Comparing Mailchimp vs MailerLite for nonprofits usually starts with price, and for good reason: MailerLite publishes a 30% nonprofit discount, double Mailchimp's 15%. But price is only part of the decision. The two tools also differ in how they count subscribers, what their free plans include, how far their automation goes and how many landing pages and forms you get. This guide compares them for small nonprofit teams, using prices checked on each vendor's official pages as of November 2026, and ends with a verdict by organization type.
Key takeaways
- Nonprofit discount: MailerLite offers 30% off any paid plan; Mailchimp offers 15% to verified nonprofits.
- Billing: MailerLite counts only active subscribers; Mailchimp also counts unsubscribed and non-subscribed contacts.
- Free plans: both are now small (250 contacts each), so free is a trial run rather than a long-term home.
- Automation and pages: MailerLite's paid plans include more automations, landing pages and forms at the entry price.
- Where Mailchimp wins: integrations, brand familiarity and advanced segmentation on its higher tiers.
Mailchimp vs MailerLite for nonprofits: pricing at a glance
Mailchimp
From Mailchimp's pricing page, as of November 2026: the Free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails per month. Essentials starts at $13/month with a send limit of 10 times your contact tier; Standard starts at $20/month with a 12x limit; Premium targets lists of 10,000+ contacts and is priced in the hundreds of dollars per month. Prices rise with your contact tier, and Mailchimp's help center confirms that unsubscribed contacts count toward the limit alongside subscribed and non-subscribed ones.
MailerLite
From MailerLite's pricing page, as of November 2026, MailerLite has four plans: Free, Comfort, Power and Enterprise.
- Free: up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails per month and 2 seats. MailerLite reduced this plan on June 16, 2026 (it previously allowed 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails).
- Comfort: from $12/month for up to 500 subscribers, with a monthly send limit of 10 times your subscriber tier and 3 seats. At 5,000 subscribers it lists $49/month; at 10,000, $89/month.
- Power: from $25/month, with unlimited monthly emails and unlimited seats. At 5,000 subscribers it lists $69/month; at 10,000, $129/month.
- Annual billing: 10% off.
MailerLite's pricing FAQ says billing is based on active subscribers; unsubscribed and bounced addresses do not count. It uses a cumulative count within each billing cycle, so deleting people mid-cycle does not lower that month's bill.
| Factor (as of November 2026) | Mailchimp | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month, 1 seat | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month, 2 seats |
| Entry paid plan | Essentials from $13/month | Comfort from $12/month |
| Who counts toward billing | Subscribed, unsubscribed and non-subscribed | Active subscribers only |
| Nonprofit discount | 15% for verified nonprofits | 30% on any paid plan (replaces the 10% annual discount) |
| Automation | None on Free; up to 4 flow steps on Essentials; up to 200 flows on Standard | 3 active (5 steps) on Free; 50 on Comfort; unlimited on Power |
| Landing pages and sites | Included; check plan details | 1 on Free; 10 on Comfort; unlimited on Power |
| Active signup forms | Included; check plan details | 3 on Free; 10 on Comfort; unlimited on Power |
| Email editors | Drag-and-drop; custom-coded templates can't be sent on Free | Drag-and-drop, simple and custom HTML on all plans |
| Best for | Teams needing many integrations or advanced segmentation | Budget-conscious teams wanting automation and pages |
Nonprofit discounts: 30% vs 15%
MailerLite's nonprofit discount help article says registered nonprofits get 30% off any paid plan. You indicate nonprofit status during the account approval application and send proof, such as a 501(c)(3) determination letter or another official government document. The discount does not stack: if you pay annually, the 30% replaces the usual 10% annual discount rather than adding to it. MailerLite also says it gives free plans to a small group of selected nonprofits, but it does not publish selection criteria, so don't plan around it.
Mailchimp's nonprofit discount is 15% for verified nonprofits and charities. Request it before buying a plan, because Mailchimp does not apply it retroactively. Our Mailchimp nonprofit discount guide covers the steps.
Email editor and design
Both tools have capable drag-and-drop editors with mobile-friendly templates. MailerLite includes three editors on every plan, including the free one: drag-and-drop, a simple text-style editor and custom HTML. The simple editor is handy for plain, personal-looking appeals from your executive director. Paid MailerLite plans add unlimited templates, A/B and multivariate testing, and an AI writing assistant.
Mailchimp's editor is polished and familiar to many volunteers and agencies. On Free you can build custom-coded templates but cannot send them until you upgrade. Standard adds generative AI features and dynamic content. If your design is handled by an outside agency that already works in Mailchimp, that familiarity has real value.
Landing pages and signup forms
For nonprofits, landing pages and forms often replace a dedicated microsite: a volunteer sign-up page, an event RSVP, or a petition that feeds your list. MailerLite publishes clear limits: one website and one landing page with 3 active forms on Free, 10 of each on Comfort, and unlimited on Power. It also offers pop-ups, embedded forms, surveys, and an iPad app for collecting sign-ups offline at events.
Mailchimp also includes signup forms and landing pages, plus a large integrations directory for connecting your website and donation tools. Neither platform is a donation processor in its own right for most nonprofits, so plan to link to your donation platform or connect it through an integration.
Automation for donor journeys
MailerLite's visual automation builder is included at every level: 3 active automations with up to 5 steps on Free, 50 active automations with up to 100 steps on Comfort, and unlimited on Power. That is enough for a welcome series, a monthly-donor thank-you and a lapsed-donor sequence on the entry paid plan.
Mailchimp has no automation on Free, allows flows of up to 4 steps on Essentials, and up to 200 flows on Standard and Premium. Standard is where Mailchimp automation becomes comfortable for multi-step donor journeys, and Premium adds predictive segmentation. For sequences to build, see our donor welcome email series guide.
Limits and support to check before you commit
- Send caps: Mailchimp caps monthly sends at 10x, 12x or 15x your contact tier depending on plan. MailerLite Comfort caps at 10x your subscriber tier; Power is unlimited under fair use.
- Seats: Mailchimp includes 1, 3, 5 or unlimited seats by plan. MailerLite includes 2 on Free, 3 on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
- Account approval: MailerLite reviews new accounts before you can send, so sign up a few days before a campaign deadline.
- Support: Mailchimp Essentials includes 24/7 email and chat support, with phone support on Premium. MailerLite offers email support on Comfort (with live chat at its larger tiers) and live chat plus email support on Power.
Verdict by organization type
Volunteer-run group with a small list
Both free plans now stop at 250 contacts. MailerLite's free plan allows more monthly emails (2,500 vs 500) and includes basic automation, so it is the better free starting point. Our free email marketing for nonprofits guide compares other free options.
Small staff, growing list, budget pressure
MailerLite usually wins on cost, thanks to the 30% discount and active-only billing, and its Comfort plan covers automation, pages and forms well.
Organization tied to a Mailchimp-connected CRM or agency
Mailchimp is often the practical choice. Integrations, a familiar editor and advanced segmentation on Standard and Premium can save more staff time than the price difference.
Large list, technical help available
If you have tens of thousands of contacts and a technical volunteer or agency, consider a bring-your-own-server platform. eMailBase charges a software subscription (for example, Pro at $19.99/month covers 50,000 contacts) and you pay sending costs directly to a provider such as Amazon SES. It has no nonprofit discount or donation forms and needs DNS setup, so it is not for everyone. See the eMailBase vs Mailchimp comparison and our roundup of the best Mailchimp alternatives for nonprofits.
Frequently asked questions
Is MailerLite cheaper than Mailchimp for nonprofits?
In most cases, yes. MailerLite's entry paid plan starts slightly lower, it bills only active subscribers, and its nonprofit discount is 30% versus Mailchimp's 15%. Check both at your actual list size, since tiers vary.
How do I get the MailerLite nonprofit discount?
State that you are a nonprofit in your account approval application and send proof of status to support, such as a 501(c)(3) letter. The 30% applies to paid plans and replaces the annual billing discount.
Can I stack MailerLite's nonprofit and annual discounts?
No. MailerLite applies one discount at a time, so annual nonprofit customers get 30% rather than 30% plus 10%.
Does MailerLite have a free plan for nonprofits?
Its standard Free plan is open to everyone: 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month as of November 2026. MailerLite also funds free plans for a small number of selected nonprofits.
Will I lose consent data if I switch from Mailchimp to MailerLite?
Not if you export every status file and keep the opt-in and confirmation timestamp columns. Follow our checklist to migrate your donor list from Mailchimp.
For most small nonprofits, MailerLite offers more for less: a larger discount, active-only billing and generous automation, pages and forms on its entry paid plan. Mailchimp earns its higher price when your team depends on its integrations, its familiar editor or its advanced segmentation. Price both at your real list size, apply each nonprofit discount, and pick the tool your team will actually use every week.
