MailerLite vs. Constant Contact: Email Marketing Decision Report
Question: Should a small business use MailerLite or Constant Contact for email marketing, considering list growth and automation complexity?
Prepared by the ChoiceScore Research Desk · Editor-approved for the curated library · Reviewed August 4, 2026
Direct answer
The decision between MailerLite and Constant Contact rests on the alignment between a business's budgetary constraints and their specific operational requirements. MailerLite provides a tiered structure including a free option and fixed-cost plans, while Constant Contact offers a distinct pricing schedule ranging from $12 to $80 per month. Small businesses must evaluate their internal capacity for managing email marketing tools against the specific pricing models presented by each vendor.
Summary
Selecting an email marketing platform requires a careful assessment of how pricing structures interact with long-term business growth. MailerLite offers three distinct tiers: a Free plan, a Growing Business plan at $10/month, and an Advanced plan at $20/month. Constant Contact utilizes a different pricing architecture, with tiers at $12, $35, and $80 per month. This report provides a side-by-side analysis of these platforms, focusing on cost-efficiency and the structural differences in their service offerings. By auditing current subscriber counts and projected growth, businesses can determine which platform offers the most sustainable path for their specific marketing needs. The following analysis breaks down these costs, provides illustrative scenarios for decision-making, and outlines the primary considerations for small business owners weighing these two options.
Choice Score breakdown
- MailerLite Cost-Efficiency 90/100 — Reflects the availability of a free tier and lower-cost fixed plans.
- Constant Contact Pricing Structure 85/100 — Reflects the availability of clear, tiered pricing options.
Best for / Not best for
Best for
- Small businesses seeking predictable, fixed-cost pricing models.
- Organizations that can utilize digital-first support documentation.
- Teams looking for tiered options to scale their email marketing efforts.
Not best for
- Organizations that require specific, all-in-one event management integrations not supported by the chosen platform.
- Businesses that cannot accommodate the $80/month price point if their list growth necessitates the Premium tier.
Scenarios
- The Budget-Conscious Startup (33% likely)
A business prioritizing minimal overhead and utilizing core automation features. This probability is an illustrative, user-adjustable scenario weight, not an empirical forecast. - The Moderate-Growth Business (33% likely)
A business balancing cost with the need for mid-tier features. This probability is an illustrative, user-adjustable scenario weight, not an empirical forecast. - The Scaling Enterprise (34% likely)
A business with a large, growing list requiring higher-tier features. This probability is an illustrative, user-adjustable scenario weight, not an empirical forecast.
Calculations
| Metric | Result | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| MailerLite Annual Cost (Growing Business Plan) | 120 USD/year (Illustrative assumption based on current plan pricing) | monthly_price * 12 |
| Constant Contact Annual Cost (Premium Tier) | 960 USD/year (Illustrative assumption based on current plan pricing) | monthly_price * 12 |
| Three-Year Cost Differential | 2520 USD (Illustrative savings) | (Constant_Contact_Annual - MailerLite_Annual) * 3 |
Pros & cons
Pros
- MailerLite: Offers a Free tier, providing a low-barrier entry point for new businesses.
- MailerLite: Features fixed-cost pricing tiers, including $10/month and $20/month options, which can aid in budget predictability.
- MailerLite: Includes 24/7 support as part of its service offering.
- Constant Contact: Provides a structured range of pricing tiers ($12, $35, and $80 per month) to accommodate different business sizes.
Cons
- MailerLite: Feature availability is strictly tied to the selected pricing tier, requiring careful planning as the business scales.
- Constant Contact: The entry-level price point starts at $12/month, which is higher than the $0 entry point of MailerLite.
- Constant Contact: The top-tier plan reaches $80/month, representing a higher potential monthly expenditure for small businesses compared to MailerLite's $20/month Advanced plan.
- General: Both platforms require an audit of subscriber counts to ensure the selected tier remains cost-effective as the email list grows.
Assumptions
- Illustrative scenario probability — The Budget-Conscious Startup: 33% — A user-adjustable modeling weight used to compare scenarios; it is not a measured probability or forecast.
- Illustrative scenario probability — The Moderate-Growth Business: 33% — A user-adjustable modeling weight used to compare scenarios; it is not a measured probability or forecast.
- Illustrative scenario probability — The Scaling Enterprise: 34% — A user-adjustable modeling weight used to compare scenarios; it is not a measured probability or forecast.
Practical next steps
- Audit current and projected subscriber counts to determine the appropriate tier for each platform, as costs are often tied to list size.
- Review the specific features included in MailerLite's Free, Growing Business ($10/mo), and Advanced ($20/mo) plans to ensure they meet your automation requirements.
- Compare the $12, $35, and $80 monthly price points of Constant Contact against your operational budget to determine long-term affordability.
- Assess your team's internal technical capabilities to determine if the platform's native documentation is sufficient for your needs.
- Evaluate the total cost of ownership over a 12 to 36-month horizon, accounting for expected subscriber growth and the resulting tier changes.
Methodology
This report synthesizes publicly available pricing and feature information from 2026. Calculations are illustrative and based on fixed monthly rates provided by the vendors. Users should verify current pricing on official websites as rates and plan inclusions are subject to change.
Sources
Sources support specific claims; they do not replace our analysis. Read the research and source standards.
FAQ
- Does MailerLite offer a free plan?
- Yes, MailerLite includes a Free plan as part of its three fixed pricing tiers, alongside the Growing Business and Advanced plans.
- How does Constant Contact's pricing compare to competitors?
- Constant Contact offers three tiers: Lite at $12/month, Standard at $35/month, and Premium at $80/month.
- What support options are available?
- MailerLite provides 24/7 support. Constant Contact's support availability is not detailed in the provided pricing documentation.
Disclaimers
Pricing and feature availability are subject to change by the vendors; always verify current rates on official websites.
All calculations are illustrative and based on specific plan assumptions; actual costs will vary based on subscriber count and chosen features.
This report does not constitute professional financial or business advice.