MailerLite have just shaken things up. Their free plan used to cover 1,000 subscribers; now it stops at 500. Cue the grumbles. FB posts about where to move for the best free email marketing. But before you stomp off in search of another “free forever” tool, let’s take a breath and do the maths.
With MailerLite you’ll still get everything free up to 500 subscribers. They include automations, landing pages basically everything you need to get a great start with email marketing.
Once you tip over that line, you’re looking at about €14 a month — roughly £12.20 depending on the exchange rate. That’s less than three fancy coffees, two bottles of wine or one cheeky takeaway pizza.
Now here’s the thing you probably don’t want to hear: if you’ve got 500 people on your list and you can’t generate at least £12.20 of value from them each month… then the problem isn’t MailerLite. One product sale, one booked session, or one returning client and you’ve more than covered your costs. Moving your list to another provider isn’t going to make it more profitable. Learning a new system, moving your list over, setting up authentication again… that’s all going to use time and energy you could be using to engage with your subscribers.
And here’s why I actually think the change is good news. Instead of just being a free tool you can optionally use because it’s not earning its place, you need to get that email list working hard for you. Create useful, interesting emails. Make good offers. Sell stuff!
And when you hit 500 subscribers then yes, you will have to get the paid version but it comes with some really cool extra features. My favourites are:
- Unlimited landing pages – Putting out a new offer can be done super fast. No faffing with websites or plugins, just build and go.
- Sell digital downloads or subscriptions – Even on the lowest paid plan you can have up to three products. That could be as simple as a paid-for newsletter at £5 a month. Three sign-ups and you’ve already paid for MailerLite. No setting up an ecommerce site, wrestling with plugins or expensive extras.
- Dynamic content – This is the clever bit I’m excited to use again. You can show different content to different people based on their tags or segments. So your sales pitch disappears for the folks who’ve already bought your offer when it’s mentioned in your newsletter. Nifty.
But… when should you switch?
Here’s the caveat: don’t pay for MailerLite (or any tool) if you hate using it. Different email tools have different quirks, and if MailerLite makes you roll your eyes every time you log in, that energy will seep into the content you create. If you open it with a sinking heart, you’re not going to be writing brilliant, engaging emails.
On the other hand, if you like how it works and it feels simple and clear, stick with it. Don’t ditch it just for the money. Do it for your sanity — because the best tool for you is the one you’ll actually use (hopefully with a smile.)
So instead of mourning the loss of the 1,000 free plan, look at it like the CEO you are: paying for MailerLite means your business is growing. It’s a milestone. You’re levelling up, investing in a tool that more than pays for itself.
Your email list is one of the few marketing channels you actually own. Treating it with the respect (and tiny budget) it deserves? That’s good business sense.
Need help with your email marketing? I love this! I offer a range of ways to help from power hours to full migrations. Get in touch to find out more.