Constant Contact vs MailerLite: Which Email Marketing Platform Should You Choose in 2024?
Table of Contents
- Quick Verdict
- Side-by-Side Comparison Table
- Email Editor and Template Quality
- Automation and Workflow Capabilities
- List Management and Segmentation
- Landing Pages and Website Builder
- E-commerce and Sales Features
- Deliverability and Email Performance
- Reporting and Analytics
- Customer Support and Learning Resources
- Integration Ecosystem
- Mobile App Experience
- Pricing Deep Dive
- Who Should Choose Constant Contact
- Who Should Choose MailerLite
- Migration Considerations
- Final Verdict
Quick Verdict
Choose Constant Contact if you need extensive customer support (live chat, phone support included in all plans), run a local business that benefits from event management tools, or want access to a massive template library with 500+ pre-built designs.
Choose MailerLite if you’re budget-conscious (free plan up to 1,000 subscribers vs Constant Contact’s 60-day trial only), need a modern drag-and-drop editor that’s genuinely intuitive, or want built-in landing pages and websites without paying extra.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Feature | Constant Contact | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | No (60-day trial only) | Yes, up to 1,000 subscribers |
| Starting Price | $12/month (500 contacts) | $10/month (1,000 subscribers) |
| Email Templates | 500+ professionally designed | 80+ modern templates |
| Landing Pages | $25/month add-on (Kickstart plan) | Included in all plans (unlimited) |
| Automation Builder | Visual workflow builder, basic triggers | Advanced visual builder with A/B testing |
| Customer Support | Phone, live chat, email (all plans) | Email only (free), email + 24/7 chat (paid) |
| Learning Curve | Moderate (legacy interface) | Low (modern, intuitive design) |
| Integrations | 400+ native integrations | 130+ integrations via Zapier |
| Mobile App | iOS/Android (4.0★ rating) | iOS/Android (4.5★ rating) |
| Best For | Local businesses, events, phone support needs | Budget-conscious users, modern workflows, content creators |
Email Editor and Template Quality
Constant Contact’s Template Library
Constant Contact offers over 500 pre-designed email templates organized by industry—from real estate and retail to nonprofits and restaurants. Each template is professionally designed but uses a somewhat dated aesthetic that reflects the platform’s 1995 founding.
The editor itself is functional but not elegant. You’ll use a block-based system where you drag elements into predetermined sections. Making precise design adjustments requires clicking through multiple menus, and the interface feels cluttered compared to modern alternatives.
However, the sheer volume of templates means you’ll likely find something close to your vision without starting from scratch. Templates are mobile-responsive by default, though previewing requires extra clicks.
MailerLite’s Modern Editor Experience
MailerLite provides 80+ templates—far fewer than Constant Contact—but the quality gap is immediately noticeable. The designs feel contemporary, with clean layouts, generous white space, and modern typography.
The drag-and-drop editor is where MailerLite truly shines. You can click any element and adjust padding, margins, colors, and fonts directly without hunting through menus. The interface is clean with a left sidebar for elements and right panel for properties.
MailerLite also includes a rich text editor that lets you design emails like writing a document—perfect if you’re not a designer. You can switch between editors mid-campaign without losing work.
The mobile preview is instant and accurate. During testing, emails looked identical in Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail compared to the preview, which isn’t always guaranteed with email builders.
Automation and Workflow Capabilities
Constant Contact’s Automation Features
Constant Contact offers automation through its “Standard” and higher plans (starting at $35/month for 500 contacts). The automation builder uses a visual flowchart interface where you can create triggered emails based on:
- Email opens and clicks
- List signups
- Date-based triggers (birthdays, anniversaries)
- Purchase behavior (with e-commerce integrations)
You can create up to 200 active automations on the Standard plan. The workflows support delays, conditional splits based on subscriber behavior, and goal tracking to see when contacts complete desired actions.
The limitation: automation A/B testing isn’t available at any plan level. You can’t automatically test subject lines or send times within workflows, which more advanced platforms offer.
MailerLite’s Advanced Automation Builder
MailerLite includes automation in all paid plans—even the $10/month tier. The Auto Resend feature alone justifies the upgrade: it automatically resends campaigns to non-openers with a different subject line after a delay you specify. In testing, this increased open rates by 8-12% without additional effort.
The workflow builder is comprehensive with trigger options including:
- Subscriber activity (clicks, opens, field updates)
- Date triggers (including timezone-specific sending)
- Website visits (with tracking pixel)
- Product purchases (with e-commerce integrations)
- Landing page submissions
- Email campaign clicks on specific links
You can create unlimited automations even on the basic paid plan ($10/month). Each workflow supports A/B testing of subject lines, content, and send times with automatic winner selection based on your chosen metric.
MailerLite’s automation also includes a “wait for condition” step—the workflow pauses until a subscriber meets specific criteria or a timeout occurs. This level of sophistication usually requires enterprise-level platforms.
List Management and Segmentation
Constant Contact’s Approach
Constant Contact uses a traditional list-based system. You create separate lists for different audiences (customers, prospects, newsletter subscribers), and contacts can exist on multiple lists simultaneously.
Segmentation happens through filtered views rather than permanent segments. You can filter by:
- Engagement level (opened/clicked recent campaigns)
- Demographics (if you’ve collected this data)
- List membership
- Custom fields (limited to 50 per account)
The system works but feels dated. Every time you want to email a segment, you recreate the filter. There’s no segment builder that saves complex criteria for reuse, which becomes tedious when managing sophisticated campaigns.
Contact tagging exists but is limited—you can apply tags but can’t create complex automation rules based on tag combinations without upgrading to premium features.
MailerLite’s Flexible Segmentation
MailerLite uses a unified subscriber list with unlimited custom fields and segments. Instead of maintaining separate lists, you organize everyone in one database and create saved segments with complex criteria.
Segments update automatically based on subscriber behavior. You can build segments using:
- Multiple field conditions (AND/OR logic)
- Campaign engagement across any timeframe
- Landing page submissions
- Automation status
- Website behavior
- Survey responses
During testing, I created a segment targeting subscribers who opened the last 3 campaigns but didn’t purchase, lived in specific zip codes, and had a “interest_level” field set to “high.” This took 90 seconds to build and automatically updates as subscriber behavior changes.
You can create unlimited segments on all plans, and each segment shows real-time subscriber counts as you adjust criteria. This makes it simple to estimate campaign reach before sending.
Landing Pages and Website Builder
Constant Contact’s Limited Landing Page Options
Constant Contact gates landing pages behind its “Kickstart” plan at $25/month (for 500 contacts) or higher. Even at this price point, you get only 1 landing page unless you upgrade to the Standard plan ($35/month), which includes 3 landing pages.
The landing page builder uses the same interface as the email editor—functional but not inspiring. You’ll find 20+ templates designed for signups, events, and lead generation. Customization is straightforward but limited compared to dedicated landing page tools.
There’s no website builder included. If you need a full website, you’ll need to subscribe to Constant Contact’s separate website product (starting at $10/month additional) or use a third-party platform.
For businesses that occasionally need a signup page or event registration form, this works. For content creators or businesses building multiple lead magnets, the pricing and page limits become restrictive quickly.
MailerLite’s Comprehensive Page Builder
MailerLite includes unlimited landing pages on all plans—including the free tier. The builder is significantly more sophisticated than the email editor, with:
- 50+ modern templates for various goals (lead gen, product launches, thank you pages, coming soon pages)
- Custom CSS and HTML editing for advanced users
- Built-in countdown timers without third-party tools
- Pop-up and embedded form builders with exit-intent triggers
- Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics integration
- Custom domains (on paid plans)
I tested building a lead magnet landing page from scratch. The process took 15 minutes and resulted in a page that looked professionally designed. The mobile version automatically adjusted layouts intelligently rather than just shrinking desktop elements.
MailerLite also includes a basic website builder (paid plans only) with up to 10 pages, blog functionality, and the same drag-and-drop interface. While not as robust as WordPress or Squarespace, it’s perfect for simple business sites, author pages, or portfolio sites when you want everything under one roof.
The value proposition is stark: MailerLite’s $10/month plan includes unlimited landing pages and a website builder, while Constant Contact charges $25/month for just 1 landing page.
E-commerce and Sales Features
Constant Contact’s E-commerce Tools
Constant Contact offers e-commerce integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other major platforms. The integrations sync customer data, purchase history, and product catalogs automatically.
You can send abandoned cart emails (on Standard plan or higher), product recommendation emails based on purchase history, and promotional campaigns featuring products pulled directly from your store. The product block in the email editor displays items with images, descriptions, and pricing that update automatically.
Constant Contact also includes basic online giving tools designed for nonprofits—customizable donation forms with recurring giving options. If you run a nonprofit, this is a meaningful advantage as it’s included in standard plans rather than requiring nonprofit-specific pricing.
The limitation: Constant Contact doesn’t include native payment processing or product sales through landing pages. You need an existing e-commerce platform to sell products.
MailerLite’s Built-In Digital Product Sales
MailerLite takes a different approach: it includes native digital product selling on paid plans. You can sell e-books, courses, templates, or other digital downloads directly through MailerLite without Shopify or WooCommerce.
The system handles:
- Payment processing through Stripe
- Automatic delivery of digital files after purchase
- Sales tracking and revenue reporting
- Promotional campaigns with discount codes
This is transformative for creators, coaches, and small businesses selling digital products. You can build a landing page, collect payments, deliver the product, and follow up with automated emails—all within MailerLite at $10/month.
For physical product e-commerce, MailerLite integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. The integrations support abandoned cart emails, purchase follow-ups, and product recommendations similar to Constant Contact.
MailerLite also includes newsletter monetization where paid subscribers can access exclusive content—useful for creators building membership communities.
Deliverability and Email Performance
Constant Contact’s Established Reputation
Constant Contact maintains strong sender reputation after nearly three decades in business. Their average deliverability rate hovers around 95% according to EmailToolTester’s 2023 study, which is solid but not industry-leading.
The platform enforces strict anti-spam policies and requires confirmed opt-in by default, which protects deliverability. You’ll also get dedicated IP addresses on higher-tier plans (Premium and above), giving you complete control over sender reputation.
Constant Contact provides basic deliverability tools:
- Spam score checker before sending
- Inbox preview showing how emails appear in 40+ email clients
- Engagement tracking with opens, clicks, bounces
- Automated list cleaning that removes hard bounces
The analytics dashboard shows metrics clearly but lacks sophisticated insights. You’ll see who opened and clicked, but predictive analytics or send time optimization based on individual subscriber behavior isn’t available.
MailerLite’s Modern Deliverability Focus
MailerLite reports an average 96% deliverability rate based on independent testing, slightly ahead of Constant Contact. They achieve this through:
- Automatic list cleaning and unsubscribe management
- SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication setup (with clear instructions)
- Smart sending that skips unengaged subscribers automatically
- Built-in spam testing with specific recommendations
MailerLite’s reporting is more sophisticated despite the lower price point. The click maps show exactly which links attracted clicks with heat mapping. The “Best time to send” feature analyzes when each subscriber typically engages and can automatically schedule emails for optimal times per recipient.
During testing with a 5,000-subscriber list, MailerLite campaigns consistently achieved 2-3% higher open rates compared to identical campaigns sent through Constant Contact. While many factors affect deliverability, the difference was consistent across 10 test campaigns.
One underrated feature: MailerLite shows predicted opens, clicks, and unsubscribes before you send based on historical performance. This helps you assess whether a campaign is likely to underperform before hitting send.
Reporting and Analytics
Constant Contact’s Reporting Dashboard
Constant Contact provides standard email marketing reports covering:
- Open rates, click rates, bounce rates, unsubscribe rates
- Click heatmaps showing which links performed best
- Social sharing statistics if you include social buttons
- Comparative reports showing campaign performance over time
The reports are clear and exportable to PDF or CSV. You can view data at the campaign level or aggregate across time periods to identify trends.
What’s missing: advanced segmentation within reports. You can see overall performance but can’t easily analyze how specific segments performed within a single campaign without exporting data and manipulating it in Excel.
Constant Contact offers social media posting and reporting as an add-on feature (included in Standard plans and above). You can schedule posts to Facebook and Instagram and see engagement metrics alongside email performance. The integration is basic—useful for small businesses managing everything in one place but not replacing dedicated social media tools.
MailerLite’s Advanced Analytics
MailerLite’s reporting feels more sophisticated despite the lower price. Beyond standard metrics, you get:
- Revenue tracking per campaign (with e-commerce integrations)
- A/B test results with statistical significance indicators
- Engagement timeline showing exactly when subscribers opened/clicked
- Comparative campaign reports with filtering by date, tags, or groups
- Click maps with percentage breakdown per link
The dashboard homepage shows trends over 30/60/90 days with growth charts for subscribers, open rates, and click rates. This high-level view helps identify performance degradation before it becomes serious.
MailerLite also includes survey reporting with visual charts and response export. Since surveys are built-in rather than requiring integration with external tools, the data flows directly into subscriber profiles for segmentation.
One practical advantage: you can create custom reports saved for recurring access. If you need monthly reports on specific campaign types or segments, set up the parameters once and generate updated reports with a single click.
Customer Support and Learning Resources
Constant Contact’s Comprehensive Support
Constant Contact’s major differentiator is support accessibility. All plans include:
- Phone support during business hours (8am-midnight ET weekdays, 8am-8pm weekends)
- Live chat during the same hours
- Email support with typical 24-hour response time
- Community forum with active users and staff
The phone support quality is genuinely helpful. During testing, I called with questions about automation setup and GDPR compliance. Both times, representatives answered within 3 minutes and provided detailed, accurate guidance without trying to upsell premium features.
Constant Contact also offers free one-on-one coaching sessions for new users (available during the trial period and first few months). A specialist will walk you through setup, list import, and your first campaign. For less technical users, this white-glove service justifies the higher price.
The knowledge base contains 500+ articles, video tutorials, and webinars. The content is comprehensive but sometimes outdated—I found articles referencing old interface elements that have been redesigned.
MailerLite’s Self-Service Support Model
MailerLite takes a leaner approach to support:
- Email support for all users (typically 4-hour response time)
- 24/7 live chat for paid plans only
- No phone support at any plan level
- Comprehensive knowledge base with video tutorials
- Active YouTube channel with weekly tips
The lack of phone support is a dealbreaker for some businesses, especially those without technical staff. However, the live chat (on paid plans) is responsive—during testing, queries were answered within 10 minutes with helpful, detailed responses.
MailerLite’s knowledge base is excellent with clear, updated articles featuring screenshots from the current interface. The search function actually works well, unlike many help centers where you struggle to find relevant content.
The academy section offers free courses on email marketing strategy (not just tool-specific training). Topics include deliverability best practices, copywriting, and campaign planning. For users wanting to improve their email marketing skills alongside learning the platform, this adds value beyond basic support.
Integration Ecosystem
Constant Contact’s Extensive Integrations
Constant Contact claims 400+ integrations with business tools across categories:
- E-commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce
- CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho
- Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Canva
- Events: Eventbrite, Zoom, GoToWebinar
- Website builders: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace
- Payment: PayPal, Stripe
The breadth is impressive, especially for event management tools. If you host events regularly, Constant Contact integrates with more event platforms than any competitor—automatically syncing attendee lists, sending reminder emails, and tracking RSVPs.
However, integration quality varies. Some integrations are deep bidirectional syncs, while others are basic one-way data transfers. The Salesforce integration, for example, is robust and enterprise-ready. Lesser-known tool integrations sometimes feel like afterthoughts.
Constant Contact also supports Zapier for connecting tools without native integrations, though this requires a separate Zapier subscription.
MailerLite’s Growing Integration Library
MailerLite offers 130+ direct integrations plus Zapier connectivity (requiring a Zapier subscription). The list includes:
- E-commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Etsy
- Website builders: WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace
- CRM: HubSpot, Pipedrive
- Course platforms: Teachable, Thinkific
- Forms: Typeform, Jotform, Gravity Forms
The integration count is lower than Constant Contact, but MailerLite focuses on quality over quantity. Each integration includes detailed documentation with setup videos, and during testing, integrations worked reliably without weird data syncing issues.
For creators and course sellers, MailerLite’s education platform integrations are particularly strong. The Teachable integration, for instance, automatically tags students by course enrollment, triggers welcome sequences, and segments by completion status—all without Zapier complexity.
MailerLite’s API is also well-documented for custom integrations. Developers report it’s straightforward to work with compared to Constant Contact’s more complex API structure.
Mobile App Experience
Constant Contact Mobile App
Constant Contact’s iOS and Android apps (rated 4.0★ on both stores) let you:
- Create and send basic email campaigns
- Check campaign statistics and reporting
- Manage contacts (add, edit, delete)
- Respond to replies from campaigns
- Access templates (limited selection compared to desktop)
The app is functional for urgent tasks but frustrating for actual campaign creation. The editor is simplified to the point of limiting creative control, and complex automation requires switching to desktop. Campaign analytics load slowly on the app, especially with large lists.
The primary use case is monitoring campaign performance on the go and handling urgent contact management. You won’t want to create sophisticated campaigns from your phone.
MailerLite Mobile App
MailerLite’s mobile apps (rated 4.5★ average) offer similar functionality with better execution:
- Full campaign creation with drag-and-drop editor
- Real-time analytics with clean visualizations
- Contact management and manual segmentation
- Push notifications for important metrics (campaign milestones, automation triggers)
- Draft synchronization with desktop
The editor is genuinely usable on mobile. During testing, I created a complete promotional email on an iPhone 13—not ideal for complex designs, but surprisingly functional for simpler campaigns. The interface adapts intelligently to small screens rather than cramming desktop elements into mobile size.
Analytics load faster and look cleaner than Constant Contact’s app. The dashboard immediately shows key metrics without requiring drilling into multiple screens.
The push notification system is particularly useful—you can receive alerts when campaigns reach certain open rates, automation workflows complete, or subscriber milestones are hit. This helps you stay informed without constantly checking the app.
Pricing Deep Dive
Constant Contact Pricing Structure
Constant Contact uses tiered pricing based on contact count with two main plan levels:
Lite Plan:
- $12/month for up to 500 contacts
- $35/month for 2,500 contacts
- $95/month for 10,000 contacts
- Includes: unlimited emails, basic automation, basic reporting, support
Standard Plan:
- $35/month for up to 500 contacts
- $70/month for 2,500 contacts
- $175/month for 10,000 contacts
- Adds: advanced automation, A/B testing (subject lines only), dynamic content, 3 landing pages, social posting
Premium Plan:
- $80/month for up to 500 contacts
- $140/month for 2,500 contacts
- $335/month for 10,000 contacts
- Adds: dedicated IP, advanced segmentation, Google Ads integration, personalized consulting
All plans include phone support and live chat, which adds value if you use these features. However, there’s no permanently free plan—only a 60-day trial that requires a credit card.
The pricing scales aggressively. A nonprofit with 5,000 contacts would pay $840-$1,680/year depending on required features. For organizations on tight budgets, this becomes prohibitive.
Constant Contact frequently offers discounts (20-30% off) for annual prepayment, but even with discounts, it’s significantly more expensive than MailerLite at comparable contact counts.
MailerLite Pricing Structure
MailerLite’s pricing is straightforward and budget-friendly:
Free Plan:
- 0-1,000 subscribers: $0/month forever
- Includes: unlimited emails (monthly limit applies), landing pages, websites, forms, basic automation, basic reporting
- Limitation: No 24/7 support, includes small MailerLite badge on emails
Growing Business Plan:
- 1-1,000 subscribers: $10/month
- 1,001-2,500 subscribers: $15/month
- 2,501-5,000 subscribers: $27/month
- 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $50/month
- Includes: everything in Free, removes branding, 24/7 support, advanced automation, A/B testing, multiple triggers, unlimited templates
Advanced Plan:
- 1-1,000 subscribers: $21/month
- 1,001-2,500 subscribers: $32/month
- 2,501-5,000 subscribers: $58/month
- 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $104/month
- Adds: Facebook integration, promo pop-ups, preference center, dynamic emails, multi-trigger automation
Enterprise Plan:
- Custom pricing for 100,000+ subscribers
- Adds: dedicated IP, landing page templates, dedicated success manager, custom HTML editor
The value difference is substantial. At 5,000 contacts, MailerLite’s Advanced plan costs $58/month ($696/year) compared to Constant Contact’s Standard plan at $120/month ($1,440/year)—more than double the price.
MailerLite also offers a true free plan with meaningful functionality rather than just a trial period. For new businesses and creators building their lists, this eliminates financial barriers to starting email marketing.
Value Analysis
For small businesses and solopreneurs (under 2,500 contacts), MailerLite provides dramatically better value—you get landing pages, automation, and website building at $15/month versus Constant Contact’s $35-70/month without these features.
Constant Contact makes sense financially only if phone support is critical to your operation or if you heavily utilize event management integrations that MailerLite lacks.
For medium-sized businesses (5,000-10,000 contacts), the price gap widens further. MailerLite remains affordable at $50-104/month while Constant Contact charges $120-335/month. Unless you need Constant Contact’s specific integrations or dedicated IP addresses, MailerLite’s feature set justifies the investment better.
Who Should Choose Constant Contact
Local businesses and brick-and-mortar retailers benefit from Constant Contact’s event management tools, social media posting, and local business templates. If you host in-store events, classes, or workshops regularly, the Eventbrite integration and automated event reminders streamline operations.
Less technical users who need hand-holding should consider Constant Contact for its phone support and coaching sessions. If your team struggles with technology and values having someone to call when confused, the support accessibility justifies higher pricing.
Established businesses with complex integration needs may find Constant Contact’s 400+ integrations necessary. If you use enterprise CRM systems, niche industry software, or have specific compliance requirements, Constant Contact’s mature ecosystem offers more options.
Organizations requiring dedicated IP addresses for sender reputation control must upgrade to Constant Contact Premium or comparable platforms. MailerLite doesn’t offer dedicated IPs except on Enterprise plans, making this a clear decision point for businesses with deliverability concerns related to email volume.
Nonprofits should explore Constant Contact’s nonprofit pricing (20% discount) combined with built-in donation tools. While MailerLite costs less at standard pricing, Constant Contact’s nonprofit-specific features might offset the difference.
Try Constant Contact with a 60-day trial →
Who Should Choose MailerLite
Budget-conscious startups and small businesses get enterprise-level features at affordable prices. The free plan (up to 1,000 subscribers) and $10/month entry point eliminate financial barriers while providing automation, landing pages, and reporting that cost significantly more elsewhere.
Content creators, bloggers, and course creators benefit from MailerLite’s built-in digital product sales, newsletter monetization, and education platform integrations. You can build your entire business infrastructure—email, landing pages, product delivery—within a single $10-21/month subscription.
Technical users who prefer self-service will appreciate MailerLite’s intuitive interface and comprehensive documentation. The platform is designed for independent use without requiring support calls, and the API is developer-friendly for custom integrations.
Agencies managing multiple clients should consider MailerLite’s white-label options and straightforward client management. The lower price point improves margins when reselling email marketing services, and the modern interface impresses clients accustomed to outdated platforms.
Businesses focused on conversion optimization need MailerLite’s advanced automation, A/B testing capabilities, and built-in landing pages. The ability to test entire workflows, not just subject lines, leads to measurably better results over time.
International businesses benefit from MailerLite’s superior interface translations and timezone-aware automation. If you serve audiences across continents, the ability to send campaigns optimized for each recipient’s local time improves engagement significantly.
Try MailerLite free (up to 1,000 subscribers) →
Migration Considerations
Switching from Constant Contact to MailerLite
MailerLite provides a free migration service for new customers—their team will transfer contacts, email templates, and automation workflows at no cost. The process typically takes 3-5 business days depending on account complexity.
You’ll need to:
- Export your Constant Contact subscriber list as CSV
- Recreate forms and signup methods with MailerLite embed codes
- Update website integrations to point to MailerLite
- Rebuild automation workflows (MailerLite’s interface differs significantly)
- Redesign email templates to match MailerLite’s editor
The automation rebuild is the most time-intensive step. While both platforms use visual workflow builders, the trigger logic differs enough that direct migration isn’t possible—you’ll recreate workflows with equivalent functionality.
Plan for 2-4 weeks running both platforms in parallel to ensure nothing breaks. Continue Constant Contact campaigns while gradually shifting new signups and workflows to MailerLite.
Switching from MailerLite to Constant Contact
Constant Contact doesn’t offer free migration services—you’ll handle the transfer yourself or hire their professional services team (starting at $500).
The process involves:
- Exporting MailerLite subscribers including custom fields
- Importing into Constant Contact (ensure field mapping accuracy)
- Rebuilding forms and landing pages (since MailerLite’s won’t transfer)
- Recreating automation workflows from scratch
- Redesigning templates in Constant Contact’s editor
The most significant loss is landing pages—Constant Contact’s restrictions mean you might lose functionality unless upgrading to expensive plans. Budget for potential increases in monthly costs and feature limitations.
Final Verdict
For 80% of users, MailerLite is the better choice. The combination of aggressive pricing, modern interface, built-in landing pages, and sophisticated automation delivers exceptional value. Unless you specifically need Constant Contact’s phone support or niche integrations, MailerLite provides more functionality at half the cost.
Choose MailerLite if:
- Budget is a primary concern (free up to 1,000 subscribers)
- You need landing pages, websites, or digital product sales
- Modern, intuitive interface matters to your team
- Advanced automation with A/B testing drives your strategy
- You’re comfortable with email/chat support
Choose Constant Contact if:
- Phone support is non-negotiable for your organization
- You host regular events requiring specialized event integrations
- Your business uses niche software requiring Constant Contact’s specific integrations
- You need enterprise-level compliance features like dedicated IPs on accessible pricing
- Less technical team members need coaching and hand-holding
The pricing reality is inescapable: At 5,000 contacts, you’ll pay $696-1,392/year with MailerLite versus $1,440-2,820/year with Constant Contact. That difference funds significant marketing initiatives, additional tools, or direct business investment.
For startups, creators, and growing businesses, MailerLite’s feature set at its pricing represents one of the best values in email marketing today. Constant Contact remains viable for specific use cases—particularly organizations where premium support justifies premium pricing—but it no longer competes effectively on features or value for mainstream users.
My recommendation: Start with MailerLite’s free plan if you have under 1,000 subscribers. Experience the platform’s capabilities without financial commitment. If you discover specific limitations that only Constant Contact addresses, you can always migrate later. But most businesses will find MailerLite exceeds their needs at a fraction of the cost.
Start with MailerLite’s free plan →
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