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Last updated: October 29, 2026
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Best Free Email Marketing Software (2027): Real Limits Compared
The best free email marketing software depends on what you send. Kit has the largest free plan: up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, but no automations. MailerLite is the best free plan with automation: 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations. Brevo is best for larger lists that send occasionally, with 300 free emails a day. Mailchimp, Omnisend and Klaviyo are free for about 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
- Largest free list: Kit (up to 10,000 subscribers, no automations)
- Best free plan with automation: MailerLite (250 subscribers, 2,500 emails, 3 automations)
- Best for large lists, rare sends: Brevo (300 emails/day)
- Best free plan for ecommerce: Omnisend (250 contacts, 500 emails, web push)
- Best-known free plan: Mailchimp (250 contacts, 500 emails)
Free plans compared
| Tool | Free contacts | Free sends | Automations on free | First paid plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | Unlimited broadcasts | No | Creator $33/month at 1,000 (annual) |
| MailerLite | 250 subscribers | 2,500 emails/month | 3 | Comfort from $12/month |
| Brevo | Large list storage | 300 emails/day | Yes (basic) | Starter from about $9/month * |
| Mailchimp | 250 contacts | 500 emails/month (max 250/day) | Limited | Essentials $13/month (12-month intro) |
| Omnisend | 250 contacts | 500 emails/month | Yes (ecommerce) | Standard from $16/month |
| Klaviyo | 250 active profiles | 500 sends/month | Yes (ecommerce) | about $30/month at 1,000 profiles * |
* From 2026 pricing guides.
Which limit matters for you?
Free plans restrict three different things, and the right tool depends on which one you'll hit first:
- Contacts: Kit allows 10,000 subscribers; most others stop at 250.
- Sends: MailerLite allows 2,500 emails a month; Brevo 300 a day; Mailchimp, Omnisend and Klaviyo 500 a month.
- Automation: Kit's free plan has none; MailerLite's has 3; Omnisend and Klaviyo include ecommerce flows.
A newsletter writer hits the contact limit first; a small business hits the automation limit; a store hits the send limit.
1. Kit: largest free list
Kit's free Newsletter plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, landing pages and forms, and lets you sell digital products. There are no automations, so welcome sequences require Creator ($33 a month at 1,000 subscribers on annual billing).
Best for: writers and creators growing a newsletter. See Kit pricing.
2. MailerLite: best free plan with automation
MailerLite's free plan includes 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations, five times Mailchimp's monthly sends. It's enough for a small business to send a weekly newsletter and run a welcome email.
Best for: small businesses starting email marketing. See MailerLite pricing and Kit vs MailerLite.
3. Brevo: best for large lists that send rarely
Brevo's free plan allows 300 emails a day, about 9,000 a month if spread out, and Brevo bills by emails sent rather than contacts stored. A business with 1,500 contacts can reach everyone for free by sending over several days. Free emails carry Brevo branding.
Best for: larger lists with occasional newsletters. See Brevo pricing and Brevo vs Mailchimp.
4. Omnisend: best free plan for ecommerce
Omnisend's free plan includes 250 contacts, 500 emails a month and 500 web push notifications, with ecommerce automations such as abandoned cart. New stores can build their key flows before paying.
Best for: new online stores. See Omnisend pricing.
5. Mailchimp: best-known free plan
Mailchimp is free for 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, with a maximum of 250 a day. Its editor and integrations are its strengths; its free limits are tight.
Best for: trying the best-known platform. See Mailchimp pricing.
6. Klaviyo: free plan for data-driven stores
Klaviyo's free plan covers 250 active profiles and 500 email sends a month, plus $5 of mobile messages and $5 of Composer usage. It lets stores test Klaviyo's segmentation and flows before paying.
Best for: stores that plan to grow into Klaviyo. See Klaviyo pricing.
What free can and can't do
| Situation | Best free choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly newsletter to 3,000 readers | Kit | Free up to 10,000 subscribers |
| Monthly newsletter to 1,500 customers | Brevo | 300 emails a day, list stored |
| 200 subscribers with a welcome email | MailerLite | 2,500 emails and 3 automations |
| New store with abandoned-cart flow | Omnisend or Klaviyo | Ecommerce flows on free |
| Two newsletters a month to 240 contacts | Mailchimp or MailerLite | Within 500 / 2,500 sends |
When to leave the free plan
Upgrade when the free limit costs you more than the paid plan:
- You need automation that the free plan doesn't include (Kit) or exceeds (MailerLite's 3).
- Your list passes the contact limit (250 on most tools).
- Branding hurts your image (Brevo's free emails).
- Revenue from email clearly exceeds the first paid plan.
Three real-world scenarios
A writer launching a newsletter
Kit free: no cost until 10,000 subscribers, with unlimited sends.
A local business with 180 customers
MailerLite free: a monthly newsletter and a welcome automation within 2,500 emails.
A store with 220 subscribers
Omnisend or Klaviyo free: build welcome and abandoned-cart flows before the list grows.
Start MailerLite free → 2,500 emails a month and 3 automations, free · Affiliate link
Free plan red flags
- Daily send caps that prevent one campaign to your whole list.
- No automation, which means doing everything by hand.
- Branding on every email.
- Export limits: make sure you can export your list anytime.
- Inactive contacts counting toward the free limit; clean them regularly.
How to choose in 5 steps
- Count subscribers and estimate 12-month growth.
- Count emails you'll send each month.
- Decide if you need automation now.
- Pick the free plan whose first limit you'll hit last.
- Check the first paid plan's price so the upgrade isn't a surprise.
Terms explained
- Subscriber or contact: a person on your list.
- Send: one email delivered to one person.
- Broadcast or campaign: a one-off email to a list.
- Automation: a triggered email sequence.
- Branding: the provider's logo added to free emails.
Getting the most from a free plan
- Authenticate your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) so free emails reach the inbox; see our email deliverability guide.
- Collect only opted-in subscribers with a clear sign-up form.
- Send consistently, for example every week or every two weeks, so subscribers remember you.
- Remove inactive subscribers every quarter to stay under contact limits.
- Use the free automations you have for a welcome email; it's usually the most-opened email you'll send.
- Export your list regularly so you can move tools if you need to.
Free plans and the cost of growth
The cheapest free plan isn't always the cheapest path. Kit is free to 10,000 subscribers but its first paid plan with automation costs $33 a month at 1,000 subscribers; MailerLite starts paying earlier, at 250 subscribers, but its Comfort plan starts at $12. Mailchimp's introductory price doubles after 12 months. Before choosing, look at the price you'll pay in year two, not just today.
Our verdict
Kit has the best free plan for newsletters (10,000 subscribers), MailerLite has the best free plan for small businesses (2,500 emails and 3 automations), and Brevo is best for larger lists that send rarely (300 emails a day). Stores should start free on Omnisend or Klaviyo to build ecommerce flows from day one.
How we compiled this ranking
We checked each free plan on official pricing pages on October 29, 2026, and listed first paid plans for context; Brevo and Klaviyo paid prices come from 2026 pricing guides, marked with *. See also best email marketing software for small business and best email marketing for ecommerce.
FAQ
What is the best free email marketing software?
Kit for newsletters (10,000 free subscribers), MailerLite for small businesses (2,500 emails and 3 automations) and Brevo for large lists that send rarely.
Is there completely free email marketing software?
Yes. All six tools above have permanent free plans with limits.
Which free plan has the most subscribers?
Kit, with up to 10,000 subscribers.
Which free plan includes automation?
MailerLite (3 automations), plus Omnisend and Klaviyo for ecommerce flows. Kit's free plan has no automations.
Is Mailchimp still free?
Yes, for 250 contacts and 500 emails a month.
Can I use a free plan for business?
Yes. All these free plans can be used by businesses, within their limits and the provider's terms.
Sources
kit.com/pricing, mailerlite.com/pricing, brevo.com/pricing, mailchimp.com/pricing, omnisend.com/pricing and klaviyo.com/pricing, checked October 29, 2026.