Best Free Email Marketing Tools

What separates the best free email marketing tools on this page?

All four start free, but they stop being free at different points and for different reasons. MailerLite scored 9 and costs $39 at 5,000 contacts with automation and unlimited emails; in our test it hit 97% inbox placement, the best here. Brevo scored 8.3 and prices by emails sent rather than contacts, so 5,000 contacts mailed four times a month costs $25. Kit scored 8.3 and stays free up to 10,000 subscribers, the most generous free tier here, then runs $79 at 5,000 with automation. beehiiv scored 8.2, free to 2,500 and $39 to 10,000, with 92% inbox placement in our test.

So the split is not quality, it is shape. MailerLite and Brevo are marketing platforms. Kit and beehiiv are built around publishing.

What should I check before buying?

Our scoring weights deliverability 25, editor and automation 25, segmentation and data 15, ease of use 15 and value 20. Read your own list against those.

• Deliverability: MailerLite's 97% is the number to beat. beehiiv's 92% came with Yahoo landing several in spam.
• Automation: Brevo needs the $65 Business plan for automation. beehiiv's automation is basic. MailerLite includes it at $39.
• Segmentation: MailerLite's segmentation is simpler than Klaviyo or ActiveCampaign. Kit uses tags instead of lists.
• Free tier ceiling: Kit free to 10,000 subscribers, beehiiv free to 2,500.
• Approval: MailerLite takes a day to approve new accounts.

MailerLite

For a small business or store that wants automation, landing pages, forms and a site builder in one account at $39. Skip it if you need deep segmentation.

Brevo

For a big, quiet list. 5,000 contacts mailed four times a month costs $25, and transactional email, SMS, a CRM and meetings sit in the same account. Budget for the $65 Business plan if you need automation.

Kit

For creators who publish. Tags instead of lists, a visual automation builder, paid newsletters and a creator network. The editor is plain, text-first by design, and it costs $79 at 5,000 with automation.

beehiiv

For growing a publication, not running a store. Its referral programme and Boosts grew our test list from other newsletters, and the ad network pays publishers per send. Free to 2,500, $39 to 10,000.

MailerLite suits a small business that wants automation and landing pages at $39, while Brevo suits a large, quiet list at $25 for 5,000 contacts mailed four times a month. Kit is for creators who publish and want to stay free up to 10,000 subscribers, and beehiiv is for growing a publication with referrals and an ad network. Match the free tier ceiling and the automation price to your list before you commit.