Best Free Email Marketing Tools: Subscriber Limits & Features
Can you get quality email marketing without paying? We checked every major provider to see which ones offer free plans, what's included, and where the limitations are.
Some products are sponsored. Rankings reflect our honest assessment. See our affiliate disclosure
Key Findings
- 17 of 10 email marketing products offer a free plan
- 2Mailchimp has the highest-rated free plan (9.1/10)
Email Marketing with Free Plans
These email marketing products offer genuinely free plans — no trial period, no credit card required. Ranked by our overall rating.
Mailchimp
Editor's ChoiceMost popular email platform with powerful automation
Pros
- Free plan for up to 500 contacts
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
- Extensive template library
- Powerful automation features
Cons
- Pricing increases quickly with list size
- Limited features on free plan
- Customer support can be slow
Free tier • Paid from
$13/mo
- Very affordable pricing from $10/mo
- Generous free plan (500 subscribers)
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
- Free plan reduced from 1,000 to 500 subscribers
- Limited advanced automation
- Basic reporting compared to competitors
Free tier • Paid from
$10/mo
- Designed specifically for creators
- Powerful visual automation builder
- Excellent subscriber tagging
- Limited email template options
- No drag-and-drop email editor
- Fewer integrations than competitors
Free tier • Paid from
$9/mo
- Deep e-commerce integrations
- Powerful segmentation based on purchase behavior
- Predictive analytics and CLV
- Expensive for large lists
- Steep learning curve
- Not ideal for non-e-commerce
Free tier • Paid from
$20/mo
- Free plan for up to 500 contacts
- Unlimited email sends on all paid plans
- Built-in webinar hosting
- Webinar features require higher tiers
- Free plan has limited automation
- Interface can feel cluttered
Free tier • Paid from
$19/mo
- Generous free plan (300 emails/day)
- Unlimited contacts on all plans
- SMS marketing included
- Daily sending limit on free plan
- Email builder less intuitive
- Limited automation on lower tiers
Free tier • Paid from
$25/mo
- Free plan for up to 500 subscribers
- 25+ years of email marketing experience
- Excellent deliverability rates
- Recent price increases (50-150%)
- Limited automation compared to competitors
- Dated interface design
Free tier • Paid from
$12.5/mo
Free Plan Comparison
What you actually get with each free plan, and what the upgrade costs.
| Product | Rating | Free Plan Includes | Paid Upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | 9.1/10 | 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/mo, Basic templates | $13/mo |
| MailerLite | 9/10 | 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo, 1 user | $10/mo |
| ConvertKit | 8.9/10 | 1,000 subscribers, Unlimited emails, Landing pages | $9/mo |
| Klaviyo | 8.8/10 | 250 contacts, 500 emails/mo, Email support | $20/mo |
| GetResponse | 8.7/10 | 500 contacts, 2,500 emails/mo, Website builder | $19/mo |
| Brevo (Sendinblue) | 8.5/10 | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day, Transactional emails | $25/mo |
| AWeber | 8.2/10 | 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/mo, 1 automation | $12.5/mo |
Free vs Paid: What You're Missing
Free plans are great for getting started, but they typically limit key features. Among email marketing with free plans, common limitations include reduced storage, fewer features, and branding on your content. If your needs grow, paid plans typically start at $9.00/mo.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free email marketing option?
Yes, 7 email marketing products offer free plans: Mailchimp, MailerLite, ConvertKit, Klaviyo, GetResponse, Brevo (Sendinblue), AWeber. Mailchimp has the highest-rated free plan.
What are the limitations of free email marketing plans?
Free plans typically limit storage, features, number of users, or add branding. They're good for individual use or testing, but businesses usually need to upgrade for full functionality.