MailerLite vs Mailgun (2025 Comparison)
MailerLite offers a user-friendly platform with comprehensive analytics and affordable pricing, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to enhance their email marketing efforts.
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive analytics
- Affordable pricing
- Limited API access
- Basic transactional emails
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$10 per month
Mailgun provides high deliverability rates and extensive API access, making it ideal for developers and businesses that require robust transactional email support.
- High deliverability rates
- Extensive API access
- Robust transactional email support
- Complex setup process
- Limited template design
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$15 per monthWhat is MailerLite?
MailerLite is an intuitive email marketing platform designed to help businesses of all sizes create, send, and analyze email campaigns. With its user-friendly interface, it allows you to design beautiful newsletters, automate email sequences, and track performance metrics effortlessly. Whether you're a small business owner or a marketing professional, MailerLite simplifies the process of engaging with your audience, making it an essential tool for enhancing customer relationships and driving growth.
What is Mailgun?
Mailgun is a powerful email delivery service that specializes in sending, receiving, and tracking emails. It is particularly beneficial for developers and businesses that require reliable email infrastructure. With Mailgun, you can integrate email capabilities into your applications, ensuring high deliverability rates and detailed analytics. This tool is ideal for those who need to manage large volumes of emails efficiently, making it a go-to solution for transactional emails and marketing campaigns.
Pros and Cons of MailerLite vs Mailgun
Pros & Cons of MailerLite
- MailerLite's interface is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate and create effective email campaigns. This ease of use is a significant advantage for small businesses and individuals who may not have extensive technical expertise.
- With MailerLite, you gain access to detailed analytics that provide insights into your email campaigns' performance. This data-driven approach allows you to make informed decisions and optimize your marketing strategies for better results.
- MailerLite offers competitive pricing plans that cater to businesses of all sizes. Its affordability, combined with a robust feature set, makes it an attractive option for those looking to maximize their marketing budget.
- While MailerLite does offer API access, it is not as extensive as some other platforms. This limitation may be a drawback for businesses that require advanced integrations and customizations.
- MailerLite's focus is primarily on marketing emails, which means its transactional email capabilities are somewhat basic. For businesses that rely heavily on transactional emails, this may be a limitation.
Pros & Cons of Mailgun
- Mailgun is renowned for its high deliverability rates, ensuring that your emails reach the intended recipients' inboxes. This reliability is crucial for businesses that depend on email communication for customer engagement and transactions.
- Mailgun offers extensive API access, making it a preferred choice for developers who need to integrate email functionalities into their applications. The well-documented API allows for seamless integration and customization.
- Mailgun excels in transactional email support, providing detailed tracking and high deliverability for emails such as order confirmations and password resets. This capability is essential for businesses that rely on transactional emails for customer interactions.
- Mailgun's setup process can be complex, particularly for users who are not familiar with technical configurations. This complexity may be a barrier for small businesses or individuals without technical expertise.
- Mailgun's focus on email delivery means it lacks a robust template design library. For businesses that prioritize visually appealing emails, this limitation may be a drawback.
MailerLite vs Mailgun: At A Glance
Value to Price
MailerLite offers a comprehensive suite of features at a competitive price, making it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses. Its pricing structure is straightforward, with no hidden fees, ensuring you get the best value for your investment. Mailgun, while slightly more expensive, provides robust email delivery capabilities that are ideal for businesses with high-volume email needs. If you're looking for a cost-effective solution with a wide range of features, MailerLite is the better option.
Ease of Use
MailerLite is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for those with limited technical skills. The drag-and-drop editor simplifies the process of creating email campaigns, allowing you to focus on content rather than technicalities. Mailgun, on the other hand, requires a bit more technical know-how, as it is designed for developers who need to integrate email functionalities into their applications. If ease of use is a priority, MailerLite is the clear winner.
Functionality
Both MailerLite and Mailgun offer a range of functionalities, but they cater to different needs. MailerLite excels in email marketing features, such as automation, segmentation, and analytics, making it perfect for marketing teams. Mailgun, however, shines in its email delivery capabilities, providing high deliverability rates and detailed tracking for transactional emails. If your focus is on marketing functionalities, MailerLite is the better choice, while Mailgun is ideal for email delivery.
Scalability
MailerLite is designed to grow with your business, offering scalable plans that accommodate increasing email lists and campaign needs. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Mailgun also offers scalability, particularly for businesses with high email volumes, ensuring reliable delivery and performance. If scalability is a key consideration, both tools are well-suited, but Mailgun has a slight edge for high-volume email delivery.
Integrations
MailerLite integrates seamlessly with a variety of third-party applications, enhancing its functionality and allowing you to connect with your existing tools. Mailgun also offers integrations, particularly with developer-focused platforms, making it a versatile choice for those who need to incorporate email capabilities into their applications. If you require extensive integrations, Mailgun may be the better option, especially for developer-centric environments.
Customer Support
MailerLite provides excellent customer support, with a range of resources, including tutorials, webinars, and a responsive support team. This makes it easy for users to get the help they need when they need it. Mailgun offers support as well, but it is more geared towards technical assistance for developers. If customer support is a priority, MailerLite is the better choice for non-technical users.
Security
Both MailerLite and Mailgun prioritize security, ensuring that your data and emails are protected. MailerLite offers features such as two-factor authentication and GDPR compliance, providing peace of mind for businesses handling sensitive information. Mailgun also emphasizes security, with features like encryption and secure data storage. If security is a top concern, both tools are reliable, but MailerLite offers a more user-friendly approach to security features.
MailerLite vs Mailgun: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Email Automation
MailerLite excels in email automation, offering a user-friendly interface that allows you to create complex workflows with ease. You can set up automated sequences based on user behavior, ensuring timely and relevant communication. Mailgun, while offering automation capabilities, is more focused on transactional emails, making it less suitable for marketing automation. If you're looking for a tool that simplifies email automation, MailerLite is the better choice.
Analytics and Reporting
Both MailerLite and Mailgun provide robust analytics and reporting features, but MailerLite offers a more comprehensive suite of tools for tracking campaign performance. With detailed insights into open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber behavior, MailerLite empowers you to make data-driven decisions. Mailgun's analytics are more focused on deliverability and email performance, making it ideal for transactional emails. If in-depth marketing analytics are important to you, MailerLite is the superior option.
Template Design
MailerLite offers a wide range of customizable templates, allowing you to create visually appealing emails without any design skills. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to personalize templates to match your brand. Mailgun, however, lacks a robust template library, focusing more on email delivery than design. If you prioritize beautiful and customizable email templates, MailerLite is the clear winner.
Transactional Emails
Mailgun is a leader in transactional email delivery, providing high deliverability rates and detailed tracking for emails such as order confirmations and password resets. MailerLite also offers transactional email capabilities, but its primary focus is on marketing emails. If your business relies heavily on transactional emails, Mailgun is the better choice for ensuring reliable delivery.
API Access
Mailgun offers extensive API access, making it a favorite among developers who need to integrate email functionalities into their applications. The API is well-documented and easy to use, allowing for seamless integration. MailerLite also provides API access, but it is more limited in scope. If API access is a priority for your business, Mailgun is the superior option.
Deliverability
Both MailerLite and Mailgun prioritize deliverability, but Mailgun has a slight edge due to its focus on email delivery infrastructure. With features like dedicated IPs and advanced tracking, Mailgun ensures your emails reach the inbox. MailerLite also offers strong deliverability features, but its primary focus is on marketing emails. If deliverability is your top concern, Mailgun is the better choice.
Pricing Comparison of MailerLite and Mailgun
We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both MailerLite and Mailgun to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.
MailerLite Pricing Plans
- Access to a drag & drop email editor for customization.
- Create up to 10 landing pages to capture leads.
- Utilize email automation builder for targeted campaigns.
- Receive 24/7 email and chat support for 30 days.
- Access to unlimited templates for diverse needs.
- Sell digital products directly through email campaigns.
- Utilize dynamic emails for personalized content.
- Conduct multivariate testing for optimized results.
- Enhanced automations for complex workflows.
- Custom HTML editor for advanced customization.
- AI writing assistant for content creation.
- Access to partner discounts for added value.
- Dedicated IP & deliverability consultation for reliability.
- Onboarding consultation and training for smooth transition.
- Account audit and performance improvements for efficiency.
- Custom solutions tailored to specific business needs.
Mailgun Pricing Plans
- Access to RESTful email APIs and SMTP relay.
- Includes 1 custom sending domain for branding.
- Provides tracking, analytics, and webhooks.
- 1 day log retention for email activities.
- Monthly email overage options for flexibility.
- 5 inbound routes for better email management.
- 1 day log retention for tracking email activities.
- Email analytics and reporting for insights.
- 1,000 custom sending domains for extensive branding.
- Email template builder and API for customization.
- 5 days log retention for detailed tracking.
- Full access to inbound routing for email management.
- SAML SSO for enhanced security and access control.
- Dedicated IP pools for improved deliverability.
- 30 days log retention for comprehensive tracking.
- Live phone and chat support for immediate assistance.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each email marketing tool, focusing on key aspects such as functionality, ease of use, and scalability. By analyzing user feedback and conducting hands-on testing, we ensure our recommendations align with your needs. Each factor is weighted to provide a reliable final score, helping you make informed decisions.
MailerLite or Mailgun: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose MailerLite If You Need ...
- User-friendly email marketing
If you are a beginner or small business owner looking for an easy-to-use email marketing platform, MailerLite is the ideal choice. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive features make it accessible to users with limited technical skills.
- Affordable marketing solution
If you are seeking a cost-effective email marketing solution with a robust feature set, MailerLite is the perfect option. Its competitive pricing plans and comprehensive analytics provide excellent value for businesses of all sizes.
Choose Mailgun If You Need ...
- Reliable transactional emails
If your business relies heavily on transactional emails, such as order confirmations and password resets, Mailgun is the superior choice. Its high deliverability rates and detailed tracking ensure reliable email delivery.
- Developer-friendly email integration
If you need extensive API access and seamless email integration into your applications, Mailgun is the best option. Its well-documented API and robust email delivery capabilities make it a favorite among developers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for email marketing, MailerLite or Mailgun?
Is Mailgun suitable for small businesses?
Can MailerLite handle large email lists?
Does Mailgun offer email templates?
What type of support does MailerLite provide?
Is Mailgun's API easy to use?
Anastasia Belyh
Anastasia Belyh is a senior tech writer with over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business software. Having worked in investment banking, management consulting, and founded multiple companies, her in-depth knowledge and hands-on expertise make her software reviews authoritative, trustworthy, and highly practical for business decision-makers.
