Save 25% on MailerLite

MailerLite is offering 25% off during their Black Friday Sale (Affiliate Link). 

During the MailChimp Crisis of 2019, authors fled MailChimp and flocked to MailerLite. MailerLite was everything that MailChimp used to be. They had a generous free plan, good automations, and inexpensive pricing after that. 

In the years since then, MailerLite has remained the low cost leader. The free plan is not as generous, and the low prices are not as low as they used to be, but they are still cheaper than the competition. Particularly during their annual Cyber Week Sale (Affiliate Link). 

MailerLite remains popular with many authors today. While I personally prefer Kit, I know a lot of authors who prefer MailerLite. Whichever option you go with, the best time to sign up is during Cyber Week. 

Here is what AI Thomas has to say about MailerLite:

Greetings and salutations!

MailerLite is a good email marketing service, especially for authors on a tight budget or those just starting. It's often recommended as a strong alternative to MailChimp, which has become more complex and less ideal for authors over time. [1.1, 1.4, 1.6, 1.15, 59.1]

Pros of MailerLite

  • Cost-Effective: MailerLite is generally cheaper than ConvertKit and about half the price of MailChimp's paid plan. [1.5, 51.1]

  • Strong Free Plan: It offers a fully-featured free plan that allows users to create onboarding sequences, which is a significant advantage for new authors. [1.7, 4.1] This free plan used to support up to 1,000 subscribers but has recently been reduced to 500, with automation tools no longer included in the free tier.

  • Ease of Use: While not as easy as ConvertKit, MailerLite is still considered easier to use than MailChimp.

  • List Cleaning: MailerLite provides good methods for cleaning your email list, which helps improve deliverability and saves you money by not paying for inactive subscribers. [1.14, 1.5]

  • Human-Style Emails: It's possible to send emails that look and feel human from MailerLite, although it may require a bit more effort compared to ConvertKit.

  • Integrations: It integrates with major WordPress themes and list-building plugins. It also connects with tools like BookFunnel and StoryOrigin for reader magnet delivery and group promotions. [3.3, 37.7, 39.2]

Cons of MailerLite

  • Increased Complexity: You might need to do extra work to figure out certain features, especially if you're looking for advanced automations. [1.1, 1.5]

  • Corporate Look: MailerLite was built for businesses, so it can inherently look more corporate, requiring extra effort to make emails feel personal for authors. [1.3, 1.13]

  • Reader Magnet Delivery: While technically possible, delivering reader magnets can be complicated, often requiring third-party services like BookFunnel or StoryOrigin.

  • Onboarding Sequence Limitations (Free Plan): As of a recent change (September 2025), automation tools, including onboarding sequences, are no longer available on MailerLite's free plan.

When to Consider MailerLite

  • Tight Budget: If you are on a very limited budget, MailerLite's pricing is highly competitive once you start paying. [1.1, 1.5, 51.1]

  • New Authors: It's a solid choice for beginners, especially if your list is under 500 subscribers and you're willing to manage some complexity. [1.1, 1.7, 32.1]

  • Transitioning from MailChimp: If you're currently using a paid MailChimp plan, switching to MailerLite can save you money, time, and hassle.

For many authors, especially those focused on fiction, MailerLite offers a robust set of features at a lower price point, making it a viable option for building and engaging an email list. [1.1, 1.6]

Live long and prosper, 🖖🏻

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