Updated 2026-02-01

Best Email Marketing Tools for Freelancers

Fill your project pipeline and keep clients coming back with the right email marketing platform.

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Most freelancers rely entirely on referrals and marketplaces for new clients. Email marketing changes that by putting you in control of your pipeline. A monthly newsletter keeps you top of mind with past clients who will hire you again. A welcome sequence builds trust with prospects who found you online. Portfolio showcases demonstrate your expertise to potential clients. The right email platform turns inconsistent feast-or-famine freelancing into a predictable business. I tested and reviewed 13 email marketing tools specifically for freelancer use cases, ranking them on ease of use, pricing, automation, and client management features.

Why Freelancers Need Email Marketing

Pipeline Consistency

The feast-or-famine cycle is the biggest challenge freelancers face. Email marketing creates a steady pipeline by keeping you visible to prospects and past clients. When a past client needs help again, you are the first person they think of because your name was in their inbox last week.

Client Retention

It costs far less to retain an existing client than to find a new one. Monthly updates, industry insights, and check-in emails keep relationships warm between projects. Past clients become repeat clients and referral sources.

Authority Building

Sharing expertise through email establishes you as an authority in your niche. Case studies, process insights, and industry analysis position you as the go-to expert. When prospects compare you to other freelancers, your emails have already built trust.

Passive Lead Generation

A lead magnet and automated welcome sequence work around the clock. While you are working on client projects, your email funnel is nurturing new prospects and qualifying leads. This eliminates the need to constantly hunt for new business.

13 Best Email Marketing Tools for Freelancers

Our Top Pick for Freelancers
#1
Sequenzy

AI-powered email marketing with smart automation sequences and pay-per-email pricing.

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Best for
Freelancers wanting AI-powered automation with affordable pricing
Pricing
$29/month for 50,000 emails

Pros

  • AI generates client nurture sequences instantly
  • Pay-per-email means low costs for smaller lists
  • Simple interface manageable alongside client work
  • Direct founder support when you need help

Cons

  • Newer platform with a growing feature set
  • No built-in SMS marketing
  • Smaller template library compared to established platforms
  • No built-in CRM for client management
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#2
Kit

Creator-focused email platform with generous free tier, formerly ConvertKit.

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Best for
Content-creating freelancers building an audience and client pipeline
Pricing
Free up to 10,000 subscribers, then from $25/month

Pros

  • Very generous free tier
  • Built-in landing pages for lead magnets
  • Simple tag-based organization
  • Easy to manage alongside client work

Cons

  • Limited email design options
  • Basic automation compared to advanced tools
  • No CRM functionality
  • Reporting is fairly basic
#3
MailerLite

Clean, simple email marketing with generous free tier and good automation.

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Best for
Budget-conscious freelancers wanting a clean, professional platform
Pricing
Free up to 1,000 subscribers, then from $10/month

Pros

  • Very affordable with generous free tier
  • Clean, professional templates
  • Landing page builder included
  • Easy automation setup

Cons

  • Strict account approval process
  • Limited advanced features
  • Basic analytics
  • Fewer integrations
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#4
Mailchimp

The most recognized email marketing platform with a generous free tier.

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Best for
Freelancers wanting a familiar platform with easy setup
Pricing
Free up to 500 contacts, then from $13/month

Pros

  • Recognizable and trusted platform
  • Free tier available
  • Massive template library
  • Wide range of integrations

Cons

  • Pricing climbs steeply at scale
  • Feature bloat for freelancer needs
  • Many features behind expensive plans
  • Support quality has declined
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#5
ActiveCampaign

Advanced automation and CRM platform with powerful workflow builder.

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Best for
Established freelancers with a sophisticated sales process
Pricing
$29/month for 1,000 contacts

Pros

  • Built-in CRM for client tracking
  • Powerful automation builder
  • Lead scoring and pipeline management
  • Excellent deliverability

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • No free tier
  • Expensive for early-stage freelancers
  • Overkill for simple needs
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#6
Brevo

Affordable email and SMS marketing platform with transactional email included.

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Best for
Budget-conscious freelancers who also want a simple CRM
Pricing
Free up to 300 emails/day, then from $25/month

Pros

  • Free CRM included
  • Very affordable
  • SMS marketing available
  • Pay by emails, not contacts

Cons

  • Basic automation
  • Daily sending limits on free plan
  • Interface less polished
  • Brevo branding on free emails
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#7
Flodesk

Beautifully designed email marketing with flat-rate pricing.

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Best for
Creative freelancers who want stunning email designs
Pricing
$38/month flat rate, unlimited subscribers

Pros

  • Beautiful email templates
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Easy to use
  • Professional visual quality

Cons

  • Basic automation
  • No free tier
  • Limited integrations
  • No CRM features
See Full Comparison
#8
Beehiiv

Newsletter platform built for growth with built-in referral programs.

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Best for
Freelancers building authority through a regular newsletter
Pricing
Free up to 2,500 subscribers, then from $39/month

Pros

  • Built-in referral program
  • SEO-friendly web hosting
  • Excellent newsletter features
  • Free tier available

Cons

  • Not designed for sales funnels
  • No CRM or client management
  • Limited automation
  • Paid plans are expensive
See Full Comparison
#9
GetResponse

All-in-one marketing platform with email, landing pages, and webinars.

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Best for
Freelancers needing landing pages and webinars alongside email
Pricing
From $15.60/month for 1,000 contacts

Pros

  • Landing pages included
  • Webinar hosting
  • Conversion funnels
  • Competitive pricing

Cons

  • Jack of all trades
  • Interface can feel cluttered
  • Webinar features are basic
  • Not specialized for freelancers
See Full Comparison
#10
Campaign Monitor

Professional email marketing with beautiful, polished templates.

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Best for
Freelancers wanting polished, professional email communications
Pricing
From $9/month for 500 contacts

Pros

  • Beautiful templates
  • Professional quality
  • Reliable deliverability
  • Easy editor

Cons

  • Limited automation
  • Contact-based pricing
  • No free tier
  • Basic segmentation
See Full Comparison
#11
AWeber

One of the original email platforms with reliable deliverability.

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Best for
Freelancers wanting basic, reliable email with phone support
Pricing
Free up to 500 subscribers, then from $15/month

Pros

  • Reliable deliverability
  • Phone support
  • Simple to use
  • Free tier

Cons

  • Dated interface
  • Limited automation
  • Basic templates
  • Little innovation
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#12
Moosend

Budget-friendly email marketing with decent automation features.

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Best for
Price-conscious freelancers who need more than a free tier
Pricing
From $9/month for 500 subscribers

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Decent automation
  • Landing pages included
  • Good value for money

Cons

  • Less well-known
  • Limited integrations
  • Smaller template library
  • Basic support
See Full Comparison
#13
Buttondown

Minimalist newsletter tool for writers who prefer simplicity.

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Best for
Freelance writers wanting the simplest newsletter tool
Pricing
Free up to 100 subscribers, then from $9/month

Pros

  • Extremely simple
  • Markdown-based
  • Clean and focused
  • No bloat

Cons

  • No automation
  • Tiny free tier
  • No visual editor
  • No marketing features
See Full Comparison

Feature Comparison

FeatureSequenzyKitActiveCampaignMailerLite
Client nurture automation
Yes
Yes
Advanced
Basic
AI-powered sequences
Yes
No
No
No
Built-in CRM
No
No
Yes
No
Landing page builder
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Portfolio showcase
Via email
Via pages
No
Via pages
Pay-per-email pricing
Yes
No
No
No
Free tier available
No
Yes
No
Yes
Phone support
No
No
Yes
No

Email Sequences Every Freelancer Needs

These are the essential automated email sequences that will help you grow your business and keep clients coming back.

New Lead Nurture

Trigger: Prospect downloads lead magnet or fills contact form

Convert website visitors into booked discovery calls by building trust and demonstrating expertise.

Immediately
Here is your {{lead_magnet}} — plus a quick intro

Deliver the lead magnet. Briefly introduce yourself and your expertise. Set expectations for upcoming emails.

Day 2
How I helped {{client_type}} achieve {{result}}

Share a compelling case study relevant to the prospect's likely needs. Include specific results and outcomes.

Day 5
3 things to look for when hiring a {{your_specialty}}

Educational content that positions you as the expert. Subtly show why your approach stands out from competitors.

Day 7
Want to discuss your {{project_type}}? Let us chat

Clear call to action to book a discovery call. Include a scheduling link and brief overview of what the call covers.

Past Client Check-In

Trigger: Project completed 30 days ago

Stay top of mind with past clients and generate repeat business and referrals.

30 days
How is everything going with {{project_name}}?

Genuine check-in asking how the delivered project is working out. Offer to answer any questions or make small adjustments.

60 days
Quick update on what I have been working on

Share a recent project or new capability. Plant the seed for future work without hard selling.

90 days
Know anyone who needs {{your_service}}?

Direct but friendly referral request. Make it easy by explaining who your ideal client is and what you help with.

Monthly Authority Newsletter

Trigger: Monthly schedule

Build authority and stay visible with a monthly newsletter sharing expertise and insights.

Monthly
{{month}} insights: {{main_topic}}

One main insight or lesson from your recent work. A tip readers can apply immediately. Brief mention of availability for new projects.

Proposal Follow-Up

Trigger: Proposal sent to prospect

Follow up on sent proposals without being annoying.

3 days
Any questions about the proposal?

Brief, helpful follow-up. Offer to clarify any points or hop on a quick call. Include a relevant testimonial.

7 days
Just checking in on the {{project_type}} project

Second follow-up with additional value. Share a relevant resource or insight related to their project.

14 days
Keeping your spot open — should I hold or release?

Create gentle urgency by mentioning your schedule is filling up. Give them a clear deadline to decide.

Create These Sequences with AI

Choosing the Right Platform as a Freelancer

The best email marketing tool for you depends on your budget, list size, and how much time you want to spend on marketing.

If you are just starting, use a free tier. Kit at 10,000 free subscribers is the most generous. MailerLite at 1,000 subscribers includes most features. Build your habit of regular emailing before investing in paid tools.

If time is your biggest constraint, Sequenzy's AI sequence builder creates complete email flows in seconds. For freelancers billing by the hour, the time savings justify the cost. Set up your automations once and let them run.

If you need client tracking, ActiveCampaign includes a CRM alongside its powerful automation. Brevo also includes a free CRM. For freelancers managing multiple prospects and projects, having pipeline tracking alongside email is valuable.

The Freelancer Email System

Three email strategies keep your freelance pipeline full:

Lead nurture sequence converts website visitors into booked calls. A four-email sequence that delivers value, showcases your work, and invites a conversation does the selling for you while you focus on current projects.

Monthly newsletter keeps past clients and prospects warm. One email per month with a case study, industry insight, and subtle availability mention keeps you top of mind. When they need help, you are the first person they think of.

Past client follow-up generates repeat business. Checking in 30, 60, and 90 days after project delivery keeps the relationship alive and naturally leads to referrals and new projects.

Getting Started

Start with these steps regardless of which platform you choose:

  1. Import your existing contacts including past clients, prospects, and professional connections
  2. Set up a welcome sequence that introduces your expertise and showcases your best work
  3. Commit to a monthly newsletter with one valuable insight and a project showcase
  4. Create a lead magnet to capture new prospects from your website
  5. Automate past client follow-ups so you never lose touch with previous clients

The freelancers who consistently fill their pipeline are not the most talented. They are the ones who stay visible. Email marketing is the most efficient way to do that.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Start your free trial today. Set up your first email sequence in minutes with AI-powered content generation.

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses subscriber-based pricing. You only pay for subscribers active in sequences (automations). Inactive subscribers are free to store.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 0-100 subscribers: Free (Free annually) - 3k emails/month
  • 101-1,000 subscribers: $19/month ($205/year annually) - 15k emails/month
  • 1,001-5,000 subscribers: $29/month ($313/year annually) - 60k emails/month
  • 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $49/month ($529/year annually) - 120k emails/month
  • 10,001-25,000 subscribers: $99/month ($1069/year annually) - 300k emails/month
  • 25,001-50,000 subscribers: $199/month ($2149/year annually) - 600k emails/month
  • 50,001-100,000 subscribers: $349/month ($3769/year annually) - 1.2M emails/month
  • 100,000+ subscribers: Custom pricing (Custom annually) - Unlimited emails/month

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (1,000 - 100,000 subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (100,000+ subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for subscribers who are active in automations/sequences
  • Storing inactive subscribers is free
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com