Constant Contact vs MailerLite
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
Constant Contact
MailerLiteWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetMailerLiteMailerLite can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. Constant Contact cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on MailerLite
- Worried about being locked inMailerLiteConstant Contact'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
| Constant Contact | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 250 subscribers |
| Free sends | 30-day trial only | 2,500 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Not listed | Direct |
| Connects to Podia | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Not listed | Direct |
| Paid from | A$12.75/mo AUD | $12/mo USD |
| At 5,000 subscribers | Not published | $44.10 |
| At 25,000 subscribers | Not published | $161.10 |
| The catch | There is no self-service way to cancel. You have to call their Billing Support line, and the moment the account closes you lose access to your contacts, campaigns and reports immediately, with only a 30-day window before an inactive account's data can be deleted for good. | Their logo stays on your emails until you pay. |
| G2 score | 4.1 out of 5, from 7,450 reviews | 4.6 out of 5, from 1,113 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.0 out of 5, from 2,011 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:Constant Contact on G2, Constant Contact on Trustpilot, MailerLite on G2, MailerLite on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
Constant ContactHard to leave
There is no self-service cancel button. Their own help article says you have to call their Billing Support line, and once the account is cancelled you immediately lose access to your contacts, campaigns and reporting; images go offline and integrations disconnect. They only guarantee to store the account and its data for 30 days afterward, after which an inactive account's contacts and content may be permanently deleted. 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
Constant Contact vs MailerLite, answered
- Is Constant Contact 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 Constant Contact 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 Constant Contact 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
Constant ContactA well-known name in small-business marketing, built before online courses existed
A$12.75/mo AUDpaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See Constant Contact pricingRead the full Constant Contact 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.
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.