Best Free Email Marketing Software
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Choosing email marketing software on a $0 budget means comparing what each free plan actually includes, not just that a free tier exists. This ranking evaluates six tools by their free-tier sending volume, contact limits, and which features (automation, builders, integrations) are unlocked without payment, based solely on the pricing and feature data provided. Some vendors offer a permanent free plan; others only provide a time-limited trial. The order below reflects which free offering gives a general user the most usable functionality before an upgrade becomes necessary.
Full ranking
Best for: Businesses wanting the highest-volume permanent free plan
Brevo's Free plan is free forever with 300 emails per day and no credit card required, the highest stated free-tier sending volume among these tools. All plans, including Free, come with RESTful APIs, SMTP, webhooks, and transactional email via API/SMTP/webhooks, so free users still get developer-level access.
- Free forever plan
- Public REST API
- Transactional email API
Best for: Small lists that need automation without paying
MailerLite's Free plan covers up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 monthly emails with 2 user seats, and it includes the drag & drop newsletter editor plus a visual automation builder limited to 3 automations. Paid tiers start at $12/month (Comfort) for 500 subscribers and 5,000 emails.
- Free forever plan
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Marketing automation workflows
Best for: Small ecommerce senders wanting free web push plus email
Omnisend's Free plan runs at $0/month with 500 emails/month, 250 contacts, and 500 Web Push notifications, with no credit card required, and the email builder and marketing automation feature rows apply across all plans including Free. It fits smaller senders who may later add SMS starting at $0.007/SMS on the Pro plan.
- Free forever plan
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Marketing automation workflows
Best for: Users planning a quick upgrade to a paid plan
Mailchimp's Free plan is available for businesses under 250 contacts but is limited to 'core features only,' with marketing automation (up to 4 flow steps on Essentials) and A/B testing requiring an upgrade to the $13/month Essentials plan. This makes its free tier more restrictive than competitors offering automation at $0.
- Free forever plan
- Marketing automation workflows
Best for: Teams wanting free email tied to a built-in CRM
HubSpot's Free tier supports up to 2 users at $0/month with no credit card required and pairs email with CRM features, though functions like lead scoring are gated to the Professional plan starting at $890/month. It suits teams wanting free CRM-linked email rather than pure sending volume, since no free email volume limit is specified in the data.
- Free forever plan
- Built-in CRM / contact scoring
Best for: Evaluators comfortable with a 30-day trial instead of a permanent free plan
Moosend does not list a standalone free-forever plan in the data; instead it offers a 30-day free trial supporting up to 1,000 contacts, unlimited sends, and 2 team members, after which plans start at $9/month (Pro). For a 'best free' comparison, a time-limited trial is a weaker fit than the permanent free plans offered by the other tools.
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- AI content assistant
Buying guide
When comparing free email marketing plans, first check whether the free tier is permanent or a time-limited trial: Brevo, MailerLite, Omnisend, Mailchimp, and HubSpot all list a $0/month Free plan, while Moosend only offers a 30-day free trial. Next, compare sending volume and contact caps, since these vary widely — Brevo's Free plan allows 300 emails/day, MailerLite caps at 2,500 emails/month for 250 subscribers, and Omnisend caps at 500 emails/month for 250 contacts. Then look at which features are actually included at $0, versus gated behind paid tiers — MailerLite includes automation (3 workflows) on its Free plan, while Mailchimp reserves automation and A/B testing for its $13/month Essentials plan and above. Finally, weigh what you need beyond email: HubSpot's free tier adds CRM features like lead scoring (though full functionality requires Professional at $890/month), while Brevo and MailerLite bundle API access or ecommerce integrations even before you pay. Match the free plan's limits and included features to your list size and required functionality before assuming an upgrade is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Which software has the best free email marketing plan overall?
Based on the data, Brevo offers the most generous permanent free plan: 300 emails per day, free forever, with no credit card required, plus API access and transactional email available on all plans.
Do all these tools offer a permanent free plan?
No. Mailchimp, Brevo, MailerLite, Omnisend, and HubSpot all list a $0/month Free plan. Moosend instead offers only a 30-day free trial (up to 1,000 contacts, unlimited sends) with paid plans starting at $9/month (Pro) afterward.
Which free plan includes marketing automation?
MailerLite's Free plan includes a visual automation builder limited to 3 automations, and Omnisend's Free plan includes marketing automation as a feature across all its plans. Mailchimp reserves automation for its $13/month Essentials plan and above.
How much do these tools cost once you outgrow the free tier?
Entry paid plans include Brevo Starter at $9/month, Moosend Pro at $9/month, MailerLite Comfort at $12/month, Omnisend Standard at roughly $11.20/month, Mailchimp Essentials at $13/month, and HubSpot Starter at $20/month.
Who should consider HubSpot's free plan instead of a pure email tool?
HubSpot's Free tier supports up to 2 users at $0/month with no credit card required and includes built-in CRM features like lead scoring, making it a fit for teams that want email tied to a CRM rather than just maximum free sending volume.