Published September 18, 2026 · Official pricing pages checked September 18, 2026
Affiliate disclosure: Nico participates in the EmailOctopus affiliate program. Marked EmailOctopus links may earn us a commission if a referred customer later pays, at no extra cost to the customer. The MailerLite links on this page remain ordinary, non-affiliate links. Recommendations remain based on workflow fit.
Quick decision: evaluate EmailOctopus Free when list capacity and send volume are the main constraints: its current page lists up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month. Evaluate MailerLite Free when you want to test a broader all-in-one workflow with multiple automations, a website, a landing page, forms, and integrations, but its current Free limit is much smaller at 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month.
This comparison uses official product documentation. We have not benchmarked deliverability, support, editor usability, or conversion performance and do not claim hands-on testing.
Free-plan limits at a glance
- MailerLite Free: up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails per month, two user seats, three automations, one website, one landing page, three signup forms, and a limited API/MCP connection that does not include sending.
- EmailOctopus Free: up to 2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails per month, one user, one landing page, one form, EmailOctopus branding, and reports retained for 30 days.
These are different trade-offs. A larger free audience allowance is useful only if the tool completes the workflow you need. A richer feature list is useful only if the smaller audience and sending limits will not stop you first.
Choose by the first job that fails
You publish one straightforward newsletter
EmailOctopus Free gives the larger listed audience and sending allowance. If your workflow is one list, one form, and regular broadcasts, test whether its editor, import, unsubscribe, and reporting process meet your needs before paying for more complexity. Open EmailOctopus through our affiliate link.
You need several automated paths
MailerLite Free currently lists three automations and five steps per automation, plus a broader set of landing-page, product, booking, and integration features. Map the exact trigger and outcome you need. Do not choose it for automation volume if 250 active subscribers will force an immediate upgrade.
You collaborate with another person
MailerLite Free lists two seats while EmailOctopus Free lists one user. EmailOctopus Pro lists unlimited users; MailerLite’s current Comfort tier lists three seats and Power lists unlimited seats. Verify permissions as well as seat count before inviting a contractor or client.
What happens when you outgrow free?
MailerLite’s current FAQ lists Comfort from $12 per month and Power from $25 per month, with pricing based on active subscribers and sending volume. It says active subscribers can count for the billing cycle even if deleted before the next anniversary, and paid accounts can automatically move to a higher subscriber tier when the limit is exceeded.
EmailOctopus currently shows Pro from $9 per month when billed yearly for the displayed base configuration. Its page lists permanent reports, unlimited landing pages and forms, unlimited users, and removal of product branding. It also says plans are adjusted automatically as the list grows. Calculate your price using the audience size you expect at month twelve, not just today’s count.
A fair migration test
- Export a small, consented test segment from the current system. Keep the original export untouched.
- Create one form, one welcome message, and one regular campaign in each shortlisted tool.
- Verify signup, confirmation, unsubscribe, suppression, and export behavior with your own consenting addresses.
- Record who owns templates, domains, lists, and integrations if you leave.
- Price the same audience size and monthly send volume for twelve months.
Do not use a free-plan comparison to skip consent, sender authentication, or unsubscribe requirements. A lower price does not reduce those responsibilities.
Check current pricing before choosing
Affiliate link: Nico may earn 30% of eligible referred revenue for the first 12 months, at no extra cost to you. A click or free signup is not revenue. Check the live plan and terms before choosing.
Already using Kit? Compare its automation upgrade decision in our Kit Free versus paid guide. Need the landing page before the email system? Use our Carrd plan guide.