That Marketing Buddy

Buying guide

Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools

By Joonas Rotko, ex-agency co-owner, 10+ years spending real marketing budgets

Prices verified · How I choose, and how I earn from this page

Looking for a free email marketing platform? I'd start with Brevo if you run a small business and want your whole customer list stored without paying: its free plan holds up to 100,000 contacts and sends 300 emails a day. If you send one big newsletter at a time rather than a steady trickle, Sender's monthly allowance of 15,000 emails suits you better. Each card shows where the free plan stops and what the first paid step costs.

Every tool on this page is shown on its free plan, for

  • Free plan only
  • 1 user
  • your own list

Who this is for. People starting an email list with no budget: a shop, a local service, a side project or a new newsletter with a few hundred contacts. Every tool here has a free plan that does not expire, and the differences sit in four places: how many contacts it holds, how many emails it sends, whether the vendor's logo sits in your footer, and whether automated emails are allowed at all. Pick for the limit you will hit first, because that limit decides the month you start paying.

Looking for something else?

Different job, different guide.

I'm ready to pay for a tool

My list is a newsletter

I run a charity or nonprofit

My picks for different needs

Find the line that sounds like you. Each pick links to the full reasoning below.

  1. I want to keep my whole customer list on a free plan

    The free plan stores a very large contact list and limits how many emails go out each day instead.

    Why this one
    Brevo logo

    Brevo

    My default

    $0

    Next step up, Starter: $8.08/mo annual

    See Brevo plansAffiliate link

  2. I want free automated welcome emails

    Automation workflows are unlimited on the free plan, with a monthly send allowance.

    Why this one
    Sender logo

    Sender

    $0

    Next step up, Standard: $9/mo annual

    See Sender plansAffiliate link

  3. I want sign-up forms and a landing page in the free plan

    One landing page, a few automations and a second login, all free.

    Why this one
    MailerLite logo

    MailerLite

    $0

    Next step up, Comfort: $10.80/mo annual

    See MailerLite plansAffiliate link

  4. I want a simple tool with a decent free list size

    A plain editor and a mid-sized free list, with short sequences included.

    Why this one
    EmailOctopus logo

    EmailOctopus

    $0

    Next step up, Pro: $9/mo annual

    See EmailOctopus plansAffiliate link

  5. I'm starting a newsletter and want the biggest free list

    The largest subscriber allowance here, with unlimited sends and your own domain.

    Why this one
    Kit logo

    Kit

    $0

    Next step up, Creator: $33/mo annual

    See Kit plansAffiliate link

  6. I want a free CRM with email attached

    Contacts, deals and email in one free account, with two logins.

    Why this one
    HubSpot logo

    HubSpot

    $0

    Next step up, Starter: $7/mo annual

    See HubSpot plansAffiliate link

The tools side by side

Each row is the tool's free plan as the vendor publishes it. Brevo caps sends per day rather than per month, Mailchimp caps both, and beehiiv states unlimited sends instead of a number, so a blank in one sending column is not a missing limit.

the free plan of each tool: plan priced, monthly and annual cost, Contacts on the free plan, Emails a month, Daily send cap, Automation on the free plan
Tool and planCost per monthContacts on the free planEmails a monthDaily send capAutomation on the free plan
BrevoFreeFree100,000Not published300Limited to 2,000 contacts
SenderFree ForeverFree2,50015,000Not publishedEmail automation included: unlimited workflows, triggers and automation steps (no SMS automation, no auto-resend to non-openers)
MailerLiteFreeFree2502,500Not published3
EmailOctopusStarterFree2,50010,000Not publishedUp to 3 advanced sequences, up to 5 steps per sequence, no multiple triggers
KitFreeFree10,000unlimitedNot publishedNo
MailchimpFreeFree250500250No
HubSpotFree toolsFree1,0002,000Not published1 automated action
beehiivFreeFree2,500Not publishedNot publishedNo

Eight picks, in the order I'd consider them

Each one says who it is for, what it costs for a free email list, and what you give up.

Brevo logo

Brevo

Best free plan for storing a whole customer list

Hands-on

Choose it if

You have more contacts than you email at once, and a daily send cap fits how you mail.

Consider Sender instead if

You send one newsletter to everyone on the same day. Sender's allowance is monthly, so a single send can go to the whole list at once.

Why it fits a free email list

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is the free email marketing plan for a small business that wants every customer in one place: it holds up to 100,000 contacts and caps sending at 300 emails a day instead of capping the list. SMS campaigns sit on every Brevo plan including the free one, with credits bought separately.

The plan I priced

I priced the free plan. The first paid step is Starter, from $9/month billed monthly for its smallest sending band, which removes the daily cap. Brevo prices by monthly email volume, so the paid bill follows how much you send, not how many contacts you keep.

Closest alternative

Sender becomes the better choice when you mail the whole list on the same day and want free automation without a contact limit on workflows.
Brevo homepageSee Brevo plans
Brevo homepage, captured

A free email list: Free

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Starter: $8.08/mo annual

Starter removes the daily sending limit and is priced by monthly email volume.

The trade-off

The daily cap is the catch. A newsletter to a list bigger than the cap has to go out over several days, and the free plan's emails carry Brevo's branding. Automation is limited on the free plan.
What my review says

Best for: A small business that wants its whole customer list on a free plan and mails in batches.

Skip it if you send one newsletter to everyone on the same day and your list is bigger than the daily cap.

Strengths

  • The free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts.
  • SMS campaigns are on every plan, the free one included, with credits bought separately.

Limits

  • Sending stops at 300 emails a day on the free plan.
  • Free emails carry Brevo's branding.
See Brevo plansMy Brevo reviewBrevo pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
Sender logo

Sender

Best free plan with automation

Desk research

Choose it if

You want welcome series and follow-ups running from day one without paying for them.

Consider Brevo instead if

Your contact list is bigger than Sender's free subscriber limit and you can spread sends across days.

Why it fits a free email list

For someone starting out who wants automated emails on a free plan, Sender is the most generous here: the vendor says Free Forever accounts can create limitless automation workflows, alongside 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month. The allowance is monthly, so one newsletter can go to the whole list in a single send.

The plan I priced

I priced the Free Forever plan. Standard starts at $9/month billed monthly for its smallest subscriber band, removes Sender's branding and adds SMS campaigns. Sender also offers a 14-day trial of its paid features.

Closest alternative

MailerLite becomes the better choice when you also want a free landing page and a second login, and a smaller free list is fine.
Sender homepageSee Sender plans
Sender homepage, captured

A free email list: Free Forever

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Standard: $9/mo annual

Standard removes Sender's branding, adds SMS campaigns and is priced by subscriber count.

The trade-off

The free plan has no SMS, and its emails carry Sender's branding. Removing the branding means paying for Standard.
What my review says

Best for: Someone starting a list who wants automated welcome and follow-up emails without paying.

Skip it if you need SMS from the start, or your list is already past the free subscriber limit.

Strengths

  • Unlimited automation workflows on the free plan.
  • A monthly allowance of 15,000 emails, so one send can reach the whole list.

Limits

  • The free plan stops at 2,500 subscribers.
  • No SMS and Sender branding on the free plan.
See Sender plansMy Sender reviewSender pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
MailerLite logo

MailerLite

Free plan with a landing page and two logins

Desk research

Choose it if

You want a sign-up page, a couple of automated emails and a second person on the account, all before paying.

Consider EmailOctopus instead if

The list size matters more than the landing page. EmailOctopus's free plan holds 2,500 subscribers.

Why it fits a free email list

MailerLite suits a small business that wants the pieces around the email on its free plan: 1 landing page, 3 automations and 2 logins, which no other free plan here combines. It connects to WordPress and Zapier on the free plan too.

The plan I priced

I priced the free plan. The first paid step is Comfort, from $12/month billed monthly for its smallest subscriber band, which drops MailerLite's branding and raises the automation and landing page limits. MailerLite refunds within 30 days.

Closest alternative

Sender becomes the better choice when you want a bigger free list and unlimited automation workflows, and can live without a free landing page.
MailerLite homepageSee MailerLite plans
MailerLite homepage, captured

A free email list: Free

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Comfort: $10.80/mo annual

Comfort removes the MailerLite branding and raises the automation and landing page limits.

The trade-off

The free list is small at 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, and the free plan's API cannot send email. Paid plans move up a subscriber band automatically and bill the card on file when the list grows.
What my review says

Best for: A small business that wants a landing page, a few automations and a second login on a free plan.

Skip it if your list is already past the free subscriber limit, or you want unlimited free automation.

Strengths

  • 2 user logins and 1 landing page on the free plan.
  • WordPress and Zapier connections work on the free plan.

Limits

  • The free plan holds 250 subscribers.
  • Free emails carry MailerLite's branding, and the free API cannot send.
See MailerLite plansMy MailerLite reviewMailerLite pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
EmailOctopus logo

EmailOctopus

Simple free plan with a mid-sized list

Desk research

Choose it if

You want a plain, quick editor and a list allowance that will last a while.

Consider Sender instead if

You want longer automated sequences on the free plan. EmailOctopus caps free sequences in number and length.

Why it fits a free email list

EmailOctopus is for a small business or club that wants to send a regular update without learning a big tool. The free Starter plan holds 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, and it includes a few short automated sequences, enough for a welcome email and a follow-up.

The plan I priced

I priced the free Starter plan. Pro starts at $10/month billed monthly for its smallest subscriber band, or $9/mo on yearly billing, and removes the branding, the sequence caps and the report time limit.

Closest alternative

MailerLite becomes the better choice when you want a free landing page and a second login more than a bigger free list.
EmailOctopus homepageSee EmailOctopus plans
EmailOctopus homepage, captured

A free email list: Starter

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Pro: $9/mo annual

Pro removes EmailOctopus branding, unlocks unlimited sequences and keeps reports permanently.

The trade-off

Reports on the free plan go back 30 days, free emails carry EmailOctopus branding, and there is no SMS or native abandoned cart email.
What my review says

Best for: A small business, club or side project that wants simple regular updates on a free plan.

Skip it if you need SMS, abandoned cart emails or long automated sequences.

Strengths

  • The free plan holds 2,500 subscribers.
  • Short automated sequences are included free.

Limits

  • Free reports cover 30 days.
  • EmailOctopus branding stays on free emails.
See EmailOctopus plansMy EmailOctopus reviewEmailOctopus pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
Kit logo

Kit

Biggest free list, for newsletters

Desk research

Choose it if

You write a newsletter, expect the list to grow fast and don't need automated sequences yet.

Consider Sender instead if

You want automated emails on the free plan. Kit's free plan has no automations.

Why it fits a free email list

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) fits a creator or writer who wants room to grow before paying: the free plan covers 10,000 subscribers, sends are unlimited, and you can connect your own domain. No other free plan here holds a list that size.

The plan I priced

I priced the free plan. Creator starts at $39/month billed monthly for its smallest subscriber band, adds automations and SMS, and removes Kit's branding. Kit offers a 14-day trial without a card.

Closest alternative

beehiiv becomes the better choice when you want the newsletter to live on a website with posts and an archive.
Kit homepageSee Kit plans
Kit homepage, captured

A free email list: Free

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Creator: $33/mo annual

Creator adds automations and SMS and removes Kit's branding.

The trade-off

Automations are not on the free plan, and free emails carry Kit's branding. The paid jump is steep, because Creator is priced by subscriber count and costs more than the other first paid steps here.
What my review says

Best for: A newsletter writer who wants the biggest free list and plans to grow it before paying.

Skip it if you want automated emails on the free plan, or the first paid step has to be cheap.

Strengths

  • The free plan holds 10,000 subscribers.
  • Your own domain works on the free plan.

Limits

  • No automations on the free plan.
  • Creator, the first paid plan, starts at $39/month billed monthly.
See Kit plansMy Kit reviewKit pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
Mailchimp logo

Mailchimp

The familiar name, with a small free plan

Hands-on

Choose it if

You already know Mailchimp or your other software connects to it, and your list is tiny.

Consider MailerLite instead if

You want automations and a landing page on the free plan. Mailchimp's free plan has no automation.

Why it fits a free email list

Mailchimp is the name most small business owners have heard, and its free plan is enough to try the editor and send to 250 contacts. It is lower on this list because the free plan is the smallest here: 500 emails a month, a daily cap of 250, no automation flows and Mailchimp's branding on every email.

The plan I priced

I priced the free plan. Essentials starts at $13/month billed monthly for its smallest contact band and adds short automation flows, removes the branding and raises sending.

Closest alternative

MailerLite becomes the better choice when you want automations and a landing page without paying.
Mailchimp homepageSee Mailchimp plans
Mailchimp homepage, captured

A free email list: Free

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Essentials: $13/mo monthly

Essentials adds automation flows and removes Mailchimp's branding.

The trade-off

Automation flows and branding removal both need a paid plan, and the free trial of the paid plans asks for a card.
What my review says

Best for: Someone with a tiny list who wants the tool their other apps already connect to.

Skip it if you want automation on a free plan, or your list is past the free contact limit.

Strengths

  • The best-known email tool, with integrations to match.
  • Essentials, the first paid step, starts at $13/month billed monthly.

Limits

  • The free plan covers 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
  • No automation flows and Mailchimp branding on the free plan.
See Mailchimp plansMy Mailchimp reviewMailchimp pricingNo affiliate link: plain link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
HubSpot logo

HubSpot

Free CRM with email attached

Hands-on

Choose it if

Your sales happen through calls and follow-ups, and email is one part of tracking each customer.

Consider Brevo instead if

Email is the main job and you want a much larger free contact list.

Why it fits a free email list

HubSpot is the free option for a small business that needs a customer record first and email second. The free tools give you a CRM for contacts and deals, 1,000 marketing contacts and 2,000 emails a month, shared by 2 logins.

The plan I priced

I priced the free tools. Marketing Hub Starter starts at $10/month billed monthly per seat with its contact tier included, and raises the limit on automated actions.

Closest alternative

Brevo becomes the better choice when you want a bigger free list and SMS, and the CRM can be simpler.
HubSpot homepageSee HubSpot plans
HubSpot homepage, captured

A free email list: Free tools

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Starter: $7/mo annual

Starter raises the automated action limit and is priced per seat.

The trade-off

Automation is limited to 1 automated action on the free tools, and emails carry HubSpot's branding. The paid tiers are priced per seat and per contact tier, so the bill grows on two axes at once.
What my review says

Best for: A small business that wants a free CRM and sends email as part of following up with customers.

Skip it if email marketing is the main job and you want automated sequences without paying.

Strengths

  • A free CRM for contacts and deals, with 2 logins.
  • 2,000 marketing emails a month on the free tools.

Limits

  • Free automation stops at 1 automated action.
  • Paid tiers charge per seat and per contact tier.
See HubSpot plansMy HubSpot reviewHubSpot pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools
beehiiv logo

beehiiv

Free newsletter website, no custom domain

Desk research

Choose it if

Your list is a newsletter and you want posts on a web page as well as in the inbox.

Consider Kit instead if

You want a much bigger free list on your own domain and the web archive matters less.

Why it fits a free email list

beehiiv suits a writer starting a newsletter who wants each issue to live on a web page too. The free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and 1 publication, and beehiiv states unlimited sends rather than a monthly number.

The plan I priced

I priced the free plan. Lite starts at $59/month billed monthly for its smallest subscriber band and adds a custom domain, automations and paid subscriptions.

Closest alternative

Kit becomes the better choice when you want a free plan with your own domain and a bigger list.
beehiiv homepageSee beehiiv plans
beehiiv homepage, captured

A free email list: Free

Free plan

$0

Next step up, Lite: $49/mo annual

Lite adds a custom domain, automations and paid subscriptions.

The trade-off

The free plan has no custom domain, no automations and no paid subscriptions, and beehiiv's branding stays until the Pro plan. It is built for newsletters, not for a shop's offers and receipts.
What my review says

Best for: A writer starting a newsletter who wants a free web page for every issue.

Skip it if you need your own domain, automated emails or a store's email flows on a free plan.

Strengths

  • Unlimited sends on the free plan.
  • A newsletter website comes with the free account.

Limits

  • No custom domain or automations on the free plan.
  • Branding stays until Pro.
See beehiiv plansMy beehiiv reviewbeehiiv pricingAffiliate link
Best Free Email Marketing Software, Platforms and Tools

Other options, and why they missed the list

A tool made this list only if its free plan has no end date and sends real campaigns to your own list. Free trials that turn into a bill, and free plans that only let you test the editor, are left out.

  • Omnisend logo

    Omnisend

    Has a free plan with prebuilt store workflows, but it is small and built for online shops. The ecommerce guide covers it.

  • GetResponse logo

    GetResponse

    Its free plan holds a small list and leaves out automation.

  • Klaviyo logo

    Klaviyo

    A free plan for online stores with a very small profile limit. Worth it only if you already plan to pay Klaviyo later.

  • Systeme.io logo

    Systeme.io

    Its free plan bundles email with funnels and courses. A different job, covered in the all-in-one guide.

How I chose, and how I earn from this page

Joonas Rotko

Who is behind this guide

Joonas Rotko

I co-ran a marketing agency in Finland and spent more than ten years buying SEO and marketing software with real client budgets. I write these guides for the person who has to pay for the tool and use it.

More about me and how I review

Affiliate disclosure

Links to Brevo, Sender, MailerLite, EmailOctopus, Kit, HubSpot and beehiiv are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission if you upgrade to a paid plan through them, at no extra cost to you. A free plan earns me nothing until someone pays. I have no affiliate link for Mailchimp. The order follows the free limits, not the commission, and no link changes a price or a verdict.

How this guide was prepared

What I did

  • Each limit in the table is what the vendor publishes for its own free plan: contacts, emails a month or a day, automation and branding. Every number links back to the vendor's page and the date I checked it.
  • Every pick is shown on its free plan, with the first paid plan named on its card, so you can see what crossing a limit costs before you hit it.
  • The order rewards the limit a small list hits first. A free plan that holds more contacts and allows automation ranks above one that holds a bigger list but no automation.
  • Brevo, Mailchimp and HubSpot carry a Hands-on tag because I have a hands-on record for them. The free limits still come from the vendors' own pages.

What to keep in mind

  • Vendors change free plans without warning. The date next to each source is the day I last checked it.
  • Contact limits count differently from vendor to vendor: some count every stored contact, others only the people you market to. Each card uses the vendor's own word.
  • The first paid prices shown are each vendor's smallest band. Most paid plans rise with your list size.
Sources and verification dates

Prices and limits checked on 15 vendor pages. Oldest check: 30 Sep 2026.

  • : Rebuilt as a Best V2 guide: every pick is shown on its free plan from the vendor's published limits, with the first paid step on each card.
Spot something out of date?Vendors and readers, send me the correct fact.

Software sites change almost every week, and I want every claim on this page to be factually correct. If you are a vendor or a reader, send me the correct fact and a link to the official page. I will check it and update the page. The opinions and rankings stay mine.

I only change a fact when the official page shows it.

Free. I use your details only to follow up. Privacy

Questions people ask

What is the best free email marketing software overall?

For most small businesses it is Brevo, because its free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts and only caps how many emails go out each day (300). If you want free automation, Sender allows unlimited workflows. If you are starting a newsletter, Kit's free plan holds 10,000 subscribers.

Do free email marketing tools add branding to my emails?

Yes, every free plan on this page puts the vendor's branding in your emails. Removing it is one of the main things the first paid plan buys: Sender Standard, MailerLite Comfort, EmailOctopus Pro, Kit Creator and Mailchimp Essentials all drop it. beehiiv keeps its branding until the Pro plan.

Which free email marketing tool includes automation?

Sender is the most generous: its Free Forever plan allows unlimited email automation workflows. MailerLite allows 3 automations, EmailOctopus a few short sequences, and HubSpot 1 automated action. Kit, Mailchimp and beehiiv have no automation on their free plans.

Is Mailchimp still free?

Yes, but the free plan is small: 250 contacts, 500 emails a month and no automation flows. Essentials, the first paid plan, starts at $13/month billed monthly, and the trial of the paid plans asks for a card.

Is there free CRM email marketing software?

HubSpot is the clearest choice: its free tools include a CRM for contacts and deals plus 2,000 marketing emails a month. Brevo's free plan also keeps contact records alongside email, with a much larger contact allowance but a lighter CRM.

When should I upgrade from a free email marketing plan?

Upgrade when a limit costs you a sale or a send, not before. The usual triggers are the contact cap, a monthly or daily send cap that delays a newsletter, the need for an automated sequence the free plan won't run, or the vendor's logo looking wrong on a client email. Check the first paid price on each card before you pick, because Kit and beehiiv step up more steeply than Brevo, Sender or EmailOctopus.

What's the difference between a free plan and a free trial?

A free plan has no end date but caps contacts, sends or features; a free trial unlocks a paid plan for a set number of days and then bills you or stops. Every pick here has a free plan, and several also offer a trial of their paid plans, such as Sender (14 days) and MailerLite (14 days).

Compare two of them head to head

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