Sequenzy vs Mailerlite: Startup Features vs Budget Value

Overview

Mailerlite is the budget champion of email marketing with a generous free tier. Sequenzy is built specifically for startups with native billing integrations. Both are excellent choices, but for different reasons.

The quick answer: bootstrapped startups on a tight budget should start with Mailerlite. SaaS startups that want billing integration and revenue attribution should choose Sequenzy.

Key Differences

Pricing and Value

Mailerlite wins on pure pricing. The free tier includes 1,000 subscribers with most features. Paid plans start at just $10/mo. For bootstrapped startups watching every dollar, this value is hard to beat.

Sequenzy costs more at $19/mo but includes billing integration and revenue attribution that Mailerlite does not offer. For SaaS startups, these features can pay for themselves by helping you understand which emails drive revenue.

Billing Integration

Sequenzy has native OAuth integrations with Stripe, Polar, Creem, and Dodo. Billing data syncs automatically. You can segment by MRR, LTV, plan type, and see which emails drive actual revenue.

Mailerlite has no native billing integrations. You would need to use Zapier or custom code to sync any billing data. This is a significant gap for SaaS startups.

Landing Pages

Mailerlite includes landing pages, forms, and a website builder. For startups that need lead capture pages, this adds value beyond the already low price.

Sequenzy focuses purely on email. You will need a separate tool for landing pages. For SaaS where signups happen in-app, this is usually fine.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Choose What

Choose Sequenzy if:

• You are a SaaS startup using Stripe, Polar, Creem, or Dodo
• You want to track which emails drive revenue
• You need both transactional and marketing email
• You want advanced automation based on billing data
• Budget is less important than features

Choose Mailerlite if:

• You are bootstrapped and budget is priority
• You need a generous free tier to start
• You want landing pages included
• You do not need billing integration
• Simple automation is enough

The Bottom Line

Both tools are excellent choices. Mailerlite offers unbeatable value for bootstrapped startups. Sequenzy offers startup-specific features that Mailerlite cannot match.

A smart path: start with Mailerlite while bootstrapping, then migrate to Sequenzy when you need billing integration and revenue attribution. The migration is not painful, and you will have a clearer sense of what features you actually need.