Buffer vs Mailerlite — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Buffer starts at $6/mo. Mailerlite starts at $12/mo. Buffer is $6/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Mailerlite.
See price history: Buffer · Mailerlite
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- Buffer (Per Seat) — Buffer bills on a fixed plan from $6/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
- Mailerlite (Per Usage) — Mailerlite bills purely on usage — Subscribers. There is no fixed per-seat fee, so the monthly cost depends entirely on how much you consume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
Social media scheduling and analytics from a fully-remote 80-person company known for radical transparency (publishes salaries, revenue publicly). Positioned as the alternative to Hootsuite for small businesses and creators. Distinctive for its calm, no-upsell culture. Priced $6-$120/mo across four tiers. Losing ground to Hootsuite (enterprise) and Later (Instagram-first) but still profitable and cash-generative.
European (Lithuanian) email platform positioned as the value alternative to Mailchimp for SMBs. Distinctive for its transparent pricing (public tiers, no per-contact games) and formerly generous free tier. Restructured June 16, 2026: Growing Business renamed 'Comfort', paid tiers up 10-30% on effective per-subscriber basis (headline held, coverage shrank), free plan cut to 250 subs / 2,500 emails effective July 1, 2026. Priced $9-$12/mo Comfort tier (annual/monthly). Owned by Vista Equity Partners since 2021. Popular with creators and small businesses in Europe.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Buffer monthly | Buffer annual | Mailerlite monthly | Mailerlite annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Essentials / Comfort | $6 | $5 | $12 | $10.8 |
| Pro / power | — / Power | — | — | $25 | $22.5 |
| Teams | Team / — | $12 | $10 | — | — |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Buffer is worth it if… solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing. Free plan covers 3 channels; Team adds analytics and collaboration.
Mailerlite is worth it if… creators and SMBs (post-restructure: under 500 subscribers) who want polished email marketing at lower price than Mailchimp — particularly if you value modern templates and drag-and-drop simplicity. Free covers newsletters with under 250 subs (post-July 2026 cut); Comfort adds landing pages, automations, and covers up to 500 subs.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Buffer is per seat, Mailerlite is per usage.
Choose Buffer over Mailerlite if…
Choose Buffer if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $6/mo).
- You match the profile Buffer is built for: solo creators and small marketing teams (1-10 people) that need reliable scheduling across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok, and Threads — without Sprout Social's enterprise pricing.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Mailerlite if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $12/mo).
- You match the profile Mailerlite is built for: creators and SMBs (post-restructure: under 500 subscribers) who want polished email marketing at lower price than Mailchimp — particularly if you value modern templates and drag-and-drop simplicity.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Buffer | Mailerlite | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $6/mo | $12/mo |
| Enterprise available | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Usage |
| Last verified | September 17, 2026 | September 13, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 17, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Buffer and Mailerlite
- How much does Buffer cost in 2026?
- Does Buffer have a free plan?
- How often does Buffer change prices?
- What are the best Buffer alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Mailerlite cost in 2026?
- Does Mailerlite have a free plan?
- How often does Mailerlite change prices?
- What are the best Mailerlite alternatives in 2026?