Free email marketing can start a permission-based newsletter, but contact and sending allowances matter more than a free signup button. Distinguish simple campaigns from advanced automation and check the plan that remains after any trial.
| Tool | Free plan or open source | Main free-plan limit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Free email campaigns with a daily cap; workflows support a capped automation audience. | Sending, contacts and advanced features have separate limits. | Permission-based email programs with modest usage. |
| MailerLite | Free campaigns and a small number of active automations. | Subscriber, monthly-send and workflow-step caps; trial features are separate. | Small lists and simple automated sequences. |
| Mailchimp | A permanent free campaign tier with restricted contacts and sends. | Marketing Automation Flows are not included in Free. | Simple newsletters rather than free automation. |
| Kit | Free forms, landing pages and unlimited broadcasts within the subscriber allowance. | Visual automations and sequences require paid access; unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited-size audience. | Audience-led publishing and digital products. |
| Klaviyo | A limited free audience and monthly email allowance. | Active-profile and send limits; advanced channels need their own check. | Small online stores using permission-based events. |
Truly free options
1. Brevo
An email and messaging platform.
Strengths: Campaign and automation entry access.
Limitations: Sending, contacts and advanced features have separate limits.
Pricing model: Free email campaigns with a daily cap; workflows support a capped automation audience. Sending, contacts and advanced features have separate limits.
Best for: Permission-based email programs with modest usage.
What the free plan includes / main limit: Free email campaigns with a daily cap; workflows support a capped automation audience. Sending, contacts and advanced features have separate limits.
2. MailerLite
An email newsletter and automation platform.
Strengths: A usable email-led workflow builder.
Limitations: Subscriber, monthly-send and workflow-step caps; trial features are separate.
Pricing model: Free campaigns and a small number of active automations. Subscriber, monthly-send and workflow-step caps; trial features are separate.
Best for: Small lists and simple automated sequences.
What the free plan includes / main limit: Free campaigns and a small number of active automations. Subscriber, monthly-send and workflow-step caps; trial features are separate.
3. Mailchimp
A campaign and audience platform.
Strengths: Guided campaign creation and templates.
Limitations: Marketing Automation Flows are not included in Free.
Pricing model: A permanent free campaign tier with restricted contacts and sends. Marketing Automation Flows are not included in Free.
Best for: Simple newsletters rather than free automation.
What the free plan includes / main limit: A permanent free campaign tier with restricted contacts and sends. Marketing Automation Flows are not included in Free.
4. Kit
An email platform for creators.
Strengths: Creator newsletter workflows.
Limitations: Visual automations and sequences require paid access; unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited-size audience.
Pricing model: Free forms, landing pages and unlimited broadcasts within the subscriber allowance. Visual automations and sequences require paid access; unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited-size audience.
Best for: Audience-led publishing and digital products.
What the free plan includes / main limit: Free forms, landing pages and unlimited broadcasts within the subscriber allowance. Visual automations and sequences require paid access; unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited-size audience.
5. Klaviyo
A commerce-data marketing platform.
Strengths: Segmentation tied to customer data.
Limitations: Active-profile and send limits; advanced channels need their own check.
Pricing model: A limited free audience and monthly email allowance. Active-profile and send limits; advanced channels need their own check.
Paid tools with a free trial
ActiveCampaign offers paid automation with a trial, not permanent free access. Evaluate it when your workflow outgrows a limited newsletter tool.
Limits of free email marketing tools
Contacts and send caps can trigger an upgrade. Branding and automated sequences may require payment even when campaigns are free. Kit lists unlimited broadcasts within its subscriber allowance, so the blanket claim that no free tool permits unlimited sends is inaccurate. Unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited audience or exemption from permission rules. Check exports and consent records; no tool guarantees inbox placement.
Choosing free email marketing
Check the plan that remains after any trial. Match required access, exports and support to how you work before importing live data.
Related reading
email marketing for small business
Methodology and disclosure
This comparison uses official product documentation and pricing pages. Recommendations describe editorial fit, not hands-on testing, benchmarks or aggregated user ratings. StackReporter may receive compensation through approved affiliate links; editorial references are separate from offer CTAs. We disclose applicable relationships in line with FTC guidance. Confirm current plans, limits and terms before buying.
Official plan and product checks
mailchimp.com — official source
www.brevo.com — official source
www.klaviyo.com — official source
www.mailerlite.com — official source
Best for: Small online stores using permission-based events.
What the free plan includes / main limit: A limited free audience and monthly email allowance. Active-profile and send limits; advanced channels need their own check.
Paid tools with a free trial
ActiveCampaign offers paid automation with a trial, not permanent free access. Evaluate it when your workflow outgrows a limited newsletter tool.
Limits of free email marketing tools
Contacts and send caps can trigger an upgrade. Branding and automated sequences may require payment even when campaigns are free. Kit lists unlimited broadcasts within its subscriber allowance, so the blanket claim that no free tool permits unlimited sends is inaccurate. Unlimited broadcasts is not an unlimited audience or exemption from permission rules. Check exports and consent records; no tool guarantees inbox placement.
Choosing free email marketing
Check the plan that remains after any trial. Match required access, exports and support to how you work before importing live data.
Related reading
email marketing for small business
Methodology and disclosure
This comparison uses official product documentation and pricing pages. Recommendations describe editorial fit, not hands-on testing, benchmarks or aggregated user ratings. StackReporter may receive compensation through approved affiliate links; editorial references are separate from offer CTAs. We disclose applicable relationships in line with FTC guidance. Confirm current plans, limits and terms before buying.
Official plan and product checks
mailchimp.com — official source
www.brevo.com — official source