If you're beginning your email marketing journey, all you need is a tool with a generous free plan. However, many “free” email marketing tools have drawbacks, like small sending limits or restrictions on email list size, or both.
A good free plan is one which helps you grow to a position where you can justify spending on your email marketing tool. Here are seven free email marketing tools that genuinely deliver, what each one is best for, and how to pick the one that fits the way you work.
What to look for in a free email marketing tool
Not all free plans are created equal. Some are genuinely generous. Others are trials in disguise.
Before you pick one, here are five things worth checking:
- Limits: This is the first thing to look at. The bare minimum to aim for is 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 email sends per month (1 email a week); anything less and you'll outgrow the plan before you've really started.
- Pricing: Even though you're picking a tool based on its free plan, it pays to think ahead. Once you outgrow the free tier, you'll need to upgrade — and a tool with steep paid plans can quickly become a problem.
- Features: Check that the features you actually need are included in the free plan. Some tools lock essentials like automation, landing pages, or signup forms behind their paid tiers, which makes the “free” plan a lot less useful in practice.
- Support: Email setup can get tricky, especially when you're new to it. Pick a tool with a reputation for friendly, helpful support — it makes a real difference when something doesn't go to plan.
- Deliverability: An email marketing tool is only as good as its ability to land in the inbox. Look for a platform with a strong deliverability record, so the emails you send actually get seen.
Best free email marketing tools
1. EmailOctopus
If you want an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use email marketing tool, EmailOctopus is a great option.
EmailOctopus is designed to be simple. Setting up your first campaign and managing your subscriber list is easy to understand, even for beginners. It's an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes and newsletter creators who want effective results without any hassle.
Another big reason to choose EmailOctopus over other options is the customer support. Whether you have a technical issue or just need advice, the friendly support team is always ready to help you. Plus, EmailOctopus is fully GDPR-compliant, so you can use it without worries, even if your subscribers are in Europe.
Best for: Newsletter writers, businesses, and creators who want easy to use email marketing that works straight out of the box.
Free plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month. No credit card required.
Pricing: Paid plans start from $9 per month.
2. Loops
Loops is a new age email marketing tool which is primarily built for SaaS (software as a service) companies. It’s a single tool which allows you to send both marketing and transactional emails from a single platform.
Additionally, they have a very simplified email UI and feature-rich API which is vital for SaaS companies. Though it’s a great tool to begin with, its paid plan has a steep starting price of $49 which may not work for many.
Best for: SaaS/Software businesses or someone who needs a Notion-like email builder.
Free plan: Up to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 emails per month.
Pricing: Paid plans start from $49 per month.
3. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo takes a different approach to limits. Instead of capping subscribers, it caps the number of emails you can send per day — 300 on the free plan. That's handy if you have a big list but don't email often. Less handy if you want to send a campaign to everyone at once.
You also get basic automation, transactional emails, and SMS in one place, which makes it a useful all-rounder.
Best for: Businesses with large contact lists who send infrequently.
Free plan: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails per day.
Pricing: Paid plans start from around $9 per month (additional $12 per month to remove Brevo branding from emails).
4. MailerLite
MailerLite is a user-friendly email marketing tool that has long been a popular choice, thanks to its formerly generous free plan, which accommodated up to 1,000 subscribers and allowed for 12,000 emails per month. However, in 2026, they revised the free plan to limit it to only 500 subscribers.
Best for: Bloggers, freelancers, and creators who want something tidy and design-friendly.
Free plan: Up to 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails per month.
Pricing: Paid plans start from around $15 per month.
5. beehiiv
beehiiv was built specifically for newsletter creators, and it shows. The platform leans into a complete growth platform with features such as referrals, recommendations, and monetisation tools that other platforms don't focus on.
The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers and includes most of the core features, though some of the growth tools are locked behind paid plans.
Best for: Newsletter creators focused on audience growth and monetisation.
Free plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers.
Pricing: Paid plans start from around $49 per month.
6. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Kit is built around creators — authors, course creators, podcasters, and YouTubers. The free plan now supports up to 10,000 subscribers, which is one of the highest limits on this list.
While the plan limits are generous, but you are required to promote other newsletters in their recommendation network.
If you have a large list and are fine with the recommendation requirement, then Kit is a good choice.
Best for: Creators with large audiences who don't need automation yet.
Free plan: Up to 10,000 subscribers, basic features only and requires recommendation slot to promote other newsletters which are part of Kit’s network.
Pricing: Paid plans start from around $39 per month.
7. Mailjet
Mailjet is an email platform that manages both marketing and transactional emails, like password resets and order confirmations, together.
The free plan lets you send 6,000 emails each month, limited to 200 each day, and supports up to 1,000 contacts. The daily limit might be restrictive if you want to send emails to everyone at once, so you may need to spread it out or upgrade your plan.
With the free plan, you also get a drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, basic statistics, and SMTP/API access. However, features like automation, segmentation, and A/B testing are only available with paid plans.
Best for: Small teams looking for both marketing and transactional emails in one tool.
Free plan: Allows up to 1,000 contacts, 6,000 emails per month (200 per day), with Mailjet branding.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $9 per month (Starter), with the Essential plan costing $17 per month to remove branding from your emails.
How to pick the right free email marketing tool
The best free tool depends on your needs. However, for most people, EmailOctopus is going to be the best choice as it offers a generous free plan, is user-friendly, and includes all the necessary features.
FAQ
Are free email marketing tools sufficient for a business?
For most small businesses, yes. A free plan from a tool like EmailOctopus offers all you need to send polished campaigns, build automations, and track performance without any cost until your business grows.
What's the downside with free plans?
It varies by tool. Some add their branding to your emails, some limit your subscriber list, and others restrict the features you can use. Always check the limitations before you decide.
Can I automate with a free tool?
Some free plans offer automation, while others don't. Tools like EmailOctopus and Brevo provide automation support in their free versions, suitable for welcome emails and simple email sequences.
Conclusion
The best free email marketing tool is the one that's easy to use and lets you send emails effortlessly. For a generous free plan, a simple editor, and friendly support, try EmailOctopus. No credit card needed. No hidden fees.
