EmailOctopusvsMailerLite

EmailOctopus vs MailerLite

Two affordable options with different feature sets

TL;DR

EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $36/month for 10k subscribers, focusing on core email features. MailerLite costs $50/month but includes landing pages, website builder, and better automation. Choose EmailOctopus for maximum savings, MailerLite for more features at a reasonable price.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

Pricing
EmailOctopus wins

EmailOctopus is cheaper at $36/month vs MailerLite's $50/month at 10k subscribers. That's 28% savings. EmailOctopus also has a more generous free plan (2,500 vs 1,000 subscribers).

Feature Depth
MailerLite wins

MailerLite offers more features including a better email builder, website builder, more automation triggers, and better e-commerce integrations. You're paying $14/month more for genuinely more capabilities.

Simplicity
EmailOctopus wins

EmailOctopus is simpler to use with fewer features to navigate. MailerLite has more features but remains user-friendly. Both are easier than enterprise platforms.

Automation
MailerLite wins

MailerLite has better automation workflows with more triggers and conditions. EmailOctopus automation is functional but more basic. For complex workflows, MailerLite is stronger.

Free Plan
EmailOctopus wins

EmailOctopus offers 2,500 subscribers on free plan vs MailerLite's 1,000. For startups testing email marketing, EmailOctopus's free tier goes further.

Pricing Comparison

At 10,000 subscribers

EmailOctopus
$36/month

Pro plan. Core email features, landing pages, basic automation.

Visit EmailOctopus
MailerLite
$50/month

Growing Business plan. Landing pages, website builder, automation.

Visit MailerLite
Sequenzy

The SaaS alternative

$49/month

10k contacts, unlimited sends, native Stripe integration.

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature breakdown

Feature
EmailOctopus
MailerLite
Sequenzy
Pricing & Value
10k Contacts Cost
$36/month
$50/month
$49/month
Free Plan
2,500 subscribers
1,000 subscribers
None
Emails per Month
10,000 (free)
12,000 (free)
Unlimited
Value at Scale
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Email Features
Email Builder
Good, simple
Modern, intuitive
Good
Templates
Basic selection
Good variety
Clean
Personalization
Basic merge tags
Advanced
Event-based
A/B Testing
Marketing Features
Landing Pages
Yes, basic
Yes, more options
Website Builder
Forms & Popups
Yes, better variety
E-commerce
Basic (Shopify)
Shopify, WooCommerce
Stripe only
Automation
Visual Workflows
Basic
Good
Good
Automation Triggers
Basic
More options
Event-based
Segmentation
Basic
Better
Event-based
Drip Sequences
SaaS Features
Stripe Integration
Basic via Zapier
Native OAuth
Behavioral Events
Limited
Basic
Native
User Lifecycle
Basic
Basic
Built for this

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose EmailOctopus if you...
  • Maximum budget savings is priority
  • Simple newsletter senders
  • Nonprofits (20% lifetime discount)
  • Users wanting most generous free plan
Choose MailerLite if you...
  • Need landing pages and website builder
  • Want better automation capabilities
  • E-commerce with Shopify/WooCommerce
  • Users wanting more modern interface
Choose Sequenzy if you...
  • SaaS companies needing behavioral automation
  • Stripe-integrated subscription businesses
  • Teams wanting unified marketing + transactional
  • Companies needing native payment integration

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Focused Features

Neither EmailOctopus nor MailerLite offers native Stripe integration or behavioral event tracking. Sequenzy is built for SaaS with subscription lifecycle automation and payment-based triggers.

Unified Email Platform

Both EmailOctopus and MailerLite focus on marketing email. Sequenzy handles transactional and marketing email in one platform.

Better Price-to-SaaS-Features

At $49/month for 10k contacts, Sequenzy costs slightly more than EmailOctopus but includes SaaS-specific features neither budget platform offers.

Try Sequenzy Free

Overview

EmailOctopus and MailerLite are both positioned as budget-friendly email marketing alternatives. Both offer generous free tiers and affordable pricing. The question is whether EmailOctopus's extra savings are worth MailerLite's additional features.

Budget vs Features

EmailOctopus is 28% cheaper at 10k subscribers ($36 vs $50/month). That $14/month savings adds up to $168/year. But MailerLite includes a website builder, better automation, and more sophisticated email design tools. The real question: do you need those features?

Free Plan Comparison

EmailOctopus offers 2,500 subscribers free with 10,000 emails/month. MailerLite offers 1,000 subscribers free with 12,000 emails/month. For list size, EmailOctopus wins. For emails per contact, MailerLite is slightly better. Both are generous compared to Mailchimp's 500 subscriber limit.

Email Builder Quality

MailerLite has the edge here with a more modern, intuitive drag-and-drop builder and better template variety. EmailOctopus's builder is functional but simpler. If email design matters to you, MailerLite is stronger.

Automation Capabilities

MailerLite offers more sophisticated automation with additional triggers, conditions, and branching logic. EmailOctopus has basic automation that works for simple drip sequences. For complex multi-step workflows, MailerLite is more capable.

Landing Pages & Website

Both offer landing pages, but MailerLite's are more capable. MailerLite also includes a website builder that EmailOctopus lacks. If you need to build web pages alongside email, MailerLite provides more.

For SaaS Companies

Neither platform is built for SaaS. Both lack native Stripe integration, behavioral event tracking, and subscription lifecycle features. For SaaS companies needing these capabilities, consider Sequenzy which offers SaaS-specific features at a comparable price point.

Making the Choice

Choose EmailOctopus for maximum savings and simplicity. Choose MailerLite for better features at a still-affordable price. For SaaS companies wanting Stripe integration and event-based automation, consider Sequenzy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. At 10k subscribers, EmailOctopus is $36/month vs MailerLite's $50/month - 28% savings. EmailOctopus also has a more generous free plan (2,500 vs 1,000 subscribers).

EmailOctopus lacks MailerLite's website builder, has simpler automation, fewer email templates, and less sophisticated segmentation. EmailOctopus focuses on core email features only.

EmailOctopus offers 2,500 subscribers free vs MailerLite's 1,000. However, MailerLite's free plan includes more features. EmailOctopus is better for list size; MailerLite for feature access.

Both are user-friendly. EmailOctopus is simpler due to fewer features. MailerLite has a more modern interface but more options to learn. Neither is difficult.

MailerLite has better automation with more triggers, conditions, and workflow options. EmailOctopus automation is basic but functional for simple drip campaigns.

Yes, both offer landing pages. MailerLite's landing page builder is more capable with more templates and design options. EmailOctopus landing pages are basic but functional.

MailerLite has better e-commerce integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. EmailOctopus has basic Shopify integration only. Neither is ideal for serious e-commerce.

Yes. EmailOctopus offers a 20% lifetime discount for nonprofits, making the already-cheap option even more affordable for charitable organizations.

Export your subscribers from MailerLite. Import into EmailOctopus. Recreate your automations (they'll be simpler). You'll save money but lose the website builder and some automation capabilities.

Export subscribers from EmailOctopus. Import into MailerLite. Take advantage of better automation, landing pages, and the website builder. Expect slightly higher costs but more features.

Not sure which to pick?

If you're a SaaS founder who needs Stripe integration and unified email, try Sequenzy free. No credit card required.

Start Free TrialSee All Features

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses subscriber-based pricing. You only pay for subscribers active in sequences (automations). Inactive subscribers are free to store.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 0-100 subscribers: Free (Free annually) - 2k emails/month
  • 101-1,000 subscribers: $19/month ($205/year annually) - 15k emails/month
  • 1,001-5,000 subscribers: $29/month ($313/year annually) - 60k emails/month
  • 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $49/month ($529/year annually) - 120k emails/month
  • 10,001-25,000 subscribers: $99/month ($1069/year annually) - 300k emails/month
  • 25,001-50,000 subscribers: $199/month ($2149/year annually) - 600k emails/month
  • 50,001-100,000 subscribers: $349/month ($3769/year annually) - 1.2M emails/month
  • 100,000+ subscribers: Custom pricing (Custom annually) - Unlimited emails/month

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (0-100 subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (1,000 - 100,000 subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (100,000+ subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for subscribers who are active in automations/sequences
  • Storing inactive subscribers is free
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com