Yes. MailerLite has an automation builder where a trigger, such as joining a group, completing a form, clicking a link, abandoning a cart or a date, starts a series of emails. Its public API can list automations and show their activity, while the automations themselves are built in the point-and-click builder.
Yes: a trigger starts a series of emails
MailerLite's automation builder works the way most do. You pick a trigger, the event that starts the workflow, and then add the emails and waits that follow. The difference between a useful automation and a forgotten one is choosing the right trigger, so that's where this page spends its time.
Which trigger fits which job
| Trigger | What starts it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Joins group | A subscriber is added to a group | Welcome emails, lead magnets, webinar or event emails |
| Completes a form | Someone fills in one of your forms | Following up with leads straight away |
| Clicks a link | A subscriber clicks a link in an email | Sending more on the topic they showed interest in |
| Updates field | A custom field in their profile changes | Reacting to new information, such as a changed preference |
| Date based | A date in their profile comes round | Anniversaries and renewal reminders |
| Abandons cart | A shopper leaves items in their cart | Reminders to complete the purchase |
| Buys a specific product / any product / from category | A purchase is made | Thank-yous, cross-sells and follow-ups |
For most small businesses, three triggers do the heavy lifting: Joins group for a welcome series, Completes a form for lead follow-up, and Abandons cart if you sell online.
Three automations I'd set up first
- A welcome series on Joins group. Deliver your lead magnet in the first email, introduce yourself in the second, and make one clear offer in the third.
- A lead follow-up on Completes a form. If someone asks for a quote or a call, the first reply should arrive while they're still thinking about you.
- A renewal reminder on a date. If you sell subscriptions or annual services, a reminder ahead of the renewal date saves awkward chasing.
For more on getting the most out of the platform, my MailerLite marketing guide goes further.
Test it on yourself before it goes live
Whichever trigger you use, put yourself through it before real subscribers do. Add yourself to the group, fill in the form or click the link, then read every email on your phone as it arrives. Check the waits between emails feel right and that the links work. It takes ten minutes and saves you from a welcome series that greets new subscribers with a broken link.
What the API is useful for
If you're a developer or you work with one, the API is useful for watching automations rather than building them. MailerLite's API documents a List automations request, described as listing automations, viewing triggered activity and inspecting the subscribers flowing through each one. You can filter it by enabled state, name or group, which helps you find every automation that uses a particular group in its trigger.
Automation objects in the API expose a steps list, such as a delay step with a unit, and trigger data such as repeatable and track_ecommerce flags. There's a global rate limit of 120 requests per minute, with a 429 Too Many Attempts response if you go over.
Plan to build automations in the builder
MailerLite Developers' documentation for automations describes listing and inspecting them. The documented endpoints don't show a create request, so don't plan a project around creating automations by API call. Build them in the point-and-click builder, and check the current endpoint list before you commission anything that depends on the API doing more.
Automation in Mailchimp and Brevo
Mailchimp's marketing automation page says it helps you automate follow-ups, reminders and offers with email and SMS automations.
Brevo's marketing automation page offers premade templates or a drag-and-drop editor to build your own.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
For a side-by-side view, see my comparison of MailerLite and Mailchimp.
My verdict for small businesses
Yes, MailerLite has automation, and the trigger list covers what most small businesses need. Start with a welcome series and a form follow-up, add abandoned cart if you sell online, and leave the API for reporting rather than building.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Does MailerLite have email automation?
Yes. It has an automation builder with triggers such as joining a group, completing a form or clicking a link.
Can MailerLite automate abandoned cart emails?
Yes. Abandons cart is one of the listed triggers, aimed at reminders to complete a purchase.
Can I trigger on a date?
Yes. Date based triggers cover things like anniversaries and renewal reminders.
Can I manage automations through the API?
The documented endpoint lists automations and shows their activity and subscribers. The documented endpoints don't include a create request.
Is there an API rate limit?
Yes, 120 requests per minute across the MailerLite API.
