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Free plans

The best free email marketing tools

Email marketing is one of the few categories where you can run a real list for months without paying. Several tools in our email marketing top 5 offer a free plan with real subscriber limits — enough to start a newsletter or a small business list. This page lists those tools and explains what each free tier actually gives you.

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Our verdict

For a first list, MailerLite is the friendliest free plan: it is easy to use and the free tier covers a real starting list. Kit is the better free pick if you are a creator planning to sell digital products later. beehiiv is worth a look if you are building a newsletter business specifically.

At a glance

Free tools compared: Best Free Email Marketing Tools
ToolBest forStarting price
Rank 1MailerLiteBeginners, bloggers and small businessesFree plan available; paid from about $10/month
Rank 2KitBloggers, YouTubers, podcasters and course creatorsFree plan available; paid from about $33/month (billed yearly)
Rank 3beehiivWriters and publishers building a newsletter businessFree plan for up to 2,500 subscribers; paid from about $45/month
Rank 4Systeme.ioBeginners who want to sell online without paying for five different toolsFree plan available; paid from about $17/month
Rank 5GetResponseSmall businesses and online sellers who want more than newsletters14-day free trial; paid from about $19/month

The free picks, ranked

  1. Rank 1
    Top pick

    MailerLite

    Simple, friendly email marketing that doesn’t need a manual.

    Best forBeginners, bloggers and small businesses

    What it does

    MailerLite lets you design emails with a drag-and-drop editor, set up automations, build sign-up forms and landing pages, and even run a simple website, all from one clean dashboard.

    Strengths

    • Clean, beginner-friendly editor
    • Automations, forms and landing pages included
    • A free plan to get started
    • Affordable paid plans for growing lists

    Good to know: The free plan has limits, and extras like more users and advanced tools need a paid plan. Prices rise as your list grows.

  2. Rank 2

    Kit

    Email built for creators who want to turn an audience into income.

    Best forBloggers, YouTubers, podcasters and course creators

    What it does

    Kit (formerly ConvertKit) helps creators grow an email list, send newsletters and automate follow-ups. You can also sell digital products and paid newsletters straight from your emails.

    Strengths

    • Made for creators, with simple automations
    • Sell digital products and paid newsletters
    • Landing pages and sign-up forms included
    • A free plan to get started

    Good to know: Paid plans get pricey as your list grows, and prices have gone up recently, so compare before you commit.

  3. Rank 3

    beehiiv

    A newsletter platform built to grow and monetize your audience.

    Best forWriters and publishers building a newsletter business

    What it does

    beehiiv is made specifically for newsletters. You write and send your issues, grow your readership with built-in tools, and can earn money through ads and paid subscriptions.

    Strengths

    • Built just for newsletters
    • Built-in tools to grow and monetize your audience
    • Unlimited sends on every plan
    • A free plan to get started

    Good to know: beehiiv changed its plans and prices in October 2026, and most monetization tools need a paid plan, so check the latest details.

  4. Rank 4

    Systeme.io

    Email, sales funnels and online courses in one account, at a friendly price.

    Best forBeginners who want to sell online without paying for five different tools

    What it does

    Systeme.io puts email marketing, sales funnels, a website builder and online courses into one account. It is popular with people launching their first digital product.

    Strengths

    • Email, funnels, courses and websites in one place
    • A free plan to get started
    • No transaction fees charged on your sales
    • Simple, low-cost paid plans

    Good to know: Design options are more limited than dedicated website builders, and the interface can take a little getting used to.

  5. Rank 5

    GetResponse

    A full marketing toolbox: email, landing pages and webinars under one roof.

    Best forSmall businesses and online sellers who want more than newsletters

    What it does

    GetResponse combines email marketing with landing pages, automation, webinar tools and a website builder, so you can run a whole campaign from a single account.

    Strengths

    • Email, landing pages and webinar tools in one place
    • Automation workflows for follow-ups
    • Templates and AI helpers to write faster
    • 14-day free trial

    Good to know: Some features, such as webinars, sit on higher plans, and costs climb as your list grows.

Frequently asked questions

Which free email marketing tool is best for beginners?
MailerLite is the easiest free plan to start with. It has a clean editor, basic automations and a free tier that works for a small list. Kit is a close second for creators.
How many subscribers can I have on a free email plan?
It varies by tool. Some free tiers cover around 500–1,000 subscribers, while others cap the number of monthly emails rather than subscribers. Check the current limits on each official website.
Do free email marketing tools include automation?
Some do. MailerLite and Kit both include basic automations on their free plans. More advanced workflows usually need a paid plan.