The best free email marketing tools are not just free trials: they are genuinely useful free plans you can build on. These are the ones worth considering, ranked by who they are best for.
What the free plans actually include
Free plans vary enormously. Some are genuinely useful: unlimited contacts, automation, landing pages. Others are so limited they are more of a trial than a real free tier. The tools below have free plans worth using, not just worth having a look at.
MailerLite's free plan covers 1,000 subscribers with automation, landing pages, a website builder, and a link page included. There is no time limit. It is the most generous free plan in the industry for small businesses that need real functionality.
- 1,000 subscribers, no time limit
- Automation included on free plan
- Landing pages and website builder
- Good deliverability
Brevo's free plan is unique: unlimited contacts with 9,000 emails per month (300/day). If you have a large list that you email less frequently, Brevo's free plan is more useful than any other. Automation is included.
- Unlimited contacts
- 9,000 emails/month included
- Automation on the free plan
- SMS available on paid plans
Mailchimp's free plan covers 500 contacts and 1,000 emails/month. It is well-known and integrates with many tools, but it is no longer the most generous free plan. Automation is very limited on the free tier.
- 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month
- Large integration ecosystem
- Well-documented
- Limited automation on free plan
Kit's free plan is exceptional for creators: up to 10,000 subscribers with broadcasts and basic automations included. If you are a blogger, podcaster, or newsletter writer building an audience, Kit's free plan is hard to beat.
- Up to 10,000 subscribers free
- Creator-specific tools included
- Digital product selling available
- Link pages and landing pages
HubSpot's free CRM is genuinely excellent. Email marketing at the free tier is limited but contact management, deal pipelines, and basic automation are all available. If you need CRM functionality alongside email, HubSpot's free tier is the best starting point.
- Full CRM free forever
- Contact and deal management
- Basic email marketing included
- Scales to paid marketing tools
A note on deliverability
Free plans from reputable providers have good deliverability. The risk of poor deliverability comes from how you use the tool, not from being on a free tier. Build your list properly, use double opt-in, and clean your list regularly.