Flodesk vs MailerLite
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
Flodesk
MailerLiteWhich one, for whom
- Starting out with no budgetMailerLiteMailerLite can run an automated welcome sequence on its free plan. Flodesk cannot, so a new subscriber hears nothing from you until you pay.Start free on MailerLite
- Worried about being locked inFlodeskFlodesk keeps your subscribers and automations when you cancel, rather than deleting them.See Flodesk pricing
- Selling the course from the same toolMailerLiteMailerLite can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.
Side by side
| Flodesk | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None | 250 subscribers |
| Free sends | None on the free plan | 2,500 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | No | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Through Zapier | Direct |
| Connects to Podia | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Not listed | Direct |
| Paid from | $25/mo | $12/mo |
| At 5,000 subscribers | Not published | $44.10 |
| At 25,000 subscribers | Not published | $161.10 |
| The catch | Two catches. Their pricing table lists email sending on the free plan while their own FAQ says the free plan does not include it, so read the free plan as forms and landing pages only. And their pricing page currently serves two different plan line-ups from the same address, one with a cheaper Lite plan and one without, so check which one you are actually offered before you commit. | Their logo stays on your emails until you pay. |
| G2 score | 4.8 out of 5, from 302 reviews | 4.6 out of 5, from 1,113 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.9 out of 5, from 364 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:Flodesk on G2, Flodesk on Trustpilot, MailerLite on G2, MailerLite on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
FlodeskEasy to leave
Cancelling does not delete anything. Their help page answers it directly: your data remains safe and all your content will still be available. You drop to their free tier, which keeps your forms collecting subscribers but cannot send email, so the list is held rather than lost and stays frozen until you pay again. 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
Flodesk vs MailerLite, answered
- Is Flodesk 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. Flodesk if you are worried about being locked in. MailerLite if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of Flodesk 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 Flodesk 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
FlodeskThe best looking emails, but nothing free to send with
$25/mopaid plans start here. No free plan. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
See Flodesk pricingRead the full Flodesk 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.