MailerLite vs Retainful (2024 Comparison)
MailerLite offers a user-friendly platform with comprehensive email automation features, making it ideal for small businesses looking to enhance their marketing efforts without breaking the bank.
- User-friendly interface for beginners.
- Comprehensive email automation features.
- Affordable pricing for small businesses.
- Limited eCommerce-specific features.
- Basic cart recovery options.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$10 per month
Retainful provides powerful eCommerce marketing solutions, including effective cart recovery and referral programs, making it a top choice for online retailers aiming to boost sales.
- Effective cart recovery solutions.
- Strong focus on eCommerce marketing.
- Easy integration with eCommerce platforms.
- Higher pricing for advanced features.
- Limited general email marketing tools.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$19 per monthWhat is MailerLite?
MailerLite is an intuitive email marketing platform designed to help businesses of all sizes create, send, and analyze email campaigns. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop editors, making it easy for users to design professional-looking emails without any coding skills. With features like automation, segmentation, and A/B testing, MailerLite empowers marketers to optimize their campaigns for better engagement and conversion rates. Whether you're a small business owner or a seasoned marketer, MailerLite provides the tools you need to connect with your audience effectively.
What is Retainful?
Retainful is a powerful eCommerce marketing automation tool that helps online store owners recover abandoned carts and drive repeat purchases. It offers features like automated cart recovery emails, next order coupons, and referral programs to boost customer retention and increase sales. With its easy-to-use interface and seamless integration with popular eCommerce platforms, Retainful enables businesses to enhance their customer engagement and maximize revenue effortlessly. Whether you're a small online retailer or a large eCommerce brand, Retainful provides the tools you need to grow your business.
Pros and Cons of MailerLite vs Retainful
Pros & Cons of MailerLite
- MailerLite's interface is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy for beginners to navigate and create professional email campaigns without any technical skills.
- With MailerLite, you can set up complex email workflows that save time and improve engagement, making it a valuable tool for marketers.
- MailerLite offers competitive pricing plans that cater to small businesses, providing excellent value for money without compromising on features.
- While MailerLite excels in email marketing, its eCommerce-specific features are limited, making it less suitable for online retailers.
- MailerLite's cart recovery options are basic compared to specialized eCommerce tools, which may not be sufficient for businesses focused on recovering lost sales.
Pros & Cons of Retainful
- Retainful's cart recovery solutions are highly effective, helping businesses recover lost sales and boost revenue with minimal effort.
- Retainful is designed specifically for eCommerce businesses, offering features like referral programs and next order coupons to drive sales.
- Retainful seamlessly integrates with popular eCommerce platforms, making it easy for businesses to implement and manage their marketing campaigns.
- Retainful's advanced features come at a higher price point, which may not be suitable for small businesses with limited budgets.
- While Retainful excels in eCommerce marketing, its general email marketing tools are limited, making it less versatile for non-retail businesses.
MailerLite vs Retainful: At A Glance
Value to Price
MailerLite offers a comprehensive suite of email marketing tools at a competitive price, making it an excellent choice for businesses looking to maximize their marketing budget. Retainful, while slightly more expensive, provides robust eCommerce features that justify its cost for online retailers. If you're focused on email marketing, MailerLite offers better value for money.
Ease of Use
Both MailerLite and Retainful are designed with user-friendliness in mind. MailerLite's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy for users to create stunning emails without technical skills. Retainful's intuitive interface simplifies the process of setting up cart recovery campaigns. If ease of use is your priority, both tools are equally accessible.
Functionality
MailerLite excels in email marketing functionalities, offering automation, segmentation, and A/B testing. Retainful shines in eCommerce marketing with features like cart recovery and referral programs. If your focus is on email marketing, MailerLite is the better choice, while Retainful is ideal for eCommerce businesses.
Scalability
MailerLite is scalable for businesses of all sizes, providing features that grow with your needs. Retainful is also scalable, but its focus on eCommerce may limit its appeal to non-retail businesses. If you're looking for a tool that can grow with your business, MailerLite offers more flexibility.
Integrations
MailerLite integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, enhancing its versatility. Retainful also offers integrations, but its focus is primarily on eCommerce platforms. If you need extensive integration options, MailerLite is the more versatile choice.
Customer Support
MailerLite provides responsive customer support through various channels, ensuring users get the help they need. Retainful also offers reliable support, but its resources are more focused on eCommerce-related queries. If customer support is crucial, MailerLite offers broader assistance.
Security
Both MailerLite and Retainful prioritize security, implementing measures to protect user data. MailerLite's security features are robust, ensuring data protection for email campaigns. Retainful also offers strong security, particularly for eCommerce transactions. If security is a top concern, both tools are reliable.
Overall Rating
MailerLite scores higher overall due to its comprehensive email marketing features and competitive pricing. Retainful, while slightly lower in overall rating, excels in eCommerce marketing, making it a strong contender for online retailers. If you're looking for a well-rounded email marketing tool, MailerLite is the better choice.
MailerLite vs Retainful: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Email Automation
MailerLite's email automation is a game-changer for marketers, allowing you to set up complex workflows with ease. I found it incredibly intuitive, and it saved me hours of manual work. Retainful also offers automation, but it's more focused on eCommerce-specific tasks. If you're looking for a versatile email automation tool, MailerLite is the way to go.
Cart Recovery
Retainful excels in cart recovery, offering automated emails that help recover lost sales. I was impressed by how easy it was to set up and the results it delivered. MailerLite offers basic cart recovery features, but Retainful's specialized focus makes it the better choice for eCommerce businesses.
Segmentation
MailerLite's segmentation capabilities are robust, allowing you to target specific audience groups with precision. I appreciated the level of detail I could achieve. Retainful also offers segmentation, but it's more tailored to eCommerce needs. If segmentation is a priority, MailerLite provides more flexibility.
Referral Programs
Retainful's referral programs are a standout feature, helping businesses drive repeat purchases through word-of-mouth marketing. I found it easy to implement and effective in boosting sales. MailerLite offers basic referral features, but Retainful's focus on eCommerce makes it the better choice for online retailers.
A/B Testing
MailerLite's A/B testing is a powerful tool for optimizing email campaigns. I enjoyed experimenting with different subject lines and content to see what resonated with my audience. Retainful offers A/B testing as well, but MailerLite's broader focus makes it more suitable for general marketing needs.
Next Order Coupons
Retainful's next order coupons are a fantastic way to encourage repeat purchases. I saw a noticeable increase in customer retention after implementing them. MailerLite offers similar features, but Retainful's eCommerce focus makes it the better choice for driving sales.
Pricing Comparison of MailerLite and Retainful
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of MailerLite and Retainful. This comparison will highlight the best option for your email marketing and eCommerce needs.
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.
Retainful Pricing Plans
- 1 automation workflow to streamline email processes.
- Abandoned cart recovery to regain lost sales.
- Unlimited email campaigns for consistent customer engagement.
- 1 active sign-up form to capture leads efficiently.
- 25 automation workflows to enhance marketing efficiency.
- 10 active sign-up forms for diverse lead capture.
- No Retainful branding for professional appearance.
- 2 user access for collaborative efforts.
- 5,000 contacts to manage a larger audience.
- 25 active sign-up forms for maximum lead capture.
- 5 user access for team collaboration.
- White glove onboarding for seamless setup.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each email marketing and eCommerce tool, focusing on key aspects like functionality, ease of use, and customer support. By analyzing user feedback and testing features, we ensure our recommendations align with your needs. Each factor is weighted to provide a reliable final rating, helping you make informed decisions.
MailerLite or Retainful: 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 offers a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features that make it an ideal choice.
- Affordable marketing solution
If you are a small business with a limited budget, MailerLite provides affordable pricing plans that offer excellent value for money without compromising on essential email marketing features.
Choose Retainful If You Need ...
- Effective cart recovery
If you are an online retailer focused on recovering lost sales, Retainful's powerful cart recovery solutions make it the perfect choice for boosting revenue and enhancing customer retention.
- eCommerce marketing focus
If you are an eCommerce business looking for specialized marketing tools, Retainful offers features like referral programs and next order coupons that are tailored to drive sales and customer engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for email marketing, MailerLite or Retainful?
Is Retainful suitable for non-eCommerce businesses?
Does MailerLite offer cart recovery features?
Can I integrate MailerLite with other tools?
What makes Retainful's referral programs effective?
How does MailerLite's pricing compare to Retainful's?
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.
