The email marketing world has been buzzing lately—and not in a fun, “I just got another sale notification” kind of way.
If you’ve been relying on your platform’s free tier or locked-in pricing, you’ve probably felt the shift. Over the past few weeks:
- MailerLite cut its free plan in half.
- Flodesk announced the end of its flat-rate model for new customers.
- Kit (formerly ConvertKit) rolled out its first price increase in more than a decade.
For bloggers and creators, these aren’t small changes. They impact how you budget, how quickly you’ll need to upgrade, and which platform will actually support the stage of business you’re in.
So let’s take this step-by-step and look at what’s changing—and more importantly, which option makes the most sense for you right now.
MailerLite
What’s Changing
- Free plan cap dropped from 1,000 subscribers to 500 (as of Sept 2025).
- Paid plans crept up slightly, closing the gap with competitors.
What’s Stable/New
- Still offers intuitive automations, forms, and landing pages.
- Simple but flexible email editor, solid deliverability.
Pricing Snapshot (Sept 2025)
- Free: Up to 500 subscribers
- Paid: Starts around $10–$15/month at 1,000 subs
Pros
- Beginner-friendly dashboard
- Automations/workflows strong enough for most bloggers
- Handy built-in landing pages
Cons
- Smaller free tier means you’ll likely need to upgrade sooner
- Lighter on advanced ecommerce features
Best Fit: Bloggers who want easy automations and built-in landing pages without getting bogged down in tech.
Flodesk
What’s Changing
- Their signature flat-rate “unlimited” plan ends for new customers on Nov 28, 2025.
- After that, contact-based pricing will roll out (tiers not yet published).
What’s Stable/New
- Still the most design-oriented email builder around.
- Drag-and-drop simplicity and beautiful templates make branding effortless.
Pricing Snapshot (Sept 2025)
- Flat rate still in effect (for now).
- Legacy customers will likely keep their pricing grandfathered.
Pros
- Gorgeous templates ready to go
- Very little learning curve
- Flat-rate pricing still available if you lock it in before Nov 28
Cons
- Automations and segmentation weaker than Kit or MailerLite
- Pricing uncertainty after November
Best Fit: Bloggers who care most about aesthetics and ease of use—and who want to lock in a flat-rate deal while they still can.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
What’s Changing
- First price increase in 10+ years, effective Nov 13, 2025.
- Every plan rises by $10/month ($120/year).
What’s Stable/New
- One of the most robust automation builders for creators.
- Native tools for selling products, subscriptions, and paid newsletters.
- A/B testing, 24/7 support, unlimited sends—all included.
Pricing Snapshot (Sept 2025)
- Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers (limited features).
- Creator plan: $29/month for 1,000 subscribers → rising to $39/month Nov 13.
- Higher tiers (e.g., 20,000 subs) will move from $179 → $189/month.
Pros
- Excellent visual automations and tagging
- Perfect for digital product sellers with built-in commerce tools
- Strong deliverability
Cons
- Most expensive of the three
- Templates are simpler compared to Flodesk
Best Fit: Bloggers and creators who are serious about funnels and digital products. The $10/month increase may sting, but the growth potential is unmatched.
Don’t Let Your Email List Become a Cost Center
Here’s the truth: your email list should never just be an expense.
I’m a big believer that your list should be making you money—even if it’s small at first. Because when you’re paying $10, $30, or even $100+ a month for a tool, that investment should be working for you.
That’s why I created two step-by-step programs to help you get there:
- Email Marketing Sprint – Learn how to write emails that connect, build trust, and turn subscribers into customers.
- Digital Shop Sprint Academy – My signature program that shows you how to create and sell your own digital products—so your list doesn’t just grow, it generates income.
Even a simple tripwire offer (taught in my Irresistible Automated Offer Lunch & Learn) or automated welcome sequence can offset your platform cost—and once you’ve set it up, it keeps working behind the scenes.
Final Thoughts
Email marketing is still one of the most reliable ways to grow your audience and earn income, but the math looks different in 2025.
- MailerLite trims back its free plan, pushing new bloggers into paid tiers faster.
- Flodesk phases out its beloved flat rate, leaving a short window to lock it in.
- Kit increases pricing across the board, reminding us that even creator-friendly tools aren’t immune to rising costs.
Here at Restored 316, we use Kit ourselves and plan to stay with them because the automations and commerce features are essential to our business. But I’ll be the first to say—for someone just starting out, that extra $10/month can feel significant.
The key? Don’t just stick with the tool you’ve always used. Revisit your goals, your budget, and the features you’ll actually use. Whether it’s Kit’s automation power, Flodesk’s design simplicity, or MailerLite’s balance of features and price—there’s still a best-fit option for you.
And remember: your email list isn’t just a cost. It’s an asset. Build it, use it, and let it pay you back. You’ve got this.
Ready to Make a Switch?
If you’re thinking about changing email platforms—or just want to double-check your setup—we’ve got you covered. Inside your Restored 316 account, you’ll find step-by-step tutorials that walk you through connecting our Newsletter Block with your platform of choice.
These resources are only available to customers with an active account (you’ll need to log in to view them), but they’re here anytime you’re ready to make a change:
- How to setup the Newsletter Block with FloDesk
- How to setup the Newsletter Block with Mailerlite
- How to setup the Newsletter Block with ConvertKit
No pressure—just possibilities. Whether you’re moving to a new platform or staying put, these guides will help you connect everything quickly and confidently.
