Softwr

Email Marketing · head to head

MailerLite vs SendGrid

MailerLite logo

MailerLite

Email Marketing

Email marketing tools priced by subscriber count

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SendGrid logo

SendGrid

Email Marketing

Email at scale, proven deliverability, and so much more

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MailerLite free plan caps at 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails and 2 user seats; SendGrid free plan caps at 100 emails per day and expires after 60 days, per twilio.com/en-us/products/email-api/pricing (Aug 2026), after which sending requires a paid plan
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MailerLite and SendGrid actually diverge.

Attributes where MailerLite and SendGrid differ
AttributeMailerLiteSendGrid
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Email Marketing).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MailerLite

  • Email marketing automation for small to mid-sized businessesnot SendGrid
  • Newsletter campaigns with subscriber managementnot SendGrid

SendGrid

  • Marketing email campaigns and transactional email deliverynot MailerLite
  • Password reset and account confirmation emailsnot MailerLite
  • Newsletter distribution and subscriber engagementnot MailerLite
  • Automated email notifications for SaaS applicationsnot MailerLite

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MailerLite

  • Free plan caps at 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails and 2 user seats
  • Comfort plan is limited to 3 user seats; unlimited seats require the Power plan
  • Pricing scales with subscriber count and email volume rather than a flat seat rate, and resets to the plan's subscriber ceiling each billing anniversary
  • Annual billing earns only a 10% discount versus monthly, smaller than many competitors' annual discounts

SendGrid

  • Free plan caps at 100 emails per day and expires after 60 days, per twilio.com/en-us/products/email-api/pricing (Aug 2026), after which sending requires a paid plan
  • Dedicated IP addresses are only included from the Pro plan at $89.95 per month; Essentials at $19.95 per month lacks a dedicated IP, per Twilio's own pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

MailerLite

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 250 subscribers
    • 2,500 monthly emails
    • Email campaigns
  • Comfort$12/monthly
    • Monthly emails equal to 10x subscriber tier ceiling
    • Subscriber-dependent pricing tiers
    • Full feature set
  • Power$25/monthly
    • Unlimited monthly emails
    • Unlimited seats
    • Unlimited automations
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom pricing for 200K+ subscribers
    • Dedicated success manager
    • Priority support

SendGrid

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SendGrid review.

Which should you pick?

Choose MailerLite if

  • You want to start without paying.
MailerLite review

Choose SendGrid if

  • You want to start without paying.
SendGrid review

Questions people ask

Is MailerLite or SendGrid better?
Neither clearly leads. MailerLite starts at Free and SendGrid at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MailerLite or SendGrid?
MailerLite starts at Free and SendGrid at Free.
Does MailerLite or SendGrid run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use MailerLite for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MailerLite best used for?
MailerLite is most often used for email marketing automation for small to mid-sized businesses, newsletter campaigns with subscriber management. Of those, email marketing automation for small to mid-sized businesses and newsletter campaigns with subscriber management are not what SendGrid is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MailerLite: Can I switch between annual and monthly billing?

MailerLite offers both monthly and annual billing options. Annual billing provides a 10% discount compared to monthly billing. Both USD and EUR currency options are available for payment.

Source
SendGrid: How much does SendGrid cost?

SendGrid email API pricing is usage-based. Twilio SendGrid offers a free tier for new users and scales with email volume. Customers should check the Twilio SendGrid pricing page for current rates and plan options.

Source
MailerLite: What happens when I exceed the monthly email limit on my plan?

On the Comfort plan, monthly emails are determined by your subscriber tier ceiling. The Power plan includes unlimited monthly emails. For precise overage details, contact MailerLite support.

Source
SendGrid: Is there a free tier for SendGrid?

Yes, SendGrid offers a free tier for new users to get started with email API delivery. The free plan includes limited monthly emails and is suitable for getting started with transactional email.

Source
MailerLite: Is there a free plan and what are its limitations?

The Free plan supports up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails, with access to email campaigns, 3 automations, website and landing page builder, and signup forms. No payment required to use the free plan.

Source
SendGrid: What support is included with SendGrid?

SendGrid includes technical documentation and email support for users. Customers can access the help center, API documentation, and send emails to support for assistance with integration and troubleshooting.

Source
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