If you already recommend email marketing tools to clients or readers, the MailerLite affiliate program can be a clean, recurring revenue stream. You get paid for referring a product that’s genuinely beginner‑friendly, competitively priced, and growing fast, especially among bloggers, indie creators, and small e‑commerce shops. In this review, you’ll learn how MailerLite’s commissions work, who it’s best for, the realistic earning potential, and the exact promotion playbooks that convert.
Throughout, I’ll share step‑by‑step guidance, sample earnings, and practical tips so you can start earning recurring commissions sooner (and keep them longer by reducing churn).
What Is The MailerLite Affiliate Program?
MailerLite’s affiliate program pays you a recurring commission when someone signs up through your link and becomes a paying customer. It’s built for creators and marketers who want to recommend a modern, easy email platform, with landing pages, automation, and e‑commerce features, without the sticker shock some bigger tools carry.
How It Works
- You apply for the affiliate program (MailerLite typically manages the program via a partner network). Once approved, you’ll get a unique referral link.
- You promote MailerLite using links, banners, deep links to features, comparison pages, and tutorials.
- When someone clicks your link, a tracking cookie is set. If they purchase a paid plan within the cookie window, you earn a commission.
- Commissions are recurring for a defined period (details below) and are paid out on a regular schedule once you hit the minimum threshold.
Eligible Plans And Customer Actions That Pay
You earn commissions when your referred user upgrades from Free to a paid plan (e.g., Growing Business or Advanced tiers). In most cases:
- New paid plan purchases are eligible.
- Upgrades to higher tiers or subscriber counts continue to pay you during the recurring window.
- Refunds and chargebacks cancel the commission for that billing cycle.
Note: Specifics (eligible regions, payment methods, trial-to-paid transitions) can change. Always check the current program page for the latest details.
Who This Program Is Best For
Bloggers, Creators, And Niche Publishers
If you traffic in tutorials, reviews, or niche content (think: travel blogs, craft businesses, newsletters about productivity), MailerLite fits your audience’s expectations: affordable, intuitive, and powerful enough to automate welcome sequences and product launches. Your readers will appreciate simple setup and generous free tier limits, making conversions smoother.
Positioning angles that work:
- “How to start your first newsletter (without paying $50+/mo).”
- “MailerLite vs. Mailchimp for beginners: what’s easier and cheaper in year one.”
- “Step-by-step: setting up a lead magnet and a 5-email welcome series in MailerLite.”
Agencies, Freelancers, And Consultants
You’re already fielding “Which email tool should I use?” every month. With MailerLite, you can recommend a sane default for small clients and earn recurring revenue. It’s also handy for agencies who want to standardize SOPs across clients, templates, automations, and reports are consistent.
Angles that convert for service providers:
- SOP libraries and checklists bundled with your link.
- “Done-in-a-day” newsletter buildouts where clients start on Free and upgrade as they grow.
- Industry-specific playbooks (e.g., real estate, online fitness, local retail) using MailerLite automations.
SaaS, Course, And Ecommerce Educators
If you teach marketing stacks, cohort courses, or Shopify/WordPress growth, recommending MailerLite in your curriculum can be genuinely helpful. You can show students how to connect forms, build landing pages, send automated sequences, and run simple ecommerce promos, all in one tool.
High-ROI placements:
- Bonus modules inside your course with MailerLite demos.
- Templates for welcome, launch, and re-engagement sequences.
- Tech stack comparison worksheets that include MailerLite alongside Mailchimp and ConvertKit.
Commission Structure And Earnings Potential
Commission Rates, Recurring Terms, And Caps
As of publication, MailerLite typically offers around 30% recurring commission on paid plans for a defined period (commonly up to 12 months). Commission structures can change, so confirm the current rate and recurring term in your dashboard or program page.
- Rate: ~30% recurring
- Term: Commonly up to 12 months from first paid conversion
- Caps: No hard cap on number of referrals: standard exclusions apply (refunds, chargebacks)
Why this matters: Recurring beats one‑time bounties, especially if you help users stick with MailerLite for a year or longer. Your playbook should emphasize reducing churn by helping referrals launch fast and see ROI quickly.
Sample Earnings By Plan Tier And LTV
MailerLite’s pricing scales by subscriber count. Numbers below are examples to illustrate potential: check live pricing for accuracy.
Example monthly plan prices (illustrative):
- Growing Business: $15 (1,000 subs), $29 (5,000 subs), $49 (10,000 subs)
- Advanced: $25 (1,000 subs), $39 (5,000 subs), $87 (10,000 subs)
At a 30% commission:
- Growing 1,000 subs ($15): You earn ~$4.50/month per active referral.
- Growing 5,000 subs ($29): ~$8.70/month.
- Growing 10,000 subs ($49): ~$14.70/month.
- Advanced 1,000 subs ($25): ~$7.50/month.
- Advanced 5,000 subs ($39): ~$11.70/month.
- Advanced 10,000 subs ($87): ~$26.10/month.
Now add LTV and the recurring window. If the recurring term is 12 months and your average referred user sticks for 10 months:
- A 5,000-subscriber Growing user (~$29/mo) nets ~$87 total.
- A 10,000-subscriber Advanced user (~$87/mo) nets ~$261 total.
Scale that: 25 referred customers with an average commission of $10/month over 10 months is roughly $2,500 in total commission. Push your average plan tier up with better customer fit (e.g., established newsletters), and that number climbs.
Refunds, Cancellations, And Churn Impact
- Refunds/chargebacks void commissions for that cycle.
- Downgrades reduce your monthly cut: upgrades increase it.
- Churn ends your recurring window early.
Actionable churn control:
- Share a “Day 1 to First Send” checklist to help new users ship in 24–48 hours.
- Provide a 5‑email automation template they can paste in and go live.
- Teach how to import subscribers correctly and verify a custom domain (deliverability win).
Cookies, Attribution, And Payouts
Cookie Duration And Last-Click Rules
MailerLite commonly runs a standard last‑click model with a fixed cookie window (many programs use 30–90 days). If your referred user purchases within that window after clicking your link, you’re credited. If they click another affiliate’s link closer to purchase, last click typically wins.
Pro tips:
- Use deep links to product pages, pricing, or feature docs that match your content intent.
- Retarget with email: capture the lead first, then send your affiliate link inside a helpful tutorial sequence.
Payout Frequency, Thresholds, And Currencies
Expect monthly payouts in USD once you meet the minimum threshold (commonly $25–$50) and after any standard validation or hold period to account for refunds. Some networks support PayPal and bank transfer, in your affiliate dashboard, set your preferred method early to avoid delays.
Tracking, EPC, And Reporting Accuracy
MailerLite’s program is run on a modern affiliate platform, so you should see:
- Real‑time or near‑real‑time click/lead/sale tracking
- EPC and conversion rate reporting per link or campaign
- The ability to create sub‑IDs for granular tracking (e.g., blog‑post‑slug, yt‑video‑id)
Watch for gaps: Ad blockers and privacy settings can reduce apparent clicks. Mitigate with UTM parameters and soft CTAs that get users onto your list before you send them to MailerLite.
Program Features And Affiliate Resources
Creative Assets, Deep Links, And Widgets
Once approved, you’ll typically get access to:
- Banners in multiple sizes
- Logos and brand guidelines
- Deep links to pricing, features, blog posts, and tutorials
- Optional widgets or prebuilt CTAs (if offered via the network)
Use case: Create deep links to specific features (“email automation,” “landing pages”) from your comparison articles and checklists. Relevance speeds up conversions.
Promo Policies, Trials, And Seasonal Offers
MailerLite’s Free plan acts like a built‑in trial. Seasonal offers (e.g., Black Friday/Cyber Monday) sometimes include discounts or bonus months, excellent for urgency‑driven campaigns. Always follow brand bidding, coupon site, and PPC policies as stated in the program T&Cs.
Support, Affiliate Management, And SLAs
Good programs provide a partner manager or support channel. Don’t be shy about asking for:
- Custom creatives for a big campaign
- Co‑marketing ideas or a quote for your article
- Early heads‑up on promo windows
Fast responses and clear SLAs (service levels) mean you can plan content calendars confidently.
How To Apply And Get Approved
Eligibility, Brand Fit, And Required Details
MailerLite looks for affiliates who can reach creators, small businesses, and marketers who need email + automation without complexity. To speed approval, have:
- A website with relevant content (reviews, tutorials, case studies)
- Clear audience alignment (bloggers, SMBs, ecommerce, educators)
- A short plan for how you’ll promote (content topics, channels)
- Accurate tax and payment info in the network dashboard
Application Tips And Fast-Track Checklist
- Be specific: List 3–5 article titles you’ll publish in the next 30 days (e.g., “MailerLite vs. Mailchimp for Etsy Sellers”).
- Show precedent: Link to an existing tool review or tutorial with traffic.
- Promise compliance: Note you’ll use proper FTC disclosures, brand guidelines, and avoid coupon/PPC conflicts.
- Set tracking up front: Request sub‑IDs if you need them for A/B tests.
Fast‑track checklist:
- Publish one pillar comparison and one how‑to guide before applying.
- Build a simple lead magnet (e.g., “12 MailerLite automation templates”).
- Prepare one YouTube demo you can embed in posts.
- Outline your 90‑day content calendar in your application notes.
Proven Promotion Strategies That Convert
SEO Content Angles And Comparison Guides
Comparison and use‑case content drives warm intent. High‑performing formats:
- MailerLite vs. Mailchimp: pricing over 12–24 months, deliverability notes, ease of automation
- MailerLite vs. ConvertKit: creators, paid newsletters, tagging/automation depth
- “Best email marketing tools for small businesses” listicles (map recommendations by scenario)
- Step‑by‑step tutorials: “Set up a lead magnet in MailerLite,” “Create your first automation,” “Newsletter welcome series in 30 minutes”
On‑page tactics:
- Lead with a quick verdict box and your affiliate CTA
- Insert deep links contextually (pricing table, feature screenshots)
- Add a pros/cons section for scannability
- Include FAQs with schema to capture People Also Ask
Email Funnels, Lead Magnets, And Demos
Own the audience first, then recommend. A simple funnel:
- Lead magnet: “12 ready‑to‑paste MailerLite automations” or “3 newsletter templates that got 45% opens.”
- Nurture sequence (5 emails):
- E1: Quick win (create a form + welcome email)
- E2: Landing page + incentive delivery
- E3: Simple automation + tagging
- E4: Broadcast strategy + best send times
- E5: Comparison and your honest recommendation with the affiliate link
- Optional demo: A 10‑minute video walking through MailerLite’s dashboard, embedded in E3 or E5.
Social, Video, And Community Playbooks
- YouTube: “MailerLite tutorial for beginners,” “Best free email marketing tool in 2025,” “MailerLite automations explained.” Include timestamps and your link top‑of‑description.
- Short‑form: Quick tips on forms, segmentation, and automations with an invite to your longer guide.
- Communities: Share non‑spammy checklists in relevant threads (WordPress, Etsy, indie hacking). Always add value first: drop your link only when it’s genuinely helpful.
Compliance, Disclosures, And Bonus Incentives
- Use clear FTC disclosures near the first affiliate link (“If you buy through my link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you”).
- Avoid misrepresenting features or pricing.
- Sweeteners that convert:
- Your private template pack for anyone who signs up via your link
- A 30‑minute onboarding call (limited spots) for referred users
- Quarterly challenges (e.g., “Send 4 newsletters in 4 weeks”) with prizes for your referred cohort
MailerLite Vs. Alternative Email Marketing Affiliate Programs
MailerLite Vs. Mailchimp
- Audience: Mailchimp skews enterprise/SMB with a massive ecosystem. MailerLite stays lean and creator‑friendly.
- Pricing: Mailchimp can get pricey as lists scale: MailerLite is typically more predictable for small to mid‑size lists.
- Affiliate terms: Mailchimp’s program has historically been more limited/publicly restrictive for general affiliates, while MailerLite’s is more open and recurring‑friendly. Always verify current terms.
- Conversion angle: If your readers want clean UX and fast setup with lower TCO in year one, MailerLite tends to win.
MailerLite Vs. ConvertKit
- Audience: ConvertKit is beloved by creators and course sellers: strong in tagging, automations, and paid newsletters.
- Pricing and trial: Both offer free tiers: exact limits and pricing differ. Compare total cost at 1k, 5k, 10k subs.
- Affiliate terms: ConvertKit is known for generous lifetime recurring commissions (commonly 30%). MailerLite’s recurring window is strong but may be time‑bound. This can influence long‑term EPC.
- Conversion angle: If your audience is primarily bloggers/newsletter writers who value simplicity + lower price, MailerLite can edge out. For advanced creator monetization (paid newsletters, commerce integrations), ConvertKit might appeal.
When To Recommend Each Option
- Recommend MailerLite when your reader is budget‑sensitive, wants fast setup, and needs landing pages + simple automations out of the box.
- Recommend ConvertKit when the use case is creator monetization with deep tagging and sequences.
- Recommend Mailchimp when the org needs a large ecosystem, advanced reporting, or complex multi‑brand setups (and they can afford it).
Your job as an affiliate is to match the tool to the use case. That honesty builds trust, and long‑term recurring revenue.
Conclusion
MailerLite’s affiliate program hits a sweet spot: a widely loved tool for beginners and growing businesses, solid recurring commissions, and a friction‑light path from free to paid. If you serve bloggers, freelancers, indie ecommerce, or small SaaS, you can build a dependable stream of affiliate income with the right content and funnels.
Next steps:
- Apply to the MailerLite affiliate program and set up your tracking, payment details, and sub‑IDs.
- Publish a comparison post and a step‑by‑step tutorial this week.
- Launch a simple 5‑email nurture that teaches one quick win per email and includes your affiliate link.
If you’re ready to recommend a tool your audience will actually use (and afford), start with MailerLite today. And yes, use your link proudly, disclose it clearly, and build a helpful ecosystem around it so your referrals stick around long enough to turn into real, recurring income.
MailerLite Affiliate Program FAQs
What is the MailerLite affiliate program and how does it work?
The MailerLite affiliate program pays recurring commissions when someone signs up through your referral link and becomes a paying customer. After approval, you’ll get unique links and creatives. Referrals who upgrade from Free to a paid plan within the cookie window credit your account; refunds or chargebacks void that cycle.
How much can you earn with the MailerLite affiliate program?
As of publication, commissions are typically around 30% recurring for a defined term (often up to 12 months). Example estimates: ~$4.50/month on a $15 plan, ~$11.70/month on a $39 plan, ~$26.10/month on an $87 plan. Over 10 months, that can total ~$87–$261 per active referral, depending on tier and churn.
What’s the cookie duration and payout schedule for MailerLite affiliates?
MailerLite commonly uses last-click attribution with a fixed cookie window, often 30–90 days. Payouts are typically monthly in USD after meeting a minimum threshold (commonly $25–$50) and any validation/hold period. Exact windows, methods (e.g., PayPal, bank), and thresholds can change—confirm in your dashboard.
How do I get approved for the MailerLite affiliate program faster?
Show clear audience fit and a concrete plan. Share 3–5 content ideas (comparisons, tutorials), link to past reviews with traffic, and commit to proper FTC disclosures. Have a relevant website, accurate tax/payment details, and request sub‑IDs for tracking. Publishing one comparison and one how‑to before applying helps.
Is the MailerLite affiliate program available worldwide, and do I need a website?
MailerLite generally accepts affiliates from many regions, but availability, currencies, and payment options can vary by country. A website isn’t always mandatory, yet having a relevant site with niche content meaningfully improves approval odds. If you rely on social or YouTube, provide proof of audience and engagement.
Can I promote MailerLite with PPC ads, coupons, or email newsletters?
Email newsletters are typically fine with clear FTC disclosures and compliant messaging. PPC and coupon tactics depend on program T&Cs—brand bidding, trademark terms, and coupon site policies may be restricted. Always review the current rules, use negative keywords for brand terms, and prioritize value-first content to drive conversions.
