MailerLite vs. Constant Contact: Which is best for you?

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Comparing Mailerlite vs. Constant Contact for email marketing campaigns? Many marketers get stuck on this choice.

Both are popular among small businesses and among people new to email marketing. Both offer great features and are easy to set up. 

Still, each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. In this guide, we’ll compare Mailerlite vs. Constant Contact side by side. Our analysis is based on hands-on testing. We also reviewed user reviews on G2, Trustpilot, and Reddit. 

We’ll walk you through pricing, features, customer support, and overall usability. This will help you decide which platform is ideal for your business.

What are MailerLite and Constant Contact?

MailerLite is an email marketing tool known for its clean, modern dashboard. It helps you create and send emails without any confusion. Founded in 2010, MailerLite has earned a strong reputation for keeping email marketing simple.

Here’s what you get with MailerLite:

• A drag-and-drop email editor that’s easy to use
• Built-in website and landing page builders
• A generous free plan for up to 500 subscribers 
• Simple features help beginners launch their first campaign quickly

During our Mailerlite review, we found that it works best for small businesses, bloggers, content creators, and solopreneurs. 

Constant Contact is much older. It launched in 1995 and has spent decades building trust with small businesses. It’s known for strong customer support and training.

Here’s what sets Constant Contact apart:

• Step-by-step guides, webinars, and workshops
• Direct phone support for personalized help
• Event management tools for registrations, invitations, and follow-ups
• Social media integrations to connect email campaigns with your social channels

Constant Contact appeals to small and local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals seeking personalized support.

Overall, MailerLite is ideal if you want a modern and affordable tool for simple needs. Constant Contact is better if you value support and training, even if it costs more. 

Cost is also a factor in this Mailerlite vs. Constant Contact review. MailerLite offers a free plan, while Constant Contact only provides a free trial. 

Many marketers also view MailerLite as more modern, while Constant Contact brings decades of experience and trust.

How much does each platform cost?

Pricing is crucial when comparing Mailerlite vs. Constant Contact. Both platforms charge based on subscriber count, but the value you get at each tier is very different. You’ll immediately note that MailerLite gives you a free plan, while Constant Contact doesn’t.

Let’s compare Mailerlite vs. Constant Contact pricing in more detail.

MailerLite pricing breakdown

Mailerlite’s pricing is tied to the number of your subscribers. Its free plan supports up to 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month.

Here’s what you get on the free plan:

• Drag-and-drop editor
• Email automation builder
• Websites
• 10 landing pages
• Signup forms and popups
• Performance reports

Paid plans unlock more advanced features. The Growing Business tier starts at $10/month. It includes unlimited emails, templates, and landing pages, and dynamic email content. You can also do A/B testing and auto-resend campaigns.

The Advanced plan starts at $20/month. It adds email automation triggers, promotional popups, a custom HTML editor, preference centers, and partner discounts.

Pricing increases as your subscriber count grows. Here’s the pricing for the Growing Business plan:

• 1,000 subscribers: $15/month
• 2,500 subscribers: $25/month
• 5,000 subscribers: $39/month
• 10,000 subscribers: $73/month

Constant Contact pricing breakdown

Constant Contact also charges based on subscriber count but doesn’t offer a free plan. You only get a 14-day free trial, after which you must upgrade to a paid plan.

• Lite plan (starts at $12/month for 500 contacts): Includes an email drag-and-drop builder, customizable templates, list segmentation, and basic social media posting
• Standard plan (starts at $35/month for 500 contacts): Adds automation features, email and social media post scheduling, advanced reporting, and subject line A/B testing

Constant Contact’s costs also rise as your list grows. Here’s how pricing scales with the Lite plan:

• 1,000 subscribers: $30/month
• 2,500 subscribers: $50/month
• 5,000 subscribers: $80/month
• 10,000 subscribers: $120/month

Live chat and phone support are included with all paid plans, but most advanced features are available only with higher-tier plans.

Pricing verdict: MailerLite vs. Constant Contact

Note: Prices as of February 2026. Verify current pricing on respective websites.

When you compare MailerLite vs. Constant Contact, MailerLite offers more value at lower subscriber counts. Constant Contact makes sense if you value phone support and training, but it gets expensive as you scale.

A MailerLite user said: “The platform’s affordable pricing allows me to grow our subscriber base without worrying about short-term costs.” – Brandon Z.

A Constant Contact user shared: “Pricing can get a bit high as your contact list grows.” – Ruksana S.

Omnisend is a Constant Contact and Mailerlite alternative worth considering. Its pricing starts at $16/month and includes email, SMS, and all core features. 

Ultimately, MailerLite wins on pricing for most users, especially beginners and small businesses working with tight budgets. 

Feature comparison: MailerLite vs. Constant Contact

While both tools offer essential email marketing features, their capabilities, flexibility, and user experience vary. Let’s explore how MailerLite vs. Constant Contact stack up on key email marketing features.

Email creation and design tools

Email design tools determine how fast and easily you can build campaigns. Here’s how MailerLite vs. Constant Contact features compare.

MailerLite email design

MailerLite offers a clean and modern drag-and-drop email editor. You can design different types of email campaigns quickly, without any design skills.

Key design features include: 

• Template library: MailerLite offers 70+ mobile-friendly email templates for different campaign types 
• Customization capabilities: You can easily tweak the colors, fonts, images, and layouts of your emails to match your brand’s aesthetic
• Rich text editor: If you prefer simple emails, you can create text-style emails without distractions
• Built-in photo editor: Crop, resize, and adjust images without leaving MailerLite’s email builder
• HTML editor: You can start from a blank canvas and design custom emails from scratch

Constant Contact email design

Constant Contact also offers a drag-and-drop email editor. However, some users find the interface somewhat dated and clunky compared to newer tools.

Its main design features include:

• Email templates: Constant Contact has a larger library with 200+ templates, categorized by industry
• Customization features: You can customize email templates to align with your branding, but the process feels less intuitive than MailerLite’s

User reviews

A Constant Contact user noted: “The email designer is clunky, to say the least.” – CDH

A MailerLite user said, “The interface is clean, and creating email campaigns, forms, and basic automations is simple.” – Josh M.

How Omnisend compares

Omnisend offers a modern and intuitive email builder with templates designed specifically for ecommerce brands. 

You can explore its extensive template gallery for product-focused layouts and promotional designs. 

Verdict

MailerLite wins in email creation and design thanks to its modern and intuitive editor.

Automation and workflow capabilities

Email automation helps you save time while nurturing subscribers. That makes it an important feature in this MailerLite vs. Constant Contact comparison. 

Here’s a review of both platforms’ features.

MailerLite automation

MailerLite takes an early lead with its simple visual workflows. You can see your entire flow at a glance, which reduces confusion.

Common automation use cases include:

• Welcome series for new signups
• Abandoned cart emails (with ecommerce integrations)
• Click-based triggers
• Post-purchase follow-ups
• Date-based automations, like anniversaries, birthdays, or reminders

MailerLite’s Growing Business plan includes basic automation for simple campaigns. Its Advanced plan unlocks multiple triggers and more complex workflows.

However, MailerLite’s automation capabilities are fairly simple. It offers fewer behavioral triggers than more advanced tools.

Constant Contact automation 

Constant Contact restricts automation to its Standard and Premium plans. Even then, the features focus on basic sequences rather than the full customer journey.

You can set up automated:

• Welcome series emails
• Birthday messages
• Anniversary emails
• Cart abandonment reminders
• Upsell and cross-sell emails
• Resend campaigns for non-openers

Many users find Constant Contact’s automation setup less intuitive than MailerLite’s. 

User reviews

One MailerLite user said: “While MailerLite covers essential email marketing needs, more advanced automation and segmentation options are limited compared to larger enterprise platforms.” – Josh M.

Another Constant Contact user shared: “Features like automation and segmentation are pretty basic, and you end up paying a premium for things that other platforms include by default.” – Peter M.

How Omnisend compares

If you want a better alternative to MailerLite or Constant Contact, Omnisend is an ideal pick. 

It provides advanced pre-built workflows for various ecommerce use cases. It includes abandoned-cart recovery, browse abandonment recovery, post-purchase follow-ups, and winback campaigns. 

These automated workflows are ready to use with minimal setup.

Verdict

MailerLite emerges slightly ahead in automation, especially given its price. However, both platforms have limited capabilities for advanced needs.

List management and segmentation

Good list management and segmentation help you send relevant emails that resonate with your audience. 

Here’s how MailerLite vs. Constant Contact compare in this area.

MailerLite list management 

If you want simple and organized contact management, MailerLite is a great choice. Its paid plans let you manage unlimited subscribers and organize them into groups. 

You can create segments based on: 

• Subscriber behavior and interest (purchase and browsing history)
• Location and time zone
• Custom field data
• Signup date and source 
• Campaign engagement (email opens and clicks)

While Mailerlite’s email segmentation is great for basic needs, it doesn’t include the advanced features available in specialized platforms.

Constant Contact list management

Rather than segments, Constant Contact uses a list-based system in which contacts can belong to multiple lists. While this approach is simple, it can be confusing when managing many audiences and campaigns.

You can segment contacts by:

• Engagement levels
• Demographic data
• Custom fields

Constant Contact offers basic segmentation features, not ideal for complex campaigns. Its interface is also more difficult to use than MailerLite’s.

When comparing MailerLite vs. Constant Contact, both platforms support simple segmentation. They use attributes such as engagement, location, and custom fields for that. Neither tool supports advanced behavioral segmentation or predictive analytics. 

How Omnisend compares

Unlike Constant Contact and MailerLite, Omnisend offers advanced segmentation capabilities. You can create ecommerce email segments based on purchase behavior, customer lifetime value, and predicted next purchase date.

For a quick overview of how segmentation works, watch this video:

Verdict

Both platforms are suitable for this category of simple segmentation needs. But neither suits advanced segmentation requirements. For that, you’ll need a tool like Omnisend.

Reporting and analytics

Clear email marketing reports and analytics let you track and improve your campaign’s performance. 

Let’s review Constant Contact vs. MailerLite’s reporting capabilities.

MailerLite reporting

This email marketing platform keeps things simple. You get clean dashboards with clear visual charts and graphs that show campaign performance at a glance.

You can track key email marketing metrics, such as:

• Open rates
• Click-through rates
• Unsubscribe rates
• Bounce rates
• Geographic data
• Device usage (mobile vs. desktop)
• Click maps that show where people click

MailerLite’s reports are simple and well-organized, making them great for beginners. You can also compare campaign performance over time to spot trends and improve future emails.

Constant Contact reporting 

Constant Contact offers more in-depth reporting capabilities and a broader set of email marketing metrics. These help you understand how subscribers interact with your emails and where engagement comes from.

Here are the metrics you can track:

• Open rates
• Click-through rates
• Bounce rates
• Overall email engagement 
• Social sharing activity
• Email client data
• Comparative campaign data

Standard and Premium plans unlock more advanced reporting features. However, Constant Contact’s reporting interface is a bit cluttered compared to MailerLite’s.

User reviews

One MailerLite user said: “Some reporting features are fairly basic, which may be restrictive for teams with more complex requirements.” – Josh M. 

A Constant Contact user noted: “The real-time analytics are a huge plus because they help me understand what’s working and make improvements quickly. Occasionally, the reporting dashboard takes a little time to load.” – Lauren B. 

How Omnisend compares

Omnisend goes a step further with reporting. It offers revenue attribution, sales tracking, and ecommerce-focused analytics. These show how your email performance directly impacts revenue. 

Verdict

Constant Contact leads slightly in reporting due to its in-depth analytics. Still, MailerLite’s visual reports are clearer and easier to understand.

Platform integrations

Integrations let your email marketing tool connect with other platforms you use, such as your CRM, ecommerce store, or website builder. 

Based on our MailerLite vs. Constant Contact comparison, we found that both tools offer integrations, but they differ in the breadth and depth of their integrations.

MailerLite integrations

MailerLite supports 150+ native integrations, plus access to Zapier, which connects you to thousands more. It’s a good fit if you want quick, easy connections with common tools without the need for complex setup.

Key integrations include:

• Ecommerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and BigCommerce
• Website builders: WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace
• CRM: HubSpot and Salesforce
• Other tools: Stripe, PayPal, Facebook, and Google Analytics

While MailerLite’s integrations are easy to set up, they’re fairly basic. More comprehensive data syncing or advanced customer behavior tracking may require additional tools. 

Constant Contact integrations

Constant Contact offers 300+ integrations across marketing, sales, accounting, and event management tools. It’s suitable if your business relies on multiple platforms. 

Key integrations include:

• Ecommerce: Shopify, Etsy, and Eventbrite
• Website builders: WordPress, Wix, and Weebly
• CRM: Salesforce and Zoho
• Social media: Facebook and Instagram
• Other tools: QuickBooks, PayPal, and Google Analytics

The Eventbrite integration is especially useful if you run events. It lets you manage invites and ticket sales seamlessly within your emails.

User reviews 

A MailerLite user shared: “There are loads of features, and it is very flexible with lots of different integrations.” – Charlie G.

Another Constant Contact user said: “The built-in integrations with other platforms (like Shopify, Eventbrite, and Salesforce) enhance overall productivity.” – Marcelo S. 

How Omnisend compares

For deeper ecommerce integrations, Omnisend is a strong alternative. It provides native integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce. These automatically sync product catalogs, order history, and customer behavior.

Verdict

Constant Contact wins in this category because of its multiple tool integrations. Still, MailerLite covers most essential tools for small businesses. 

Email deliverability performance 

Email deliverability shows whether your messages reach subscribers’ inboxes or end up in spam folders. Key factors that influence deliverability include your platform’s infrastructure, email content, and sender reputation.

MailerLite deliverability

MailerLite delivers emails reliably, with reported deliverability rates of around 95%. It supports key authentication standards, including SPF, DKIM, and custom sending domains. These help mailbox providers trust your messages.

The platform also monitors sender reputation and provides practical best-practice tips to help you avoid spam filters. Many MailerLite users report that their emails consistently reach inboxes. 

Constant Contact deliverability

With over 25 years in the email marketing space, Constant Contact is known for its high deliverability rates with major inbox providers such as Gmail and Yahoo. These long-standing relationships lend it credibility for inbox placement.

Like MailerLite, Constant Contact supports SPF and DKIM authentication to protect sender reputation. It also enforces strict sending policies to maintain high email deliverability standards. New users may experience temporary sending limits while warming up their domains.

User reviews

A MailerLite user shared: “One of the standout aspects of MailerLite is its exceptional deliverability.” – Jad M. 

Another Constant Contact user said: “The deliverability is excellent, so my emails consistently reach inboxes instead of spam folders.” – Peter M.

When you compare MailerLite vs. Constant Contact, both platforms achieve industry-standard deliverability rates of roughly 95%. Constant Contact’s long history may give it a slight edge in ISP relationships. Omnisend also reports similar deliverability rates and uses strong authentication practices to support inbox placement. 

Verdict

This category is tied, as both MailerLite and Constant Contact have high deliverability rates.

Customer support experience 

Reliable customer support is crucial, especially if you’re new to email marketing. When you get stuck, quick and helpful support can save you hours of frustration.

While both MailerLite and Constant Contact offer customer support, their approach and quality differ. 

MailerLite support

MailerLite offers self-service support tools backed by responsive help when needed. Its guides, tutorials, and step-by-step articles make it easy to solve most issues without contacting support.

MailerLite’s support features include:

• 24/7 email support (available on all plans, including the free plan)
• Live chat during business hours
• Knowledge base with self-help articles and video tutorials
• No phone support on any plan

Email replies usually arrive within 24 hours, and live chat responses are quick during working hours. Many users on G2 praise MailerLite’s support for being friendly, clear, and genuinely helpful. 

Constant Contact support 

Constant Contact takes a more hands-on approach with direct support channels and comprehensive training resources. It’s great if you prefer to speak with a real person for help.

Here’s what you get:

• Phone support on all paid plans
• Live chat during business hours
• Email support
• Training resources
• A detailed knowledge base

Direct phone support is Constant Contact’s biggest advantage. However, user feedback is mixed. On platforms like Trustpilot, some users report slow responses, unhelpful support interactions, and difficulties canceling accounts.

User reviews

One MailerLite user shared: “Support is very friendly and answers your questions really fast.” – Cara Rusch 

A Constant Contact user said: “I’ve been trying to cancel since August and contacted them many times — by phone, messages, and emails — but no one ever responds.” – Rose Rezaei

How Omnisend compares

Omnisend offers award-winning 24/7 live chat and email support for all users, regardless of plan. It has won multiple customer service awards for responsiveness and quality.

Verdict

Constant Contact offers phone support, which some users value, but it has many negative reviews. MailerLite relies on email and chat support, yet earns more positive feedback overall. Ultimately, helpful and reliable support matters more than the number of support channels.

MailerLite vs. Constant Contact: The verdict 

There’s no right answer for the MailerLite vs. Constant Contact dilemma. The right choice depends on your goals, budget, and priorities. 

When MailerLite is the right choice

MailerLite is ideal if you want a modern, simple, and affordable email marketing tool.

MailerLite’s key strengths

• Modern interface: The dashboard is clean and easy to navigate
• Free plan: You can start sending email campaigns for free
• Affordable pricing: Costs remain reasonable as your list grows
• Landing page and website builder: You don’t need extra tools to collect leads and grow your email list
• Responsive 24/7 email support: Help is available when you need it, even with the free plan

MailerLite’s limitations

• No phone support: You can’t speak to a support agent directly on the phone
• Basic segmentation capabilities: Targeting options work for simple needs but lack advanced filtering
• Limited advanced automation features: Lacks complex workflow triggers found in more advanced tools
• Not ideal for complex ecommerce needs: Doesn’t have specialized ecommerce workflows or behavioral triggers

Best for: 

MailerLite works best for bloggers, content creators, solopreneurs, and small service businesses.

When Constant Contact is the right choice

Constant Contact is a good fit if you prefer a platform with years of experience and strong support. 

Constant Contact’s key strengths

• Phone support: You can speak to a support agent when you need help
• Extensive training resources: Webinars, workshops, and guides help users who need hands-on learning
• Long track record since 1995: The platform has decades of experience serving small businesses
• Built-in event management tools: You can manage event invitations and registrations within the platform
• More integrations: Connects to a wide variety of tools, from CRMs to business and finance tools

Constant Contact’s limitations

• No free plan: The platform provides a 60-day trial, after which you have to pay to use the service
• Higher pricing as you scale: Costs increase as your subscriber list grows
• Dated interface: The interface can feel a bit older compared to newer competitors
• Basic automation capabilities: Its automation isn’t built for complex customer journeys

Best for:

Constant Contact is well-suited for users who require phone support or who organize frequent events. It also works well for nonprofits and local businesses that prefer extensive training.

Why should you consider Omnisend instead?

Both MailerLite and Constant Contact lack advanced automation and deep segmentation. They also don’t offer ecommerce-focused features and multi-channel marketing like Omnisend.  If your business has complex needs, it’s worth considering a specialized platform.

Omnisend stands out for being designed specifically for ecommerce and offering ready-made workflows. It combines email and SMS marketing in one place and provides powerful automation without added complexity. 

You also get 24/7 award-winning chat and email support and access to all features on the free plan for up to 250 contacts.

Here are the key advantages of Omnisend:

• Pre-built ecommerce workflows (welcome series, abandoned cart, browse abandonment, post-purchase)
• Email and SMS in one platform
• Revenue attribution and sales tracking
• Advanced segmentation based on purchase behavior
• Award-winning 24/7 chat and email support

Best for: 

Omnisend is ideal if you sell physical or digital products on platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. It’s also great for businesses that need advanced automation and multi-channel marketing.

Final recommendation 

MailerLite and Constant Contact serve different needs. MailerLite focuses on modern design, ease of use, and affordability. Constant Contact emphasizes hands-on guidance, including phone support and structured training.

Choose MailerLite if:

• You want a free plan and a clean interface

Choose Constant Contact if:

• You prefer to have phone support and extensive training resources

Choose Omnisend if:

• You run an online store on Shopify, WooCommerce, or similar platforms
• You require advanced automation and behavior-based triggers
• You want email and SMS in a single platform

Overall, MailerLite and Constant Contact work fine for simple email marketing. But if your business needs more advanced features and specialized tools, Omnisend delivers greater value.