SocialLet’s get something clear right off the bat: there really aren’t any free email marketing platforms. However, there are platforms that offer a free plan—not free trials that expire in 30 days, but plans that stick around. These plans are generous enough to help you get started.
I’ll highlight the features you get for free, plus pricing for when you’re ready to scale. First, here’s a snapshot of the platforms I reviewed. Then, I’ll walk you through the comparison criteria and dive into the detailed breakdowns.
Disclaimer: Features and pricing were valid at the time of writing and may change.
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Best Free Email Marketing Platforms: A Snapshot
Click on a platform name to jump to its detailed review.
- Mailtrap – Best for product companies sending large volumes with a focus on deliverability and analytics.
- Mailchimp – Ideal for small businesses starting email marketing.
- MailerLite – Great for beginners and newsletter senders.
- HubSpot – Perfect if you need CRM, automation, and integrations.
- Brevo – For small teams and newsletter needs.
- Omnisend – Best for e-commerce store owners.
- Klaviyo – For businesses that want to send SMS, push notifications, and emails.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Platform | Free Plan Limits | Notable Features | Pricing* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailtrap | 1,000 emails/mo (sending), 100/mo (testing), 100 contacts | High deliverability, analytics, 24/7 human support | $15 for 10,000 emails and up to 25K contacts |
| Mailchimp | 1,000 emails/mo, 500 contacts | Landing page templates, intuitive campaign builder | From $13 for 5,000 emails & 500 contacts |
| MailerLite | 1,000 sends/mo, 500 contacts | Automation workflows, landing page builder | From $10 for unlimited emails & 500 subs |
| HubSpot | 2,000 emails/mo, 1,000 contacts | Integrations, various builders | From $20 for 5,000 emails & 1,000 contacts |
| Brevo | 300 emails/day, 500 contacts | Newsletter tools, WordPress plugin | From $9 for 5,000 emails & 500 contacts |
| Omnisend | 500 emails/mo, 250 contacts, $1 SMS credit | E-commerce integrations, sales tracking | From $16 for 6,000 emails & 500 contacts |
| Klaviyo | 500 emails/mo, 250 contacts, 150 SMS credits | Automation templates, signup forms | From $30 for 10,000 emails & 500–1,000 contacts |
*Prices are relevant at time of writing.
Free Email Marketing Services Comparison Criteria
Email Infrastructure
A solid infrastructure includes:
- Deliverability: Can the platform get your emails into inboxes?
- Reliability: Can it maintain uptime and performance during peak times?
- Scalability: Can you grow without facing technical or cost hurdles?
Some platforms charge extra for high deliverability—those are excluded here.
AI, Automation & Integrations
AI helps with:
- Content and subject line generation
- Landing page, email, and workflow building
Automation enables:
- Welcome emails
- Re-engagement sequences
- Abandoned cart reminders
- Order confirmations
Integrations expand your capabilities—some are e-commerce focused, others support a wide stack.
Email Design
Drag-and-Drop Editors
Most platforms listed offer intuitive, drag-and-drop email editors with mobile and desktop previews. Branding is added on free plans.
Template Libraries
Some lock templates behind paid plans. Others offer solid free templates for newsletters, promotions, and more.
Email Analytics
Track your performance using:
- Open rate
- Click-through rate
- Bounce rate
- Unsubscribe rate
- Conversion rate
Analytics quality varies by platform. I tested dashboards to assess usefulness.
User Experience
Evaluated on:
- Ease of use – Is it beginner-friendly?
- Integration ease – Do you need coding skills?
- Documentation – Are there clear guides and articles?
- Support – Is 24/7 support available via chat or ticket?
Legal Compliance & Security
All platforms included help you stay compliant with:
- GDPR (EU)
- CCPA/CPRA (US)
- CAN-SPAM
Security measures like TLS, HTTPS, and AES-256 were also reviewed.
Customer Experience
I checked:
- Reviews on G2, Capterra, Trustpilot
- Social media mentions for hidden issues like poor support
Pricing
While starting on a free plan, it’s useful to know:
- What scaling costs look like
- How pricing compares by feature
- How email volume and contact limits affect plans
