The MailerLite free plan has become one of the most popular entry points for small businesses, startups, and creators looking to launch email marketing campaigns in 2025. It offers a generous set of features at no cost, making it attractive for beginners who want professional email tools without the financial commitment.
However, like any free plan, there are restrictions that can affect growth—such as subscriber limits, automation caps, and advanced feature lockouts. Many users hit these barriers quickly and wonder if they should upgrade or find smarter ways to maximize the free plan.
In this guide, we’ll break down the exact MailerLite free plan limits and reveal practical workarounds so you can get the most out of your email marketing—without rushing into a paid plan too soon.
MailerLite Free Plan Overview 2025
The MailerLite free plan in 2025 continues to be one of the most attractive entry-level options for beginners, solopreneurs, bloggers, and small businesses venturing into email marketing. It strikes a balance between accessibility and functionality, offering enough tools to run professional campaigns without requiring an upfront investment. For those who are testing email marketing for the first time, the free plan allows experimentation with real features rather than watered-down demos.
What’s included in the free plan
MailerLite’s free plan is far from bare-bones. Even at no cost, users get access to the platform’s modern email builder, customizable sign-up forms, and basic automation tools. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s included:
- Drag-and-drop email editor with responsive design
- Up to 1,000 subscribers
- 12,000 monthly email sends
- One website and up to 10 landing pages
- Basic automation workflows (single-step automations)
- Signup forms, pop-ups, and embedded forms
- Access to MailerLite’s 24/7 email support (chat is for paid users)
- Free file manager with media storage
This combination makes it ideal for running small campaigns, nurturing leads, and building brand awareness.
“The MailerLite free plan is powerful—but knowing its limits and workarounds can unlock even more value without paying a cent.”
Who it’s best suited for
The free plan is designed for startups, side hustlers, nonprofit organizations, and content creators who need an affordable way to connect with audiences. For example:
- A blogger who wants to grow an email list with lead magnets and automated welcome emails.
- A small ecommerce brand testing product launch campaigns before scaling.
- A coach or consultant looking to send newsletters and updates to a small group of clients.
If your business is just starting out, MailerLite’s free plan gives you enough resources to validate email marketing as a channel before committing to a paid subscription.
Key differences compared to paid tiers
While the free plan is generous, it does come with notable differences when compared to MailerLite’s Growing Business and Advanced plans. Key differences include:
| Feature | Free Plan | Growing Business | Advanced Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 | 500–Unlimited (paid tiers scale) | 500–Unlimited |
| Monthly Emails | 12,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Automations | Single-step only | Multi-step | Advanced automation with branching |
| Templates | Limited | Full template library | Full template library + dynamic personalization |
| Reporting | Basic | Advanced reporting | Comparative reporting & click maps |
| Support | Email only | 24/7 Live Chat | Priority Support |
This makes the free plan more of a starter toolkit, while the paid tiers are designed for businesses that need unlimited growth, advanced automations, and deeper
MailerLite Free Plan Limits
While MailerLite’s free plan in 2025 is generous compared to many competitors, it does come with restrictions that businesses need to understand before committing. These limitations are designed to give users a taste of email marketing without overwhelming resources, but they can quickly become bottlenecks as campaigns scale.
Subscriber limit explained
The free plan supports up to 1,000 subscribers, which is ideal for beginners but may feel restrictive for businesses that grow quickly. Unlike paid tiers where subscriber counts can scale into tens of thousands, the free plan essentially caps growth at the earliest stage. Once you hit the ceiling, you’ll need to either upgrade or prune your list regularly to stay compliant.
Monthly email send limits
MailerLite places a 12,000 email send limit per month on the free plan. This means if you have 1,000 subscribers, you can email each person up to 12 times per month. For weekly newsletters, this limit is comfortable. However, if you run multiple campaigns (e.g., promotional blasts, automations, and newsletters), you might exceed the cap sooner than expected.
Automation and workflow restrictions
Automations are one of MailerLite’s biggest strengths, but the free plan only allows single-step workflows. For example:
For small campaigns, this restriction is manageable. But businesses that want to run advanced sales funnels will need to upgrade for full automation functionality.
Design and template access
The free plan comes with the drag-and-drop builder but limits template availability. Users get access to a small library of free templates, but premium, industry-specific designs are locked behind paid tiers. Still, many beginners find that starting from scratch with MailerLite’s builder gives them enough creative freedom without needing a paid template.
Reporting & analytics limitations
MailerLite’s free plan includes basic reporting, such as:
- Open rates
- Click-through rates
- Unsubscribes
However, it does not provide advanced features like click heatmaps, A/B testing reports, or comparative campaign analysis. For beginners, these simple stats are enough to evaluate performance. But data-driven businesses may find the lack of deep analytics a limitation for scaling.
Workarounds for Free Plan Restrictions
For small businesses and creators, the MailerLite free plan can feel limiting once your campaigns start to grow. However, with smart strategies and the right tools, you can stretch the plan’s capabilities and maximize its value before upgrading.
How to manage subscribers effectively
Since the free plan caps at 1,000 subscribers, managing your list is critical. Instead of keeping inactive or unengaged contacts, focus on quality over quantity.
- Regularly clean your list by removing subscribers who haven’t opened your emails in 3–6 months.
- Use re-engagement campaigns to give inactive users a chance to stay before unsubscribing them.
- Prioritize high-intent contacts (buyers, loyal readers, or engaged fans).
This approach keeps your deliverability high while staying within the free tier limit.
Smart segmentation to stay under limits
Segmentation helps you send targeted messages to smaller groups, reducing the risk of hitting the 12,000 monthly email send limit. Examples include:
- Sending promotions only to past buyers instead of your entire list.
- Creating interest-based segments (e.g., product category A vs. product category B).
- Splitting active vs. dormant subscribers to optimize send frequency.
By segmenting smartly, you reduce unnecessary sends and improve engagement metrics.
Using third-party integrations for added functionality
While the free plan restricts automation complexity, you can enhance it using third-party tools:
- Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat): Connect MailerLite with CRMs, ecommerce platforms, or Google Sheets for extended workflows.
- Google Analytics: Track subscriber behavior beyond MailerLite’s native reporting.
- Typeform / Jotform: Create advanced sign-up forms and push data directly into MailerLite.
These integrations let you achieve functionality similar to higher-tier plans without upgrading immediately.
Creative ways to stretch automation
Even though automations are limited to single steps, you can build “pseudo-multi-step” workflows with creative structuring:
- Create a trigger for each action (e.g., sign-up form, click, purchase).
- Link each trigger to a different single-step automation.
- Use segmentation tags to push subscribers into the right follow-up email.
It’s not as seamless as multi-step workflows, but it allows you to build nurture sequences within the free plan’s boundaries.
Tracking performance outside MailerLite
Since advanced reporting is locked to paid tiers, you can track more data externally:
- Export campaign results into Google Sheets for historical tracking.
- Use UTM parameters with Google Analytics to measure traffic and conversions.
- Rely on ecommerce dashboards (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.) to connect sales with specific campaigns.
This ensures you have enough insights to make data-driven decisions without upgrading prematurely.
When to Upgrade From Free to Paid
The MailerLite free plan is powerful for early-stage businesses, but every growing brand eventually reaches a point where restrictions hold back performance. Knowing when to upgrade ensures you don’t miss out on opportunities or frustrate subscribers with limited functionality.
Signs you’ve outgrown the free plan
You’ll know it’s time to upgrade when:
- Your subscriber list is consistently close to 1,000 contacts.
- You need multi-step automations for sales funnels, onboarding, or nurturing sequences.
- The 12,000 monthly send cap feels too restrictive for frequent campaigns.
- You want access to premium templates or advanced personalization.
- Basic reporting no longer gives you enough insight to optimize campaigns.
If two or more of these apply, you’ve likely outgrown the free plan.
Cost vs benefit of upgrading
MailerLite’s paid tiers are competitively priced compared to other email marketing platforms. In 2025, the Growing Business plan starts at around $10–$15 per month for 500 subscribers, with costs scaling based on list size. The Advanced plan adds deeper automation, analytics, and priority support for slightly higher monthly fees.
When evaluating cost vs. benefit, consider:
- Revenue potential: If one campaign generates more than the monthly subscription cost, upgrading pays for itself.
- Time saved: Advanced automation and templates reduce manual work.
- Growth capacity: Paid plans let you scale subscribers and email sends without worrying about caps.
For many businesses, the ROI of upgrading is almost immediate once email marketing begins driving sales.
Transitioning smoothly to paid tiers
Upgrading from free to paid in MailerLite is seamless. Your contacts, campaigns, and automations remain intact—you simply unlock more features. To transition smoothly:
- Audit your list and clean inactive contacts before upgrading.
- Map out the advanced automations you plan to create.
- Start small with the Growing Business plan and only move to Advanced once you need the extras.
This step-by-step transition keeps costs controlled while expanding your marketing capabilities.
MailerLite Free Plan vs Competitors
In 2025, the free plan landscape for email marketing tools is competitive, with platforms like Mailchimp and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) also offering entry-level options. However, MailerLite’s free plan continues to stand out for its balance of simplicity, features, and long-term scalability.
Free plan comparison with Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most recognized names in email marketing, but its free plan is more restrictive than MailerLite’s.
- Subscribers: Mailchimp allows up to 500 contacts vs. MailerLite’s 1,000.
- Monthly sends: Mailchimp caps at 1,000 sends per month (MailerLite offers 12,000).
- Automation: Mailchimp allows single-step automations, similar to MailerLite, but limits other features like A/B testing.
- Templates: Mailchimp offers fewer customization options on its free plan.
Verdict: MailerLite offers double the subscriber limit and twelve times the monthly sends, making it more attractive for growing businesses.
Free plan comparison with Sendinblue (Brevo)
Brevo (previously Sendinblue) takes a different approach: it allows unlimited contacts, but limits the number of daily sends.
- Subscribers: Unlimited contacts vs. MailerLite’s 1,000 cap.
- Send limits: 300 emails per day (MailerLite allows 12,000 per month, flexible).
- Automation: Basic automations are available but more limited on the free tier.
- Branding: Brevo includes visible branding on free plan emails, while MailerLite keeps it cleaner.
Verdict: Brevo is useful for large but low-volume lists, while MailerLite is better for consistent campaigns without daily bottlenecks.
Why MailerLite’s free plan still stands out
MailerLite strikes the right balance:
- Higher subscriber and send limits than Mailchimp.
- More flexibility and less intrusive branding compared to Brevo.
- A cleaner, more beginner-friendly interface than both competitors.
- Integrated landing pages and websites included even on the free plan.
For small businesses and creators, MailerLite’s free plan is not only more generous but also more practical for real-world campaigns in 2025.
Unlocking Growth Barriers: How Smart Use of MailerLite’s Free Plan Drives Results
Many small businesses assume that free plans in email marketing are too limited to make an impact. However, with strategic use, the MailerLite free plan can deliver measurable growth before you ever spend a dollar. Let’s look at how one business pushed the limits and what the data says about free-tier effectiveness in 2025.
Case Study: From hobby blog to profitable store
Situation: A lifestyle blogger started with MailerLite’s free plan in early 2024 to grow her email list alongside her content.
Problem: With no budget for paid marketing tools, she worried the free plan’s 1,000-subscriber and 12,000 monthly send caps would hold her back.
Steps:
- Created lead magnets to attract high-quality subscribers.
- Used segmentation to send targeted content (recipes to food readers, product promos to shoppers).
- Built a single-step welcome automation that delivered consistent engagement.
- Exported campaign data into Google Sheets to track conversions more deeply.
Results: Within 9 months, she grew her list to nearly 1,000 subscribers, achieved an average open rate of 41%, and generated her first $4,800 in online sales directly attributed to email campaigns—all without upgrading.
Data: The numbers behind free plan performance
According to 2025 benchmarks from EmailToolTester and Statista:
- Average open rates for small lists (under 2,500) sit at 38%, showing smaller, well-managed lists often outperform larger ones.
- 76% of SMBs say free plans are enough to validate email marketing before scaling to paid tiers.
- Businesses using segmentation, even on free plans, report 2x higher click-through rates compared to sending generic campaigns.
This highlights how MailerLite’s free plan aligns with current success patterns in the market.
Perspective: What people think vs. reality
Many marketers believe that “free plans aren’t enough to drive real results.” The reality? With creativity and discipline, free-tier features often cover 80% of what beginners actually need. Advanced automation and reporting matter later, but in the first 6–12 months, most brands thrive with the basics.
Summary & implications
The lesson is clear: the MailerLite free plan can take you from zero to revenue if you leverage segmentation, clean list management, and smart external tracking. Instead of rushing into paid tiers too early, squeeze the most out of the free features. This not only saves money but also prepares you to upgrade with confidence when the time comes.
FAQs
Before deciding whether the MailerLite free plan is right for you, it helps to clear up the most common questions. Here are the answers to what users most frequently ask about the free plan in 2025.
The free plan includes up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 email sends per month. You also get access to basic automation (single-step workflows), one website, up to 10 landing pages, and limited templates. Advanced features like multi-step automations, comparative reporting, and priority support are only available on paid plans.
Yes, but automations are limited to single-step workflows. For example, you can automatically send a welcome email when someone subscribes. However, you cannot create multi-step nurture sequences (like a 5-day onboarding series) without upgrading to a paid tier.
You can manage up to 1,000 subscribers on the free plan. If your list grows beyond this, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan or regularly prune inactive contacts to stay within the limit.
For many small businesses, the free plan is more than enough to start. It allows you to run regular newsletters, set up basic automations, and test email marketing ROI before investing. However, if you rely on advanced funnels, personalization, or analytics, you may quickly find the limits restrictive.
The best workaround is to combine list cleaning + segmentation + external tools. Clean your list regularly to stay under 1,000 subscribers, use segmentation to avoid wasting email sends, and rely on tools like Google Analytics or Zapier for advanced tracking and workflows. This way, you maximize value before upgrading.
SEO-Friendly Review
The MailerLite free plan in 2025 continues to impress as one of the strongest entry-level email marketing options available. It combines ease of use with a generous set of features, making it a favorite for bloggers, startups, and small businesses. Below is a detailed review based on features, usability, restrictions, and overall value.
Features Offered: ★★★★★
Review: Even at no cost, MailerLite provides powerful tools: drag-and-drop email building, signup forms, landing pages, and single-step automations. Many platforms lock these behind paywalls, but MailerLite makes them accessible from the start. This makes it easy for beginners to launch professional campaigns immediately.
Limits & Restrictions: ★★★★★
Review: While the subscriber cap of 1,000 and monthly send cap of 12,000 are reasonable for small lists, they can quickly feel restrictive as your business grows. Automation limits (single-step only) also prevent advanced funnels. Still, for early-stage users, these restrictions are manageable and encourage smart list management.
Ease of Use: ★★★★★
Review: MailerLite’s interface remains one of the cleanest and most intuitive in the industry. The learning curve is minimal, allowing users to design, send, and analyze campaigns within minutes. Beginners often highlight the dashboard’s simplicity compared to competitors like Mailchimp or Brevo.
Workarounds: ★★★★★
Review: The beauty of MailerLite’s free plan is that creative users can push beyond its boundaries. With strategies like segmenting audiences, pruning inactive subscribers, and using third-party integrations, it’s possible to extend the plan’s lifespan significantly before upgrading.
Overall Value: ★★★★★
Review: Among all free email marketing tools in 2025, MailerLite delivers exceptional value. It offers more flexibility than Mailchimp and less branding clutter than Brevo, making it the most balanced free option for small businesses and creators who want to test the waters.
Conclusion
The MailerLite free plan in 2025 remains one of the best starting points for email marketing. It gives small businesses and creators access to professional tools without upfront costs. By understanding its limits, applying smart workarounds, and knowing when to upgrade, you can unlock real growth even on a free plan.
In short:
- The free plan covers all the essentials for beginners—email building, forms, landing pages, and basic automation.
- Limitations like subscriber caps and single-step workflows can be managed with segmentation, list cleaning, and integrations.
- Upgrading becomes worthwhile once your list grows or you need advanced reporting and automation.