MailerLite vs GetResponse for Beginners
Both are popular choices for a first newsletter or small-business email list. They differ most in free-plan limits, how they charge as you grow, and how much automation you get on the cheapest paid plan.
Published · By the Inboxwise Tools team
How we researched this: All prices, limits and plan features below come from MailerLite's and GetResponse's official pricing pages, checked on November 9, 2026, in US dollars before tax. We have not run long-term campaigns on either platform, so this is a comparison of what each offers — not a hands-on performance review. Prices change often; confirm on each provider's site before you buy.
The short answer
- Choose MailerLite if you want to start free with a very small list, send a regular newsletter and keep costs low as you grow to about 1,000 subscribers.
- Choose GetResponse if you want unlimited monthly sends from the first paid plan, or plan to use sales funnels, webinars or course tools on its higher plans.
Price comparison
| MailerLite | GetResponse | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan: up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month | 14-day free trial of paid features; no credit card required |
| Cheapest paid plan | Comfort | Starter |
| Price at 500 subscribers (monthly billing) | $12/month (Comfort) | Not shown — the pricing page starts at 1,000 contacts |
| Price at 1,000 subscribers (monthly billing) | $19/month (Comfort) | $19/month (Starter) |
| Monthly email limit on that plan | 10,000 emails at 1,000 subscribers (Comfort); unlimited on Power ($39 at 1,000) | Unlimited monthly sends |
| Annual billing discount | 10% | Up to 18% |
| Next plan up at 1,000 | Power: $39/month | Marketer: $59/month |
At 1,000 subscribers the entry plans cost the same. The difference is what's inside: MailerLite's Comfort plan caps monthly emails (10,000 at that size), while GetResponse's Starter allows unlimited sends but includes only one custom automation workflow.
Free plans and trials
MailerLite has an ongoing free plan for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month. It includes email campaigns, a small number of automations (3 active, with up to 5 steps), one website and one landing page, and signup forms. Free emails carry the MailerLite logo; removing it requires a paid plan.
GetResponse offers a 14-day free trial of its premium features with no credit card required. Its FAQ says that after 14 days you lose access to premium features; the pricing page doesn't list the limits of the free account that remains, so check them before you rely on it long term.
Automation on the entry plans
| Feature | MailerLite Comfort | GetResponse Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Automations | Up to 50 active automations | Welcome email series + 1 custom automation workflow |
| Landing pages / sites | Up to 10 | Landing page builder included |
| Signup forms | Up to 10 active forms | Signup forms and popups |
| Remove provider logo | Yes | Not specified on the pricing page |
| Support | Email support | Not specified for Starter on the pricing page |
If you plan several automated sequences — a welcome series, a course drip, a re-engagement flow — MailerLite's Comfort plan gives you more room at the same price. GetResponse unlocks unlimited automation workflows on Marketer ($59/month at 1,000 contacts), which also adds abandoned-cart recovery, sales funnels and advanced segmentation.
Who each one suits
MailerLite is a good fit if you…
- are starting from zero and want a free plan while you get your first 250 subscribers;
- send a weekly or monthly newsletter and don't need unlimited sends;
- want several simple automations without paying for a marketing suite.
GetResponse is a good fit if you…
- send often enough that a monthly email cap would get in your way;
- expect to use funnels, webinars, courses or paid newsletters (Marketer and Creator plans);
- prefer to try every premium feature for two weeks before deciding.
Before you decide
- Estimate your list size in 6–12 months with the List Growth Calculator. Both providers price by list size, so the tier you'll grow into matters more than today's price.
- Count your monthly sends: subscribers × emails per month. If that's near MailerLite's limit, compare the Power plan too.
- Check the cost per campaign in the ROI Calculator — divide the monthly price by the number of campaigns you send.
- Read the current pricing pages. Plans and limits change; the figures above are dated for that reason.