Email Marketing Platforms Compared: Free Plans, Pricing and Best Fit

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Email is still one of the few marketing channels you own. Social platforms change their algorithms, but your subscriber list stays with you. The platform you choose affects how easily you can grow that list, automate follow-ups and keep your emails out of spam folders.

Below we compare 10 email marketing platforms, grouped by the type of business they suit best: creators and newsletters, small businesses, and online stores. Free plans and starting prices were checked on each official website in October 2026. Most platforms price by list size, so your real cost depends on how many contacts you have.

Quick comparison

For creators and newsletters

Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit is built for creators: bloggers, course creators, coaches and podcasters. It combines landing pages, forms, tag-based automations and tools to sell digital products and paid newsletters. The free plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers, which is unusually generous. Paid plans start with Creator at $33 per month and add automations, integrations and more advanced features. The price rises with your list.

• Good fit if: you sell courses, ebooks or memberships and want to segment readers by interest.
• Keep in mind: ecommerce stores with large catalogs usually do better with a store-focused tool.

beehiiv

beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a built-in website, podcast support and unlimited email sends. The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers. The Lite plan adds paid subscriptions, ad monetization and automations. beehiiv says it takes 0% of paid subscription revenue, and standard payment processing fees still apply.

• Good fit if: the newsletter itself is your product and you plan to grow it with ads or paid tiers.
• Keep in mind: it is less focused on complex sales funnels than tools like ActiveCampaign.

For small businesses

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the best-known names in email marketing, with a drag-and-drop editor, templates, audience segmentation and basic automations. The free plan allows up to 250 contacts and 500 sends per month. Essentials is the entry paid plan, and Mailchimp offers a 14-day free trial of Essentials or Standard.

• Good fit if: you want a familiar tool with many integrations and templates.
• Keep in mind: the free plan is now small, and costs grow quickly as your list grows.

Brevo

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) covers email, SMS, WhatsApp and a basic CRM. Its free plan is described as free forever with no credit card, and lets you send up to 300 emails per day once your account is approved. Paid plans start with Starter.

• Good fit if: you have a large contact list but send infrequently, or you want several channels in one tool.
• Keep in mind: the daily sending cap on the free plan can slow down big campaigns.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact targets local businesses, nonprofits and event organizers. It includes email, social posting and event tools. Plans are Lite, Standard and Premium, priced by list size, and each plan includes a monthly send limit based on your contacts. The company offers a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, according to its pricing page.

• Good fit if: you want phone support and simple tools for a local audience.
• Keep in mind: overage fees apply if you exceed your monthly send limit.

AWeber

AWeber has been around since 1998 and focuses on straightforward email marketing: autoresponders, sign-up forms, landing pages and templates. The Lite plan is the entry paid option for small lists, and there is a 14-day trial.

• Good fit if: you want a simple setup for welcome emails and regular broadcasts.
• Keep in mind: automation options are more basic than in ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo.

GetResponse

GetResponse bundles email marketing with landing pages, sign-up forms, AI content helpers and, on higher plans, webinars and conversion funnels. The Starter plan includes unlimited monthly email sends and basic automation.

• Good fit if: you want email and landing pages in one place without extra tools.
• Keep in mind: webinar and advanced funnel features sit on higher plans.

ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is known for its visual automation builder, which lets you create multi-step journeys based on behavior, tags and site activity. It also offers CRM features for sales teams. Pricing depends on your number of contacts. ActiveCampaign offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card and, according to its pricing page, a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Good fit if: you need detailed automations such as lead scoring or long nurture sequences.
• Keep in mind: the depth of features takes time to learn.

For online stores

Klaviyo

Klaviyo is built for ecommerce. It connects to store data so you can send emails and texts based on purchases, browsing and cart activity, such as abandoned-cart reminders and product recommendations. Its free plan covers up to 250 profiles and 500 emails per month, and paid pricing grows with the number of profiles.

• Good fit if: you run a Shopify or similar store and want revenue-focused automations.
• Keep in mind: costs can rise quickly as your customer list grows.

Omnisend

Omnisend offers email, SMS and web push messages for online stores on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and other platforms. The free plan allows 250 contacts and 500 emails per month, with access to all features within those limits.

• Good fit if: you want ecommerce automations with a free plan to start.
• Keep in mind: SMS costs are separate from email sending, so budget for both.

How to choose an email marketing platform

• Match the tool to your business model. Creators: Kit or beehiiv. Local and service businesses: Mailchimp, Constant Contact or AWeber. Stores: Klaviyo or Omnisend. Complex funnels: ActiveCampaign.
• Estimate your list size in 12 months. Most plans are priced by contacts, so plan for growth.
• Check deliverability basics. Make sure you can authenticate your domain (SPF, DKIM and DMARC).
• Look at automation limits. Welcome sequences and abandoned-cart flows are where email usually pays off.
• Stay compliant. Only email people who opted in, include your physical address and an easy unsubscribe link, as required by laws such as CAN-SPAM in the US.

How we researched this guide

We checked each company’s official website for its current focus, plan names, free option and entry price. We describe what each vendor says its product does and add practical notes on who it may suit. We have not tested these tools hands-on, and companies cannot pay to be included. See our review methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Which email marketing platform has the best free plan?

For creators, Kit’s free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers) and beehiiv’s free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers) stand out. If you send to a larger list in small batches, Brevo’s free plan allows up to 300 emails per day.

Is Mailchimp still free?

Yes, but the free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends per month, as of October 2026.

What is the best email tool for Shopify stores?

Klaviyo and Omnisend are both designed for ecommerce and connect to store data for automations like abandoned-cart emails.

Can I switch email platforms later?

Yes. You can export your contacts and import them into another tool. Automations and templates usually need to be rebuilt, so choose carefully if you rely on complex flows.

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Editorial note: Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. DCCommunity is not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies mentioned unless stated. Information was checked against official websites in October 2026 and is provided for general guidance only. Features and prices may change. This article is not legal advice.