When you're building a SaaS product and every dollar matters, paying for an email tool before you have meaningful traction feels wrong. Fortunately, several solid email platforms offer free tiers that let you build your email program from day one without a monthly bill.

But free tiers aren't all equal. Some give you 250 contacts and call it generous. Others give you 10,000 subscribers with full automation. The differences in what's included (and what's restricted) matter a lot when you're choosing a platform you'll potentially use for years.

Here are the best free tiers in email marketing, ranked by how much they actually give you.

Why Free Tiers Matter for Startups

The value of a free tier isn't just the money saved. It's the ability to build your email infrastructure before you have revenue. You can set up onboarding sequences, test automations, configure your sending domain, and establish your email program while you're still in development or early launch.

This matters because email marketing for bootstrapped startups is about getting the highest impact from the lowest investment. A free tier lets you start generating value from email from Day 1 without adding a line item to your burn rate.

The risk, of course, is choosing a free tier that doesn't include the features you need. A generous contact limit means nothing if automation is locked behind a paywall and you need an onboarding sequence. Understanding what each free tier actually includes, not just the headline numbers, is what this comparison is about.

The 9 Best Free Tiers

1. Sequenzy

Best for: SaaS startups that want to start free and scale affordably

Sequenzy offers a generous free tier for early-stage SaaS companies: up to 1,000 subscribers with 5,000 emails per month, including full automation and Stripe integration. Unlike most free tiers that strip out automation, Sequenzy's free plan includes behavioral triggers, email sequences, and event-based automation.

The standout feature on free: native Stripe integration. Connect your Stripe account and get automatic dunning, trial conversion, and lifecycle sequences without paying a cent. For SaaS startups using Stripe, this means your most revenue-impacting automations work from day one.

This is significant because the emails with the highest revenue impact for SaaS (dunning for failed payments, trial conversion sequences, onboarding) are all available on the free plan. You're not getting a crippled product. You're getting a fully functional SaaS email platform with a subscriber cap.

The AI-generated sequences are also available on the free tier. Instead of staring at a blank editor, Sequenzy generates complete email sequences based on your product. This saves hours of work for founders who need email working but don't have time to write 15 emails from scratch.

Free tier: 1,000 subscribers, 5,000 emails/month, full automation, Stripe integration, AI sequences First paid tier: From $29/month (higher limits, priority support) Limitations: Sequenzy branding on emails, limited to 1 sending domain Best upgrade reason: You've grown past 1,000 subscribers or want to remove branding

2. ConvertKit (Kit)

Best for: The most generous free tier for subscriber count

ConvertKit's free plan includes up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited landing pages, email broadcasts, and basic automations. That's an extraordinary amount for a free plan. Most competitors cap at 250-1,000 subscribers.

The catch: the free plan doesn't include visual automations or email sequences (only broadcasts). You can send individual campaigns to your list but can't build automated drip sequences. Still, for creators and SaaS founders building an audience, 10,000 subscribers for free is hard to beat.

This makes ConvertKit ideal for audience-building use cases where you're primarily sending newsletters and broadcasts. If your email strategy is content-driven (weekly newsletter, product updates, launch announcements), ConvertKit's free tier is more than enough. If your strategy requires automated sequences (onboarding, trial conversion, re-engagement), you'll hit the paywall immediately.

ConvertKit also includes landing pages and opt-in forms on the free tier. For founders building an audience before launching a product, this means you can capture subscribers without paying for a separate landing page tool.

Free tier: Up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts, landing pages, basic tags First paid tier: From $29/month (unlocks sequences and visual automations) Limitations: No automated sequences, no visual automations, ConvertKit branding Best upgrade reason: You need automated sequences or visual automations

3. Mailchimp

Best for: Small businesses wanting a full email marketing experience for free

Mailchimp's free plan includes 500 contacts, 1,000 email sends per month, email templates, basic reporting, and simple automations. The 500-contact limit is lower than ConvertKit, but you get more features including basic automation workflows.

Mailchimp's free tier also includes the landing page builder, forms, and the creative assistant (AI-powered design). For a small business sending occasional campaigns to a small list, the free tier covers the basics.

The template library is where Mailchimp's free tier shines. You get access to a large selection of pre-designed templates that look professional without design skills. For non-technical founders who want to send good-looking emails without hiring a designer or writing HTML, this is valuable.

The limitations become apparent quickly though. 500 contacts is small. 1,000 sends per month is restrictive if you're sending more than a couple of campaigns. And the automation on the free tier is truly basic, limited to simple welcome emails and single automations rather than multi-step sequences.

Free tier: 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, basic automations, forms, landing pages, templates First paid tier: From $13/month (removes limits and adds features) Limitations: Mailchimp branding, limited automations, email support only for 30 days, 500 contact cap Best upgrade reason: You've hit the 500 contact limit or need more sophisticated automations

4. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Best for: The most generous send volume on a free tier

Brevo's free plan allows 300 emails per day (about 9,000/month) with unlimited contacts. Read that again: unlimited contacts. Most free tiers limit contacts, not sends. Brevo limits sends, not contacts. This is ideal if you have a large list but send infrequently.

The free plan includes transactional email, the drag-and-drop editor, and basic automation workflows. SMS and WhatsApp are available as add-ons even on the free tier.

Brevo's unlimited contacts model is unique and valuable for specific use cases. If you have 5,000 subscribers but only send one or two campaigns per month, Brevo's free tier covers you completely. Other platforms would charge based on your 5,000 contacts regardless of how often you email them.

The 300 emails/day limit is the constraint to understand. For daily transactional emails (verification, notifications), 300/day limits you to roughly 300 active daily users. For marketing campaigns, you need to spread large sends across multiple days. A campaign to 2,000 subscribers would take about 7 days to complete on the free tier.

Free tier: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day, transactional email, basic automations First paid tier: From $9/month (more sends, no daily limit) Limitations: 300 emails/day cap, Brevo branding, limited reporting Best upgrade reason: You need to send more than 300 emails per day

5. Loops

Best for: SaaS startups wanting event-driven email for free

Loops' free plan includes 1,000 contacts with email sending, event tracking, and basic automations. For SaaS startups with fewer than 1,000 users, this means you can set up event-triggered email sequences (onboarding, trial conversion) from day one without paying.

The developer-friendly approach means you can integrate Loops via API during development and not worry about email costs until you scale past 1,000 contacts.

Loops' free tier includes the event system, which is the platform's core feature. You can send events from your app and trigger email sequences based on those events. For SaaS startups that need behavioral triggers on a budget, this is the most cost-effective option alongside Sequenzy.

The limitation to watch for: the jump from free to paid is steep. There's no $10 or $20 intermediate plan. When you outgrow 1,000 contacts, you're jumping to $49/month. Plan for this transition in your budgeting.

Free tier: 1,000 contacts, email sending, events, basic automations First paid tier: From $49/month Limitations: 1,000 contact cap, basic features, limited sequences, steep price jump Best upgrade reason: You've grown past 1,000 contacts

6. Resend

Best for: Developers wanting free transactional email

Resend's free plan includes 100 emails per day and 3,000 emails per month. For a development-stage product, this is enough for all transactional emails (verification, password reset, notifications). The full API and React Email support are available on the free tier.

Resend doesn't do marketing email (campaigns, newsletters, automations). But for transactional email specifically, the free tier is generous and includes the complete developer experience.

The developer experience on the free tier is identical to paid. You get the TypeScript SDK, React Email support, webhooks, custom domains, and the full API surface. There's no feature gating. The only limitation is volume.

For developer-friendly email during development and early launch, Resend's free tier is the cleanest option. You can build and test your entire transactional email system without spending a dollar. Add a marketing email tool (Sequenzy, Loops) separately when you need campaigns and sequences.

Free tier: 3,000 emails/month, 100/day, full API access, React Email, webhooks First paid tier: From $20/month (more volume) Limitations: 100 emails/day, transactional only, no marketing features Best upgrade reason: You need more than 100 emails per day

7. SendGrid

Best for: Free email infrastructure for developers

SendGrid's free plan includes 100 emails per day forever. It also includes the email API, SMTP relay, dynamic templates, and basic analytics. For developers who need email sending infrastructure during development and early launch, the free tier covers the basics.

The 100/day limit means about 3,000/month. Combined with SendGrid's reliable delivery and broad SDK support, it's a solid free option for transactional email and basic marketing campaigns.

SendGrid's free tier is notable for being permanent. Some platforms offer limited-time free trials. SendGrid's 100/day is yours forever. For side projects, low-volume products, or development environments, you may never need to upgrade.

The platform includes both transactional and marketing capabilities on the free tier, which is unusual. You can send API-triggered transactional emails and manually-created marketing campaigns from the same account. The marketing features are basic, but having both types available for free is useful.

Free tier: 100 emails/day (forever), full API, templates, analytics, marketing + transactional First paid tier: From $20/month (more volume) Limitations: 100 emails/day, limited marketing features, basic automation Best upgrade reason: You need more than 100 emails per day

8. Klaviyo

Best for: E-commerce businesses wanting free email with revenue tracking

Klaviyo's free plan includes 250 contacts, 500 email sends/month, email templates, basic automations (flows), and revenue tracking. For a small e-commerce business just starting out, having revenue attribution on the free tier is unique.

The contact limit is low (250), but if you're pre-launch or just starting, it's enough to set up your email flows and test with early customers before paying.

Klaviyo's free tier includes the flow builder, which is their automation system. You can set up welcome sequences, abandoned cart flows, and post-purchase follow-ups before paying. For e-commerce, these automations directly drive revenue, making the free tier genuinely valuable even at small scale.

The revenue tracking on the free tier is what differentiates Klaviyo from other free options. You can see exactly how much revenue each email and flow generates. This data helps you justify the paid plan upgrade when the time comes with concrete ROI numbers.

Free tier: 250 contacts, 500 sends/month, flows, revenue tracking, templates First paid tier: From $20/month Limitations: 250 contact cap, 500 sends/month, limited features Best upgrade reason: You've outgrown 250 contacts

9. MailerLite

Best for: The best balance of features and limits on a free tier

MailerLite's free plan includes 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month, a drag-and-drop editor, landing pages, forms, and basic automations. The feature set on the free tier is one of the most complete available.

For small businesses and early-stage startups, MailerLite's free tier lets you build a real email program with automations, landing pages, and decent send limits before upgrading.

What makes MailerLite's free tier exceptional is the combination of limits and features. 1,000 subscribers with 12,000 sends means you can email your list 12 times per month, which covers weekly newsletters plus additional campaigns. The automation builder on the free tier supports multi-step sequences, not just simple triggers. Landing pages and forms are included without restrictions.

For startups looking for free email tools that offer a complete experience rather than a stripped-down trial, MailerLite provides the most well-rounded free plan.

Free tier: 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 sends/month, automations, landing pages, forms First paid tier: From $10/month Limitations: MailerLite branding, limited templates, basic features Best upgrade reason: You've outgrown 1,000 subscribers or want to remove branding

Free Tier Comparison

Platform	Contacts	Sends/Month	Automations	Best For
Sequenzy	1,000	5,000	Full (inc. Stripe)	SaaS lifecycle
ConvertKit	10,000	Unlimited broadcasts	No (paid)	Audience building
Mailchimp	500	1,000	Basic	Small business basics
Brevo	Unlimited	~9,000 (300/day)	Basic	Large lists, low volume
Loops	1,000	Included	Basic	SaaS event-driven
Resend	N/A	3,000 (100/day)	No	Transactional email
SendGrid	N/A	~3,000 (100/day)	Basic	Email infrastructure
Klaviyo	250	500	Flows	E-commerce
MailerLite	1,000	12,000	Yes	Feature-rich free

What to Watch Out For

Branding Requirements

Most free tiers include the platform's branding in your emails (a badge or link in the footer). This looks unprofessional for business email. Removing branding usually requires the first paid tier. If brand perception matters to your business (and it should), factor in the cost of removing branding when comparing free tiers.

Feature Restrictions

Free tiers often restrict the most valuable features: advanced automations, A/B testing, custom domains, and dedicated IPs. Check what's actually included, not just the contact and send limits. A free tier with 10,000 contacts but no automation might be less useful than one with 1,000 contacts and full automation.

The most common feature gates on free tiers:

Automation: Often limited to single-step or basic workflows
A/B testing: Almost always a paid feature
Custom domains: Sometimes paid, sometimes free
Integrations: Some platforms restrict API access on free tiers
Support: Free tiers typically only include email support or community forums

Upgrade Pricing

The cheapest free tier doesn't matter if the first paid tier is expensive. Compare: what does each platform cost at 5,000 contacts? At 10,000? The free-to-paid transition cost varies dramatically. Understanding the full cost of email marketing for SaaS helps you plan ahead.

Here's the first paid tier cost for context:

Brevo: $9/month
MailerLite: $10/month
Mailchimp: $13/month
Postmark: $15/month (not free tier, but relevant)
Resend: $20/month
SendGrid: $20/month
Klaviyo: $20/month
Sequenzy: $29/month
ConvertKit: $29/month
Loops: $49/month

Data Portability

If you start on a free tier and later want to switch, can you export your contacts, automations, and templates? Most platforms let you export contacts. Few make it easy to export automation logic. Starting on a platform with a good growth path reduces the chance you'll need to migrate. See our guide on when to switch email providers for more on this decision.

Free Tier Stability

Some platforms change their free tier limits over time, usually by reducing them. Mailchimp famously reduced their free tier from 2,000 contacts to 500. When choosing a free tier, consider the platform's track record of maintaining their free plan terms.

How to Choose

You want the most contacts for free: ConvertKit (10,000 subscribers) You want unlimited contacts: Brevo (unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day) You want the most features for free: MailerLite (1,000 contacts, automations, landing pages) You're building SaaS with Stripe: Sequenzy (1,000 contacts with full automation + Stripe) You're building SaaS with events: Loops (1,000 contacts with event-driven automations) You need transactional email: Resend (3,000/month with full API) You need email infrastructure: SendGrid (100/day with API and SMTP) You're in e-commerce: Klaviyo (250 contacts with revenue tracking) You want a full platform: Mailchimp (500 contacts with templates and automations)

FAQ

Can I run a real email program on a free tier? For the first 500-1,000 subscribers, yes. Free tiers are designed for early-stage use. Once you're past the contact or send limits, upgrading is expected. The free tier's value is letting you build and test without risk. Treat the free tier as a development and launch environment, not a permanent solution.

Will I lose my data when I upgrade from free to paid? No. All platforms preserve your contacts, templates, and automations when you upgrade. The transition is adding payment information and unlocking restricted features. Your email program continues without interruption.

Are free tiers worse for deliverability? Sometimes. Free tiers often use shared IPs and include platform branding, which can slightly affect deliverability. The difference is usually minimal for small volumes but becomes more noticeable at scale. The bigger deliverability risk on free tiers is shared IP reputation: if other free-tier users on the same IP send spam, it can affect your delivery rates.

Should I start with a free tier or go paid immediately? Start free. There's no reason to pay for email before you have subscribers to email. Use the free tier to set up your infrastructure, build templates, and configure automations. Upgrade when you hit limits or need restricted features. The exception: if you need features that are only available on paid plans (like automation on ConvertKit), consider starting with a budget-friendly paid plan instead.

Can I use multiple free tiers for different email types? Yes, and it's a common pattern. Use Resend's free tier for transactional email and Sequenzy or Loops' free tier for marketing automation. This gives you the best of both worlds without paying for either. The trade-off is managing two platforms, but at early stage, the volume is low enough that this isn't burdensome.

What happens when I exceed free tier limits? It depends on the platform. Some platforms block sending when you hit the limit (Resend, Loops). Others send warnings and give you a grace period to upgrade (Mailchimp, ConvertKit). Very few automatically charge for overages on free tiers. Check the specific platform's policy so you're not surprised.

Is it worth starting on a free tier if I know I'll need paid features soon? Yes, as long as the platform offers the paid features you'll need. Starting on a free tier lets you evaluate the platform, set up your infrastructure, and build templates before paying. The sunk cost of setup is the same whether you start free or paid. The only reason to skip the free tier is if you need paid features (like automation or custom domains) from day one.

How do I choose between free tiers when the limits are similar? Focus on the features that matter for your use case, not the headline limits. If you need SaaS automation, choose Sequenzy or Loops. If you need content/newsletter tools, choose ConvertKit. If you need transactional email, choose Resend. The contact limits matter less than whether the platform supports the type of email program you're building.