Mailing list tools for authors compared: MailerLite, Kit and Mailchimp

For most authors, MailerLite is the cheapest of the three at every list size, Kit has the most generous free plan, and Mailchimp costs the most once you pay. As of November 2026, MailerLite's free plan stops at 250 subscribers, Kit's free plan runs to 10,000, and Mailchimp's stops at 250 contacts and 500 emails a month. At 1,000 subscribers the first paid tiers are $19, $39 and $26.50 a month respectively.

We read each vendor's pricing page on 1 November 2026, with prices in US dollars and monthly billing unless we say otherwise. All three change their plans often, and MailerLite and Kit both show yearly prices by default, so set the toggle to the billing you want before you compare.

The comparison

MailerLite

MailerLite's free plan gives you 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and two user seats, and it is the only one of the three free plans that includes automations, so a reader magnet and a short welcome series can run without paying. It also includes one landing page and one website. The limit is the list size: 250 subscribers fills up quickly once you start a reader magnet or a group promo.

Comfort, the first paid plan, is $12 a month up to 500 subscribers, $19 at 1,000 and $49 at 5,000, with 10% off for yearly billing. It allows ten times your subscriber tier in emails each month, so 10,000 at the 1,000 tier. Power, at $39 and $69, adds unlimited sending and seats, which a solo author rarely needs.

Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit's free Newsletter plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited landing pages, forms and broadcasts. That is enough to build a large list and email it every week. What it leaves out is automation: visual automations and automated email sequences are on the paid plans only, so new subscribers do not get a welcome series unless you send it by hand.

Creator costs $39 a month at 1,000 subscribers and $89 at 5,000, or $33 and $75 a month on yearly billing, which Kit says saves 17%. Pro costs $79 and $139 a month. Kit's yearly Pro price was discounted for the first year when we checked, so look at the renewal price before committing to it.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's free plan is the tightest: 250 contacts, 500 emails a month and no more than 250 a day, which is two sends to a full list. Its pricing page lists automation flows as not included on free, although forms and landing pages are. Paid plans are priced by contact bands. Essentials is $26.50 a month for 501 to 1,500 contacts and $75 for 2,501 to 5,000, with automation flows of up to four steps. Standard is $45 and $100 and allows up to 200 flows.

For an author list, Mailchimp costs more than MailerLite at both list sizes we checked. It makes sense if you already use it, or if your direct sales run through a store it connects to.

Which fits at each list size

• Under 250 subscribers, use MailerLite's free plan. It is the only free plan here with automations, so your reader magnet and welcome emails can run on their own.
• From 250 to about 1,000, use Kit's free plan if you are happy to send newsletters without a welcome sequence, because it costs nothing until 10,000. Use MailerLite Comfort at $19 a month if you want the automations.
• At around 5,000, MailerLite Comfort at $49 a month is the cheapest of the three with automations. Kit Creator costs $89, and Kit's free plan still works if you can do without automations.
• If you are already on Mailchimp and use its store connections, staying may be simpler. If not, moving before the list grows saves money every month.

There is a fourth option if what you need is a list of readers and the ability to email them campaigns. The Indie Author Toolchest includes a reader list and email campaigns in its $12.99 a month subscription, alongside your author page and direct sales. If you rely on multi-step automations, keep one of the three tools above for that job.

Whichever you choose, the list matters more than the software. Our guides to your first 100 subscribers and newsletter swaps and group promos cover how to fill it, and what the DIY author stack costs puts the email bill next to everything else.