When it comes to email marketing software, MailerLite and SendGrid are two of the most well-known platforms available today. Choosing the right platform for your business is critical for running effective email campaigns, driving customer engagement, and boosting your bottom line.
In this comprehensive comparison guide, we pit MailerLite vs SendGrid across 10 key categories, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each platform.
Our comparison is based on crucial selection criteria for any business owner evaluating email service providers: market position and popularity, ease of use, visual design and customization options, range of features and functionality, website performance, customer support availability, pricing structures, third-party feedback and reviews, and overall platform reputation.
By the end of this review, you’ll have all the information needed to determine which platform is better suited for your business needs and email marketing goals.
1. Understanding the Basics
MailerLite was founded in 2010 by Ignas Rubezius. It has quickly grown in popularity over the last decade to become one of the top email service providers. MailerLite has over 1 million active users as of 2022.
SendGrid was launched in 2009, and founded by Isaac Saldana, Jose Lopez, and Tim Jenkins. The company was acquired by Twilio in 2018 for $3 billion and now operates as a subsidiary. SendGrid powers transactional and marketing email for over 100,000 companies worldwide.
Both MailerLite and SendGrid have an established position in the email marketing industry. MailerLite tends to focus on small businesses and startups, while SendGrid caters more to enterprise-level clients.
2. Features and Functionality
Automation
MailerLite
MailerLite offers a visual automation builder to create sequences, workflows, and single automation without coding. Users can target automation based on subscriber actions, profile data, tags, and other triggers. Automation can send emails, add/remove tags, wait periods, update subscriber fields, change subscription status, and more.
Key automation features include welcome emails, onboarding drips, abandoned cart flows, lead scoring, RSS campaigns, birthday messages, weekly digests, and more. Complex multi-step automations are simple to build with an easy drag-and-drop workflow editor.
Overall, MailerLite provides extensive automation options perfect for small businesses getting started with campaigns or complex sequences. The visual editor makes it easy for beginners.
SendGrid
The Marketing Campaigns tool within SendGrid powers multi-email automation with drag-and-drop workflow building. Users can set up trigger-based emails, onboarding sequences, behavioral messaging, and complex campaigns.
Key features include data filtering, A/B testing, predictive sending for optimal delivery times, multivariate testing, and analytics. Automation can leverage custom fields, subscriber data, and member activity for precise targeting.
For advanced automation, SendGrid offers better capability through Marketing Campaigns and the power of Twilio behind it. However, the visual editor still lags behind some competitors in user-friendliness.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite takes the win for easier automation that small businesses can build without technical skills. The visual editor and setup process makes automated emails more approachable for beginners.
Email Templates
MailerLite
MailerLite provides hundreds of professionally designed email templates that users can customize for their brand. Templates are organized by category, making it easy to find options for welcome emails, promotions, pop ups, newsletters, notifications, and more.
Users can edit templates directly with an easy drag-and-drop editor to change layouts, fonts, colors, and design elements. It’s also possible to code templates from scratch with HTML and CSS. Every template is mobile-responsive out of the box.
Overall, MailerLite makes beautiful, customized email templates easy for users at any skill level. The organized templates and intuitive editing are perfect for small businesses.
SendGrid
The email editor in SendGrid provides drag-and-drop customization and hundreds of mobile-friendly templates. Emails can be coded from scratch as well with HTML and CSS. Useful design elements like buttons, dividers, social icons, etc. can be quickly added to templates.
However, the template organization and modification process lags behind some competitors. Searching for templates by type or industry is not as easy. Customizing templates requires using code view for most changes.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite wins for email templates that are easier for small business owners to personalize and utilize. The organized categories, drag-and-drop editor, and volume of professional designs give MailerLite the advantage. SendGrid provides coding flexibility but the complexity is better suited for developers.
Segmentation
MailerLite
MailerLite enables users to create unlimited segments and groups based on subscriber data, behavior, subscribed lists, tags, custom fields, e-commerce activity, and other factors. Complex nested segmentation with “if this, then that” logic can be created with the visual segment builder.
Key segmentation features include location targeting, segment combinations, filters for open/click tracking, subscriber rating, past purchase data, and much more to precisely target customer groups. Segments automatically update when subscribers meet the defined criteria.
Overall, MailerLite provides excellent granular segmentation options for both basic grouping and advanced subscriber targeting in email campaigns.
SendGrid
SendGrid offers contact sorting to build segments and groups for marketing campaigns. Contacts can be segmented by data points like email activity, customs fields, conversion events, user attributes, and more. Location, demographic, behavioral, and other dynamic segments are supported.
However, some users report the segment builder interface can be less intuitive compared to competitors. Simple tagging for groups is easy, but complex nested segments take more work. Unless you need coding flexibility, it may not be the best for beginners.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite wins for the smallest business-friendly segmentation. The visual segment builder makes it easy for anyone to create precise contact groups and drive targeted email campaigns – no coding required. SendGrid can handle advanced setups, but MailerLite keeps it simple.
Analytics
MailerLite
MailerLite provides detailed email analytics and reports to track opens, clicks, unsubscribes, bounces, social sharing, link clicks, browser data, and more. Real-time reports allow optimization of campaigns as they are sent. Historical performance data can be analyzed to improve campaigns over time.
Useful reports include email summaries, activity graphs, contact leaderboards, campaign metrics, list growth tracking, email client data, and subscriber location analytics. All reports can be filtered, segmented, exported, and scheduled for convenience.
Overall, MailerLite has excellent desktop and mobile analytics for email marketers to monitor performance and engagements at a granular level.
SendGrid
SendGrid offers comprehensive email activity tracking and analytics through their “Stats Engine”. Email sends deliveries, opens, clicks, bounces, spam reports, unsubscribes, social metrics, and more are measured. Custom dashboards, charts, and graphs provide visibility into email program performance.
However, some users report the learning curve being higher and the reporting dashboard interface less intuitive compared to competing solutions. For smaller email programs, detailed analytics may provide more data than actionable insights.
Winner: Tie
Both MailerLite and SendGrid provide enterprise-grade email analytics solutions. MailerLite is easier for novices to adopt while SendGrid offers greater depth. We declare this category a tie since each platform analytics will suit different email marketers.
Unique Features
MailerLite
One standout capability MailerLite offers is a built-in landing page builder and form creation tools. Users can design customizable landing pages and forms without any coding, linking them to email campaigns and automation.
Other useful unique features include pop-up forms for lead generation, RSS-to-email campaigns, WYSIWYG mobile optimization, multilingual campaigns, and integration with WebinarJam.
Overall, MailerLite aims to provide all core email marketing features plus built-in lead capture and landing page tools an online business needs. The beginner-friendly platform keeps you within one solution.
SendGrid
A major unique capability offered by SendGrid is industry-leading email deliverability through proprietary tools like IP warming and domain authentication. For serious email marketers, optimized inbox placement is vital.
SendGrid also enables transactional and operational emails at a huge scale – providing email reliability needed by large enterprises. The recent integration with Twilio provides voice, video, and communication functionality beyond just email.
Winner: Tie
Both MailerLite and SendGrid offer unique features that make them stand out. We declare this category a tie. MailerLite provides integrated landing page and lead gen tools specifically suited for small businesses.
SendGrid offers enterprise-grade deliverability and communication capabilities suited for high-volume emailers. The “winner” depends on your specific use case.
3. Ease of Use
MailerLite
MailerLite uses a clean, intuitive drag-and-drop interface that is very user-friendly. The dashboard neatly organizes campaigns, contacts, and reports for efficiency.
For beginners, MailerLite is easy to navigate with a little learning curve. Features use a visual editor, so no coding is required for email design, automation setups, landing pages, forms, and more.
The platform delivers simplicity without sacrificing capability for small business owners. The excellent tutorial library also helps shorten the ramp-up process for new users.
SendGrid
SendGrid provides a capable feature set but has more complexity in interface design and integration. For larger email programs the breadth offers power but smaller users may find friction.
The platform can require more technical ability to stitch together all capabilities needed, such as using Marketing Campaigns for automation, Email API for sending, and Contacts for list management. Multiple steps are sometimes needed versus competitors with integrated tools.
Uptime and deliverability output is strong but the user experience seems more geared toward developers versus less technical marketers. The interface has improved over time but still can feel overwhelming.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite wins for easier email marketing that provides great utility without unnecessary complexity. Their integrated solution with intuitive UI makes getting started with effective campaigns and conversions more approachable for non-technical users.
4. Email Deliverability
MailerLite
MailerLite offers excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP addresses to protect the sender’s reputation and increase your open rates.
Useful deliverability features include automated warm-up sequences, spam testing, inbox placement monitoring, bounce handling, and expert optimizations by deliverability consultants.
Key metrics like 91% inbox placement across all major ESPs reflect focus beyond design to ensure that email campaigns reliably reach subscriber inboxes. MailerLite also enables domain authentication, link analyses for blacklists, and observance of global email best practices.
For most small business needs, you can trust MailerLite email reliability from both a technology and best practice standpoint.
SendGrid
As an enterprise-grade email provider, deliverability sits at the core of SendGrid’s competitive differentiation. The platform offers a 99% inbox success rate supported by a premium IP reputation, patented email testing and correction methods, and close partnerships with major mailbox providers.
Proprietary tools like SendGrid’s Email Validation Process and Category Suppression Manager optimize the delivery success of every email campaign and transactional message through deep analytics and machine learning intelligence.
Winner: SendGrid
SendGrid earns the win for best-in-class inbox delivery rates that large email programs require. For budget clients focused on design, MailerLite competes well. But true deliverability and scalability make SendGrid hard to beat. Their core competency around enterprise email reliability shines through.
5. Customer Support and Community
MailerLite
MailerLite provides exceptional customer support through email, live chat, and phone 24/7. Support guides and documentation also offer plain help articles to self-serve answers to common questions.
Beyond official channels, users can access the highly active MailerLite Community Facebook group, forums, and blog for discussions among over 30,000 members. Valuable insights and advice from fellow email marketers, experts, MailerLite employees, and the founders themselves foster an engaged community.
Overall, MailerLite delivers reliable customer service through diverse reliable channels, supplemented by a vibrant community for continued growth.
SendGrid
SendGrid prioritizes email and live chat support with 24/7 staffing, along with an extensive knowledge base for self-service troubleshooting. Support staff typically respond within the hour. However, phone support requires upgraded enterprise-level plans, which can frustrate small business clients in need of urgent assistance.
The SendGrid Community Facebook group offers advice and best practice discussions among over 25,000 users covering topics ranging from getting started, to creating campaigns, how to manage accounts, security, surveys, WordPress integration, and more.
However, the volume of contributors is smaller compared to MailerLite groups, with fewer everyday user perspectives shared.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite wins for more approachable support access and community engagement. Phone availability regardless of plan tier ensures quick answers to issues without upcharges – a noted frustration point reported by some SendGrid users.
The MailerLite Community also encourages more dynamic conversations among everyday email marketers versus purely experts.
6. Integrations
MailerLite
MailerLite offers easy integration with over 1,000+ third-party apps and services using Zapier and native integrations. There’s no limit to the number of integrations you can add.
Key connections include CRMs like Mailchimp, landing page builders like ConvertKit, webinar software like WebinarJam, e-commerce platforms like Shopify, and marketing tools like Google Analytics.
Useful automation can be built by connecting email campaigns to your other systems so they can communicate. For example, send confirmation emails when new Shopify orders arrive, or trigger lead nurturing sequences from new MailChimp sign-ups.
Overall MailerLite integrates well with the common small business tech stack both through Zapier flexibility and custom-built deep integrations.
SendGrid
As a more technical platform, SendGrid offers developer-focused integrations using official libraries and APIs in PHP, C#, Ruby, Python, Node.js, Java, and more. Code-level integration is possible into custom apps, databases, business systems, and websites at an enterprise scale.
For small business serving apps with personalization options, SendGrid also provides 300+ integrations via Zapier and built-in integration with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Adobe Campaign, and others in the marketing space. Integrations focus on large, established tools versus niche services common for early-stage companies.
Winner: Tie
For developers building transactional email services, SendGrid provides more robust programmatic integrations. But MailerLite competes well with an ecosystem of small business marketing apps. Each platform offers deep integrations tailored to differing use cases. We declare this category a tie.
7. Pricing
MailerLite
MailerLite offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers with basic features. Three paid tiers scale up by the number of contacts and features including automation tools and premium templates. Pricing ranges from $9 per month to $199 per month for the Pro plan handling up to 50,000 subscribers.
Volume discounts are available for annual plans. Overall, MailerLite pricing structure aligns well with lean startups and small businesses focused on email marketing and lead conversion without extra costs.
SendGrid
SendGrid pricing starts at a $15/month Basic plan handling 40,000 emails monthly. Multiple ascending packages cater toward transactional email volume at the enterprise scale versus marketing campaign contacts. Custom quotes are available for large contracts.
Add-on costs can grow quickly for IPs, contacts, and advanced tools like voice and data streaming. While meeting enterprise and developer needs, the model may overserve SMB marketing budgets with unused volume allowances.
Winner: MailerLite
MailerLite wins the best pricing for early-stage email marketing needs with free and paid tiers directly aligned with list size. SendGrid offers more tailored enterprise packages but the value diminishes for customers below tens of thousands of subscribers. Overall, MailerLite is the more cost-effective option.
8. Reviews and Reputation
MailerLite
MailerLite earns consistently positive reviews across business and software review sites. According to users, MailerLite pros include the easy-to-use UI, automation features, email design flexibility, and excellent customer support as major benefits. Constructive feedback focuses on occasional delivery delays for extremely large email blasts.
In aggregate across GetApp, Capterra, G2Crowd, and other review sites, MailerLite enjoys 4+ star ratings on a 5-star scale – exemplifying strong customer satisfaction and great value, especially for small business segments.
SendGrid
SendGrid garners positive reviews as a leading enterprise-grade email delivery platform. Developers and IT decision-makers praise rock-solid stability, deliverability, integrations, and scalability to trust high-volume transactional and marketing email campaigns.
Less technical users occasionally report the platform having a learning curve to master and a surfaced need for easier customer support access at lower plan tiers. But in aggregate across review sites, SendGrid averages 4+ stars out of 5 – stellar for an enterprise SaaS company.
Winner: Tie
The SendGrid MailerLite comparison shows that both email marketing platforms earn impressive positive review scores, cementing their reputations as email marketing leader picks. Each platform aligns better for either early-stage businesses or mature enterprise programs respectively. We declare this category a tie.
9. FAQ’s
MailerLite
- Does MailerLite offer free plans?
Yes, MailerLite has a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. It includes basic features like email templates, automation triggers, and basic reports. - Is MailerLite easy to use?
Yes, MailerLite prioritizes an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and visual automation builder usable even for beginners. Technical skills are not necessary. - How reliable is MailerLite for email delivery?
Very reliable, with dedicated IPs warming and spam testing ensuring approx. 91% inbox placement across major email providers. Deliverability is a priority. - Does MailerLite offer landing pages?
Yes, built-in landing pages and form creators make converting email leads easier within one platform.
SendGrid
- Does SendGrid offer a free trial?
Yes, SendGrid has a 30-day free trial for the basic plan to test capabilities with up to 40,000 free emails. - Can SendGrid scale to handle large email volumes?
Yes, SendGrid is built to handle enterprise-grade email volumes into the billions thanks to dedicated infrastructure and years of specialization. Custom enterprise quotes are also available. - Is SendGrid easy to integrate with?
Developers praise SendGrid’s documentation, libraries, and APIs that facilitate programmatic integration across languages, apps, and use cases with transactional email. - How does SendGrid prioritize deliverability?
Patent algorithms like Category Suppression Manager, machine learning, traffic analyses, and partnerships optimize inbox placement at rates reaching 99% across ISPs. Deliverability sits at their core.
Final Thoughts
Choose MailerLite if…
MailerLite stands out as the best email marketing platform for bootstrap startups, small businesses, e-commerce stores, bloggers, influencers, and other early-stage online businesses prioritizing simplicity without sacrificing capability.
The easy-to-use visual editor, intuitive automation builder, integrated landing pages, and excellent templates make professional email campaigns achievable for non-technical users right away. MailerLite remains affordably priced as your audience scales from zero towards the first 10,000 subscribers.
Choose SendGrid if…
SendGrid shines as the enterprise-grade email marketing software designed for developers, large companies, and established organizations sending high volumes of transactional and marketing emails.
If your email list sizes reach past 50,000+ subscribers, you prioritize 100% reliable inbox placement at an enormous scale, or you plan to deeply integrate email functionality programmatically into internal apps and systems – then SendGrid offers the leading solution.
The platform delivers ultimate deliverability through proprietary optimization while still integrating with common marketing tools.
Choosing the right email marketing platform for your business needs and growth stage is critical to avoid scalability or capability shortfalls down the road. We hope this comprehensive feature comparison of MailerLite vs SendGrid makes your buying decision easier. Please drop any remaining questions in the comments and we’re happy to provide personalized advice!