- Build the form in MailerLite first
- Connecting the plugin to your account
- Where your form can appear
- Testing the form before you promote it
- Popups switch on when you activate
- When you need more than signup forms
- Other email tools with WordPress plugins
- My take for bloggers and small business sites
- Frequently asked questions
Install the Official MailerLite Sign Up Forms plugin in WordPress, activate it, then paste your MailerLite API key into the plugin. You can then show a form in a sidebar widget or add it with a shortcode in any post or page. Zapier, Make, SyncSpider and WP Fusion are the connector routes for anything more.
Build the form in MailerLite first
Here's the order that saves you a second trip. The plugin can only add embedded forms that you've already created in your MailerLite account, so make the form there before you touch WordPress. The plugin does let you pick pre-built webforms from your account or create a new form from scratch, but the embedded form is what you'll place on the page.
Connecting the plugin to your account
- In WordPress admin, install the Official MailerLite Sign Up Forms plugin and activate it. You can also download it and place the file in the /wp-content/plugins/ folder, then activate it.
- Click the MailerLite icon that appears in the left sidebar of WordPress admin.
- In MailerLite, use the Developer API link at the bottom of the page to copy your API key.
- Paste the API key into the plugin and save.
The plugin page lists PHP5 and CURL as requirements. Most hosts have both, but if the plugin won't connect, that's a question for your host.
Where your form can appear
| Placement | How | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sidebar | Appearance > Widgets, drag the MailerLite signup form widget to the sidebar, choose the form | A site-wide signup box |
| Inside a post or page | Use the MailerLite icon in the content editor to insert a shortcode such as [mailerlite_form form_id=1] | A lead magnet offer at the end of an article |
| Popup | Shown automatically once the plugin is active | Popups you've built in MailerLite |
The shortcode route is the one I'd use most. Put a relevant offer at the bottom of your three most-read posts and you're asking for the signup at the moment someone's finished reading and trusts you.
Testing the form before you promote it
Before you point any traffic at the form, sign up with an address of your own from the live page, not the preview. Then check three things: that the new subscriber appears in your MailerLite account, that they've landed in the group you expected, and that any welcome email arrives. If the subscriber shows up but the welcome email doesn't, the problem's in your MailerLite settings, not the plugin.
Popups switch on when you activate
The MailerLite WordPress integration page notes a behaviour that catches people out. Popup forms from your MailerLite account are shown automatically on your WordPress site once the plugin's activated. If you've got an old test popup sitting in your account, it could appear on your live site the moment you connect. Check your popups in MailerLite before you activate, and turn off any you don't want showing.
When you need more than signup forms
The plugin is for forms. For anything beyond that, such as syncing data from other plugins, MailerLite points to connector platforms instead. It lists four:
- Zapier
- Make
- SyncSpider
- WP Fusion
Each one sits between the two systems, so check which of your other plugins it supports before you choose.
If you're building out the site side too, my guide to creating landing pages in WordPress pairs well with a signup form, and my list of WordPress plugins worth installing covers the rest of the stack.
Other email tools with WordPress plugins
Brevo's WordPress plugin page describes a platform for managing customer relationships by email, SMS, WhatsApp and chat.
Kit's WordPress plugin page says it integrates with Contact Form 7, Gravity Forms, WooCommerce, WishList Member and Elementor.
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If you're still choosing between providers, my comparison of MailerLite and Mailchimp is a good starting point.
My take for bloggers and small business sites
Use the official plugin for forms and keep it simple: one sidebar form, one shortcode offer on your best posts, and a single popup you've checked before activating. Only add a connector when you've got a real sync job, such as tagging customers from your shop. Most small sites never need one.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official MailerLite plugin for WordPress?
Yes, the Official MailerLite Sign Up Forms plugin.
Where do I find my MailerLite API key?
In your MailerLite account, through the Developer API link at the bottom of the page.
Can I add popups with the plugin?
Popup forms from your MailerLite account show automatically once the plugin's activated.
How do I place a form in a post?
Use the MailerLite icon in the content editor, which inserts a shortcode like [mailerlite_form form_id=1].
Are there other ways to connect them?
MailerLite lists Zapier, Make, SyncSpider and WP Fusion.
