Email platforms · Guide
Annual vs Monthly Billing on Email Platforms: When the Discount Pays Off
MailerLite takes 10% off for annual billing and GetResponse 18%. What that saves in dollars at each list size, how many months you must stay for it to pay off, and what the terms say if you leave early.
Paying for a year up front lowers the price. It also moves the risk to you, because neither provider refunds the unused part of a year. This page works out how long you have to stay for the discount to come out ahead.
The discount in dollars
| Plan | Subscribers | 12 monthly payments | One annual payment | Saved per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite Comfort | 1,000 | $228 | $205.20 | $22.80 |
| MailerLite Comfort | 5,000 | $588 | $529.20 | $58.80 |
| MailerLite Comfort | 10,000 | $1,068 | $961.20 | $106.80 |
| MailerLite Comfort | 25,000 | $2,148 | $1,933.20 | $214.80 |
| GetResponse Starter | 1,000 | $228 | $186.96 | $41.04 |
| GetResponse Starter | 5,000 | $648 | $531.36 | $116.64 |
| GetResponse Starter | 10,000 | $948 | $777.36 | $170.64 |
| GetResponse Starter | 25,000 | $2,088 | $1,712.16 | $375.84 |
MailerLite's annual price is 10% below twelve monthly payments. GetResponse's is 18% below.
How long you have to stay
An annual payment equals a fixed number of monthly payments. If you would have left before that many months, monthly billing was cheaper.
| Provider | Annual discount | An annual payment equals | Annual billing wins if you stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 10% | 10.8 monthly payments | 11 months or more |
| GetResponse | 18% | 9.84 monthly payments | 10 months or more |
Take GetResponse Starter at 5,000 subscribers. Monthly billing is $54. The annual payment is $531.36.
| You leave after | Paid on monthly billing | Paid on annual billing | Annual billing is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $162 | $531.36 | $369.36 more |
| 6 months | $324 | $531.36 | $207.36 more |
| 9 months | $486 | $531.36 | $45.36 more |
| 10 months | $540 | $531.36 | $8.64 less |
| 12 months | $648 | $531.36 | $116.64 less |
What the terms say if you leave early
- MailerLite: you can cancel at any time. The terms say unused or partly used plans are not refunded, monthly or yearly. A refund is owed only if MailerLite ends the service without cause before the end of a paid year. It may give refunds in other cases at its own discretion, within 30 days of the last payment.
- GetResponse: the terms describe the service as pay-as-you-go and say amounts paid are not refunded, including when you cancel right after a charge. A pro rata refund is owed only if GetResponse ends the subscription without cause.
What changes at renewal
- MailerLite: plans renew at the price current on the renewal date, which can differ from what you paid. A discount applies to the billing period in which it was claimed, and ends if you cancel, change plan or change billing interval.
- GetResponse: plans renew automatically. An upgrade takes effect at once and starts a new billing cycle. A move from annual back to monthly billing goes through support.
Lists that grow during the year
Both providers move you up a tier when the list passes the limit, and the price steps are large. See what one extra subscriber costs at a tier edge. If the list is likely to cross a tier during the year, the annual saving on the current tier is not the whole picture. How each provider bills the difference partway through a prepaid year is not covered here yet.
Yearly cost of paid plans at 5,000 subscribers
MailerLite Comfort
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · 50,000 emails per month
From 5,001 subscribers: $745.20/year
$529.20/year
billed yearly · $588 if billed monthly
Lowest listed priceSee MailerLite plansGetResponse Starter
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited
From 5,001 subscribers: $777.36/year
$531.36/year
billed yearly · $648 if billed monthly
+$2.16 per yearSee GetResponse plansAWeber Lite
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · 50,000 emails per month
From 5,001 subscribers: $850/year
$600/year
billed yearly · $720 if billed monthly
+$70.80 per yearSee AWeber plansMailerLite Power
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited (fair use policy)
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,069.20/year
$745.20/year
billed yearly · $828 if billed monthly
+$216 per yearSee MailerLite plansKit Creator
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited email broadcasts
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,190/year
$890/year
billed yearly · $1,068 if billed monthly
+$360.80 per yearSee Kit plansAWeber Plus
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · 60,000 emails per month
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,200/year
$900/year
billed yearly · $1,080 if billed monthly
+$370.80 per yearSee AWeber plansGetResponse Marketer
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,121.76/year
$934.80/year
billed yearly · $1,140 if billed monthly
+$405.60 per yearSee GetResponse plansGetResponse Creator
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,318.56/year
$1,072.56/year
billed yearly · $1,308 if billed monthly
+$543.36 per yearSee GetResponse plansKit Pro
Tier: up to 5,000 subscribers · Unlimited email broadcasts
From 5,001 subscribers: $1,690/year
$1,390/year
billed yearly · $1,668 if billed monthly
+$860.80 per yearSee Kit plans
Free plans that cover this size: Kit Free (up to 10,000 subscribers, Unlimited email broadcasts). Free plans have feature limits.
Official list prices in USD, before tax. MailerLite checked November 12, 2026; GetResponse checked November 12, 2026; AWeber checked November 12, 2026; Kit checked November 12, 2026. Try another list size.
A short checklist
- Count the months you expect to stay. Below 10 on GetResponse or 11 on MailerLite, monthly billing costs less.
- Check how close the list is to the top of its tier.
- Note the renewal date. Both plans renew automatically.