Kit (ex-ConvertKit) vs MailerLite: which emailing tool will boost your conversions in 2025?
Are you a content creator, e-merchant or SaaS provider hesitating between ConvertKit and MailerLite to manage your email campaigns? You're not alone: these two platforms top the list of the most frequently cited email marketing software on the web.
👉 In this exhaustive comparison, we break down everything: features, pricing, UX, automations. In the end, you'll know exactly which one deserves your blue card (and your leads).
What is ConvertKit?
ConvertKit overview
ConvertKit, renamed Kit, is an email marketing solution designed for content creators: bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, coaches, infopreneurs.
🛠️ The platform combines a minimalist editor, conditional automations and an integrated store to sell digital products without leaving the interface.
The tool is positioned as "the HubSpot for creators": simple, yet powerful enough to sell digital products or recurring subscriptions without having to graft a dozen plugins.
ConvertKit's main features
- drag-and-drop responsive form and landing page creator ;
- visual automation in "Sequences" and "Rules" (IFTTT-like) ;
- tagging and advanced segmentation based on behavior (open, click, buy);
- digital products and commerce: sale of e-books, courses and recurring payments without going through Gumroad;
- sponsor network: connect with advertisers to monetize your newsletter;
- A/B testing of up to 3 subject or content variants;
- Deliverability Boost: intelligent double opt-in and automatic removal of cold subscribers;
- native integrations with Shopify, Teachable, Stripe, Zapier, WordPress, etc. ;
- revenue reporting by campaign (LTV attribution);
- iOS/Android mobile application for sending newsletters "on the go".
Kit (ex-ConvertKit)
Advantages and disadvantages of ConvertKit
✅ Advantages:
- ultra-clean UX designed for non-techies ;
- highly advanced automation without coding;
- integrated commerce that avoids 2-3 third-party tools;
- ultra-reactive support (chat in < 5 min);
- huge community and educational resources (weekly webinars).
❌ Disadvantages:
- high price beyond 10,000 contacts ("creator-centric" billing) ;
- text-only email editor (no real "block" type builder) ;
- no truly unlimited free plan (max 1,000 contacts and ConvertKit branding) ;
- landing page templates a little dated in terms of design.
What is MailerLite?
MailerLite overview
MailerLite is an email marketing platform aimed at SMEs, agencies and designers looking for a good price/performance ratio.
🛠️ The tool features a drag-and-drop visual creator, multi-criteria segments and clear workflows to manage both newsletters and e-commerce paths. The watchword: simplicity, transparent pricing and an ultra-flexible editor.
MailerLite key features
- drag-and-drop "Email Designer" with ready-to-use blocks ;
- free websites and landing pages hosted on MailerLite domain or custom ;
- visual automations (workflow builder) with "if/else" conditions and dynamic deadlines;
- advanced segmentation: up to 20 filters (e-commerce, behavior, custom fields) ;
- pop-ups, embedded forms, surveys and interactive quizzes;
- deep e-commerce integration: abandoned carts, recommended products, coupons;
- A/B split and multivariate testing (up to 5 variants) ;
- geolocation and click heat-map reports;
- unlimited subscriber management on all plans (paid by number of emails sent);
- iOS/Android application + interface in 10 languages.
Kit (ex-ConvertKit)
Advantages and disadvantages of MailerLite
✅ Advantages:
- free plan for up to 1,000 contacts and 12,000 emails/month ;
- rich, flexible visual editor (perfect for "magazine" newsletters) ;
- rates among the lowest on the market for the same volume;
- multilingual interface and 24/7 support even on free plan;
- native RGPD compliance + European servers.
❌ Disadvantages:
- less "digital product sales" oriented than ConvertKit ;
- slightly less fine-grained automations (no pixel-perfect customized "events") ;
- sometimes account approval delays (anti-spam) ;
- no native marketplace for finding sponsors.
ConvertKit vs MailerLite: compare features
| Key features | ConvertKit | MailerLite |
| Email editor | Rich text only (newsletter format) | Full drag-and-drop & custom HTML |
| Landing pages | 50+ templates, custom domain | 60+ templates + full website |
| Automations | Product sequences, rules, events | Visual workflows, conditional branches |
| Tag / Segmentation | Tags + Segments + Custom fields | Groups + Segments + 20 advanced filters |
| Integrated commerce | Yes (payment, products, subscriptions) | No (need Stripe or Shopify) |
| Webinars | No (Zoom integration via Zapier) | Yes (integrated webinars up to 60 min) |
| A/B testing | 3 variants (subject or content) | 5 variants + multivariate |
| Reporting | Email revenue, LTV | Heat-map, geolocation, e-commerce ROI |
| Integrations | 90+ (Shopify, Teachable, Zapier, etc.) | 140+ (Shopify, WooCommerce, Facebook, etc.) |
| Support | Chat and email 24/7, daily webinars | 24/7 chat and email, FR knowledge base |
| Mobile application | iOS/Android | iOS/Android |
Focus on the email editor
👉 ConvertKit offers a minimalist editor in "rich text" mode that favors readability and the impression of a personal message; it's quick to type, paste and add customization tags, but doesn't allow any real complex layout.
👉 MailerLite, on the other hand, features a 100% drag-and-drop block-based editor:
- columns,
- images,
- buttons,
- counters,
- GIFs, etc.
This makes it ideal for visual newsletters or product lookbooks, while remaining intuitive to use.
Focus on automations
👉 In ConvertKit, automations are managed by two bricks: Sequences ( series of e-mails triggered by a tag or form) and Rules (simple IFTTT rules). Everything is presented in clear timelines, perfect for linear sales tunnels.
👉 MailerLite offers a complete visual workflow with :
- if/else branches,
- dynamic deadlines,
- multiple actions: send e-mail, change group, update custom field.
It's more flexible for complex e-commerce paths (abandoned cart → callback → coupon → follow-up).
Focus on segmentation and tagging
👉 ConvertKit works exclusively with Tags and Segments. Each behavior (open, click, purchase) can generate an automatic tag, creating highly precise micro-lists for targeted offers.
👉 MailerLite combines Groups (classic lists), Segments (dynamic filters with up to 20 criteria) and Custom Fields. This enables complex intersections (e.g. "women aged 25-34 having clicked on 2 products > €50") without multiplying tags.
Focus on integrated commerce
👉 ConvertKit embeds a native checkout :
- create a product,
- set the price,
- add an upsell,
- the payment link is automatically inserted into your e-mails,
- no external site required,
- cart abandonment is handled natively.
👉 MailerLite has no built-in checkout; it connects in-depth to Shopify, WooCommerce or Stripe via webhooks. You retrieve order data (products, amount, coupons) to trigger ultra-targeted campaigns, but the transaction remains on your store.
Focus on reporting and analysis
👉 ConvertKit focuses on profitability:
- each e-mail displays the revenue generated,
- average basket and LTV per tag.
Perfect for tracking the exact return on a product launch.
👉 MailerLite delivers more traditional, but highly visual reports:
- heat-map of clicks,
- geolocation,
- campaign comparison,
- e-commerce ROI.
Agencies appreciate the client-ready PDF export.
Focus on multi-user management
👉 ConvertKit limits the number of users according to the plan (1, 2 then unlimited) and offers simple roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer).
👉 MailerLite authorizes 1, 3 or unlimited users with detailed rights (create, send, analyze, modify invoices), which facilitates the work of teams or agencies.
ConvertKit vs MailerLite: compare prices
| Plans | Convertkit | MailerLite |
| Free plan | " Newsletter":
|
" Free:
|
| Intermediate plan | " Creator: from €21.55 / month
|
" Growing Business: from €11.64 / month
|
| Advanced plan | " Creator Pro : from €43.11 / month
|
" Advanced: from €23.28 / month
|
ConvertKit vs MailerLite: which interface is more intuitive?
| Criteria | ConvertKit | MailerLite |
| User-friendliness | 8/10 - Minimalist dashboard, "creator" terminology | 9/10 - Interactive tutorials on first login |
| Email creation | 7/10 - Fast but limited text editor | 9/10 - True WYSIWYG with reusable blocks |
| Automation builder | 8/10 - Clear "Sequences" view | 8/10 - Intuitive visual workflow |
| Template customization | 6/10 - Few blocks, custom code required | 9/10 - Drag-and-drop sections, block saving |
| Subscriber search | 8/10 - Quick filters by tag or segment | 8/10 - Universal search bar |
| Onboarding support | 9/10 - Team-led migration | 8/10 - Step-by-step checklist with videos |
ConvertKit vs MailerLite: compare integrations
| Integration category | ConvertKit examples | MailerLite examples |
| E-commerce | Shopify, WooCommerce, ThriveCart | Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce |
| CMS & Blogs | WordPress, Ghost, Webflow, Squarespace | WordPress, Drupal, Joomla |
| Webinars / Video | Zoom, Crowdcast, Demio (via Zapier) | Zoom, GoToWebinar, WebinarJam |
| Payment | Stripe, PayPal, Gumroad | Stripe, PayPal, Paddle |
| CRM | HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce (via Zapier) | HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho |
| Advertising | Facebook Custom Audiences, Google Ads (via Zapier) | Facebook Audiences, Google Ads, TikTok Ads |
| Zapier | 3,000+ possible zaps | 5,000+ zaps possible |
| API | Full REST, webhooks | Full REST, webhooks |
When to choose ConvertKit or MailerLite?
The right email marketing software isn't the one that does it all, but the one that fits exactly with your revenue model, content style and contact volume. Here's when, and why, ConvertKit or MailerLite becomes the strategic choice for your business.
Examples of ConvertKit use cases
ConvertKit is the benchmark solution for creators who monetize their audience directly. Choose it if :
- your business is based on the sale of digital products, training courses or recurring subscriptions ;
- you need an ultra-fine tagging system to automate complex buying paths;
- your emails are short, frequent and relationship- rather than design-oriented;
- you want to sell via email without going through a third-party e-commerce site;
- you already use tools such as Teachable, Gumroad or Stripe and want synchronization without a developer ;
- your priority is to quickly turn a lead into a paying customer, not to create visually sophisticated newsletters.
👤 Typical profiles:
- creator of online courses in launch phase ;
- coach or consultant billing for premium programs;
- podcaster or paid newsletter with fewer than 50,000 contacts ;
- micro-SaaS or indie author selling resources or templates.
Examples of MailerLite use cases
MailerLite comes into its own when design, volume and budget become key criteria. Choose it if :
- you publish visually rich newsletters (magazines, lookbooks, product dossiers) ;
- you run an online store and need shopping cart reminders, dynamic coupons or recommended products;
- your marketing and e-commerce teams need to collaborate on multi-channel campaigns;
- you want to test several content or object variants at no extra cost;
- your contact base quickly exceeds 10,000 and you're looking to control invoicing;
- you're an agency or franchise that needs to manage several brands from a single account.
👤 Typical profiles:
- growing Shopify or WooCommerce e-commerce ;
- marketing agency managing several boutiques or associations;
- lifestyle or media blog with a strong visual component;
- European SMEs concerned with RGPD compliance and EU servers.
ConvertKit or MailerLite: which will propel your revenues?
👉 If you're a content creator and your business relies on digital products, subscriptions or sponsorships, ConvertKit remains the choice to make. Its all-in-one ecosystem will save you 2-3 tools and let you monetize faster. The extra cost generally pays for itself as soon as the first product is sold.
👉 On the other hand, if you prefer power/price ratio, rich visual newsletters and fine management of physical e-commerce, MailerLite is unbeatable: 2 to 4 times cheaper, more flexible editor and European servers for RGPD.
Article translated from French