Best Free Email Marketing Tools (2026)
Quick Take
Not all free email plans are created equal. Some limit contacts, some limit sends, some limit features. We ranked the free plans that actually let you get meaningful work done without paying.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| # | Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brevo | Best free plan overall | $Custom/mo | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | MailerLite | Most features on free | $Custom/mo | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Beehiiv | Best free newsletter platform | $Custom/mo | 7.6/10 |
| 4 | Mailchimp | Most recognizable free plan | $0/mo | 9.4/10 |
| 5 | ConvertKit (Kit) | Best free plan for creators | $0/mo | 8.4/10 |
| 6 | Omnisend | Best free plan for ecommerce | $0/mo | 9.0/10 |
1. Brevo — Best free plan overall
Budget-friendly email, SMS, and chat platform. Charges by emails sent (not contacts), which is a major advantage for large lists with low send frequency. Free plan includes 300 emails/day.
Our take: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day. No subscriber penalty for a large list.
Brevo Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
| Free | $0 | — |
| Starter | $9 | $7/mo |
| Business | $18 | $15/mo |
2. MailerLite — Most features on free
Clean, simple email marketing at genuinely low prices. Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers with most features included. The best value pick for small businesses that need solid basics without complexity.
Our take: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo, drag-and-drop editor, and landing pages.
MailerLite Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
| Free | $0 | — |
| Growing Business | $10 | $9/mo |
| Advanced | $20 | $18/mo |
3. Beehiiv — Best free newsletter platform
Newsletter platform built by ex-Morning Brew team. Monetization features (ad network, paid subscriptions, boosts) set it apart from traditional email tools. Free plan is generous for newsletter operators.
Our take: 2,500 subscribers, unlimited emails, analytics, and web hosting — all free.
Beehiiv Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
| Launch | $0 | — |
| Scale | $42 | $34/mo |
| Max | $85 | $69/mo |
4. Mailchimp — Most recognizable free plan
The most recognized name in email marketing, now owned by Intuit. Free plan is limited but the brand recognition and template library are unmatched. Pricing has crept up since the Intuit acquisition.
Our take: 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/mo. Limited but good for absolute beginners.
Mailchimp Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Essentials | $13 | $10/mo |
| Standard | $20 | $15/mo |
| Premium | $350 | $280/mo |
5. ConvertKit (Kit) — Best free plan for creators
Built for creators — bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers. Simple automation, excellent deliverability, and a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. No drag-and-drop builder by design; text-based emails convert better for creators.
Our take: 1,000 subscribers, unlimited emails, landing pages, and forms.
ConvertKit (Kit) Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter | $0 | — |
| Creator | $29 | $25/mo |
| Creator Pro | $59 | $50/mo |
6. Omnisend — Best free plan for ecommerce
Ecommerce-focused email and SMS marketing with pre-built automation workflows for cart abandonment, order confirmations, and product recommendations. Free plan includes 250 contacts and 500 emails/mo.
Our take: 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo, plus 60 SMS messages. Pre-built ecommerce workflows.
Omnisend Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Standard | $16 | $13/mo |
| Pro | $59 | $49/mo |
How We Ranked These Tools
We ranked free plans by subscriber limits, email send limits, feature access, and upgrade pricing when you eventually outgrow the free tier. A good free plan should let you build habits before requiring payment.
Read our full scoring methodology for details.