When choosing an email marketing tool, two names often come up: MailerLite and ConvertKit. Both offer great features for creators, bloggers, and businesses, but which one is right for you? In this detailed comparison, we’ll analyze their key differences to help you decide.
Ease of Use: User Interface & Dashboard Experience
When comparing MailerLite vs ConvertKit, ease of use plays a significant role, especially for beginners and small business owners who want to get started quickly without a steep learning curve.
MailerLite offers a clean, minimalistic interface designed for simplicity. The dashboard is intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate different sections like campaigns, automation, and audience management. The drag-and-drop email editor is user-friendly, allowing users to design emails effortlessly without any coding skills. MailerLite also provides quick-access buttons and tooltips to guide new users through essential features.
ConvertKit, on the other hand, takes a more streamlined approach, focusing on content creators and bloggers. The interface is slightly more text-based and less visual than MailerLite, but it’s well-structured for those who prioritize automation and subscriber management. ConvertKit’s dashboard highlights key metrics such as subscriber growth, recent broadcasts, and automation workflows. While it lacks a true drag-and-drop email builder, its email editor is simple and distraction-free, making it ideal for writing plain-text or lightly formatted emails.
Which One is Easier to Use: MailerLite vs ConvertKit ?
- MailerLite is better for users who prefer a visual approach with a drag-and-drop builder.
- ConvertKit is great for those who prioritize automation and prefer a straightforward, text-focused dashboard.
Where to Add Images:
ConvertKit’s email composer – To show its minimalist, text-based approach.
A screenshot of the MailerLite dashboard – To showcase its clean and intuitive interface.
A screenshot of the ConvertKit dashboard – To compare how its layout differs from MailerLite.
MailerLite drag-and-drop email editor in action – To highlight its user-friendly design.
Email Automation: Workflow Automation Capabilities
When comparing MailerLite vs ConvertKit, one of the most important aspects to consider is their email automation capabilities. Both platforms offer automation tools to help streamline email sequences, nurture leads, and engage subscribers, but they cater to different levels of users.
MailerLite: Simple Yet Effective Automation
MailerLite provides an intuitive visual automation builder, allowing users to create automated workflows with ease. You can set up triggers based on actions such as:
- Subscriber joins a list
- A link is clicked in an email
- A form is submitted
These workflows help automate tasks like welcome sequences, abandoned cart emails, and drip campaigns. While MailerLite’s automation is beginner-friendly, it lacks some of the advanced segmentation and behavior-based triggers found in ConvertKit.
📷 Image Suggestion: A screenshot of MailerLite’s automation workflow builder to show its visual simplicity.
ConvertKit: Advanced Automation for Creators
ConvertKit is designed with content creators and bloggers in mind, offering a powerful automation system that goes beyond basic triggers. It allows users to:
- Build complex workflows using if/then logic
- Tag subscribers based on behavior
- Automate personalized email sequences
This means you can send highly targeted emails based on user engagement, ensuring your audience gets relevant content at the right time. ConvertKit’s visual automation builder is more sophisticated, making it ideal for advanced marketers who want detailed subscriber segmentation.
📷 Image Suggestion: A screenshot of ConvertKit’s automation workflow with multiple branches and conditions to illustrate its complexity.
Which One is Better for Email Automation : MailerLite vs ConvertKit?
If you’re looking for easy-to-use automation with basic triggers, MailerLite is a great choice. However, if you need more advanced workflows, personalized automation, and complex sequences, ConvertKit offers a more powerful solution.
📷 Image Suggestion: A comparison chart summarizing MailerLite vs ConvertKit in terms of automation features, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
Email Templates & Design: Drag-and-Drop Email Builders
When comparing MailerLite vs ConvertKit, one key factor to consider is how easy it is to design emails. Both platforms offer different approaches to email templates and drag-and-drop builders, catering to different types of users.
MailerLite’s Email Builder
MailerLite provides a true drag-and-drop email editor, making it easy for users to create visually appealing emails without coding. It comes with:
- A library of pre-designed templates for newsletters, promotions, and transactional emails
- The ability to customize layouts, add images, buttons, and videos
- A mobile preview feature to ensure emails look great on all devices
📌 Image suggestion: A screenshot of MailerLite’s drag-and-drop email editor with an email template being customized.
ConvertKit’s Email Builder
Unlike MailerLite, ConvertKit focuses on simple, text-based emails that prioritize deliverability and personalization. ConvertKit’s design features include:
- A plain-text editor for quick, clean, and distraction-free emails
- Custom HTML support for users who want more design flexibility
- A limited drag-and-drop builder for email templates (still in development)
📌 Image suggestion: A side-by-side comparison of MailerLite’s visual email editor vs. ConvertKit’s plain-text editor.
Which One is Better for Email Design?
- If you want highly customizable, visually rich emails, MailerLite is the clear winner with its drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates.
- If you prefer simple, personal-feeling emails that are quick to write and send, ConvertKit is a better choice.
📌 Image suggestion: A comparison table highlighting the design features of both platforms.
Automation & Workflow Capabilities: Visual Automation Builders
When comparing MailerLite vs ConvertKit, one of the most critical features to evaluate is their automation and workflow capabilities. Both platforms offer visual automation builders, which allow users to create complex email sequences and workflows without needing to write code. These tools are designed to save time, improve efficiency, and deliver personalized experiences to subscribers. Let’s dive into how MailerLite and ConvertKit stack up in this area.
MailerLite’s Automation Features
MailerLite’s visual automation builder is intuitive and beginner-friendly. Here’s what it offers:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Easily create workflows by dragging and connecting elements like triggers, conditions, and actions.
- Pre-Built Templates: Choose from a variety of automation templates for common use cases, such as welcome sequences, abandoned cart reminders, or re-engagement campaigns.
- Triggers and Conditions: Set up triggers based on subscriber actions (e.g., opening an email, clicking a link) or conditions like tags, groups, or dates.
- Multi-Step Workflows: Build complex workflows with multiple steps and branches to tailor the customer journey.
MailerLite’s automation builder is ideal for small businesses or marketers who want a straightforward tool to automate their email campaigns without overwhelming complexity.
ConvertKit’s Automation Features
ConvertKit is known for its powerful automation capabilities, especially for creators and bloggers. Here’s what sets it apart:
- Visual Automation Builder: ConvertKit’s builder is highly visual and easy to navigate, with a focus on simplicity and flexibility.
- Subscriber-Centric Approach: Automations are centered around subscriber tags and segments, making it easy to personalize campaigns based on user behavior.
- Advanced Triggers: Create workflows triggered by events like purchases, form submissions, or even specific link clicks.
- Unlimited Automations: Unlike some platforms, ConvertKit offers unlimited automations on all plans, making it a great choice for users with complex needs.
ConvertKit’s automation builder is particularly well-suited for creators who need to manage large audiences and deliver highly personalized content.
Segmentation & Personalization: How Each Platform Allows User Segmentation
When comparing MailerLite vs ConvertKit, their approaches to segmentation and personalization are key differentiators. Effective segmentation ensures your emails reach the right audience, while personalization boosts engagement and conversions. Let’s break down how these platforms handle subscriber segmentation and help you tailor campaigns to specific user groups.
MailerLite’s Segmentation Features
MailerLite uses a straightforward system for segmentation, ideal for users who want simplicity without sacrificing functionality:
- Groups and Segments: Organize subscribers into Groups (manually or via signup forms) or create dynamic Segments based on rules like location, activity, or custom fields.
- Behavior-Based Segmentation: Automatically segment users who open emails, click links, or visit specific pages.
- Custom Fields: Collect and use custom data (e.g., job title, interests) to personalize emails.
- Pre-Built Conditions: Use pre-defined filters like “subscribed in the last 30 days” or “inactive for 6 months.”
MailerLite’s segmentation tools are user-friendly and perfect for small businesses or marketers who need basic yet effective targeting.
ConvertKit’s Segmentation Features
ConvertKit focuses on advanced segmentation tailored to creators and bloggers, emphasizing flexibility and automation:
- Tags and Segments: Apply Tags to subscribers based on actions (e.g., downloading a resource, purchasing a product) and create Segments using combinations of tags.
- Visual Tagging System: Track subscriber journeys with a visual timeline of applied tags and actions.
- Automated Rules: Trigger tags automatically when subscribers meet criteria (e.g., clicking a link, joining a course).
- Dynamic Content: Personalize email content based on tags, showing different text, images, or offers to specific segments.
ConvertKit’s tag-centric approach is ideal for users managing complex audiences or multi-step campaigns, such as course launches or membership sites.
Pricing & Value for Money: Free Plans and Premium Features
When deciding between MailerLite vs ConvertKit, pricing is often a top consideration. Both platforms offer free plans and premium features, but their value for money depends on your specific needs and budget. Let’s break down their pricing structures, free plan limitations, and premium features to help you determine which tool offers the best bang for your buck.
MailerLite’s Pricing and Free Plan
MailerLite is known for its affordability and generous free plan, making it a favorite for small businesses and budget-conscious users.
- Free Plan:
- Includes up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month.
- Access to core features like email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and a basic website builder.
- Limited to MailerLite branding in emails.
- Paid Plans:
- Starts at $10/month for up to 500 subscribers (beyond the free tier).
- Scales based on subscriber count, with advanced features like A/B testing, custom branding, and priority support.
- Offers a discount for annual billing, making it even more cost-effective.
MailerLite’s pricing is straightforward and transparent, with no hidden fees. Its free plan is particularly appealing for startups or small businesses testing the waters of email marketing.
ConvertKit’s Pricing and Free Plan
ConvertKit is slightly more expensive but targets creators, bloggers, and businesses with advanced needs.
- Free Plan:
- Includes up to 300 subscribers and basic features like email broadcasts, landing pages, and forms.
- No access to automation or advanced features, which are reserved for paid plans.
- Paid Plans:
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- Scales based on subscriber count, with unlimited emails and advanced automation tools included.
- Offers a 30-day free trial for premium features, allowing users to test the platform before committing.
ConvertKit’s pricing is higher, but its premium features—like unlimited automations and advanced segmentation—justify the cost for creators and businesses with complex needs.
Support & Community: Availability of Customer Support and Resources
When choosing between MailerLite vs ConvertKit, the quality and availability of customer support and community resources can make a significant difference in your experience. Both platforms offer support and educational materials, but their approaches vary. Let’s explore how each platform handles customer support, documentation, tutorials, and community forums to help you decide which one aligns with your needs.
MailerLite’s Support and Community Resources
MailerLite is known for its responsive customer support and user-friendly resources, making it a great choice for beginners.
- Customer Support:
- Live Chat: Available on weekdays (24/5) for quick assistance.
- Email Support: Responses typically within 24 hours.
- No Phone Support: MailerLite focuses on digital communication channels.
- Documentation and Tutorials:
- Extensive knowledge base with step-by-step guides and FAQs.
- Video tutorials and webinars to help users get started.
- Regular blog updates with tips and best practices for email marketing.
- Community Forums:
- Active Facebook community where users can ask questions and share insights.
- No official forum, but the Facebook group serves as a hub for user interaction.
MailerLite’s support system is designed to be accessible and helpful, especially for users who prefer self-service resources or quick chat-based assistance.
ConvertKit’s Support and Community Resources
ConvertKit excels in providing tailored support for creators and marketers, with a strong emphasis on education and community building.
- Customer Support:
- Email Support: Available for all users, with priority support for higher-tier plans.
- No Live Chat or Phone Support: ConvertKit relies on email for direct communication.
- Documentation and Tutorials:
- Comprehensive help center with detailed articles and guides.
- Video tutorials and webinars focused on email marketing strategies for creators.
- Regular blog posts and podcasts offering industry insights and tips.
- Community Forums:
- Active Facebook group for ConvertKit users to connect, share ideas, and troubleshoot issues.
- Creator Network: A unique feature that connects users with other creators for collaboration and networking.
ConvertKit’s support and community resources are ideal for creators and marketers who value in-depth learning and networking opportunities.