MailerLite vs Substack: Which One Fits Your Newsletter?
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Still deciding between MailerLite and Substack?
MailerLite and Substack solve different problems, even though both let you send newsletters for free. MailerLite is built as an email marketing platform: its Free plan (up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails, 2 seats) includes a visual automation builder with up to 3 automations, and paid Comfort ($12/mo) and Power ($25/mo) plans raise automation limits to 50 and unlimited, plus add A/B testing, landing pages, and ecommerce integrations. This suits businesses that need list segmentation, drip sequences, or ecommerce email flows. Substack, by contrast, is a publishing platform with no plan tiers or platform fees—free to start and free to leave—and its automation is limited to built-in revenue tools like welcome sequences and win-back campaigns rather than a general-purpose automation builder. Substack fits writers focused on content publishing and paid subscriptions who don't need complex automation. MailerLite fits marketers who need automation depth, testing tools, and ecommerce integrations as their list grows.
Compare the free plans and automation features side by side using only the details vendors provide, then pick the platform that matches how you plan to grow your list.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | MailerLite | Substack | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing automation workflows | 5/5 | 2/5 | MailerLite offers a visual automation builder on every plan, scaling from 3 automations on Free to unlimited on Power. Substack only lists built-in revenue tools such as welcome sequences and win-back campaigns, with no general automation builder mentioned. |
| Free forever plan | 4/5 | 5/5 | MailerLite's Free plan caps subscribers at 250, monthly emails at 2,500, and seats at 2. Substack's free tier has no platform fees, tiers, or contracts listed—free to start and free to leave, with no subscriber or email caps mentioned in the data. |
Frequently asked questions
How does MailerLite pricing compare to Substack?
MailerLite has a $0/month Free plan (up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails, 2 seats), then Comfort at $12/month and Power at $25/month (both capped at 500 subscribers per the listed limits), with a custom Enterprise plan for 200K+ subscribers. Substack lists only a Free plan with no platform fees or tiers, plus a custom Enterprise plan; no monthly price is given for either Substack tier beyond the free option.
Does MailerLite or Substack have a free plan?
Both do. MailerLite's Free plan supports up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails, and 2 user seats. Substack's free plan is described as free to start and free to leave, with no platform fees or tiers listed.
Can I migrate from Substack to MailerLite or vice versa?
The provided data doesn't detail a specific migration tool or import process for either platform. If switching, check current vendor documentation for subscriber export/import options, since this isn't covered in the listed features.
Which one has better marketing automation?
MailerLite includes a visual automation builder across all plans, with automation limits ranging from 3 on Free to unlimited on Power. Substack's automation is limited to specific revenue tools like welcome sequences and win-back campaigns, without a general automation builder mentioned.
Who should choose MailerLite vs Substack?
MailerLite fits users who need automation workflows, A/B testing, landing pages, and ecommerce integrations (Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce) as listed in its feature set. Substack fits writers focused on publishing newsletters and building paid subscriptions without needing a full marketing automation suite, since its feature list centers on free, tier-free publishing.
Does either platform charge for higher subscriber counts?
MailerLite's paid plans (Comfort, Power) are tied to subscriber and email-volume limits, with Enterprise pricing custom for 200K+ subscribers. Substack's listed data does not mention subscriber-based pricing tiers, describing its plan as free with no tiers.