What Is MailerLite? Newsletters, Paid Subscriptions and MCP
By Joris van Huët · MailerLite's own site
The short answer: If you write a newsletter and want readers to pay for it, MailerLite sells recurring subscriptions through Stripe on its Comfort plan, which starts at $12 a month for 500 subscribers on monthly billing, per its pricing page. It is an email platform for small businesses and creators, with automation, landing pages, websites and digital products, a free plan of 250 subscribers, and an MCP server that lets Claude or ChatGPT draft campaigns in your account.
Disclosure: I may earn a commission through some links on this site. It does not change what this page says.
Before you pick Comfort or Power:
- Compare the two at your list size. At 2,500 subscribers Comfort costs $33 a month and Power $49 on monthly billing (pricing page, checked on 24 October 2026). The $49 - $33 = $16 buys unlimited sends instead of 25,000 a month, unlimited automations instead of 50, and unlimited seats instead of 3.
- Start from the Stripe account you have. Paid newsletters, digital products and recurring subscriptions run through Stripe on Comfort or Power, and products are created in the Stripe dashboard first (Stripe article).
- Decide what you will measure. The plan comparison lists e-commerce sales tracking and automation reports; pick one number, such as paying subscribers, that shows the list earns its keep.
What MailerLite does
Campaigns come from drag and drop, simple or custom HTML editors. Automations start from seven default triggers, from joining a group to an exact date, with up to three triggers per workflow on Power (triggers article). Sites, landing pages and forms grow the list; digital products, bookings and paid newsletters sell to it. The MCP server works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VSCode, and campaigns it builds stay drafts until you confirm them (MCP page).
Who it suits
A writer, coach, consultant or small business whose list is also a sales channel. Less so a sales-led B2B team that needs a CRM, or more than three people sharing Comfort.
What it costs
USD, checked on 24 October 2026 on the MailerLite pricing page; yearly billing saves 10%.
| Subscribers | Comfort, monthly / yearly per month | Power, monthly / yearly per month |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $12 / $10.80 | $25 / $22.50 |
| 1,000 | $19 / $17.10 | $39 / $35.10 |
| 5,000 | $49 / $44.10 | $69 / $62.10 |
| 10,000 | $89 / $80.10 | $129 / $116.10 |
| 50,000 | $319 / $287.10 | $389 / $350.10 |
Comfort sends up to ten times its subscriber tier each month, and Power has no send limit. The Free plan holds 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, with 3 active automations and 2 seats; Enterprise starts above 200,000 subscribers (pricing page).
The pricing page pitches Power at "frequent senders, teams and AI agents". The agents part is the weaker reason: the Free plan already lists MCP for Claude and ChatGPT, and Comfort includes full MCP and API access. Buy Power for unlimited sends and seats, not for the AI.
How it compares
EmailOctopus holds 2,500 subscribers free against MailerLite's 250 (EmailOctopus pricing), and its pricing lists no way to take payments. A newsletter that only needs sending is cheaper there; one that sells is better here.
Mailchimp charges $100 a month for Standard at 2,501 to 5,000 contacts (Mailchimp pricing), about twice Comfort's $49; its edge is store integrations.
GetResponse puts webinars, courses and paid newsletters on Creator, from $69 a month for 1,000 contacts (GetResponse pricing). Live events point there; paid issues are cheaper here.
Getting started
Connect Stripe, create a recurring product, put it on a landing page that moves buyers into a paid group, and welcome them by automation. How to use MailerLite follows the help centre through it.
FAQ
Can I sell a paid newsletter on the Free plan?
No. Selling digital products, recurring subscriptions and paid newsletters through Stripe needs Comfort or Power, per MailerLite's Stripe article.
Which AI tools can connect through MCP?
Claude on Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plans, VSCode with GitHub Copilot, Cursor and ChatGPT on free or paid plans, plus other MCP-compatible clients, according to MailerLite's MCP connection guide.
What payment methods can buyers use?
For recurring purchases, cards only. One-time purchases also accept methods such as iDEAL, Bancontact and SEPA, per the Stripe article.