Our Top Free Picks
AWeber
500 subscribers, 3,000 sends a month and an automation for your welcome sequence, plus a hosted landing page.
MailerLite
250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, with three active automations.
Kit
Up to 10,000 subscribers free, but no sequences or visual automations.
If you want one recommendation: start on AWeber's free plan. It's sized for a real beginner setup, including the automation most free plans leave out.
Free Plans Compared
All limits below come from each vendor's own pricing page.
| Tool | Free contacts | Free sends | Free automation | Notable limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | 500 subscribers | 3,000/month | 1 automation | 1 list; AWeber branding |
| MailerLite | 250 subscribers | 2,500/month | 3 active automations | 1 landing page; knowledge-base support |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 | Unlimited broadcasts | No sequences or visual automations | Email support |
| Mailchimp | 250 contacts | 500/month (250/day) | No automation flows | Email support for 30 days |
| Brevo | Not capped the same way | 300/day | Not stated on free | Volume-based pricing |
| Klaviyo | 250 active profiles | 500/month | Ecommerce-focused | Built for stores |
| EmailOctopus | 2,500 subscribers | 10,000/month | Not stated on free | EmailOctopus branding |
| HubSpot | Free CRM contacts | 2,000/month | Limited | HubSpot branding |
How We Judged Free Plans
We weighted four things, in this order. First, whether you can run a welcome automation, because it's the most valuable email you'll ever send. Second, monthly sends relative to contacts, because a large contact limit means little if you can only send a few hundred emails. Third, support, because beginners get stuck. Fourth, contacts, since you can always upgrade once your list grows.
By that measure, AWeber's free plan stands out for beginners, while Kit and EmailOctopus suit people who mainly broadcast to larger lists.
- AWeber: Best Free Plan for a Real Starting Setup
AWeber's free plan has no time limit and covers 500 subscribers, 3,000 sends a month, one list and one automation. You also get the drag-and-drop editor, templates, signup forms and a hosted landing page.
That's enough to run a complete beginner program: a form, a welcome sequence and a weekly newsletter. The main trade-offs are AWeber branding on your emails and the 500-subscriber cap; when you outgrow it, Plus at $20 a month billed annually removes both caps and branding. See AWeber free plan.
Start with a free plan that includes your welcome automation and a hosted landing page.
Try AWeber Free
- MailerLite: Best for Several Free Automations
MailerLite's free plan includes 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, two seats, three active automations, one website and one landing page. Three automations is generous for a free plan.
The trade-offs are a smaller subscriber limit, limited templates and knowledge-base-only support on free. See AWeber vs MailerLite.
- Kit: Best for Large Broadcast-Only Lists
Kit's free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited landing pages and forms and unlimited broadcasts, with email support. That's the biggest free subscriber allowance here.
The trade-off is automation: sequences and visual automations require Creator. If you only want to broadcast, Kit is excellent; if you want a welcome series, budget for Creator. See AWeber vs Kit.
- Mailchimp: Best Known, Smallest Free Plan
Mailchimp's free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, capped at 250 a day, without automation flows and with email support only for the first 30 days.
It's a familiar starting point, but its free limits are among the tightest here. Many people move to a different tool once they outgrow it; see Mailchimp alternatives.
- Brevo: Best for Occasional Sends to Big Lists
Brevo's free plan allows 300 emails a day and prices its paid plans by email volume. If you have a big contact list and email rarely, that model can stay free or cheap for a long time.
For weekly newsletters to a growing list, the daily cap can become limiting. See AWeber vs Brevo.
- EmailOctopus: Best for Simple Free Newsletters
EmailOctopus's free plan includes 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, with EmailOctopus branding. It's a good fit for a simple newsletter on a tight budget.
Check automation and support needs before committing, as it's a simpler tool than the others here.
- Klaviyo: Best Free Plan for Stores
Klaviyo's free plan covers 250 active profiles and 500 emails a month, with deep store integrations. It's a way for stores to try Klaviyo's ecommerce features before upgrading. See AWeber vs Klaviyo.
- HubSpot: Best If You Want a Free CRM Too
HubSpot's free tools include 2,000 email sends a month with HubSpot branding, alongside its free CRM. It suits small businesses that want contact management first and email second. See AWeber vs HubSpot.
How to Get the Most From Any Free Plan
- Build one welcome sequence first. It's the highest-value automation.
- Send on a steady schedule that fits your send limit, such as weekly.
- Remove inactive subscribers so they don't use up your contact allowance.
- Authenticate your domain for better deliverability from day one.
- Plan your upgrade point so you're not surprised when you hit a limit.
When to Upgrade From Free
Upgrade when you're about to pass your contact limit, regularly run short of sends, need more automations or want to remove the provider's branding. On AWeber, most people move straight from free to Plus. See AWeber pricing.
AWeber's free plan covers 500 subscribers, 3,000 sends a month and a welcome automation.
Free Email Marketing Software FAQs
What is the best free email marketing software?
For beginners, AWeber's free plan is one of the most practical because it includes an automation, 3,000 sends a month and a hosted landing page.
Which free plan has the most subscribers?
Kit's free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers, but it doesn't include sequences or visual automations.
Can I send automated emails for free?
Yes, on some plans. AWeber includes one automation and MailerLite three; Mailchimp's free plan doesn't include automation flows.
Do free email plans add branding?
Most do. AWeber, EmailOctopus and HubSpot add their branding on free plans; removing it requires a paid plan.