Best free plan overall: MailerLite — 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month, no time limit, drag-and-drop builder included. Best runner-up: Brevo for unlimited contacts (300 emails/day cap).
| Platform | Free Contacts | Free Emails | Automation | SMS | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MailerLite | 1,000 | 12,000/mo | Basic | ❌ | Beginners, bloggers |
| Brevo | Unlimited | 300/day | Advanced (2K contacts) | ✅ | Growing lists |
| Mailchimp | 500 | 1,000/mo | None | ❌ | Testing Mailchimp |
| ConvertKit | 10,000 | Unlimited | Limited | ❌ | Creators (large free tier) |
| Klaviyo | 250 | 500/mo | Basic flows | ✅ $5 credit | E-commerce testing |
1. MailerLite — Best Overall Free Plan
Free up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month. Includes drag-and-drop builder, forms, landing pages, and basic automation. No time limit. Best for: most small businesses starting out.
2. Brevo — Best for Unlimited Contacts
300 emails/day (about 9K/month), no contact limit. Includes advanced automation (up to 2K contacts), SMS credits, and transactional email. Best for: building a large list with moderate send frequency.
3. ConvertKit — Best Free Tier at Scale
Free up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited emails. But limited features — no advanced automation, no email support. Best for: creators growing past 1K on a tight budget.
4. Mailchimp — Best for Learning
Free up to 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/month. Best drag-and-drop builder. But no automation on free, and Mailchimp branding on all emails. Best for: testing the platform before upgrading.
5. Klaviyo — Best for E-Commerce Testing
Free up to 250 contacts, 500 emails/month + $5 SMS credit. Includes pre-built e-commerce flows. Very limited volume. Best for: new Shopify stores testing Klaviyo.
→ Need help deciding? Start with our guide