MailerLite vs Substack — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of MailerLite and Substack to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
MailerLite takes the lead with a 4.3 rating and is best for small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices.. Substack (4.2) is the better pick if you need writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | MailerLite | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.3(189) | ★★★★ 4.2(312) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | free |
| Starter Price | $10/mo (Growing Business, 500 subs) | N/A |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Learning Curve | easy | easy |
| API Available | Yes | No |
| Best For | Small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices. | Writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions. |
| Verdict | recommended | situational |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | MailerLite | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop email editor | — | |
| Marketing automation | — | |
| Website and blog builder | — | |
| Landing pages and forms | — | |
| Digital product sales | — | |
| Paid newsletter subscriptions | — | |
| Clean writing editor | — | |
| Paid subscriptions built in | — | |
| Web archive for every post | — | |
| Podcast hosting | — | |
| Substack Notes (social) | — | |
| Network discovery | — |
MailerLite
Pros
- ✓Best-designed email editor in the affordable tier
- ✓Generous free plan with 1,000 subscribers
- ✓Built-in website builder and digital product sales
Cons
- ✕Advanced automation features are limited compared to ActiveCampaign
- ✕Migration from Classic to New platform was rocky
- ✕Smaller integration ecosystem than Mailchimp
Substack
Pros
- ✓Zero monthly cost — only pay when you earn
- ✓Simplest writing and publishing experience available
- ✓Built-in paid subscriptions with no setup
Cons
- ✕10% revenue cut is expensive at scale
- ✕Virtually no email marketing or automation features
- ✕Zero customization — every Substack looks the same
The Bottom Line
Both MailerLite and Substack are solid tools in the Email Marketing space. MailerLite edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.3 vs 4.2) and is the better choice for small businesses and creators wanting beautiful email marketing at affordable prices.. However, if you prioritize writers who want the simplest path to publishing a newsletter with paid subscriptions., Substack is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.