Mailerlite vs HubSpot: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Mailerlite and HubSpot comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: HubSpot is our overall pick for CRM workflows. Pick Mailerlite if you need email marketing.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Mailerlite
Simple, affordable email marketing for growing businesses
Best for you if:
- • You need email marketing features specifically
- • MailerLite is an email marketing platform for small businesses and creators
- • It provides email campaigns, automation, and landing pages with simplicity
HubSpot
CRM platform for scaling businesses
Best for you if:
- • You need CRM features specifically
- • All-in-one CRM platform covering marketing, sales, service, content, and operations with a shared contact database
- • Free CRM and tools for unlimited users; paid Starter plans begin at $15/seat/month with Marketing Professional at $890/month
| At a Glance |  Mailerlite |  HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $10/month/moGrowing Business | $15/seat/monthStarter |
Best For | Email Marketing | CRM |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Mailerlite or HubSpot?
Choose Mailerlite if
Simple, affordable email marketing for growing businesses
- Affordable email marketing
- Good free tier
- Easy to use
- Your work is email marketing-shaped, not CRM-shaped
Choose HubSpot if
CRM platform for scaling businesses
- Generous free tier with CRM, forms, email, live chat, and basic reporting at no cost
- Unified platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams
- Intuitive interface with short learning curve compared to Salesforce
- Your work is CRM-shaped, not email marketing-shaped
| Feature | Mailerlite | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 1,179 reviews | ★4.2/5 13,321 reviews |
| Categories | Email MarketingMarketing Automation | CRMMarketing Automation |
In-Depth Analysis
Mailerlite
Simple, affordable email marketing for growing businesses
Strengths
- +Affordable email marketing
- +Good free tier
- +Easy to use
- +Landing pages included
- +Automation
Weaknesses
- -Less powerful automation
- -Basic segmentation
- -Support response time
- -Limited for advanced users
- -Some features removed
Key features
HubSpot
CRM platform for scaling businesses
Strengths
- +Generous free tier with CRM, forms, email, live chat, and basic reporting at no cost
- +Unified platform eliminates data silos between marketing, sales, and service teams
- +Intuitive interface with short learning curve compared to Salesforce
- +Extensive integration marketplace and open API for custom connections
- +HubSpot Academy provides free certifications and high-quality training content
Weaknesses
- -Pricing escalates quickly, Professional and Enterprise tiers are expensive for SMBs
- -Marketing contacts model means you pay more as your database grows
- -CMS is less flexible than WordPress for heavily customized websites
- -Reporting and analytics lag behind dedicated BI tools like Looker or Tableau
- -Contract terms require annual commitment; no monthly billing on higher tiers
Key features
Pricing: Mailerlite vs HubSpot
| Plan | Mailerlite | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0 Free | Free Free Tools |
| Tier 2 | $10/month Growing Business | $15 /seat/month Starter |
| Tier 3 | $20/month Advanced | $890 /month Professional |
| Tier 4 | Custom Enterprise | $3600 /month Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Mailerlite pricing and HubSpot pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Mailerlite
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Mailerlite
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: HubSpot
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Mailerlite is a email marketing tool. HubSpot is in CRM. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
HubSpot
- Larger review base (13,321 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Mailerlite
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.2/5
- Better fit for email marketing
The Bottom Line
HubSpot is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailerlite or HubSpot better?
HubSpot is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Mailerlite and HubSpot used for?
Mailerlite: Simple, affordable email marketing for growing businesses. HubSpot: CRM platform for scaling businesses.
What does Mailerlite cost vs HubSpot?
Mailerlite is freemium (free tier + paid plans). HubSpot is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.