MarketingGuide
MailerLite Free Plan (2026): Limits, Features & When to Upgrade
MailerLite Free plan limits for subscribers, monthly emails, automations, and sites—plus how Free differs from the 14-day trial and paid Comfort/Power tiers.
MailerLite Free (October 1, 2026): up to 250 active subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails, 3 active automations, 1 website, 1 landing page, 3 signup forms, and 1 digital product or booking—plus core editors and integrations. It is a long-term free tier, not a 14-day preview. When you outgrow sends or features, upgrade to Comfort or Power (compare paid plans) or test premium tools during MailerLite’s 14-day premium trial first.
For product fit beyond limits, see our MailerLite review for creators.
Free vs premium trial vs paid plans
| Free | 14-day premium trial | Comfort / Power (paid) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Ongoing | 14 days from registration | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Payment method | Not required | Not required to start | Required when you purchase |
| Subscribers | Up to 250 active | Up to 250 during trial | Priced by subscriber bucket |
| Monthly emails | 2,500 | 2,500 (test sends excluded) | Comfort: 10× tier cap; Power: unlimited (fair use) |
| Typical goal | Launch list + basic automation | Test paid features before checkout | Scale sends, team seats, advanced automation |
Trial details and excluded features: MailerLite free trial guide. Paid pricing tables: MailerLite pricing.
Free plan limits (official)
Sources: MailerLite pricing and paid plans update FAQ, verified October 1, 2026.
| Limit type | Free allowance |
|---|---|
| Active subscribers | 250 |
| Monthly email sends | 2,500 (one email to one subscriber = one send) |
| User seats | 2 |
| Active automations | 3 |
| Websites | 1 |
| Landing pages | 1 (combined website/page limits apply on paid tiers; Free uses separate caps above) |
| Signup forms | 3 |
| Digital products / bookings | 1 |
| Support | Community |
Free includes campaign sending, the automation builder, drag-and-drop and other editors, embedded and pop-up forms, and MCP integrations listed on the pricing page. Template access is more limited than on paid plans (pricing comparison table marks “Limited” templates on Free).
Monthly send math (including welcome email)
Example: you finish a month with 220 subscribers and run:
- 4 newsletters to the full list → 220 × 4 = 880 sends
- Welcome automation with 3 emails for 30 new signups → 30 × 3 = 90 sends
- One manual campaign to a 100-person segment → 100 sends
Total ≈ 1,070 sends—under the 2,500 cap with headroom for another launch email or automation branch.
If the same list grows to 250 subscribers and you mail weekly (≈1,000 broadcast sends) plus automations, you can approach 2,500 quickly. That is the usual trigger to move to Comfort, not because subscribers maxed out, but because send volume did.
Before you hit a wall: three paths
- Stay on Free intentionally — prune inactive subscribers, reduce send frequency, and keep automations within 3 active workflows.
- Clean the list — remove disengaged contacts so you stay under 250 active subscribers (billing and automation performance both benefit).
- Upgrade — when you need more sends, automations, forms, or seats. Model cost at your next subscriber milestone on MailerLite pricing.
Minimum viable free stack
A complete creator setup without paying:
- Signup form on your site or a single landing page (Free allows one of each type above).
- Welcome automation (counts toward 3 automation slots)—walkthrough: build a welcome sequence.
- Recurring newsletter campaign to the full list, staying inside 2,500 sends/month.
When you need a second lead magnet page, A/B testing, preference center, or more than three automations, Free stops being sufficient—those features sit on Comfort or Power.
When to upgrade from Free
| Signal | Likely next step |
|---|---|
| 251+ active subscribers | Paid plan at the next subscriber bucket |
| Monthly sends near 2,500 | Comfort (higher cap) or Power (unlimited sends) |
| Fourth automation | Comfort (50 automations) or Power (unlimited) |
| Second site / multiple lead magnets | Comfort or Power (higher form/page limits) |
| Team member #3 | Comfort (3 seats) or Power (unlimited seats) |
| Test paid features without billing yet | 14-day premium trial (still 250 / 2,500 caps) |
FAQ
Is MailerLite Free the same as the 14-day trial?
No. Free continues indefinitely with Free limits. The premium trial lasts 14 days, unlocks many paid features to evaluate, then reverts to Free unless you purchase Comfort or Power.
Do automation emails count toward the 2,500 limit?
Yes. Every email delivered to a subscriber—including automated steps—counts toward monthly sends on Free (pricing FAQ).
Can I send daily on the Free plan?
Only if total delivered emails stay ≤ 2,500/month. A 250-person list emailed daily would exceed the cap in under two weeks.
What happens if I exceed 250 subscribers on Free?
MailerLite documents subscriber-limit handling that can restrict sending until you upgrade or reduce active subscribers. Confirm current behavior in billing help rather than assuming instant account suspension.
MailerLite Free fits validating form → welcome → newsletter under tight subscriber and send caps. Track both numbers monthly; when either binds, use MailerLite pricing to pick Comfort or Power, or run the 14-day premium trial to test features first.