Best free email marketing software
Getting started at zero cost, without a trial that expires.
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input — how we rank.
| # | Tool | Starting price | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Systeme.io Top pick | Free, then $17/mo Free tier | Anyone who wants one bill and one login rather than a stack of five tools. | | Visit |
| 2 | Brevo | Free, then £6/mo Free tier | Small businesses that want a free or very cheap start and would rather pay by sending volume than list size. | | Visit |
| 3 | Kit | Free, then $33/mo Free tier | Creators whose main asset is the email list itself, not the funnel around it. | | Visit |
| 4 | MailerLite | Free, then $19/mo Free tier | Small businesses that want reliable email, landing pages and simple selling at a low monthly price. | | Visit |
| 5 | AWeber | Free, then $25/mo Free tier | Small businesses and creators who value round-the-clock human support over the lowest price. | | Visit |
| 6 | GetResponse | £13/mo | Businesses that want webinars and courses in the same tool as the email list. | | Visit |
| 7 | ActiveCampaign | $15/mo | Businesses whose email depends on detailed automation and segmentation, and that expect to grow into a CRM. | | Visit |
Ranked on weighted capability scores, weighted most heavily towards free plan and value for money. Commission is not an input — see methodology.
How this ranking was weighted
| Dimension | Weight | Systeme.io | Brevo | Kit | MailerLite | AWeber | GetResponse | ActiveCampaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ×4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Value for money | ×3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ease of use | ×2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Breadth of features | ×1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Weighted total | 96 | 84 | 72 | 68 | 64 | 52 | 44 |
Capability scores are 1–5 per dimension. Weights reflect what matters for this use case. A tool we have not assessed on a dimension scores 3, not 0.
Why Systeme.io wins here
Strengths
- +The free plan is unusually generous — 2,000 contacts and unlimited email sending, and it never expires.
- +Replaces a funnel builder, email tool, course platform and affiliate system with one subscription.
- +No transaction fees on sales made through Stripe or PayPal.
Limitations
- −Each part of it is less capable than the best specialist tool in that category.
- −Email deliverability and analytics are basic next to dedicated platforms.
- −The free plan caps you at three funnels and one course, so growing creators hit the ceiling quickly.
The case for Brevo
A multi-channel marketing platform — email, SMS and automation — priced by emails sent, with a free plan. Small businesses that want a free or very cheap start and would rather pay by sending volume than list size.
Full Systeme.io vs Brevo comparison →
Common questions
Best free email marketing software?
Systeme.io scores highest for a free plan, at 96 out of 100 when weighted for free plan and value for money. Brevo is second on 84.
Sources & verification
- help.aweber.com — checked 24 September 2026AWeber Free needs no credit card. Plans upgrade automatically when a list or its sending outgrows them; downgrades need a request to support.
- help.aweber.com — checked 24 September 2026AWeber Free allows one campaign or landing page, keeps AWeber branding, and has no split testing, saved segments or behavioural automation.
- kit.com — checked 23 September 2026Free up to 10,000 subscribers, with unlimited landing pages, forms and broadcasts. Unlimited automations and sequences need a paid plan.
- systeme.io — checked 23 September 2026Free plan: 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels, 1 course, 1 blog, unlimited emails. Never expires, no card required.
- activecampaign.com — checked 24 September 2026No free plan; a 14-day free trial.
- aweber.com — checked 24 September 2026The page opens at 0–500 subscribers (Lite $15, Plus $30 monthly); the 501–1,000 figures are from its own price data.
- brevo.com — checked 24 September 2026Free forever with no credit card; up to 300 emails a day once the account is approved for sending.
- getresponse.com — checked 23 September 2026The pricing page offers a 14-day free trial of premium features and lists no free plan.
- mailerlite.com — checked 24 September 2026
- mailerlite.com — checked 24 September 2026No sales fee on paid newsletters; Stripe processes the payments.
- mailerlite.com — checked 24 September 2026Free plan: up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, with 3 automations, 1 website and 1 landing page. Paid newsletters, custom domains and removing the MailerLite logo need a paid plan.