Overview
MailPoet was founded in 2011 as a native newsletter and email automation plugin built deeply for WordPress, and is now used by 600,000+ sites. Unlike third-party ESPs that require switching platforms, MailPoet runs directly inside the WordPress admin: installing 1 plugin covers subscriber management, email editing, automation flows, and analytics, making it an ideal fit for blogs, e-commerce, and content sites built on WordPress.
The MailPoet team is headquartered in the UK with a strong focus on the US and European markets. The product serves everyone from individual bloggers to small businesses and online stores: a drag-and-drop editor with 50+ responsive templates, 5 types of automation triggers including welcome and cart abandonment, and deep WooCommerce integration that automatically sends 4 types of transactional emails such as order confirmations. For those getting started with email marketing, MailPoet offers a low-friction path straight from the WordPress dashboard.
Key Strengths
- Native WordPress integration: Manage the entire email operation without leaving the dashboard; install 1 plugin with 0 code changes and start immediately.
- Proven at 600,000+ sites: A mature plugin with strong marketplace ratings and production stability.
- Free plan for 500 subscribers: Blogs and startups can start at 0 cost and upgrade as their list grows.
- WooCommerce transactional emails: Automatically send 4 types of transactional emails and run cart-abandonment recovery to lift e-commerce conversion.
- Drag-and-drop editor with 50+ templates: Responsive templates for campaigns, promotions, and newsletters, combined with email template design best practices.
Product Ecosystem
Email Editor & Templates
MailPoet offers a WYSIWYG drag-and-drop editor with 50+ responsive templates, supporting custom brand colors, fonts, and blocks. Emails can be previewed on mobile and desktop before sending, boosting click-through when paired with design best practices.
Automation Workflows
The built-in automation engine supports 5 common triggers such as welcome emails, cart abandonment, and subscription anniversaries, enabling multi-step flows based on subscriber behavior as core email automation capability.
WooCommerce Integration
Deep WooCommerce integration automatically sends order confirmations, shipping notices, and invoices (4 types of transactional emails), plus cart-abandonment recovery flows. See e-commerce platform comparison for context.
Subscriber Management & Forms
Built-in subscription forms, popups, and landing pages with segmentation, tags, and unsubscribe management, following list management best practices to keep lists healthy.
Limitations
- WordPress only: MailPoet is a WordPress plugin and cannot be used with other site builders or custom stacks.
- Free plan subscriber cap: The free plan supports up to 500 subscribers, after which a paid plan is required.
- Server-based sending by default: Emails are sent through your own server, so larger volumes need SMTP or a dedicated sending service to protect deliverability. See SMTP configuration guide.
Use Cases
- WordPress blogs and content sites (★★★★★): Native plugin, with the free plan covering personal newsletters.
- WooCommerce stores (★★★★★): Transactional emails and cart-abandonment automation built in.
- Corporate WordPress sites (★★★★): Quickly build a subscription and marketing newsletter system.
- Non-WordPress users (★★): Choose standalone platforms such as Mailchimp or MailerLite.
- Teams needing complex marketing automation (★★★): Automation is solid but less flexible than dedicated marketing clouds; evaluate HubSpot.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 500 subscribers, core editing and sending |
| Premium | $10+/mo | Billed by subscriber count, unlocks all automation and integrations |
| Agency | Custom | Multi-site management and white-label for agencies |
Note: Pricing is subject to the official website; paid plans scale with subscriber count.
FAQ
- How does MailPoet compare to Mailchimp? MailPoet is a native WordPress plugin with a higher free tier managed from the dashboard; Mailchimp is a standalone platform with richer templates and integrations. Choose MailPoet for WordPress-centric sites and Mailchimp for multi-platform coverage.
- How many subscribers does the free plan include? Up to 500 subscribers, enough for personal blogs and small sites to start.; see email service provider comparison.
- How does MailPoet ensure email deliverability? It sends through your own server by default; for larger volumes configure SMTP or a sending service and follow deliverability best practices.
- Does MailPoet support WooCommerce transactional emails? Yes, it automatically sends order confirmations and shipping notices, and supports cart-abandonment recovery automation.; see email marketing platform guide.