Quick overview
AWeber, MailerLite, and GetResponse are three established email marketing platforms. Each has a different philosophy:
- AWeber — veteran platform (since 1998) with the best affiliate terms: 30% lifetime + 365-day cookie
- MailerLite — modern UI with excellent value: 30% lifetime at $13/mo starting price
- GetResponse — full marketing suite with webinars and CRM: 40-60% recurring for 12 months
AWeber — deep dive
AWeber has been in email marketing since 1998 — one of the oldest players in the space. It serves over 100,000 customers and has built a reputation for deliverability and customer support.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop email builder with 700+ templates
- Visual automation builder (triggers, conditions, actions)
- Landing pages with built-in templates
- Smart AI writer for subject lines and content
- 24/7 customer support (real humans — rare in 2026)
- Free plan: 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month
- 365-day affiliate cookie (industry-leading)
Pricing
| Subscribers | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| Free (up to 500) | $0 |
| 1,000 | $19 |
| 2,500 | $29 |
| 5,000 | $49 |
| 10,000 | $69 |
| 25,000 | $149 |
MailerLite — deep dive
MailerLite is known for its clean, modern interface and generous free plan. It has rapidly grown in the creator economy thanks to its simplicity and fair pricing.
Key features
- Beautiful drag-and-drop editor with clean templates
- Visual automation builder with conditional logic
- Built-in landing pages and pop-ups
- Subscriber scoring and segmentation
- AI writing assistant
- Free plan: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month
Pricing
| Subscribers | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| Free (up to 1,000) | $0 |
| 1,000 | $13 |
| 2,500 | $25 |
| 5,000 | $45 |
| 10,000 | $75 |
GetResponse — deep dive
GetResponse is more than email — it includes webinars, a basic CRM, and funnel builders. It targets businesses that want a broader marketing suite.
Key features
- Email marketing with automation builder and funnels
- Built-in webinars (up to 1,000 attendees)
- Basic CRM with sales pipeline
- Landing pages (unlimited on all paid plans)
- Conversion funnels with checkout
- AI email generator
Pricing
| Subscribers | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $19 |
| 2,500 | $49 |
| 5,000 | $69 |
| 10,000 | $119 |
Feature comparison
| Feature | AWeber | MailerLite | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/mo (1k subs) | $13/mo (1k subs) | $19/mo (1k subs) |
| Free plan | ✅ 500 subs | ✅ 1,000 subs | ❌ |
| Drag-drop builder | ✅ 700+ templates | ✅ Clean editor | ✅ Full editor |
| Automation builder | ✅ Visual | ✅ Visual | ✅ Visual + funnels |
| Landing pages | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Unlimited |
| Webinars | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Up to 1,000 |
| CRM | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Basic |
| AI features | ✅ Smart writer | ✅ AI assistant | ✅ AI generator |
Affiliate program comparison
| Metric | AWeber | MailerLite | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission rate | 30% (up to 50%) | 30% (up to 100%) | 40-60% tiered |
| Recurring type | Lifetime | Lifetime | 12 months only |
| Cookie duration | 365 days | 45 days | 90 days |
| Tiered rates | 30% → 40% → 50% | 30% → 50% → 100% | 40% → 50% → 60% |
| Cookie value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Recurring value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
AWeber wins on cookie duration — 365 days means you have a full year to earn a commission from a single click. Combined with lifetime recurring payouts, a referred customer paying $19/month for 3 years = $205 in commissions at 30%.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose AWeber if: You want the longest affiliate cookie (365 days), lifetime recurring commissions, and a reliable platform with great support. Best for beginners and small businesses.
- Choose MailerLite if: Budget is your priority. At $13/month it is the most affordable, with a clean modern UI and lifetime commissions. The 45-day cookie is the trade-off.
- Choose GetResponse if: You need webinars and CRM built into your email platform. The 40-60% rate is high, but recurs only for 12 months per referral.
Best value for affiliates: AWeber's 365-day cookie + lifetime recurring is unmatched. A single blog post can earn commissions for years.
Start your free AWeber trial →FAQ
Is AWeber still good in 2026?
Yes. AWeber has been operating since 1998, has excellent deliverability, 700+ templates, and 24/7 human support. It is still one of the most reliable email platforms for small businesses.
What is AWeber's affiliate cookie duration?
AWeber offers a 365-day cookie — the longest in the email marketing industry. Most competitors offer 30-90 days.
How does AWeber compare to MailerLite?
AWeber starts at $19/mo with 365-day cookie. MailerLite starts at $13/mo with 45-day cookie. AWeber has more templates; MailerLite has a cleaner UI. Both offer 30% lifetime recurring commissions.
Is AWeber's free plan good?
The free plan includes 500 subscribers and 3,000 emails/month — enough to evaluate the platform. MailerLite's free plan is more generous (1,000 subs).