more control and customization, it requires more time to learn, especially for beginners. Fortunately, ActiveCampaign provides extensive tutorials, webinars, and customer support to help users get familiar with its tools.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Pros and Cons
When comparing MailerLite and ActiveCampaign, itâs important to consider both their strengths and limitations. Each platform offers unique benefits, but also comes with certain drawbacks that could influence your decision depending on your needs. Below, we break down the pros and cons of both to help you make a more informed choice.
| MailerLite | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | ||
| Pricing | Affordable with a free plan and low-cost premium options | More expensive, but offers advanced features worth the cost |
| Ease of Use | Very user-friendly, ideal for beginners | Complex, but offers a rich feature set |
| Email Features | Unlimited emails on paid plans | Highly advanced email automation and CRM features |
| Landing Pages/Forms | Offers easy-to-create landing pages and forms | Advanced features for forms and landing pages |
| Free Plan | Yes (1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails per month) | No (14-day free trial only) |
| Automation | Good, with basic triggers and a few templates | Advanced multi-step automation, unique triggers |
| CRM | Basic, with no advanced CRM features | Fully integrated CRM with sales tools |
| eCommerce | Basic eCommerce integrations | Advanced eCommerce features, including predictive sending |
| Integrations | 150+ integrations, including Zapier | 970+ integrations, including advanced CRM and eCommerce tools |
| Cons | ||
| Automation Features | More basic compared to ActiveCampaignâs robust features | Complex for beginners, may have a steep learning curve |
| CRM | No advanced CRM options | CRM tools are powerful, but might overwhelm small businesses |
| Integrations | Fewer integrations compared to ActiveCampaign | Expensive for small businesses, especially at higher tiers |
| Free Plan | Free plan available | No free plan available |
| Pricing | Great for startups and small businesses | More suitable for businesses looking for advanced automation |
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Which One Provides Better Assistance?
When it comes to customer support, having access to reliable and efficient help can make all the difference in the success of your email marketing efforts. Both MailerLite and ActiveCampaign offer customer support, but the quality, speed, and variety of support channels they provide vary. Let’s explore which platform offers better assistance based on different criteria.
MailerLite: Friendly and Accessible Support
MailerLite offers a straightforward support system that is designed with simplicity in mind, reflecting its user-friendly platform. Here’s what you can expect:
Support Options:
- Email Support: Available 24/7, with responses typically within a few hours. This is great for users who need quick answers to their queries.
- Live Chat: Available to paid plan users, offering immediate help during business hours.
- Knowledge Base: A well-organized and easy-to-navigate knowledge base filled with guides, video tutorials, and troubleshooting tips. It’s perfect for users who prefer to solve issues independently.
- Email Campaign Support: You can submit support tickets specifically related to email campaigns for detailed assistance.
Customer Feedback:
- Quick Response: Users consistently report that MailerLiteâs support team is quick to respond, especially on paid plans.
- Friendly and Approachable: Many customers appreciate how personable and helpful MailerLite’s support agents are, often providing solutions with a friendly tone.
While MailerLiteâs support is generally helpful, itâs more geared toward users looking for basic assistance. If youâre comfortable with a more self-service approach, their knowledge base is a valuable resource.
ActiveCampaign: Comprehensive & In-Depth Support
ActiveCampaign, being a more feature-rich platform, offers robust customer support designed to assist with the complex needs of users. Hereâs what you can expect from their support system:
Support Options:
- Email Support: ActiveCampaign provides 24/7 email support with a strong reputation for resolving issues quickly and efficiently.
- Live Chat: Available during business hours, it offers real-time assistance for users with more pressing questions or issues.
- Phone Support: Available for users on higher-tier plans, offering one-on-one consultations with support agents. This is especially useful for businesses that require in-depth assistance.
- Onboarding Help: ActiveCampaign offers personalized onboarding support, which is a great resource for those new to the platform. The onboarding process can be tailored to your specific use case.
- Knowledge Base: A comprehensive library of guides, step-by-step tutorials, and FAQs. The knowledge base is detailed, covering everything from basic tasks to more advanced features like CRM integrations.
- Webinars & Training: ActiveCampaign provides live webinars and training videos, offering a deeper dive into the platform’s features. This is an excellent resource for users looking to fully leverage the platform’s capabilities.
Customer Feedback:
- Proactive Support: ActiveCampaignâs support team is highly praised for its proactive approach in solving problems and providing additional insights into how to optimize campaigns.
- In-Depth Guidance: Many users appreciate the depth of knowledge and expertise offered by the support team, especially when dealing with complex automations or CRM-related inquiries.
While ActiveCampaignâs support is incredibly thorough, it can feel overwhelming at times, especially for newer users. However, if you’re willing to invest the time to fully explore all the features, ActiveCampaign offers some of the best customer service for advanced needs.
Which One Provides Better Assistance?
- Choose MailerLite if youâre looking for quick, accessible support that is user-friendly and suited for smaller businesses or beginners. MailerLiteâs email and live chat support are responsive, and the knowledge base is ideal for quick troubleshooting.
- Choose ActiveCampaign if you need in-depth support with personalized onboarding, phone support, and live training sessions. Itâs particularly useful if you’re a growing business looking to leverage advanced features like CRM and automation.
Both platforms offer reliable customer support, but MailerLite is better suited for users who want simplicity and speed, while ActiveCampaign shines in providing comprehensive assistance for those needing more advanced features and troubleshooting.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: AI Integration Comparison
As we know. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an essential tool in email marketing, allowing businesses to optimize campaigns, personalize content, and automate tasks. Both MailerLite and ActiveCampaign have integrated AI features to enhance their platforms, but they differ in the depth and variety of their AI capabilities. Letâs compare their AI integration to help you understand which platform is a better fit for your needs.
MailerLite AI Features
MailerLiteâs AI offerings are still in the early stages, focusing primarily on automation and content generation. While not as extensive as ActiveCampaignâs, they provide a useful foundation for smaller businesses and beginner marketers.
Key AI Features in MailerLite:
- AI-Powered Subject Line Generator: This tool uses AI to suggest catchy subject lines based on the content of your email. It helps you save time and improve open rates without needing to brainstorm creative options.
- AI Landing Page Design: While MailerLite doesnât have advanced AI design capabilities, it provides AI-based templates for landing pages that can be personalized to suit your campaign needs. This makes it easy to create effective landing pages quickly.
- AI Email Personalization: The platform can personalize your email content based on subscriber behavior and preferences. This allows you to send tailored messages to different segments of your audience, improving engagement.
Limitations:
- MailerLiteâs AI tools are simpler compared to ActiveCampaignâs. They focus mainly on basic content creation and personalization rather than offering a complete suite of AI-driven marketing tools.
- The AI integrations in MailerLite are designed to assist with specific tasks, rather than offering end-to-end automation across the entire marketing funnel.
ActiveCampaign AI Features
ActiveCampaign is more established when it comes to AI-powered marketing, offering advanced automation tools and AI-driven insights that are designed for businesses looking to scale. Its AI features are more comprehensive and integrated into various parts of the platform, particularly in customer relationship management (CRM) and email marketing automation.
Key AI Features in ActiveCampaign:
- Predictive Sending: This AI tool analyzes your customersâ past behavior to predict the best time to send an email to each subscriber. It increases open rates by sending emails when recipients are most likely to engage.
- Automation: ActiveCampaign uses AI-driven automations to create more personalized workflows. It can trigger actions based on customer behaviors and integrate data from various touchpoints in the customer journey. You can use these automations to create dynamic campaigns that evolve based on interactions.
- Deal Predictions (CRM): ActiveCampaignâs AI analyzes your sales pipeline and predicts the probability of closing a deal with individual contacts. This helps your sales team prioritize their efforts and focus on high-value leads.
- Content Personalization: ActiveCampaignâs AI automatically personalizes email content based on the behavioral data of each recipient. It can adjust images, text, and offers to ensure the message resonates with the audience, increasing conversion rates.
- One-Click Campaign Creation: ActiveCampaign offers an AI-powered campaign generator that helps you create campaigns with pre-built templates based on the goals of your campaign (e.g., lead generation, customer retention, etc.). This is especially useful for businesses without a lot of time or resources to dedicate to email marketing.
- Advanced Reporting and Analytics: ActiveCampaignâs AI also helps to analyze your marketing campaigns by providing in-depth insights into performance, which can be used to optimize future campaigns.
Limitations:
- ActiveCampaignâs AI features are robust but may be overwhelming for beginners or small businesses with simpler needs. The complexity of the features requires a learning curve, making it best suited for businesses that are prepared to dive deeper into automation and AI-based marketing.
| MailerLite | ActiveCampaign | |
|---|---|---|
| AI Subject Line Generator | Yes, helps with catchy subject lines | Yes, but includes more in-depth personalization options |
| Predictive Sending | âNo | Yes, sends emails at the optimal time for each user |
| AI Landing Page Creation | Yes, with AI-based templates | âNo, but offers a range of powerful landing page options |
| AI Email Personalization | Basic personalization based on user behavior | Advanced personalization with dynamic content and predictive insights |
| AI Automation | Simple automations and workflows | Advanced AI workflows with multiple triggers and behavior-based actions |
| CRM AI Features | âNo | Yes, predictive deal closing and lead scoring |
| One-Click Campaign Creation | âNo | Yes, for easy campaign creation based on business goals |
| Analytics and Reporting | Basic reporting tools | Advanced AI-powered analytics and performance optimization |
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: Which Should You Choose?
If you’re still deciding, here’s the bottom line.
Choose ActiveCampaign if you’re looking for an all-in-one marketing and sales platform. With its advanced AI capabilities, over 950 automation templates, and integrated CRM, ActiveCampaign excels at creating complex workflows and automating customer journeys. While it does come with a higher price tag, its premium features can provide substantial ROI for businesses that require scalability and in-depth personalization.
Go with MailerLite if you value simplicity and cost-efficiency. Its easy-to-use interface, unlimited email sends, and affordable pricing make it a great choice for small businesses or solopreneurs who want to execute effective email campaigns without the added complexity. While MailerLite lacks some of the advanced features of ActiveCampaign, it offers all the essentialsâincluding email automation, analytics, and landing page creationâat a fraction of the price.
MailerLite vs ActiveCampaign: FAQs
Which platform is better for beginners, MailerLite or ActiveCampaign?
If you’re a beginner, MailerLite is generally the better choice. Its intuitive interface and simple features make it easy to get started without a steep learning curve. ActiveCampaign, while powerful, can be a bit more complex and may require some time to master, especially when it comes to advanced automation and CRM features.
Can I automate my email marketing with both MailerLite and ActiveCampaign?
Yes, both platforms offer email automation, but ActiveCampaign takes it a step further with its advanced workflows, AI-powered features, and over 950 automation templates. MailerLite provides automation basics, including workflows and triggers, but is more limited compared to ActiveCampaign in terms of complexity and customization.
Does MailerLite offer a free plan?
Yes, MailerLite offers a free plan that includes core features like email campaigns, automation, and landing pages for up to 1,000 subscribers. This makes it a great option for startups or small businesses with limited budgets. ActiveCampaign, on the other hand, does not have a free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial to test its features.
What eCommerce integrations are available with MailerLite and ActiveCampaign?
Both platforms support eCommerce integrations, but ActiveCampaign excels in this area with more advanced features such as predictive sending and dynamic content. It integrates seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. MailerLite also supports eCommerce integrations, but its features are more basic and better suited for small businesses or digital product sellers.
Which platform has better customer support?
Both platforms offer robust customer support, but ActiveCampaign has more extensive resources, including live chat, phone support, and a dedicated account manager for higher-tier plans. MailerLite provides email support, a knowledge base, and live chat during business hours, but it’s less comprehensive compared to ActiveCampaign.
