If you're picking an email tool on a solopreneur budget, don't default to Mailchimp. Its free plan now caps out at 250 contacts and 500 sends a month, which most side-hustle newsletters blow past in the first quarter (source: mailchimp.com/pricing, checked August 2026). For an actual free tier that scales with you, look at Brevo or Kit first, and treat Mailchimp as the paid option you compare everything else against, not the default.
Why this list needed correcting
A lot of "best email marketing tools" posts still open with Mailchimp as the free, beginner-friendly pick. That was true for years. It isn't anymore. Mailchimp's free plan has shrunk to 250 contacts and a 500-email monthly send cap, and its cheapest paid tier, Essentials, starts around $13 a month for 12 months before scaling up with your list size (source: mailchimp.com/pricing, 2026). If your list is small enough to fit that free tier, you probably don't need email marketing software yet. If it isn't, you're already paying.
What actually has a usable free tier right now
Brevo. Free plan covers up to 100,000 contacts, which is more generous than almost anything else on this list, and its cheapest paid plan runs about $8.08 a month once you need to lift send volume or unlock automation (source: Zapier, "The 10 best Mailchimp alternatives," 2026). This is the one to check first if your list is growing but your budget isn't.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit). Free up to 10,000 subscribers, built specifically for creators and solo operators rather than retrofitted from an enterprise product. Paid plans start around $33 a month once you're past that ceiling (source: Zapier, 2026). If you're a writer, coach, or course creator, this is the tool built for your exact use case.
MailerLite. Free up to 500 subscribers, cheapest paid tier around $10 a month (source: Zapier, 2026). The smallest free ceiling on this list, but a clean, simple editor if you're just starting a newsletter from zero.
HubSpot. A free plan exists here too, with the cheapest paid seat around $20 a month (source: Zapier, 2026). Worth knowing about mainly if you're also using HubSpot's free CRM, since the two share contact data. Not the first choice if email is your only need.
The comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Cheapest paid plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | ~$13/mo (12-mo intro) | Established lists already paying |
| Brevo | Up to 100,000 contacts | ~$8.08/mo | Growing lists on a tight budget |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | ~$33/mo | Creators, writers, coaches |
| MailerLite | Up to 500 subscribers | ~$10/mo | Brand-new newsletters |
| HubSpot | Free plan available | ~$20/mo/seat | Already using HubSpot CRM |
Prices and limits sourced from mailchimp.com/pricing and Zapier's 2026 Mailchimp alternatives roundup. SaaS pricing moves often, so treat this table as accurate for August 2026 and worth rechecking before you commit to an annual plan.
The one thing most comparisons skip
A free tier is only free until you cross its line, and every tool on this list draws that line in a different place: contacts for some, sends for others, features for a third. Before you pick, run this in under 2 minutes:
- Count your actual current list size (not your goal size).
- Estimate how many emails a month you realistically send.
- Check whether that number sits comfortably under the free tier's contact cap or its send cap, whichever is stricter.
- Only then compare paid pricing, and only for the tool whose free tier you'd actually outgrow first.
A tool with a 100,000-contact free ceiling and a tool with a 500-contact ceiling are not the same decision if you currently have 40 subscribers.
FAQ
Is Mailchimp still worth using in 2026?
If you already have a paid Mailchimp account with automations and integrations built out, switching has a real cost in time, and staying may be worth it. If you're starting fresh with a small list, its 250-contact free cap makes it a weak first choice compared to Brevo or Kit.
Which free email tool has the most generous limit?
Brevo, at up to 100,000 contacts on its free plan as of this writing, well ahead of the others on this list (source: Zapier, 2026).
Do free email tools remove branding or send limits I should know about?
Most free tiers cap monthly sends, contacts, or both, and some add "sent via" branding to your emails. Check the specific plan page before committing, since these limits are exactly what change most often.
When should a solopreneur move off a free plan?
When you're consistently hitting your contact or send cap, not before. Paying earlier than you need to is the same mistake as staying on an outdated free plan too long.
If you take one thing from this: the "beginner-friendly free option" changes every year. Check the actual current limits before you build your list on top of one.
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