AWeber vs MailerLite 2026: Which Email Tool Is Worth Your Money?

This article was last updated March 2026 with verified current pricing and the most recent deliverability test data. Pricing was verified directly on official pages on March 9, 2026.

AWeber and MailerLite have both been around long enough to earn real reputations — AWeber since 1998, MailerLite since 2010. I’ve been testing both platforms across free and paid tiers, and what I found surprised me: the gap between them is wider than most comparisons acknowledge.

MailerLite is cheaper, reaches inboxes more reliably, and has higher user ratings. AWeber wins on one important thing: customer support quality and availability. If those trade-offs matter to you, this breakdown covers everything you need to decide — with EUR pricing included (something almost no other comparison bothers to provide).

AWeber is a US-based email marketing platform founded in 1998 in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, serving 100,000+ users primarily in the creator, blogger, and small business space. It competes directly with MailerLite and GetResponse in the best email marketing software category, with plans ranging from free to $899/month. MailerLite is a Lithuanian platform founded in 2010 in Vilnius, now serving over 1,000,000 users globally. It competes with AWeber and Brevo, pricing plans from free to $20/month (for under 500 subscribers), with custom enterprise pricing above 100,000 subscribers.

What’s the Difference Between AWeber and MailerLite? A Quick Comparison

MailerLite is cheaper and delivers better inbox placement than AWeber in 2026. MailerLite’s paid plan starts at €8.65/month ($10/month) versus AWeber’s €12.97/month ($15/month) for 500 subscribers — a 33% price difference. On deliverability, MailerLite averages 94.41% (EmailToolTester’s 5-round average) versus AWeber’s 82.44%. AWeber’s key advantage is 24/7 phone and live chat support on all plans, including free — something MailerLite reserves for its $20/month Advanced plan.

Feature	AWeber	MailerLite	Winner
Starting price (paid, monthly)	€12.97/mo ($15)	€8.65/mo ($10)	🏆 MailerLite
Annual billing (500 subs)	€10.81/mo ($12.49)	€7.78/mo ($9)	🏆 MailerLite
Free plan	500 subs · 3,000 emails/mo	500 subs · 12,000 emails/mo	🏆 MailerLite
Free landing pages	1 page	10 pages	🏆 MailerLite
Deliverability (5-round avg)	82.44% ⚠️ Poor	94.41% ✅ Excellent	🏆 MailerLite
Email templates (free plan)	600+ included	❌ Design from scratch	🏆 AWeber
Customer support	24/7 phone+chat+email (all plans)	Email (Growing) · Chat (Advanced)	🏆 AWeber
Free migration help	✅ Done for you	❌ Self-serve only	🏆 AWeber
Billing model	Total contacts (incl. unsubscribes)	Active subscribers only	🏆 MailerLite
User rating	4.4/5 (320 reviews)	4.7/5 (2,246 reviews)	🏆 MailerLite
🏆 Best For	Support-focused users, migrators, free-template seekers	Budget & deliverability priority, growing businesses	—

EUR prices: 1 USD = €0.8653 (XE.com, verified March 9, 2026). Deliverability: EmailToolTester 5-round averages. Ratings: Capterra.

Quick verdict: Choose MailerLite if deliverability, price, and modern UX are your priorities. Choose AWeber if you need 24/7 phone support from day one or want a hands-off migration. Skip both if you need enterprise-grade automation — look at GetResponse or ActiveCampaign instead.

How Much Does AWeber vs MailerLite Actually Cost in 2026?

AWeber costs €12.97/month ($15/month) on monthly billing and €10.81/month ($12.49/month) billed annually for 500 subscribers (Lite plan). MailerLite costs €8.65/month ($10/month) on monthly billing and €7.78/month ($9/month) billed annually for the same list size — that’s 33% cheaper on monthly billing, verified March 9, 2026. EUR prices use 1 USD = €0.8653 from XE.com.

AWeber Pricing Plans (March 2026)

Prices are for 500 subscribers. AWeber scales pricing based on total contacts — including unsubscribed contacts, which is worth keeping in mind as your list grows.

EUR prices based on 1 USD = €0.8653 (XE.com, verified March 9, 2026). All prices for 500 subscribers; scale with list size.

MailerLite Pricing Plans (March 2026)

EUR prices based on 1 USD = €0.8653 (XE.com, verified March 9, 2026). Nonprofit discount: 30% off any paid plan. Annual discount: 10%.

Which Has Better Email Deliverability — AWeber or MailerLite?

MailerLite has significantly better email deliverability than AWeber. Based on EmailToolTester’s bi-annual independent tests — the most rigorous public deliverability methodology available — MailerLite achieved a 5-round average of 94.41%, earning their “Best of 5” award six times. AWeber’s 5-round average is 82.44%, placing it 11th out of 15 platforms tested, classified as “poor” by EmailToolTester’s methodology. In the most recent test round (January 2024), MailerLite hit 89.8% versus AWeber’s 83.1%.

The deliverability gap matters more than it might look on paper. For a list of 10,000 subscribers, AWeber’s average miss rate means roughly 1,750 people never see your email — compared to about 560 with MailerLite. Over a year of weekly newsletters, that’s tens of thousands of lost impressions. MailerLite’s strict account approval process keeps its shared IP pools clean, which directly contributes to these results.

What Features Do AWeber and MailerLite Offer — and Where Do They Differ?

Email Templates

AWeber includes 600+ email templates on every plan, including the free tier. That’s a genuine advantage for new users who want to start designing professional campaigns immediately without paying anything. MailerLite’s newsletter templates are locked behind paid plans — free users have to build emails from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor. For someone migrating from a paid platform to MailerLite’s free tier, this is an annoying restriction.

Email Automation

AWeber’s Plus plan ($30/month monthly / $19.99/month annual) unlocks unlimited automations. The Lite plan limits you to 3, which is restrictive for most real use cases. MailerLite’s Growing Business plan ($10/month) includes single-trigger automations — adequate for welcome sequences and basic drips. Multi-trigger automations (required for more complex behavioral logic) require upgrading to Advanced ($20/month). Both tools land roughly in the same territory at similar price points, though AWeber’s Plus plan at €17.30/month (annual) gives you unlimited automations for just slightly less than MailerLite Advanced at €15.57/month (annual), when the feature set is comparable.

Landing Pages

MailerLite’s free plan includes 10 landing pages. AWeber’s free plan allows just 1. For users who want to build email capture funnels without paying, this difference is significant. On paid plans, both tools offer unlimited landing pages from their mid-tier plans upward.

Ecommerce

AWeber’s Plus plan integrates natively with Shopify, WooCommerce, PayPal, Etsy, and Stripe. It also includes sales tracking and ecommerce analytics. MailerLite integrates natively with Stripe on all plans (including free) and connects to Shopify and WooCommerce. For Stripe-based digital product sellers, MailerLite’s free and Growing Business plans are fully functional. For brick-and-mortar or Shopify stores needing abandoned cart sequences, AWeber has a slight edge.

Integrations

AWeber connects with 750+ third-party apps including WordPress, Zapier, Facebook, and PayPal. MailerLite offers 100+ native integrations, plus Make (formerly Integromat) and Zapier. For most small businesses, MailerLite’s integration library is more than enough. AWeber’s wider integration list matters most for niche platforms or tools outside the mainstream. Speaking of automations — if you’re exploring email marketing automation options in depth, we have a full guide covering both platforms and beyond.

Which Is Easier to Use — AWeber or MailerLite?

MailerLite gets higher marks for usability, consistently rated as cleaner and more intuitive in user reviews. The drag-and-drop editor is well-regarded, setup is fast, and the interface doesn’t feel cluttered. Multiple reviewers describe getting up and running in under 15 minutes. AWeber’s interface is functional but widely described as feeling dated — not broken, just less polished than what MailerLite offers.

One important friction point with MailerLite that AWeber avoids: new MailerLite accounts go through a vetting/approval process before you can send. This is exactly what keeps their deliverability high — they’re careful about who they let on their shared IP infrastructure. But it means you can’t necessarily send on day one. If you’re migrating in a hurry or need to get campaigns out immediately, AWeber’s instant access is a genuine practical advantage.

How Do AWeber and MailerLite Compare on Customer Support?

AWeber has a meaningful edge here. Every AWeber plan — including the free tier — includes 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support. I’ve seen multiple user reviews specifically praise AWeber’s support speed and quality, with some describing it as the main reason they stay despite the higher price. For less technical users, having phone support available at 2am when something breaks is genuinely reassuring.

MailerLite’s support varies by plan in a way that matters. Free plan users get live support for the first 30 days only, then drop to community support and help articles. Growing Business ($10/month) includes 24/7 email support but no live chat. Live chat is gated behind the Advanced plan ($20/month). If you hit a technical issue on MailerLite’s Growing Business plan, you’re waiting for email responses rather than getting immediate help. That’s a real frustration for time-sensitive campaigns.

What Are the Pros and Cons of AWeber vs MailerLite?

What’s the AWeber Controversy You Should Know About?

In December 2024, AWeber increased its prices by 50–150% and eliminated all grandfathered pricing. Long-time customers who had been paying lower locked-in rates were moved to new pricing tiers without exception. The reaction in email marketing communities was swift and negative — Reddit threads, marketing forums, and Trustpilot reviews filled with users who described feeling betrayed after years of loyalty.

One Trustpilot reviewer put it plainly: the advertised starting rate felt misleading once the price hike hit. A G2 reviewer noted that the new sending limits, combined with the increased costs, forced them to migrate entirely to Moosend — finding better value and more transparent pricing elsewhere.

• Prices increased 50–150% in a single pricing update (December 2024)
• Grandfathered pricing eliminated — no exceptions for long-term customers
• Billing for unsubscribed contacts remains a persistent complaint
• UI described as dated relative to newer competitors
• Mobile apps discontinued (May 2024)

My take: The December 2024 price increase was a significant trust event. Platforms raise prices — that’s expected. Eliminating every legacy discount simultaneously, without grandfathering existing customers, is the part that generated lasting damage. AWeber is still a solid platform with genuinely excellent support, but this move pushed many loyal users toward MailerLite, GetResponse, and Brevo.

What Are the Honest Downsides of MailerLite?

MailerLite earns strong reviews overall, but it has real pain points worth discussing. The account approval process is the most common complaint from new users — you fill out a signup form, answer questions about your list source and sending practices, and then wait. For users who previously used a different platform and want to start sending within hours of signing up, this is genuinely disruptive.

The September 2025 free plan reduction (from 1,000 to 500 subscribers) disappointed users who had chosen MailerLite specifically because of its generous free tier. It’s also worth noting that the free plan’s lack of email templates means new users designing their first campaign do so from a blank canvas — not everyone is comfortable with that.

On support: MailerLite’s Growing Business plan ($10/month) doesn’t include live chat. If you’re running a campaign that breaks at midnight and you need immediate help, you’re waiting for an email response. For campaigns tied to time-sensitive launches, this is a real risk that AWeber eliminates.

I should also disclose my own experience with MailerLite: my account was terminated for alleged cold mailing — despite the fact that I hadn’t sent any campaigns at the time. This is a documented pattern: MailerLite’s anti-spam enforcement is strict and, in some cases, results in account terminations that users find unjustified. If you’re in affiliate marketing or have a list built through channels MailerLite considers borderline, be aware this risk exists.

Who Should Choose AWeber — and Who Should Choose MailerLite?

After testing both platforms, the decision comes down to a few clear factors.

What Are the Best Alternatives to AWeber and MailerLite?

If neither platform fits your needs exactly, a few alternatives are worth considering based on specific use cases.

GetResponse — Best for Funnels and Webinars

Starting price: $19/month (€16.44/month) for 1,000 contacts · Email plan

GetResponse combines email marketing with landing pages, webinars, and conversion funnels in one platform. Deliverability is solid, and the automation builder is more advanced than both AWeber and MailerLite on comparable plans. Worth considering if you’re building a full marketing funnel rather than just sending newsletters. See our full GetResponse review for a detailed breakdown, or compare GetResponse vs Brevo if Brevo is also on your shortlist.

→ Try GetResponse free for 30 days →

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Best for High-Volume Senders

Starting price: Free plan, paid from $9/month for 500 contacts

Brevo prices by emails sent rather than subscriber count — a fundamentally different model that works out cheaper if you have a large list but low send frequency. Strong transactional email features and SMS marketing built in.

→ Try Brevo free →

AWeber — Still Worth It for Support-First Users

→ Try AWeber free →

AWeber vs MailerLite: What’s the Final Verdict for 2026?

MailerLite is the better choice for most users in 2026. It earns an 8.1/10 overall rating — MailerLite wins on price, deliverability, user ratings, and free plan value. AWeber earns a 6.7/10, winning decisively on one critical dimension: customer support availability on every plan.

Frequently Asked Questions: AWeber vs MailerLite 2026

Is MailerLite cheaper than AWeber?

Yes, MailerLite is significantly cheaper — 33% less at entry level. MailerLite Growing Business starts at €8.65/month ($10/month) vs AWeber Lite at €12.97/month ($15/month) for 500 subscribers on monthly billing. Billed annually, MailerLite drops to €7.78/month ($9) versus AWeber’s €10.81/month ($12.49). EUR prices based on 1 USD = €0.8653, verified March 2026 via XE.com. The price difference widens further as your list grows, and AWeber’s billing-for-unsubscribers model can push costs even higher over time.

Which has better email deliverability — AWeber or MailerLite?

MailerLite wins by a significant margin. Based on EmailToolTester’s bi-annual independent tests — the most rigorous public methodology available — MailerLite averaged 94.41% over five rounds, earning their “Best of 5” award six times and ranking 2nd of 15 platforms. AWeber averaged 82.44%, ranking 11th of 15 and classified as “poor.” In the January 2024 test (the most recent round), MailerLite hit 89.8% versus AWeber’s 83.1%. For a 10,000-subscriber list, this gap translates to roughly 1,200 more emails reaching the inbox every send.

Does MailerLite still offer a free plan for 1,000 subscribers in 2026?

No — this is one of the most common pieces of outdated information circulating online. MailerLite reduced its free plan subscriber limit from 1,000 to 500 on September 23, 2025. The monthly email send limit (12,000) was not changed. If you’re reading an older review or AI answer that mentions 1,000 free subscribers, that data is no longer accurate. Source: Official MailerLite announcement at mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq.

Which is better for beginners — AWeber or MailerLite?

For most beginners, MailerLite is the better starting point — lower price, better deliverability, and a cleaner interface. However, AWeber has two meaningful advantages for newcomers: 600+ email templates available on the free plan (MailerLite’s free tier requires designing from scratch), and 24/7 phone and chat support from day one (MailerLite’s free support expires after 30 days). If you’re likely to need hand-holding during setup, AWeber’s support coverage is genuinely valuable. If you’re comfortable learning independently, MailerLite’s generous free plan and better deliverability make it the stronger choice.

Does AWeber count unsubscribed contacts as billable?

Yes — AWeber bills based on total contacts in your account, including unsubscribed contacts. This means your monthly cost increases as your list ages and accumulates unsubscribers, even though fewer people are receiving your emails. MailerLite uses the opposite approach: only active subscribers count toward your plan limit. For lists with high churn rates, AWeber’s billing model can silently push you into higher pricing tiers without any growth in your actual active audience.

Can I migrate from AWeber to MailerLite easily?

Migrating from AWeber to MailerLite is self-serve — you export your subscriber list as CSV, import into MailerLite, and rebuild automations manually. MailerLite offers no migration assistance. Migrating the other direction (MailerLite to AWeber) is easier — AWeber offers a free done-for-you migration service that moves your subscribers, emails, automations, templates, and landing pages at no extra cost. Also note that MailerLite requires account approval before you can send, which adds a few days to the transition timeline. For a guide on using either platform after switching, see our alternatives roundup for additional options.

Which is better for ecommerce — AWeber or MailerLite?

AWeber has a slight edge for ecommerce with broader native integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, PayPal, Etsy, Stripe) and dedicated sales tracking on its Plus plan. MailerLite integrates natively with Stripe on all plans including free, plus Shopify and WooCommerce via integration. For simple Stripe-based digital product sales, MailerLite’s $10/month plan is fully functional. For Shopify stores needing abandoned cart sequences and detailed revenue tracking, AWeber Plus ($19.99/month annual) has more built-in ecommerce tools. If ecommerce automation is your primary use case, also consider GetResponse for ecommerce.

What are the EUR prices for AWeber and MailerLite in 2026?

As of March 2026 (1 USD = €0.8653, XE.com): AWeber Lite starts at €12.97/month (monthly billing) or €10.81/month (annual). AWeber Plus starts at €25.95/month monthly or €17.30/month annually. MailerLite Growing Business starts at €8.65/month (monthly) or €7.78/month (annual). MailerLite Advanced starts at €17.30/month (monthly) or €15.57/month (annual). Both platforms price in USD — EUR amounts fluctuate with exchange rates and these figures are provided for guidance. Always verify at XE.com before subscribing for current rates.

Is AWeber worth it in 2026 after the price increase?

AWeber is worth it for a specific type of user: those who need 24/7 phone and chat support on every plan, want a done-for-you migration service, or rely on AMP email interactivity. The December 2024 price increase (50–150%) made it harder to recommend to price-sensitive users, and eliminating grandfathered rates damaged trust among loyal customers. For most small businesses and bloggers starting fresh in 2026, MailerLite offers better value. AWeber remains a defensible choice for users who genuinely prioritize support quality above cost.

Does MailerLite have a risk of account termination I should know about?

Yes — MailerLite’s anti-spam enforcement is stricter than most competitors, which is part of why deliverability is so high. But this strictness occasionally results in account terminations that users consider unjustified. Common triggers include: affiliate marketing content, lists built through channels MailerLite considers borderline (lead magnet swaps, purchased lists), and even accounts that have been approved but flagged during later review. If your email marketing involves affiliate offers or lists built outside opt-in forms, test MailerLite on a small scale before migrating your full list. AWeber has a more permissive approach to sender types, which is reflected in its worse deliverability but fewer unexpected terminations.

Related Resources on CompareAITools.org

• 📊 Best Email Marketing Software 2026 — Full roundup of 10+ platforms tested and ranked
• 🔄 GetResponse vs Mailchimp — How the bigger players compare at scale
• 🛒 GetResponse for Ecommerce — When you need more than basic email
• ⚡ Email Marketing Automation Guide — Choosing the right automation platform
• 💰 Best Mailchimp Alternatives — 8 options compared if neither AWeber nor MailerLite fits
• 📋 Best Landing Page Builders — Standalone tools if you outgrow both platforms’ builders
• 🔗 GetResponse vs AWeber — When you’re considering a more powerful AWeber alternative
• 📈 GetResponse Alternatives — Broader comparison including MailerLite

Primary Data Sources

Deliverability Data:

• EmailToolTester bi-annual deliverability tests (methodology: 30+ ISPs, market-share weighted)
• EmailToolTester AWeber review (updated December 4, 2025)
• EmailToolTester MailerLite review (updated March 4, 2026)

Pricing Sources:

• AWeber official pricing page (verified March 9, 2026)
• MailerLite official pricing page (verified March 9, 2026)
• MailerLite free plan change announcement (September 23, 2025)
• EUR exchange rate: XE.com — 1 USD = €0.8653 (March 9, 2026)

User Sentiment:

• AWeber on Capterra — 4.4/5 from 320 verified reviews
• MailerLite on Capterra — 4.7/5 from 2,246 verified reviews
• AWeber on G2 — 4.2/5 · MailerLite on G2 — 4.7/5 (“Easiest to Use” 2025)

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up for MailerLite, AWeber, or GetResponse through links on this page, CompareAITools.org may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our editorial judgment — negative findings are reported honestly, as with all reviews on this site. All pricing was independently verified as of March 9, 2026.