ActiveCampaign vs MailerLite
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
ActiveCampaign
MailerLiteWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetMailerLiteMailerLite can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. ActiveCampaign cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on MailerLite
- Worried about being locked inMailerLiteActiveCampaign's terms cut off access to your contact data when you cancel. MailerLite does not do that.
- Selling the course from the same toolMailerLiteMailerLite can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.
Side by side
| ActiveCampaign | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 250 subscribers |
| Free sends | 14-day trial only | 2,500 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Direct | Direct |
| Connects to Podia | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Direct | Direct |
| Paid from | A$23/mo AUD | $12/mo USD |
| At 5,000 subscribers | Not published | $44.10 |
| At 25,000 subscribers | Not published | $161.10 |
| The catch | Starter caps you at 5 actions per automation, which a real welcome sequence will hit. | Their logo stays on your emails until you pay. |
| G2 score | 4.4 out of 5, from 14,791 reviews | 4.6 out of 5, from 1,113 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 2.7 out of 5, from 1,433 reviews | 4.1 out of 5, from 3,281 reviews |
Figures read off each vendor's own pricing page on 9 September 2026. Where a row says not published, that vendor does not state a price at that list size and we will not invent one.
The last two rows are other people's scores, not ours, read on 6 September 2026. Check them yourself:ActiveCampaign on G2, ActiveCampaign on Trustpilot, MailerLite on G2, MailerLite on Trustpilot.
- ActiveCampaign: Reviewers disagree about this one. It scores 4.4 on G2 and 2.7 on Trustpilot. Read a page of each before you decide, because one of those audiences is having a different experience to the other.
Getting your list back out
ActiveCampaignHard to leave
Read this before you sign up. Their terms say that on cancellation "you will not have access to or be able to restore any Contact Data". Export your list before you cancel, not after. Source
MailerLite
Cancel any time without penalty. Their terms describe still being able to log in, export and migrate your data after a plan lapses. Source
ActiveCampaign vs MailerLite, answered
- Is ActiveCampaign or MailerLite better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. MailerLite if you are starting out with no budget. MailerLite if you are worried about being locked in. MailerLite if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of ActiveCampaign and MailerLite has the better free plan?
- MailerLite allows more free subscribers (250 against none). A bigger allowance is not automatically the better plan: check the welcome sequence row above, because that is where the two usually part company.
- Can I move from ActiveCampaign to MailerLite later?
- Yes, and you should assume you will. Export your list before you cancel anything, and keep whatever marks who bought from you. We wrote the whole running order up separately.
Try either one
ActiveCampaignDeepest automation, once the list pays for itself
A$23/mo AUDpaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See ActiveCampaign pricingRead the full ActiveCampaign breakdownMailerLiteBest free plan for a real welcome sequence
$12/mo USDpaid plans start here. Free up to 250. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on MailerLiteRead the full MailerLite breakdownMoving between them? Read the switching guide first, or answer 5 questions to check neither of these is the wrong shortlist.
There is a page for this exact move:ActiveCampaign to MailerLite.
Neither of these? See all 14, including which ones connect straight to Teachable, Kajabi, Podia or Thinkific, or compare what they cost as your list grows.