AWeber vs MailerLite
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on a couple of things that matter more than the monthly price.
AWeber
MailerLiteWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetMailerLiteMailerLite can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. AWeber cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on MailerLite
- Worried about being locked inMailerLiteAWeber's terms cut off access to your contact data when you cancel. MailerLite does not do that.
Side by side
| AWeber | 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 | $12.49/mo | $12/mo |
| At 5,000 subscribers | $60, billed monthly | $44.10, billed yearly |
| At 25,000 subscribers | $210, billed monthly | $161.10, billed yearly |
| The catch | The paid Lite plan allows one email list and three automations, so the second funnel you build is what pushes you up to Plus, not the size of your list. | Their logo stays on your emails until you pay. |
| G2 score | 4.2 out of 5, from 650 reviews | 4.6 out of 5, from 1,113 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.3 out of 5, from 176 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:AWeber on G2, AWeber on Trustpilot, MailerLite on G2, MailerLite on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
AWeberHard to leave
Read this before you sign up. Their service agreement says AWeber has "the right to delete all data, files or other information that is stored in the subscriber's account" if the account is terminated, for any reason, by either side. 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
AWeber vs MailerLite, answered
- Is AWeber 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.
- Which of AWeber 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 AWeber 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
AWeberAutomation from day one of the trial, no free plan behind it
$12.49/mopaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See AWeber pricingRead the full AWeber breakdownMailerLiteBest free plan for a real welcome sequence
$12/mopaid 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.
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.