AWeber
MailerLite
AWeber vs MailerLite: Legacy Reliability vs Modern Value
AWeber has been delivering emails since 1998. MailerLite launched in 2010 with a cleaner interface and lower prices. The question is whether AWeber's proven reliability justifies the premium over MailerLite's more feature-rich, more affordable platform. For most businesses in 2026, the answer leans heavily toward one side.
Last updated: March 19, 2026
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Quick Verdict
MailerLite wins for most users. It offers a free plan, a more modern interface, a website builder, and comparable automation at a lower price. AWeber's advantage is limited to deliverability reputation and 24/7 phone support, which matter for some businesses but not most.
AWeber is best for:
- ✓Businesses that rely on phone support for troubleshooting
- ✓Users with large established lists who trust AWeber deliverability
- ✓WordPress-heavy workflows needing AWeber's dedicated plugin
MailerLite is best for:
- ✓Anyone who wants a free plan to start building a list
- ✓Small businesses needing a website builder and email in one platform
- ✓Users who prefer a clean, modern interface
My take: MailerLite gives you more for less. Free plan, website builder, modern editor, and comparable email marketing at $10/month vs AWeber's $12.49/month. AWeber wins only if you need proven deliverability and 24/7 phone support.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
MailerLite has closed the feature gap with AWeber while maintaining lower prices. Here is how they compare across key areas.
| Feature | AWeber | MailerLite | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✗ | ✓ | MailerLite: 1,000 subs free. AWeber: 14-day trial only. |
| Email Builder | ● | ★ | MailerLite's editor is more modern and intuitive. |
| Automation | ○ | ● | MailerLite offers multi-trigger workflows on paid plans. |
| Website Builder | ✗ | ✓ | MailerLite includes a full website builder. AWeber does not. |
| Landing Pages | ● | ● | Both include landing pages on paid plans. |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ | Both support split testing. |
| Phone Support | ✓ | ✗ | AWeber: 24/7 phone. MailerLite: email and chat only. |
| Web Push | ✓ | ✗ | AWeber includes web push notifications. |
| Blog | ✗ | ✓ | MailerLite includes a built-in blog feature. |
| Ecommerce | ○ | ● | MailerLite has better Shopify and Stripe integrations. |
MailerLite has quietly become one of the best-value email platforms available. The free plan alone covers what many solo entrepreneurs need: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 monthly emails, automation, and landing pages. AWeber offers none of that without a paid subscription.
The website builder is MailerLite's underrated advantage. A web design studio can set up a client with a professional site, email capture forms, and automated welcome sequences all within MailerLite, eliminating the need for separate hosting. AWeber requires you to bring your own website. For the full comparison of MailerLite's capabilities, see my MailerLite Review.
AWeber's main counter-argument is support quality. Their 24/7 phone line with actual email marketing experts is genuinely rare in this price range. For a nonprofit director who needs help segmenting a donor list at 8 PM, AWeber picks up the phone. MailerLite routes you to email or chat. Read my AWeber Review for more on the support experience.
Pricing Comparison
MailerLite undercuts AWeber at every tier while including more features.
| Plan / Tier | AWeber | MailerLite | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free/Trial | 14-day trial | Free (1,000 subs) | MailerLite has a permanent free plan. |
| 500 Subscribers | $12.49/mo (annual) | $10/mo (Growing Business) | MailerLite is $2.49/mo cheaper. |
| 2,500 Subscribers | $22.49/mo (annual) | $17/mo | AWeber costs $5.49/mo more. |
| 10,000 Subscribers | $62.49/mo (annual) | $47/mo | AWeber costs $15.49/mo more. |
| 50,000 Subscribers | $382.49/mo (annual) | $239/mo | MailerLite saves $143.49/month at 50K subs. |
MailerLite is cheaper at every subscriber tier and includes a free plan. The gap widens as lists grow: at 50,000 subscribers, MailerLite saves over $140/month. AWeber includes web push notifications and phone support to partially justify the premium, but most businesses will find MailerLite's pricing more sustainable long-term.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose AWeber if you...
- ✓Phone support is essential for your workflow
- ✓You have an established list and trust AWeber's deliverability
- ✓Web push notifications are part of your marketing strategy
- ✓You need the Done For You setup service
Choose MailerLite if you...
- ✓You want to start free and scale gradually
- ✓A modern interface and website builder matter to you
- ✓Budget is a primary consideration
- ✓You need a built-in blog alongside email marketing
Final Recommendation
MailerLite is the better choice for most businesses switching from or choosing between these two. Lower prices, a free plan, a website builder, and a more modern experience make it the stronger overall package. AWeber earns its place only for users who specifically need phone support or have deep trust in its deliverability infrastructure.
AWeber
Established email marketing platform with 27 years of experience, AI features, and reliable fundamentals
Starting at $12.50/month
Try AWeber →MailerLite
Affordable email marketing with surprisingly powerful features and stellar support
Starting at $10/mo
Try MailerLite →Frequently Asked Questions
For most users, yes. MailerLite offers more features at a lower price with a free plan included. AWeber is better only if you need 24/7 phone support or have specific deliverability concerns.
Yes. MailerLite accepts CSV imports and provides a migration guide. Your subscriber lists transfer cleanly. Templates need to be rebuilt.
MailerLite has a more modern template library with cleaner designs. AWeber has more templates overall but many feel dated.
No. MailerLite offers email and live chat support. AWeber is the one with 24/7 phone support with human agents.
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