GetResponse vs MailerLite: which fits your email workflow?

The short answer

• Choose MailerLite if you want a low-friction start for newsletters, forms, landing pages, and straightforward automations.
• Choose GetResponse Starter if your needs are basic today but you expect to add GetResponse's wider marketing toolset later.
• Choose GetResponse Marketer when multiple automation and ecommerce journeys are the reason for buying.
• Test both if editor preference and template workflow matter more than a headline feature list.

How the pricing logic differs

GetResponse prices by plan and list size. Its published grid places newsletters and one automation workflow in Starter, unlimited automation and ecommerce capabilities in Marketer, and courses, paid newsletters, and webinars in Creator.

MailerLite says pricing is driven by subscriber count and sending volume. Its free plan allows up to 2,500 email sends per month, while paid plans start from $12 per month on the current official pages. Both providers advertise a 14-day trial of premium features.

Compare the cost at your expected subscriber count and send frequency. A free or entry price can be misleading if the workflow you need sits behind a higher plan boundary.

Where each product has the clearer fit

MailerLite: publishing without a large stack

MailerLite combines email campaigns with landing pages, forms, websites, and digital-product tools. It is a strong shortlist candidate when a small team wants to publish consistently without designing a complex lifecycle system first.

GetResponse: a broader upgrade path

GetResponse becomes more distinct when the requirement moves beyond newsletters. Its plan structure explicitly separates marketing automation, ecommerce journeys, webinars, courses, SMS options, and enterprise support. That wider scope can reduce the number of separate tools, but only if you will use it.

A practical trial

1. Import the same small, consented sample list into both trials.
2. Build one welcome flow and one behavior-based follow-up.
3. Create the same landing page and test it on mobile.
4. Record the plan required for each workflow at your 12-month list size.
5. Export your contacts and campaign data before deciding.

Sources

• MailerLite pricing — pricing model, plans, and trial; checked August 31, 2026.
• MailerLite free plan — free-plan send allowance and paid starting price; checked August 31, 2026.
• GetResponse pricing — plans, list tiers, and features; checked August 31, 2026.