📧 Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience, but let’s be real—it can be overwhelming when you’re just starting out, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Thankfully, there are excellent free email marketing tools available that allow you to get started without needing to spend a dime.
In this post, we'll go over the best free tools for email marketing, focusing on features that help beginners build and nurture their email lists. Each tool we highlight here provides essential features that make managing and growing your audience easier and more affordable. Whether you're looking to send regular updates, share offers, or just keep in touch, these tools can help you stay connected.
👉 Before we dive into the tools, take a look at our guide to creating a sales funnel for email list building to see how these tools can fit into a complete list-building strategy. Having a solid funnel will help turn your new subscribers into engaged followers and, eventually, loyal customers!
Let’s get started! 🎉
1. Mailchimp
📧 Overview: Mailchimp is one of the most beginner-friendly email marketing platforms out there. It’s popular for its clean, easy-to-navigate interface, and it offers a variety of features in the free plan that make list-building simpler for new marketers. With tools for automation, ready-made templates, and analytics, it’s a solid option for anyone looking to send emails with minimal fuss.
👍 Pros: Mailchimp’s free plan includes a good mix of essential features, like basic automation (welcome emails, for example), access to pre-designed templates, and performance analytics. It’s especially beneficial for those who want a tool that’s ready to go without much customization.
👎 Cons: The free plan has some limitations, like restricted access to advanced automation and reporting features. As your list grows, Mailchimp’s pricing structure can get a bit steep, so keep that in mind if you plan to scale up.
💡 Best for: Mailchimp is a fantastic choice for small businesses and content creators who want an easy-to-use platform to kick off their email marketing efforts. It allows beginners to get started without feeling overwhelmed by too many options, while still providing the essentials to engage and grow their audience.
2. MailerLite
🌟 Overview: MailerLite is a fantastic choice for beginners, offering a feature-rich experience without overwhelming you. This platform stands out for including landing pages, automation options, and even A/B testing in the free plan — all tools that make it easy to engage with subscribers and grow your list from scratch. MailerLite’s layout is clear and simple, making it easy to dive into even if you’re new to email marketing.
👍 Pros: MailerLite gives you access to impressive tools like automation workflows and easy drag-and-drop editors, even if you're not on a paid plan. Their landing pages are customizable, allowing you to create sign-up pages that match your brand. A/B testing for subject lines is also available, so you can see what works best for grabbing attention!
👎 Cons: The free plan has a cap of 1,000 subscribers, and you might miss out on advanced reporting or more intricate workflows. It’s worth noting that upgrading as you scale can get pricier.
💡 Best for: Bloggers, small business owners, and anyone new to email marketing will find MailerLite a great fit. Its straightforward tools and helpful features make it perfect for those who want to start building an audience and connecting with their subscribers.
3. Brevo
📧 Overview: Brevo is a great option for beginners looking for a flexible email marketing platform. One of its standout features is that the free plan offers unlimited contacts, so you’re not limited by list size as you grow. The drag-and-drop builder is straightforward, making it easy to create emails that look polished and professional. Plus, SendinBlue has built-in CRM tools, so you can manage relationships with customers directly from the platform.
👍 Pros: Unlimited contacts in the free plan and a simple, intuitive email editor make Brevo beginner-friendly. It also includes transactional email features, so it’s especially useful if you’re running an eCommerce business that needs automated confirmations or order updates. The built-in CRM lets you manage customer information and improve your outreach efforts — all in one spot!
👎 Cons: The free plan limits your sends to 300 emails per day, which might be restrictive if you’re building a larger audience quickly. Some of the advanced features like heat maps and in-depth reporting are only available on paid plans.
💡 Best for: Perfect for eCommerce beginners and small business owners who want a bit more than basic email marketing. If you need CRM tools to keep track of your customer interactions and are building an email list without heavy volume, Brevo's free plan is a strong choice.
4. Benchmark Email
📩 Overview: Benchmark Email is perfect for beginners who want their email campaigns to look visually stunning right out of the gate. Known for its clean, modern, and responsive templates, it’s an ideal choice if you're aiming for polished, on-brand emails. The drag-and-drop editor is super intuitive, so you don’t need design skills to make professional-looking campaigns.
👍 Pros: The template variety is a huge plus, especially for brands that rely on visual appeal. The responsive design means emails look great on both desktop and mobile, which is crucial in today’s mobile-first world. Benchmark’s editor also makes it easy to customize emails, so you can match your brand colors and style without hassle.
👎 Cons: While Benchmark Email’s free plan gives you solid tools, it does have some limits, especially when it comes to email sends and advanced features like A/B testing. So if you’re scaling up quickly or need extra customization, you may need to upgrade sooner.
🎨 Best for: Visual brands, creatives, and anyone looking to make an impression with beautifully designed emails. If you’re a blogger, artist, or small business owner who wants emails that stand out, Benchmark’s free plan is a fantastic way to start.
5. Moosend
📩 Overview: Moosend is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to start email marketing with powerful features, even on a free plan. It offers automation, A/B testing, and a library of eye-catching templates, all of which make it easy for beginners to launch effective campaigns without needing advanced skills.
👍 Pros: The range of automation tools available on the free plan is impressive, especially for a platform with no cost involved! Moosend’s templates are customizable and look professional, so it’s easy to create something that fits your brand. It’s perfect for bloggers and small businesses that want to test different strategies using A/B testing.
👎 Cons: The main limitation here is the subscriber cap, which could be a challenge if your list grows quickly. However, Moosend's paid plans are still affordable, so it's a great option for scaling as your audience expands.
🚀 Best for: Bloggers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses ready to build their email list and explore automation at no extra cost. If you’re just starting but looking for something scalable, Moosend could be a great fit.
6. HubSpot Email Marketing
📧 Overview: HubSpot Email Marketing comes with a built-in CRM integration, making it an all-in-one platform for both email marketing and customer relationship management. This tool is excellent for beginners who want a more organized view of customer interactions and to personalize their emails based on real user insights.
👍 Pros: HubSpot’s free CRM integration allows you to track every interaction you have with customers and prospects, which is super helpful for building better relationships. Plus, HubSpot offers powerful analytics, so you can see what’s working (and what’s not) at a glance. This is a fantastic feature for those focusing on both marketing and customer engagement.
👎 Cons: The free plan does have usage limits, particularly on the number of emails you can send per month, which could be a challenge for businesses with large audiences. However, HubSpot’s paid plans offer scalability for those ready to take things up a notch.
📊 Best for: Beginners who want a balanced approach to email marketing and CRM. If you’re looking to not only send emails but also manage and understand your customer relationships, HubSpot’s email tool might be exactly what you need!
7. Omnisend
🛒 Overview: Omnisend is built specifically for eCommerce, making it a fantastic choice if you’re looking to boost online sales through targeted email marketing. Even on the free plan, Omnisend includes useful automations to help keep your audience engaged without constant manual effort.
👍 Pros: One of Omnisend’s stand-out features is its segmentation capability, allowing you to target specific groups based on their behavior or purchase history. It even lets you add product recommendations directly into your emails, which is a huge bonus for eCommerce stores aiming to personalize the shopping experience.
👎 Cons: While the free plan offers great basics, it does come with a few restrictions, like limited monthly email sends. However, Omnisend’s paid plans open up additional options if you’re ready to scale as your store grows.
👕 Best for: Perfect for beginners in eCommerce! If you’re running a new online store and want tools that directly support online sales, Omnisend’s eCommerce-centered features make it a strong choice.
8. Mailjet
🤝 Overview: Mailjet’s free plan is especially team-friendly! This platform supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple people to work on the same email campaigns without any hassle. Perfect if you're part of a small team or working in partnership and need everyone to pitch in on campaigns.
👍 Pros: Mailjet makes it easy to collaborate, which can be a huge time-saver when you have several people working on emails. It also offers a flexible drag-and-drop editor, so anyone can dive in and create professional-looking emails quickly.
👎 Cons: There are some limits on email volume and advanced features in the free plan, so you may need to upgrade as your list grows or your needs expand.
👫 Best for: Ideal for small teams and partnerships! If you’re starting out and need a tool that lets multiple users collaborate easily, Mailjet is a great choice.
9. Zoho Campaigns
🌐 Overview: Zoho Campaigns is a great option for anyone already using other Zoho products or planning to. It seamlessly integrates with the entire Zoho suite, giving you an all-in-one workspace where your tools communicate effortlessly. Plus, it has robust analytics and some basic automation options in the free plan.
✅ Pros: The integration with Zoho's CRM and other business tools makes it easy to keep all your data and communications in sync. Its analytics are also handy for tracking how your emails perform, so you can improve your strategy over time.
❗ Cons: Free plan limitations may impact more advanced users, especially when it comes to email volume and customization options. But for beginners, it's still a solid choice if you’re looking for seamless integration with other Zoho tools.
🚀 Best for: Beginners already using Zoho products or those planning to. This is an excellent choice for anyone wanting to keep all their business tools under one roof.
10. Stripo
🎨 Overview: Stripo is an email designer’s dream! This platform is all about creating stunning, branded email templates that help your emails stand out. It allows users to focus on the look and feel of their emails, perfect for creating a consistent brand experience. Plus, designs are easy to export to other email platforms.
✅ Pros: Stripo offers advanced design features and pre-built templates that let you customize your emails down to the smallest details. Its drag-and-drop editor is beginner-friendly, making it simple to create polished, professional emails.
❗ Cons: While the free plan provides access to design tools, it does come with some limits on features like exports and template storage. But for marketers focused on brand aesthetics, it’s a great place to start.
🚀 Best for: Marketers who prioritize design and brand consistency across email campaigns, or anyone looking to build beautiful emails without needing a full-service marketing platform.
Conclusion
🎉 Free email marketing tools offer a fantastic way to get started without a big upfront cost. Whether you're looking to grow your audience, increase engagement, or automate your outreach, these tools make it easier for beginners to build and manage email lists effectively. With features like automation, customization, and analytics, each platform provides something unique to fit different needs and goals.
📈 Ready to take your email list to the next level? Turning subscribers into an engaged, loyal audience requires more than just tools—you need a solid strategy. For the essentials on how to turn those new sign-ups into dedicated followers, check out our guide on creating a sales funnel for email list building. It’s the perfect next step in your online growth journey!