GetResponse vs MailerLite (2026): Which Is Better for an Online Store?
GetResponse and MailerLite compared for online stores: monthly price at 1,000 to 10,000 contacts, free plans, abandoned cart emails, SMS and support – and which one fits your store.
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Short answer: For most small online stores, MailerLite is the better value: abandoned cart emails are included from the free plan up, and Comfort costs $19/month at 1,000 subscribers. Choose GetResponse if you also want webinars, online courses or sales funnels in one platform – but budget for the Marketer plan ($59/month at 1,000 contacts), because Starter doesn’t include abandoned cart recovery.
Prices are regular monthly list prices in USD from each vendor’s own pricing page, checked October 28, 2026. GetResponse prices by contacts and MailerLite by subscribers. This comparison is based on published information, not a hands-on test.
Price at common list sizes
| List size | MailerLite Comfort | MailerLite Power | GetResponse Starter | GetResponse Marketer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $19 | $39 | $19 | $59 |
| 2,500 | $33 | $49 | $29 | $69 |
| 5,000 | $49 | $69 | $54 | $95 |
| 10,000 | $89 | $129 | $79 | $114 |
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Billed monthly. MailerLite takes 10% off for annual billing; GetResponse takes up to 18% off (for example, Marketer is $48.38/month billed annually at 1,000 contacts). GetResponse’s smallest paid tier is 1,000 contacts. More tools side by side: email cost calculator.
Read the Starter column carefully: it looks cheaper than MailerLite Comfort at 2,500 and 10,000 contacts, but Starter has no abandoned cart recovery and only one custom automation workflow. For a store, the fair comparison is MailerLite Comfort against GetResponse Marketer.
Plans and features
| MailerLite | GetResponse | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month, automations, landing page | 500 contacts, 2,500 newsletters/month, 1 landing page, forms |
| Abandoned cart emails | Every plan (recognized shoppers only) | Marketer and up |
| Automations | 50 on Comfort, unlimited on Power | 1 custom workflow on Starter, unlimited on Marketer |
| Extras | Websites, digital products, booking | Webinars, course creator, website builder (Creator plan); sales funnels (Marketer) |
| SMS | Not built in; via sister company MailerSend (separate account; US and Canada) | Enterprise plan only |
| Support | Knowledge base (Free), email (Comfort), live chat and email (Power) | – |
| Free trial | 14 days of premium features, no card | 14 days |
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”–” = not compared here; see our GetResponse review.
The biggest difference: what you pay for abandoned cart emails
- MailerLite includes abandoned cart emails on every plan. The catch: they only reach recognized shoppers – people who subscribed through a MailerLite form on your store or clicked a MailerLite email (MailerLite help center).
- GetResponse puts abandoned cart recovery, product recommendations and promo codes on Marketer, so a store moving up from Starter pays $40 more a month at 1,000 contacts (GetResponse help center).
Setup tips for either tool: Shopify abandoned cart email setup.
Which should you choose?
Pick MailerLite if:
- You want abandoned cart, welcome and post-purchase emails at the lowest monthly cost.
- You mainly sell physical products and send newsletters and product launches.
- You’re happy with email support on Comfort (live chat comes with Power).
Pick GetResponse if:
- You also run webinars, sell courses or build sales funnels and want one platform for all of it.
- You need more contacts on a free plan (500 vs 250) while you start out.
- You’re fine paying for Marketer to unlock abandoned cart recovery.
MailerLite
Best valueBest for: Small stores that want affordable email with abandoned cart included
- Abandoned cart on every plan
- Comfort $19/mo at 1,000 subscribers
- Annual billing saves 10%
- Abandoned cart only reaches recognized shoppers
- SMS only through a separate MailerSend account
GetResponse
Best all-in-oneBest for: Stores that also run webinars, courses or sales funnels
- Webinars, courses and website builder on Creator
- 500 contacts on the free plan
- Up to 18% off with annual billing
- Abandoned cart needs Marketer ($59/mo at 1,000 contacts)
- SMS only on Enterprise
Full reviews: MailerLite · GetResponse.
Check MailerLite's current pricingKey takeaways
- With abandoned cart emails included, MailerLite is far cheaper: Comfort costs $19/month at 1,000 subscribers, while GetResponse's abandoned cart plan (Marketer) costs $59/month at 1,000 contacts.
- GetResponse Starter ($19/month at 1,000 contacts) matches MailerLite Comfort on price but has no abandoned cart recovery and only one custom automation workflow.
- MailerLite includes abandoned cart emails on every plan, but they only reach recognized shoppers; on GetResponse they start on Marketer.
- Free plans: GetResponse allows 500 contacts and 2,500 newsletters a month; MailerLite allows 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
- Choose GetResponse if you also want webinars, courses or sales funnels in the same tool; choose MailerLite for the lowest-cost newsletter-plus-store setup.
Frequently asked questions
Is MailerLite cheaper than GetResponse?
For online stores, yes. Once you need abandoned cart emails, MailerLite Comfort costs $19, $33, $49 and $89 a month at 1,000, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers, versus $59, $69, $95 and $114 for GetResponse Marketer (monthly billing, checked October 2026).
Does GetResponse Starter include abandoned cart emails?
No. Abandoned cart recovery, product recommendations and unlimited automation workflows start on the Marketer plan.
Which has the better free plan?
GetResponse's free plan allows more contacts (500 vs 250); both allow 2,500 emails a month. MailerLite's free plan includes automations and a landing page.
Do GetResponse or MailerLite have SMS?
GetResponse lists SMS only on its custom-priced Enterprise plan. MailerLite doesn't send SMS itself; SMS (US and Canada) and WhatsApp come from its sister company MailerSend, a separate account that integrates with MailerLite.