Best Free Email Marketing Software That's Actually Usable

Let's cut through the marketing fluff. Every email marketing platform claims to have a "generous free plan" but the limits vary wildly. Some are genuinely useful for small businesses, others are basically demos designed to force an upgrade.

I've tested each of these free plans and compared what actually matters: how many emails you can send, how many subscribers you can store, and what features are actually included vs. locked behind paywalls.

Quick Comparison: Free Email Marketing Limits

Best Overall: Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo wins for one reason: unlimited contacts. You can store up to 100,000 contacts on the free plan, which is insane compared to everyone else's 500-subscriber cap.

The catch? You're limited to 300 emails per day. That's roughly 9,000 emails per month if you max it out every day. For a weekly newsletter to a few thousand subscribers, that's actually workable.

What You Get Free with Brevo

• 300 emails/day (no rollover)
• Up to 100,000 contacts stored
• Marketing automation (limited to 2,000 contacts in workflows)
• Drag-and-drop email editor
• Signup forms and basic landing pages
• SMS marketing (credits sold separately)
• Free CRM included
• Transactional emails (share same 300/day limit)
• Web tracking and basic segmentation

What's Missing

• Can't remove Brevo branding on emails
• No landing page builder (locked to Business plan at $18/month)
• Basic analytics only - no heatmaps or geography reports
• Can't schedule campaigns in advance once you hit daily limit
• No A/B testing
• Only 2,000 contacts can enter automations monthly

The daily limit is annoying if you're sending campaigns to larger lists. If you have 1,000 subscribers and want to send a blast, you'll need to spread it across 4 days. For consistent, smaller sends though, it's hard to beat.

Brevo's pricing model is unique - they charge by email volume sent, not by contacts stored. This makes them particularly valuable for organizations with large, segmented lists where you only email a portion regularly. Store 50,000 contacts, email 300 per day to different segments - that's powerful for list building.

Want more details on their paid tiers? Check out our Brevo pricing breakdown or read our full Brevo review.

Best for Beginners: MailerLite

MailerLite has the most usable free plan for people actually doing email marketing, not just storing contacts. You get real features that competitors lock behind $50+/month plans.

MailerLite Free Plan Includes

• 500 subscribers
• 12,000 emails/month
• Automation workflows (actually functional ones)
• A/B testing
• 10 landing pages
• 1 website
• Drag-and-drop editor
• Signup forms and popups
• Email campaign reports
• 24/7 support for first 14 days

The Downside

MailerLite recently cut their free plan from 1,000 subscribers to 500. If you exceed 500 subscribers, your campaigns and automations stop working immediately - no grace period. You either upgrade (starting at $10/month) or delete subscribers.

The MailerLite branding appears on all emails, which looks less professional. And after your 14-day trial ends, you lose access to live chat support and premium templates.

For someone just starting with email marketing who wants to learn automation without paying, MailerLite is the best option. The interface is clean, the automation builder makes sense on first use, and you can actually accomplish something meaningful.

The 12,000 monthly email limit means you can send 24 campaigns to your full list of 500 subscribers each month. That's more than enough for weekly newsletters with room for extra promotional sends.

Best for CRM Integration: HubSpot

If you already use HubSpot's free CRM (or plan to), their email marketing makes sense. Your contact data flows directly into email campaigns without integration headaches.

HubSpot Free Email Limits

• Unlimited contacts in CRM (up to 1 million)
• 2,000 marketing emails/month total (not per user)
• Drag-and-drop email builder
• Basic automation (single thank-you emails after form submissions)
• AI subject line and copy generation
• Basic reporting
• Forms and popups
• Landing pages (limited)
• Live chat widget

Major Limitations

• Can't authenticate your sending domain (emails come from HubSpot's domain)
• HubSpot branding on all emails
• No A/B testing
• Only 2 users can access the account
• Advanced automation requires Marketing Hub Professional ($800+/month)
• Limited email templates (basic designs only)

That 2,000 email limit across your entire account sounds reasonable until you do the math. A team sending weekly newsletters to 600 subscribers uses their full monthly allowance in less than a month. And the inability to authenticate your domain can hurt deliverability - your emails might look suspicious to recipients.

HubSpot's free email is best as a trial of their ecosystem, not a permanent solution. If you grow into their paid plans ($45/month for Starter), it scales nicely. If not, you'll probably switch platforms.

The real value of HubSpot's free tier is the CRM integration. Every email interaction logs automatically. You can see which contacts opened what, clicked which links, and where they are in your sales funnel. For B2B companies with longer sales cycles, this tracking is worth more than the basic email features.

Looking for better CRM options? See our guide to free CRM software or our small business CRM roundup.

Most Recognizable: Mailchimp

Everyone knows Mailchimp. It's been the default choice for years. But their free plan has gotten progressively worse.

Mailchimp Free Plan Reality

• 500 contacts max (used to be 2,000)
• 1,000 emails/month (500/day limit)
• Single audience only
• 7 basic templates
• Landing page builder (branded URLs)
• Basic reporting
• 30 days of email support, then you're on your own
• Appointment scheduling
• Basic eCommerce tools

What They Took Away

Mailchimp removed automations from the free plan entirely. You can build and preview customer journeys, but to actually use them you need Essentials ($13/month). No scheduled sends either - you send campaigns immediately or not at all.

The contact counting is also sneaky. Mailchimp counts everyone in your list toward your limit, including people who unsubscribed or never confirmed. Your "500 contact" limit might actually be 350 people you can email.

Mailchimp's free plan feels like a demo, not a functional tool. It'll get you started but you'll hit paywalls constantly. For the same effort, MailerLite or Brevo give you significantly more.

The brand recognition means Mailchimp has extensive integration options. They connect with virtually every major platform - Shopify, WordPress, WooCommerce, Squarespace. If you're already embedded in certain ecosystems, Mailchimp's integrations might justify the limitations.

Best Phone Support: AWeber

AWeber is the old-school choice that's stuck around for a reason. Their free plan is modest on limits but includes something rare: actual human support.

AWeber Free Plan

• 500 subscribers
• 3,000 emails/month
• Full drag-and-drop editor
• 700+ email templates
• 1 automation workflow
• 3 landing pages
• 24/7 phone, email, and chat support (yes, even free users)
• Sign-up forms
• Analytics and tracking

The 3,000 email limit means you can send about 6 emails/month to 500 subscribers. Not terrible for getting started. And their deliverability rates consistently rank above average.

The Trade-offs

AWeber branding appears on your emails. Only one automation and three landing pages means you'll hit the upgrade wall fast if you're serious about marketing. The Lite plan ($15/month) isn't much better - it still includes AWeber branding and limits you to 3 automations.

If phone support is your priority and you're okay with modest limits, AWeber works. For most people, the feature restrictions make competitors more appealing.

AWeber is particularly popular with affiliate marketers. They're more lenient about affiliate links in emails compared to some other platforms. If you're promoting affiliate products, AWeber won't immediately flag your account.

Ready to explore AWeber's paid options? Check out our AWeber pricing guide.

Most Generous: Sender

Sender flies under the radar but offers the most generous free limits: 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month. That's 5x more subscribers than most competitors and significantly more emails.

Sender Free Plan

• 2,500 subscribers
• 15,000 emails/month
• Unlimited email campaigns
• Automation workflows
• Segmentation
• Email templates (limited selection)
• Landing pages and popups
• SMS marketing (credits sold separately)

The Catch

Sender's free plan includes their branding. The template library is smaller than established competitors. And while they offer automation, it's more basic than MailerLite or ActiveCampaign.

For pure sending volume on a free plan, Sender is unbeatable. You can send weekly newsletters to 2,500 people for six months before hitting limits. That's enough runway to validate your email strategy before paying.

Best for Newsletters: Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit targets creators and bloggers. Their free plan is designed specifically for newsletter publishing, not promotional marketing.

Kit Free Plan

• 10,000 subscribers
• Unlimited email sends
• Landing pages and forms
• Creator profile (public-facing page)
• Email sequences (basic)
• Audience tagging

What You Give Up

Kit's free plan removes automated funnels, advanced segmentation, and newsletter referral features. You also can't remove Kit branding. To unlock these, you'll pay $39/month for 1,000 subscribers - significantly more expensive than MailerLite or Brevo.

But for pure newsletter sending, Kit's free tier is hard to beat. 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends means you can grow a substantial audience before paying anything. The creator-focused features like tipping and paid newsletter integration make Kit valuable for monetizing audiences.

Other Notable Free Email Tools

Omnisend

Best for: Ecommerce stores

Free includes 250 contacts, 500 emails/month, and pre-built automation for abandoned carts, welcome series, and order follow-ups. The ecommerce-specific features make Omnisend worth considering if you run a Shopify or WooCommerce store, despite the lower limits.

Moosend

Best for: Trial evaluation

Moosend offers a 30-day free trial with unlimited subscribers and unlimited emails. It's not a permanent free plan, but the trial gives you full access to automation, segmentation, and reporting. Use it to run a complete campaign before deciding.

Benchmark Email

Free includes 500 contacts and 3,500 emails/month. Similar to AWeber's offering but with fewer templates. The free plan includes basic automation and decent reporting.

EmailOctopus

EmailOctopus offers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month on their free plan. Built on Amazon SES, it's designed for straightforward email sending without complex features. If you need simple newsletters without automation, EmailOctopus is solid.

How to Choose Your Free Email Marketing Platform

Choose Brevo if:

• You have a large contact list but send infrequently
• You want unlimited contact storage
• You're okay spreading sends across multiple days
• You want a free CRM included
• You need transactional email capabilities
• You're building a large database for future segmentation

Choose MailerLite if:

• You're learning email marketing and want real automation
• You have under 500 subscribers
• You value a clean, intuitive interface
• A/B testing matters to you
• You want landing pages included
• You need functional workflows without paying

Choose HubSpot if:

• You're already in the HubSpot ecosystem
• CRM integration is your priority
• You might upgrade to paid HubSpot later
• You need comprehensive contact tracking
• You're a B2B business with complex sales cycles

Choose Mailchimp if:

• You need brand recognition ("Powered by Mailchimp" is familiar)
• You're sending very low volume
• You just want to test email marketing as a concept
• You need extensive third-party integrations
• You're already using Mailchimp's other free tools

Choose AWeber if:

• Phone support is non-negotiable
• You're an affiliate marketer (AWeber is affiliate-friendly)
• You trust established deliverability over features
• You want access to 700+ templates

Choose Sender if:

• You need maximum free subscribers (2,500)
• You're bootstrapping and need runway
• 15,000 monthly emails isn't enough with other platforms
• You value sending volume over advanced features

Choose Kit if:

• You're a creator or blogger
• You're building a newsletter-first business
• You need to manage 10,000+ subscribers for free
• You plan to monetize your audience directly
• Unlimited sends matter more than automation

Free Email Marketing Software Comparison Criteria

When evaluating free email marketing tools, look beyond the marketing claims. Here's what actually matters:

1. Subscriber Limits vs. Contact Limits

Some platforms distinguish between stored contacts and emailable subscribers. Mailchimp counts unsubscribed contacts toward limits. Brevo doesn't. This difference can cut your effective capacity in half.

2. Email Sending Limits: Daily vs. Monthly

Brevo's 300/day limit (9,000/month) works differently than Mailchimp's 1,000/month (500/day). If you send weekly, Brevo is better. If you send one big monthly blast, Mailchimp's 500/day limit won't slow you down.

3. Automation Functionality

"Automation included" means different things. MailerLite gives you multi-step workflows with conditional logic. Mailchimp gives you nothing. HubSpot gives you basic thank-you emails. Test what "automation" actually means.

4. Deliverability Reputation

Free plans often use shared IP addresses. Your emails share reputation with thousands of other users. Platforms with stricter list requirements (MailerLite, AWeber) tend to maintain better shared IP reputation than anything-goes platforms.

5. Support Quality

AWeber offers phone support for free users. Most platforms offer email-only support after trial periods end. When your campaign breaks 10 minutes before sending, support quality matters.

6. Template Quality and Quantity

Mailchimp limits free users to 7 basic templates. AWeber includes 700+. MailerLite includes zero pre-made templates but excellent content blocks. If you can't design from scratch, template access matters.

7. Upgrade Path Economics

MailerLite charges $10/month for 501 subscribers. Kit charges $39/month for 1,001 subscribers. When you outgrow free, where do costs go? Model your expected growth against pricing tiers.

8. Data Portability

Can you export your contacts easily? Some platforms make it harder than others. Before committing to any free plan, check how easily you can leave. CSV export should be straightforward and include all contact data.

Common Free Plan Restrictions (The Fine Print)

Branding Removal

Every free plan includes platform branding in email footers. To remove it, expect to pay $10-20/month minimum. "Powered by [Platform]" footers don't hurt deliverability but they look less professional.

Domain Authentication

Free plans often prevent you from authenticating your sending domain. This means emails technically come from the platform's domain, not yours. It can hurt deliverability and definitely hurts brand consistency.

A/B Testing Restrictions

MailerLite includes A/B testing on free. Most competitors don't. If testing subject lines matters to your strategy, this becomes a key differentiator.

Integration Limits

Zapier integrations might be limited on free plans. Native integrations typically work, but third-party automation connections often require paid tiers.

Support Response Times

Free users get slower support responses. AWeber is the exception - they offer 24/7 phone support even for free accounts. Most platforms deprioritize free user tickets.

List Segmentation Depth

You can usually create segments on free plans, but advanced segmentation (behavioral triggers, custom fields, multiple conditions) often requires upgrades.

When Free Plans Stop Making Sense

Free tiers work until they don't. Here's when to expect the upgrade conversation:

• List growth: Most caps are 500 subscribers. Growing a real business, you'll pass this within months.
• Sending volume: Weekly newsletters to 500+ people will hit limits quickly.
• Branding: "Powered by [Tool]" footers look unprofessional to some audiences.
• Automation needs: Free plans restrict workflow complexity. Welcome sequences, abandoned cart emails, lead nurturing - these typically need paid plans.
• Team access: Most free plans are single-user. Growing teams need collaborative features.
• Deliverability issues: If you're serious about email, shared IPs become problematic. Dedicated IPs require paid plans.
• Advanced reporting: Revenue tracking, cohort analysis, funnel reports - these analytics require upgrades.

The good news: paid plans start around $9-15/month for most platforms. That's less than most business software and potentially high-ROI if email drives revenue for you.

How to Maximize Your Free Plan

Strategy 1: Use Multiple Platforms

Nothing stops you from using Brevo for newsletters and HubSpot for CRM-triggered emails. Segment your use cases across platforms to maximize free limits. Just maintain consistent unsubscribe management.

Strategy 2: Aggressive List Hygiene

Remove inactive subscribers regularly. If someone hasn't opened an email in 6 months, they're hurting your deliverability and counting against limits. Clean lists perform better and stay under caps longer.

Strategy 3: Segment to Stay Under Limits

Instead of emailing your entire list, segment aggressively. Brevo's 300/day limit becomes manageable when you send targeted messages to 200-person segments instead of blasting 2,000 people.

Strategy 4: Build on Free, Migrate Before Limits Hurt

Use free plans to validate email as a channel. Once you know it works, upgrade before hitting limits. Don't let artificial caps prevent you from capitalizing on momentum.

Strategy 5: Master One Platform's Free Features

MailerLite's free automation is powerful enough to run sophisticated sequences. Don't upgrade until you've actually maxed out what free features can do. Most users never use 80% of paid features.

Free Email Marketing Software for Specific Use Cases

For Ecommerce Stores

Best choice: Omnisend or Brevo

Omnisend's free plan includes abandoned cart automation and product recommendation blocks. Brevo offers ecommerce tracking and can integrate with Shopify/WooCommerce without requiring paid plans.

For Content Creators and Bloggers

Best choice: Kit or MailerLite

Kit's 10,000 subscriber free limit is unbeatable for newsletter growth. MailerLite's automation helps with content upgrade delivery and welcome sequences.

For B2B Lead Nurturing

Best choice: HubSpot

The CRM integration means every lead interaction is tracked. Even with limited email sends, the contact intelligence justifies using HubSpot for B2B email.

For Event Promotion

Best choice: Brevo

Unlimited contacts mean you can import huge event lists. The 300/day limit works fine for registration confirmations and reminders spread across weeks.

For Affiliate Marketing

Best choice: AWeber or Sender

AWeber is explicitly affiliate-friendly. Sender doesn't restrict promotional content as aggressively as some competitors.

For Nonprofits and Churches

Best choice: MailerLite or Sender

Generous free limits matter when budgets are tight. MailerLite's automation helps with volunteer coordination and donation follow-ups. Sender's 2,500 subscriber limit accommodates larger congregations.

For Coaches and Consultants

Best choice: Kit or MailerLite

Both platforms handle lead magnets, course delivery emails, and client nurture sequences well. Kit's creator focus aligns with coaching business models.

Technical Considerations for Free Plans

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records

Most free plans don't allow custom domain authentication. Your emails send from shared domains with pre-configured DNS records. This is fine for getting started but limits your long-term deliverability control.

IP Reputation Management

Free plans use shared IP pools. Your deliverability depends partially on other users' sending practices. Platforms with stricter approval processes (MailerLite) maintain better shared IP reputation.

API Access

Free plans typically restrict or exclude API access. If you need to trigger emails from your application, check whether the free tier includes API keys. Brevo includes API access on free; HubSpot does not.

SMTP Sending

Some free plans allow SMTP sending for transactional emails. Brevo's 300/day limit includes SMTP sends. This matters if you're sending password resets, order confirmations, or application notifications.

Unsubscribe Compliance

All platforms include legally compliant unsubscribe mechanisms. Free plans don't compromise on CAN-SPAM or GDPR compliance. Your unsubscribe process works the same on free and paid tiers.

Migrating Between Free Platforms

Started on Mailchimp but want to switch to MailerLite? Here's how to migrate without losing data or momentum:

Step 1: Export Your Contacts

Download a CSV from your current platform. Include all fields: email, name, subscription date, tags, custom fields. Most platforms have an "Export" button in audience settings.

Step 2: Clean Your List

Before importing to a new platform, remove duplicates and invalid emails. Tools like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce offer free tiers for small lists.

Step 3: Map Custom Fields

Different platforms use different field names. Map your "First Name" field to the new platform's equivalent before importing. Most platforms guide you through this during import.

Step 4: Import and Verify

Upload your cleaned CSV. Most platforms require import verification - they'll send a confirmation to ensure you own these contacts. This prevents spam list imports.

Step 5: Recreate Key Automations

You can't export automation workflows as files. Manually rebuild your most important sequences in the new platform. Start with welcome emails and core nurture sequences.

Step 6: Update Forms and Integrations

Swap out embedded forms on your website. Update Zapier connections or WordPress plugins to point to your new platform. Test everything before announcing the change.

Step 7: Send a Re-engagement Campaign

Let your list know you're using a new platform. Set expectations about email frequency and content. This resets engagement and helps with deliverability on the new platform.

Free Email Marketing Templates and Resources

Every platform offers templates, but quality varies wildly. Here's what to actually expect:

AWeber

700+ templates covering every industry. Quality is consistent and professional. Free users get full access.

MailerLite

Zero pre-made templates on the free plan. Instead, they offer excellent drag-and-drop content blocks. You'll build templates from scratch, but it's faster than it sounds.

Mailchimp

7 basic templates for free users. They're functional but dated. Paid users get access to 100+ templates.

Brevo

40+ templates included on free. They're modern and mobile-responsive. Good variety across use cases.

HubSpot

Limited selection on free. Templates are very basic. HubSpot focuses more on CRM features than email design.

Where to Find Free Templates

If your platform lacks templates, try:

• BeeFree: Free email template builder with export to any platform
• Canva: Email templates that export as images (use sparingly - images-only emails hurt deliverability)
• Litmus Community: User-submitted templates, free to download
• Campaign Monitor Templates: Free templates that work with any platform

Email Marketing Best Practices for Free Plan Users

Build Your List Organically

Don't buy lists. Every platform prohibits purchased lists, and free plans enforce this strictly. Build through lead magnets, content upgrades, and signup forms.

Maintain Clean List Hygiene

Remove hard bounces immediately. Monitor engagement and remove subscribers who haven't opened in 90+ days. Small, engaged lists outperform large, cold lists every time.

Send Consistently

Pick a schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) and stick to it. Inconsistent sending hurts engagement more than frequency. Your audience forgets who you are between irregular sends.

Write Subject Lines That Work

Free plans don't include AI subject line generators (usually). Write clear, benefit-driven subject lines. Avoid spam triggers: excessive punctuation, all caps, "FREE!!!" language.

Mobile-Optimize Everything

60%+ of emails are opened on mobile. Every platform's templates are mobile-responsive, but test on real devices. Long paragraphs break mobile reading flow - keep it scannable.

Include Clear Calls-to-Action

Every email should drive one primary action. Make your CTA button obvious, above the fold, and repeated once in longer emails.

Monitor Deliverability Metrics

Track open rates, click rates, and spam complaints. Open rates below 15% signal deliverability issues. Click rates below 2% mean your content or CTAs need work.

Common Free Plan Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Ignoring Daily Limits

Brevo's 300/day limit resets every 24 hours, not at midnight. If you send 300 emails at 2pm Monday, you can't send more until 2pm Tuesday. Plan accordingly.

Mistake 2: Not Testing Automations

Free plan automation breaks in unexpected ways. Test every workflow by enrolling a test contact. Watch them move through each step before exposing real subscribers.

Mistake 3: Neglecting Unsubscribe Rates

High unsubscribe rates (>1% per campaign) indicate list fit problems. You're emailing people who don't want your content. Segment better or adjust content strategy.

Mistake 4: Over-Sending

Just because you have 12,000 monthly emails doesn't mean you should use them all. Over-sending fatigues lists faster than under-sending. Quality over quantity.

Mistake 5: Skipping List Verification

Free plans are less forgiving of bad lists. Verify email addresses before importing. One spam trap can kill your account.

Mistake 6: Not Reading Platform Policies

Each platform prohibits certain content: cryptocurrency, CBD, multi-level marketing, adult content. Violating policies gets free accounts terminated instantly with no appeal.

How to Upgrade Smart (When Free Stops Working)

You've outgrown your free plan. Here's how to upgrade without overpaying:

Evaluate Your Actual Needs

Don't pay for features you won't use. Need automation but not A/B testing? Choose a plan that matches your workflow, not the highest tier.

Annual Billing Discounts

Most platforms offer 10-30% discounts for annual billing. If you're committed to the platform, annual plans save money.

Nonprofit Discounts

Registered nonprofits get 15-30% off most platforms. Mailchimp, MailerLite, HubSpot, and Constant Contact all offer nonprofit pricing.

Seasonal Promotions

Black Friday and New Year typically bring promotional pricing. If you're planning to upgrade anyway, waiting for a sale can save 20-50%.

Negotiate for Migrations

Switching from a competitor? Some platforms offer first-month free or discounted migration assistance. Contact sales before importing your list.

Right-Size Your Plan

If you have 2,400 subscribers, don't pay for a 5,000-contact tier. Most platforms let you choose specific contact ranges. Pay for what you need, not the next big tier.

Free Email Marketing Software for Advanced Users

Combining Free Tools for Power

Use Brevo for email sending, HubSpot for CRM tracking, and Zapier's free tier to connect them. Advanced users can build sophisticated stacks entirely on free tiers.

Custom HTML in Free Plans

Most free plans support custom HTML emails. If you can code, you're not limited to drag-and-drop builders. MailerLite and Sender both allow HTML imports on free plans.

API-Triggered Campaigns

Brevo's free plan includes API access. Trigger transactional emails from your application within the 300/day limit. Perfect for SaaS onboarding sequences or notification emails.

Webhook Integrations

Some free plans support webhooks. When subscribers join your list or click links, fire webhooks to external tools. Build custom integrations without Zapier.

The Future of Free Email Marketing Plans

Free plans are getting more restrictive. Mailchimp reduced from 2,000 to 500 contacts. MailerLite cut from 1,000 to 500 subscribers. This trend will continue as platforms prioritize paying customers.

But free tiers aren't disappearing. They're essential for platform growth - every paying customer starts on free. Expect free plans to remain viable for getting started, with faster nudges toward paid upgrades.

The platforms winning on free tier generosity (Sender, Kit) are betting on customer loyalty. Give users incredible free experiences, earn their business when they grow. This strategy works when platforms have strong paid tiers.

Bottom Line

For most small businesses starting out, MailerLite offers the best balance of usable features and reasonable limits. You can actually learn email marketing and implement real strategies.

If you have a larger list but send infrequently, Brevo's unlimited contacts with daily send limits might work better.

For maximum free subscribers and sends, Sender gives you the most runway before paying anything.

Everyone else falls into niche use cases: HubSpot for CRM-first users, AWeber for phone support lovers, Mailchimp for people who just want something familiar, Kit for newsletter creators.

Start with one that fits your current needs, but don't get too attached. Migration between platforms is annoying but doable. Pick based on where you are now, not where you hope to be in two years.

The best free email marketing platform is the one you'll actually use consistently. Features matter less than execution. A simple weekly newsletter sent consistently on Mailchimp's limited free plan beats sophisticated automation you never launch on MailerLite.

Looking for more marketing tools? Check out our guide to best email marketing software or email marketing for small businesses.