MailerLite starts lower and prices by subscriber tier and sending level. SendKernel is not trying to undercut its newsletter plans; the value is combining transactional sending with compliance-first broadcasts.

Do unsubscribed contacts count?

No. SendKernel meters only subscribed contacts and retains suppressed addresses at no charge so they cannot be mailed again.

Can I keep MailerLite while testing?

Yes. Add SendKernel's DKIM selectors alongside the existing records, import a consented test segment, and switch only after delivery looks healthy.

SendKernel vs MailerLite

MailerLite is a strong, affordable newsletter suite with forms, landing pages, automations, and editors. SendKernel does fewer things and treats deliverability controls as hard gates. Choose MailerLite for marketing production tools; choose SendKernel for a unified transactional and broadcast sending layer.

Competitor pricing verified September 3, 2026 from public pages. Check before switching — everyone's pricing moves.

Choose MailerLite if

You need drag-and-drop editing, templates, forms, landing pages, and automations.
You want unlimited sending on the Power plan, subject to fair use.
Your team needs a mature newsletter workflow and integration catalog.

Choose SendKernel if

You need a transactional API alongside audience broadcasts.
You want every send blocked unless identity, consent, and domain checks pass.
You want a permanent account-level suppression list and automatic reputation pauses.

Side by side

	MailerLite	SendKernel
Free tier	250 subscribers / 2,500 emails	500 contacts + 2,000 transactional emails
Paid plans start	$12/mo Comfort	$36/mo marketing
Transactional email	Separate MailerSend product	Same workspace
Landing pages and forms	Yes	No
Automations	Yes	No
Mandatory DMARC before sending	No	Yes
Automatic complaint pause	Provider managed	Visible thresholds and hard gate

Questions people actually ask

Which is cheaper?: MailerLite starts lower and prices by subscriber tier and sending level. SendKernel is not trying to undercut its newsletter plans; the value is combining transactional sending with compliance-first broadcasts.
Do unsubscribed contacts count?: No. SendKernel meters only subscribed contacts and retains suppressed addresses at no charge so they cannot be mailed again.
Can I keep MailerLite while testing?: Yes. Add SendKernel's DKIM selectors alongside the existing records, import a consented test segment, and switch only after delivery looks healthy.

Try it before you migrate anything

The free plan does not expire. Verify a domain, import a small segment, and send one campaign before you move your list.

Start free