Kit (ex-ConvertKit) vs MailerLite: which emailing tool will boost your conversions in 2025?
Are you a content creator, e-tailer or SaaS provider who's not sure whether to use ConvertKit or MailerLite to manage your email campaigns? You're not alone: these two platforms rank among the top emailing software most cited on the web by marketers.
👉 In this exhaustive comparison, we break down everything: features, price, UX, automation. By the end, you'll know exactly which one deserves your blue card (and your leads).
What is ConvertKit?
Overview of ConvertKit
ConvertKit, renamed Kit, is an email marketing solution designed for content creators: bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, coaches and infopreneurs.
🛠️ The platform combines a minimalist editor, conditional automations and an integrated shop 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 add 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 behaviour (open, click, buy);
- digital products and commerce: sale of e-books, courses and recurring payments without going through Gumroad;
- sponsor network: links with advertisers to monetise your newsletter;
- A/B testing for 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 reports per 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 the need for 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 above 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 with a slightly dated design.
What is MailerLite?
Overview of MailerLite
MailerLite is an email marketing platform aimed at SMEs, agencies and designers looking for good value for money.
🛠️ The tool features a drag-and-drop visual creator, multi-criteria segments and clear workflows to manage both newsletters and e-commerce campaigns. The key features are simplicity, transparent pricing and an ultra-flexible editor.
MailerLite's main features
- drag-and-drop "Email Designer" with ready-to-use blocks ;
- free websites and landing pages hosted on MailerLite domain or custom ;
- visual automation (workflow builder) with "if/else" conditions and dynamic deadlines;
- advanced segmentation: up to 20 filters (e-commerce, behaviour, custom fields) ;
- pop-ups, embedded forms, surveys and interactive quizzes;
- in-depth e-commerce integration: abandoned shopping baskets, recommended products, coupons, etc;
- A/B split and multivariate testing (up to 5 variants) ;
- geolocation and click heat-map reports;
- unlimited subscriber management on all plans (paid per number of emails sent);
- iOS/Android application + interface in 10 languages including French.
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);
- some of the lowest rates on the market for the same volume;
- multilingual interface and 24/7 support, even with a free plan;
- native RGPD compliance + European servers.
❌ Disadvantages:
- less "digital product sales" oriented than ConvertKit ;
- slightly less fine-grained automations (no pixel-perfect custom "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 |
| Automation | 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 favours readability and the impression of a personal message; it's quick to type, paste and add personalisation tags, but doesn't allow for any real complex layout.
👉 MailerLite, on the other hand, has a 100% drag-and-drop block-based editor:
- columns
- images, buttons
- buttons
- counters,
- GIFs, etc.
This makes it ideal for visual newsletters or product lookbooks, while remaining intuitive.
Focus on automation
👉 In ConvertKit, automations are managed by two bricks: Sequences ( series of emails triggered by a tag or form) and Rules (simple IFTTT rules). Everything is presented in the form of clear timelines, perfect for linear sales tunnels.
👉 MailerLite offers a complete visual workflow with :
- if/else branches
- dynamic deadlines
- multiple actions: sending an e-mail, changing a group, updating a custom field.
It is more flexible for complex e-commerce journeys (abandoned basket → reminder → coupon → follow-up).
Focus on segmentation and tagging
ConvertKit works exclusively with Tags and Segments. Each behaviour (opening, click, purchase) can generate an automatic tag, creating very 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 includes a native checkout :
- you create a product,
- set the price
- add an upsell,
- the payment link is automatically inserted into your emails,
- No external site required,
- basket abandonment is handled natively.
👉 MailerLite doesn 't have a 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 shop.
Focus on reporting and analysis
👉 ConvertKit focuses on profitability:
- each email displays the revenue generated,
- average basket and LTV per tag.
It's perfect for tracking the exact return on a product launch.
👉 MailerLite delivers more traditional, but very visual reports:
- heat-map of clicks,
- geolocation,
- campaign comparisons,
- e-commerce ROI.
Agencies appreciate the client-ready PDF export.
Focus on multi-user management
ConvertKit limits the number of users depending on the plan (1, 2 then unlimited) and offers simple roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer).
MailerLite authorises 1, 3 or unlimited users with detailed rights (create, send, analyse, modify invoices), making it easier for teams or agencies to work.
ConvertKit vs MailerLite: price comparison
| 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?
| Criterion | ConvertKit | MailerLite |
| User-friendliness | 8/10 - Minimalist dashboard, "creator" terminology | 9/10 - Interactive tutorials on first login |
| Creating an email | 7/10 - Quick but limited text editor | 9/10 - Genuine WYSIWYG with reusable blocks |
| Automation builder | 8/10 - Clear 'Sequences' view | 8/10 - Intuitive visual workflow |
| Template customisation | 6/10 - Few blocks, custom code required | 9/10 - Drag-and-drop sections, save blocks |
| Subscriber search | 8/10 - Quick filters by tag or segment | 8/10 - Universal search bar |
| Onboarding support | 9/10 - Migration done by the team | 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+ zaps possible | 5,000+ zaps possible |
| API | Full REST, webhooks | Full REST, webhooks |
When should you choose ConvertKit or MailerLite?
The right email marketing software is not the one that does everything, but the one that fits your revenue model, your content style and your volume of contacts exactly. 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 monetise 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 focused on relationships rather than graphic design;
- 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 synchronisation without a developer ;
- your priority is to quickly convert a lead into a paying customer, not to create visually sophisticated newsletters.
👤 Typical profiles:
- creator of online courses in the launch phase ;
- coach or consultant charging for premium programmes ;
- podcaster or paid newsletter with less 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 shop and need basket relaunches, dynamic coupons or recommended products;
- your marketing and e-commerce teams need to work together 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 shops or associations;
- lifestyle or media blog with a strong visual component;
- European SMEs concerned about RGPD compliance and EU servers.
ConvertKit or MailerLite: which will boost your revenues?
👉 If you're a content creator and your business is based on digital products, subscriptions or sponsorships, ConvertKit is still the choice to make. Its all-in-one ecosystem will save you 2-3 tools and allow you to monetise faster. The extra cost generally pays for itself as soon as the first product is sold.
👉 On the other hand, if you're looking for value for money, rich visual newsletters and fine-tuned management of physical e-commerce, MailerLite is unbeatable: 2 to 4 times cheaper, a more flexible editor and European servers for RGPD compliance.
Article translated from French