MailerLite vs Sender
Both are on our shortlist for course creators. They part company on several things that matter more than the monthly price.
MailerLite
SenderWhich one, for whom
- A list already in the thousandsSenderSender stays free to 2,500 subscribers against MailerLite's 250.Start free on Sender
- Worried about being locked inSenderSender keeps your subscribers and automations when you cancel, rather than deleting them.
- Selling the course from the same toolMailerLiteMailerLite can take the payment itself, so you do not need a separate checkout.Start free on MailerLite
Side by side
| MailerLite | Sender | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 250 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers |
| Free sends | 2,500 emails/mo | 15,000 emails/mo |
| Welcome sequence on free | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to Teachable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Kajabi | Direct | Not listed |
| Connects to Podia | Not listed | Not listed |
| Connects to Thinkific | Direct | Not listed |
| Paid from | $12/mo | $9/mo |
| At 5,000 subscribers | $44.10 | Not published |
| At 25,000 subscribers | $161.10 | Not published |
| The catch | Their logo stays on your emails until you pay. | A smaller name with a smaller integration list. Check it connects to your course platform before you commit. |
| G2 score | 4.6 out of 5, from 1,113 reviews | 4.7 out of 5, from 278 reviews |
| Trustpilot score | 4.1 out of 5, from 3,281 reviews | 4.9 out of 5, from 1,421 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:MailerLite on G2, MailerLite on Trustpilot, Sender on G2, Sender on Trustpilot.
Getting your list back out
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
SenderEasy to leave
The friendliest exit terms we found. Cancelling drops you to the free plan instead of deleting anything: their help page says subscribers, campaigns, automations, forms and reports are all retained. Source
MailerLite vs Sender, answered
- Is MailerLite or Sender better for an online course?
- Neither is better outright, and anyone who says so is guessing on your behalf. Sender if you are a list already in the thousands. Sender if you are worried about being locked in. MailerLite if you are selling the course from the same tool.
- Which of MailerLite and Sender has the better free plan?
- Sender allows more free subscribers (2,500 against 250). 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 MailerLite to Sender 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
MailerLiteBest 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 breakdownSenderThe most generous free plan we found
$9/mopaid plans start here. Free up to 2,500. Read off their pricing page on 9 September 2026.
Start free on SenderRead the full Sender 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.