Mailerlite vs Shopify — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Mailerlite starts at $12/mo. Shopify starts at $39/mo. Mailerlite is $27/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Shopify.
See price history: Mailerlite · Shopify
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.
- Mailerlite (Per Usage) — Mailerlite bills on usage — Subscribers on top of a paid plan starting at $12/mo. The plan includes an allowance; anything beyond it is metered.
- Shopify (Unknown model) — Shopify bills on a fixed plan from $39/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
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.
The e-commerce platform that grew from $19/mo startup roots to a $95B market cap public company powering ~10% of all US e-commerce. Positioned as the alternative to running your own e-commerce infrastructure or fighting Amazon's marketplace rules. Distinctive for the 8,000+ app ecosystem plus Shopify Payments (which is where the real margin comes from, on top of $39-$399 subscription). Shopify Plus at $2,300+/mo dominates enterprise e-commerce. Also runs the payment infrastructure for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shopping. Recent 2026 shift raised Basic from $29 to $39 monthly with a new POS Pro add-on at $89/mo per location.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Mailerlite monthly | Mailerlite annual | Shopify monthly | Shopify annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Comfort / Basic | $12 | $10.8 | $39 | $29 |
| Mid tier 1 | — / Grow | — | — | $105 | $79 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / Advanced | — | — | $399 | $299 |
| Pro / power | Power / Plus | $25 | $22.5 | $2300 | — |
| 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
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.
Shopify is worth it if… anyone selling physical or digital products online who wants a proven e-commerce platform with a massive app ecosystem — particularly if you're above the WooCommerce/Wix DIY tier but below the Salesforce Commerce Cloud enterprise budget. Basic handles solo entrepreneurs and small stores; Grow adds standard reports and 5 staff; Advanced adds custom reports for scaling brands; Plus for $1M+ GMV businesses.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Mailerlite over Shopify if…
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.
Choose Shopify if…
- You're comfortable with Shopify's from $39/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Shopify is built for: anyone selling physical or digital products online who wants a proven e-commerce platform with a massive app ecosystem — particularly if you're above the WooCommerce/Wix DIY tier but below the Salesforce Commerce Cloud enterprise budget.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Mailerlite | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $12/mo | $39/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | — |
| Verification | Verified September 4, 2026 | Verified August 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 25, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Mailerlite and Shopify
- 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?
- How much does Shopify cost in 2026?
- Does Shopify have a free plan?
- How often does Shopify change prices?
- What are the best Shopify alternatives in 2026?