Email remains one of the highest-ROI marketing channels for small businesses, and the free tiers of these platforms are generous enough to run a real campaign schedule before you'd need to pay anything.
At a glance
| Platform | Free plan limit | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|
| Sender | 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/month | Most generous free send volume in the category |
| MailerLite | Solid subscriber cap on free tier | Clean, intuitive editor — strong for beginners |
| Mailchimp | Basic automation and reporting included | Best-known brand, strong AI-assisted tools |
| Brevo | Unlimited contacts (send limits apply) | Combines marketing + transactional email |
| HubSpot | Unlimited CRM contacts, 2,000 emails/month | CRM and email marketing in one free tool |
Where each one wins
Sender's "Free Forever" plan is the most generous in raw numbers: 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month, enough to email a full list multiple times monthly at no cost.
MailerLite is the pick for anyone who wants a genuinely pleasant editor without a learning curve — it's a natural fit for local and small businesses sending straightforward newsletters or promotions.
Mailchimp is still the most recognized name in the category, and its free tier includes basic automation and reporting alongside a strong set of AI-assisted writing and design tools.
Brevo's standout is unlimited contacts on the free tier — useful if your list is large but your actual send frequency is moderate, since Brevo's limits are based on sends rather than list size. It also combines promotional and transactional email in one platform.
HubSpot makes sense specifically if you want CRM and email marketing under one login — unlimited contacts in the CRM plus 2,000 free emails a month covers a lot of small-business use cases without juggling two tools.
The bottom line
Match the platform to your actual list size and send frequency rather than picking the most famous name. A small list that emails often fits Sender or MailerLite; a large list that emails occasionally fits Brevo better.