Every email platform has a "free plan." Most are useless tiny limits that push you to pay within a week. We signed up for all of them and actually tried to run campaigns. Three are worth your time. The rest aren't.
Free Plan Comparison Table
| Platform | Contacts | Emails/Month | Automation | Landing Pages | Branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Unlimited | 9,000 (300/day) | Basic | No | Yes |
| MailerLite | 1,000 | 12,000 | Yes | 10 pages | Yes |
| GetResponse | 500 | Unlimited | Basic | 1 page | Yes |
| Mailchimp | 500 | 1,000 | No | No | Yes |
| Constant Contact | None | ||||
| HubSpot | Unlimited | 2,000 | No | 20 pages | Yes (heavy) |
Best Free Plan: Brevo
Brevo Free
Unlimited contacts | 300 emails/day | CRM included
Brevo is the only platform that lets you have unlimited contacts on the free plan. The 300 emails/day limit (9,000/month) is enough for a list of up to 2,000-3,000 contacts sending biweekly newsletters. You also get a built-in CRM, basic automation, and transactional email support.
Runner-Up: MailerLite
MailerLite Free
1,000 subscribers | 12,000 emails/mo | Automation included
MailerLite free plan is the most feature-complete. You get automation workflows, 10 landing pages, a website builder, and 12,000 emails per month. The 1,000 subscriber cap is the main limitation, but for a new business just starting email marketing, that is plenty.
Best for Automation: GetResponse
GetResponse Free
500 contacts | Unlimited emails | 1 landing page
GetResponse free plan has the smallest contact limit (500) but no cap on emails sent. If you have a small, engaged list, you can send as many campaigns as you want. The free plan includes basic automation, one landing page, and the website builder.
Free Plans to Avoid
Mailchimp Free Too Limited
500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month, no automation, no landing pages. This used to be the best free plan in the industry. Intuit gutted it. Move on.
HubSpot Free Too Heavy
Unlimited contacts sounds nice until you see the 2,000 email/month cap and the giant HubSpot branding. The whole free tier exists to funnel you into their $800+/mo Marketing Hub. Way too much platform for just sending emails.
Constant Contact No Free Plan
Constant Contact does not offer a free plan at all only a 14-day trial. If you need free, look elsewhere.
Free Plan Scorecard
Contact Limit Generosity
Email Volume
Automation
Landing Pages
Ease of Use
Upgrade Value
FAQ
Which free email tool is best for beginners??
Can I run a real business on a free email plan??
Will free plans hurt my deliverability??
Can I remove the platform branding on free plans??
What happens when I outgrow the free plan??
Is Mailchimp free plan still worth it??
Quick Pick
Biggest list for free ? Brevo (unlimited contacts). Best features for free ? MailerLite (automation + landing pages). Unlimited sends to a small list ? GetResponse. Mailchimp free is no longer in the conversation. Pick whichever matches your situation and upgrade when you outgrow it.