For many startups, small businesses, and creators, launching an email marketing strategy without a budget is a top priority. Fortunately, a wide range of email marketing services offer free plans, allowing you to build a list, send campaigns, and even use automation tools at no cost.1 While these plans come with limitations, email marketing tools without contracts provide a powerful way to get started and prove the value of email marketing before you invest in a paid plan.2
What to Expect from a Free Plan 🆓
Free email marketing plans are not all created equal. They typically have limits on the number of contacts you can have or the number of emails you can send per month.3 However, a good free plan will also include essential features that help you grow your business.
- Contact and Sending Limits: Most free plans limit the number of subscribers you can have (e.g., 1,000) and the total number of emails you can send each month.4 Some services, like Brevo, have a daily sending limit instead of a monthly one.
- Basic Features: Look for a service that includes a drag-and-drop email editor, mobile-responsive templates, and simple analytics.
- Automation: A surprising number of free plans now include some level of automation, such as a basic welcome email sequence for new subscribers.
- Branding: Free plans often include the service’s logo or branding in the footer of your emails.8 This is a small trade-off for the value you’re receiving.
Top Email Marketing Services with Free Plans 🏆
Here are some of the best free email marketing services, each with its own strengths:
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Brevo is known for its exceptionally generous free plan.9 It allows for an unlimited number of contacts, making it ideal for businesses focused on list growth.10 The main limitation is a daily sending cap of 300 emails.11 It also includes a free CRM and automation tools, making it a powerful all-in-one solution.12
- MailerLite: Praised for its simplicity, MailerLite’s free plan is a fantastic option for beginners and creators.13 It allows up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month.14 Its intuitive interface, drag-and-drop automation builder, and landing page features make it a robust choice for getting started.15
- HubSpot: While a comprehensive platform, HubSpot offers a powerful free-forever CRM and a set of free marketing tools, including email marketing.16 Its free plan is limited to 2,000 email sends per month and includes HubSpot branding. Its core strength is its seamless integration with the free CRM, allowing you to see a complete view of your leads and customers.
- EmailOctopus: This service is known for its affordability and features.17 Its free plan is very generous, allowing you to send up to 10,000 emails per month to up to 2,500 subscribers.18 It also includes automation features and a landing page builder, making it a great option for businesses with a growing list.
- Mailchimp: One of the most recognizable names in the industry, Mailchimp offers a free plan with a limit of 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends.20 It provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and basic reporting, making it a popular starting point for many.
By carefully considering your needs and the limitations of each platform’s free plan, you can choose the best tool to help your business get started with email marketing at no cost.
