MailerLite WordPress Integration: The Budget-Friendly Mailchimp Alternative

MailerLite has earned its reputation as the value champion in email marketing. The 30% nonprofit discount (the most generous in the industry), affordable paid tiers, and genuinely usable free plan make it attractive for budget-conscious organizations.

But how does the WordPress integration hold up?

The official plugin rates well (4.8/5), but we've seen some quirks worth knowing about.

Let me give you the complete picture: what works, what doesn't, and whether MailerLite's value proposition holds for WordPress users.

Why MailerLite Attracts Attention

Before diving into WordPress specifics, let's establish why people consider MailerLite:

The math is clear. At 10,000 subscribers, a nonprofit pays approximately:

• MailerLite with 30% discount: ~$51/month
• Mailchimp with 15% discount: ~$85/month

Annual savings: over $400.

WordPress Integration Options

1. Official MailerLite Plugin

Rating: 4.8/5 stars Active installations: 100,000+ Pricing: Free

The official plugin handles:

• Signup forms (pop-ups, embedded, slide-ins)
• Subscriber sync
• WooCommerce integration (separate plugin)
• Form builder with styling options

Setup Process:

1. Install "Official MailerLite Sign Up Forms" from the WordPress plugin directory
2. Go to MailerLite > Settings
3. Enter your API key (found in MailerLite under Integrations > API)
4. Configure default list
5. Create forms using the built-in builder

2. MailerLite WooCommerce Plugin

For e-commerce, there's a separate plugin specifically for WooCommerce:

• Customer sync
• Purchase tracking
• Abandoned cart (on paid MailerLite plans)
• Product blocks in emails

Reality check: The WooCommerce integration has had reliability issues. We'll cover these in the issues section.

3. Form Plugin Integrations

Several form plugins support MailerLite:

• WPForms (addon required)
• Fluent Forms
• Formidable Forms
• Convert Pro

If you're using one of these, their MailerLite connection may be more reliable than adding another plugin.

4. Embed Codes

MailerLite provides embed codes for forms, pop-ups, and landing pages. Same styling caveats as other platforms: embeds rarely match brand standards without customization.

Known Issues with MailerLite WordPress Integration

Here's where I need to be honest about what we've seen.

Plugin Bugs After Updates

The Issue: Users report that forms sometimes need to be recreated after plugin updates. Settings can reset, form styling may change.

Why It Matters: If you've invested time styling forms to match your brand, losing that work is frustrating.

Mitigation:

• Test after updates before assuming forms still work
• Keep notes on form styling for recreation
• Consider form plugin integration as an alternative

WooCommerce Integration Problems

The Issue: The MailerLite for WooCommerce plugin has had reliability problems:

• Duplicate subscriber entries
• Sync failures
• Features that work inconsistently

Reality Check: WooCommerce email integration is where Mailchimp excels. If e-commerce automation is central to your operation, Mailchimp for WooCommerce is significantly more reliable.

If You Need MailerLite + WooCommerce:

• Monitor sync regularly
• Have manual export processes as backup
• Expect some troubleshooting

No Phone Support

MailerLite doesn't offer phone support at any tier. For some organizations, this is fine. For others accustomed to calling when things break, it's a meaningful limitation.

Support is email and chat-based, with generally good response times, but it's not the same as picking up the phone.

The Free Plan Reduction

As of September 2025, MailerLite reduced its free plan from 1,000 subscribers to 500 subscribers.

This is a common pattern in SaaS: generous free tiers attract users, then reduce over time to push upgrades.

What This Signals:

MailerLite is tightening its free offering. The platform is still cost-effective, but the trajectory suggests continued tightening.

If you're choosing MailerLite specifically for the free tier, build growth into your budget planning. You'll hit paid tiers sooner than historical expectations suggested.

MailerLite vs. Mailchimp WordPress Integration

MailerLite wins on: Price, nonprofit discount, official plugin maintenance

Mailchimp wins on: WooCommerce reliability, ecosystem maturity, automation depth

For a detailed breakdown of how these platforms stack up, see our Mailchimp alternatives guide.

When MailerLite WordPress Integration Makes Sense

Good fit:

• Budget is the primary constraint
• Newsletter-focused (not heavy e-commerce)
• Nonprofit seeking the 30% discount
• Simple automation needs
• Comfortable with email-based support

Consider alternatives if:

• WooCommerce integration is critical
• You've experienced plugin reliability issues
• Phone support matters
• Advanced automation is needed

Setup Best Practices

For Basic Newsletter Signups

1. Install the official MailerLite plugin
2. Connect via API key
3. Create styled forms matching your brand
4. Test thoroughly
5. Set up a monthly test submission to catch failures

For WooCommerce

If you must use MailerLite with WooCommerce:

1. Install the MailerLite for WooCommerce plugin
2. Configure customer sync
3. Set up abandoned cart if on paid plan
4. Monitor for sync issues weekly
5. Have manual export fallback ready

Honest recommendation: If WooCommerce is central, Mailchimp is more reliable.

Form Styling

The MailerLite form builder offers decent styling options:

• Colors
• Fonts (limited selection)
• Layout options
• Field configuration

"We work with some large companies and associations that have literally spent a ton of money on their branding and their brand strategy. To have a third-party link with wrong fonts or wrong colors, even though they seem like minor details, doesn't really fly."

For brand-critical implementations, API integration with custom forms provides more control. But for most use cases, the built-in styling is adequate.

The Value Assessment

This MailerLite review comes down to one question: is it worth it for WordPress users?

The Math:

For a nonprofit with 10,000 subscribers:

• MailerLite: ~$51/month (after 30% discount)
• Mailchimp: ~$85/month (after 15% discount)
• Savings: $34/month = $408/year

That's real money. For organizations with limited budgets, the savings justify working around integration quirks.

The Tradeoff:

You're trading:

• WooCommerce reliability
• Plugin stability
• Phone support access

For:

• Significant cost savings
• Adequate functionality for newsletters
• Good-enough WordPress integration

Our Assessment:

MailerLite is genuinely affordable, and the 30% nonprofit discount makes it even better. But the WordPress integration has quirks, and recent free plan cuts signal where the platform is heading.

For newsletter-focused nonprofits without heavy e-commerce needs, it's a legitimate choice. The cost savings are meaningful. For a broader comparison of nonprofit email options, see our guide on email marketing for nonprofits.

For organizations relying on WooCommerce integration or needing reliability without troubleshooting overhead, Mailchimp or Constant Contact may justify the higher cost.

The Bigger Picture

Here's what we tell clients considering MailerLite:

"If you go use a Mailchimp or Constant Contact, you're taking advantage of their multi-million dollar infrastructure that was designed and built for exactly what you want to do." MailerLite offers similar infrastructure.

MailerLite's infrastructure is legitimate. Their deliverability is well-regarded. The platform works.

The question is whether the WordPress integration quirks and support limitations are acceptable trade-offs for the cost savings. "We are not going to recommend a native solution for them, even though it is much more costly to run with some of the other platforms. It's well worth it for them."

For many organizations, the answer is yes. The platform determines less than what you do with it. Organized lists, relevant content, and reasonable sending frequency matter more than which logo is on your dashboard.

For more context on how email platforms integrate with WordPress and the tradeoffs between different approaches, see our comprehensive guide to WordPress email marketing. If you need help setting up MailerLite or any email integration with your WordPress site, our website support team can assist with configuration and troubleshooting.