Email Marketing · 2026 Comparison
6 Best Free Email Marketing Tools for Beginners (2026)
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, IncomeJets may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change our rankings. Free plan limits and policies were checked on each provider’s official pricing, help and policy pages in September 2026. Free plans change often, so confirm before you sign up.
The best free email marketing tool for most beginners is Systeme.io. Its free plan includes 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, and sales funnels. Kit offers the biggest free list (up to 10,000 subscribers) but no automations. Brevo stores up to 100,000 contacts but limits you to 300 emails a day. If you plan to send affiliate links, avoid Mailchimp and MailerLite, because both prohibit affiliate marketing.
Key takeaways
- Free plans vary a lot. Contact limits on the tools below range from 250 to 100,000.
- Automation is the big catch. Kit’s free plan has no automated sequences, and others limit them.
- Affiliate marketers must check the rules. Mailchimp and MailerLite ban affiliate marketing, and Kit restricts it.
- Free plans add branding (a “sent with” badge or logo) on several tools.
- Start with the tool that fits where you’ll be in a year, because moving your list later takes work.
Free Email Marketing Tools Compared
| Tool | Free contacts | Free emails | Automation on free plan | Affiliate marketing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systeme.io | 2,000 | Unlimited | Yes | ✅ Allowed |
| Kit | 10,000 | Unlimited broadcasts | No (paid plans only) | ⚠️ Limited (20–30% of content) |
| Brevo | 100,000 stored | 300 per day | Yes (up to 2,000 contacts) | Not addressed in anti-spam policy |
| GetResponse | 500 | 2,500 per month | 14-day trial only | ✅ Supported |
| MailerLite | 250 | 2,500 per month | Yes (3 automations) | ❌ Prohibited |
| Mailchimp | 250 | 500 per month (250/day) | Limited (check current plan) | ❌ Prohibited |
1Systeme.io: Best Overall for Beginners
Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform: email marketing, sales funnels, a blog, and online courses in one account. For beginners, that means you can build an opt-in page, deliver a freebie, and send emails without paying for several tools.
Free plan includes: 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, 3 sales funnels, 1 blog, 1 course, 1 custom domain and unlimited file storage. It never expires, and no credit card is required.
- ✅ Most generous all-round free plan for building a list and selling
- ✅ Funnels and landing pages mean you don’t need a separate website
- ✅ Publishes its own guides on promoting affiliate links
- ❌ Email design options are simpler than dedicated email tools
Link rules: every link must go to a single landing page (no rotating redirects), and Systeme.io discourages shortened links for deliverability.
2Kit (formerly ConvertKit): Best for Creators
Kit is built for creators such as bloggers, YouTubers and course sellers, and it has the largest free subscriber limit on this list.
Free plan includes: up to 10,000 subscribers (only unique, active subscribers count), unlimited landing pages and forms, unlimited broadcasts, tagging and segmentation, and selling digital products.
- ✅ Huge free subscriber limit
- ✅ Unlimited landing pages and forms
- ❌ No visual automations or automated email sequences on the free plan. Those start on the paid Creator plan.
- ❌ Strict affiliate rules (see below)
Affiliate rules: Kit says about 70–80% of your emails should be about your own business, with only 20–30% affiliate content. It doesn’t allow affiliate links for education, loans, online pharmacies or “get rich quick” software. It also says pure affiliate marketing with no business of your own isn’t a fit.
3Brevo: Best for Large Contact Lists
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) lets you store a very large list for free but limits how many emails you send each day.
Free plan includes: up to 100,000 contacts, 300 email sends per day, automations for up to 2,000 unique contacts, and basic CRM features. It has no time limit.
- ✅ Stores far more contacts than other free plans
- ✅ Includes automation
- ❌ 300 emails a day: to email a bigger list, you have to requeue the rest of a campaign to send on following days
- ❌ “Sent with Brevo” branding, one user, and no landing pages on the free plan
4GetResponse: Best for Growing Into Automation
GetResponse is a full email marketing and automation platform that openly supports affiliate marketers. It promotes using affiliate links and promo codes in your emails.
Free plan includes: up to 500 contacts, 2,500 newsletters a month, landing pages (up to 1,000 unique visits in total) and a basic website builder. For the first 14 days, you also get premium features like marketing automation. No credit card is required.
- ✅ Clear support for affiliate marketing
- ✅ Strong automation on paid plans, which you can test in the 14-day trial
- ❌ Smaller free list, and GetResponse branding on free emails
- ❌ Premium features switch off after 14 days
5MailerLite: Simple, but Not for Affiliates
MailerLite is known for its clean, easy editor.
Free plan includes: up to 250 active subscribers, 2,500 emails a month, 3 active automations (up to 5 steps each), 1 website, 1 landing page and 3 signup forms.
- ✅ Very easy to use, with automations included
- ❌ Small free limit: sending is locked if you go over 250 subscribers
- ❌ Prohibits affiliate marketing. MailerLite lists “Affiliate marketing and multi-level marketing (MLMs)” as content it doesn’t allow.
6Mailchimp: Well-Known, but Limited Free Plan
Mailchimp is the best-known name in email marketing, but its free plan has become one of the most limited.
Free plan includes: up to 250 contacts, 500 emails a month (maximum 250 per day), 1 user and 1 audience. Email support is available for the first 30 days only.
- ✅ Familiar, polished interface
- ❌ No scheduling, custom reports or dynamic content on the free plan
- ❌ Prohibits affiliate marketing. “Affiliate marketing” appears in the prohibited content list of Mailchimp’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Which Free Email Tools Allow Affiliate Links?
This is the question most “best email tools” lists skip. If you use email to promote affiliate products, choosing the wrong tool can get your account suspended and your list lost.
| Tool | Affiliate marketing policy |
|---|---|
| Systeme.io | Allowed. It publishes guides on promoting affiliate links. Links must go to a single page, and shorteners are discouraged. |
| GetResponse | Supported. It markets itself to affiliate marketers. |
| Kit | Limited. Affiliate content should be 20–30% of emails, with no education, loans, pharmacy or “get rich quick” affiliate links. |
| Brevo | Not specifically mentioned in its anti-spam policy. Confirm with support if affiliate offers are your main content. |
| MailerLite | Prohibited |
| Mailchimp | Prohibited |
Also check your affiliate program’s rules. Some programs, including Amazon Associates, don’t allow their links in emails at all. Our list of affiliate programs that don’t require a website notes which ones work well with email.
How to Build an Email List From Scratch
- Choose your tool. Pick one from the list above that fits your niche and allows the kind of content you’ll send.
- Create a lead magnet. Offer something free and useful in exchange for an email address (ideas below).
- Build an opt-in page. Use your tool’s landing page or form builder. Keep it simple: a clear headline, 3–4 bullet benefits, and one sign-up form.
- Set up a welcome email that delivers the freebie right away and tells subscribers what to expect.
- Drive traffic to the opt-in page. Use Pinterest, YouTube, social media and your blog. See our guides to Pinterest affiliate marketing and affiliate marketing without a website.
- Email consistently. Send genuinely helpful emails on a regular schedule, and recommend products only when they fit.
- Stay compliant. Only email people who opted in, include an unsubscribe link, and disclose affiliate links.
Lead Magnet Ideas That Get Sign-Ups
A lead magnet is the free thing you give away in exchange for an email address. The best ones solve one specific problem quickly.
| Lead magnet | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist | “Your First Affiliate Sale: 10-Step Checklist” | Quick to create, quick to use |
| Cheat sheet | “50 ChatGPT Prompts for Bloggers” | Instant, practical value |
| Template / swipe file | “5 Email Templates for Affiliate Promos” | Saves the reader time |
| Toolkit / resource list | “The Free AI Tools Starter Kit” | Natural place for affiliate recommendations |
| Mini course | “5-Day Email Course: Start Affiliate Marketing” | Builds trust over several emails |
| Video training | A free beginner course | High perceived value |
Tip: match your lead magnet to what you’ll later recommend. A reader who downloads “The Free AI Tools Starter Kit” is already interested in AI tools.
Which Free Email Marketing Tool Should You Choose?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Are an affiliate marketer starting from zero | Systeme.io |
| Want funnels, a course and email in one free account | Systeme.io |
| Are a creator with your own content or products | Kit |
| Have a big existing contact list and send occasionally | Brevo |
| Plan to upgrade to advanced automation soon | GetResponse |
| Run a small business with no affiliate content | MailerLite or Mailchimp |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free email marketing tool for beginners?
For most beginners, Systeme.io is the best free option. It includes 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, sales funnels and a course on the free plan. Kit is a strong choice for creators who want a large free list, but its free plan has no automations.
Which email marketing tool has the largest free plan?
Brevo lets you store up to 100,000 contacts for free but limits sending to 300 emails a day. Kit’s free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts.
Can I use Mailchimp for affiliate marketing?
No. Mailchimp’s Acceptable Use Policy lists affiliate marketing as prohibited content. MailerLite also prohibits affiliate marketing. Systeme.io and GetResponse support it, and Kit allows it with limits.
Is Kit (ConvertKit) free?
Yes. Kit’s free Newsletter plan supports up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited landing pages, forms and broadcasts. Automated email sequences and visual automations require a paid plan.
How do I build an email list for free?
Choose a free email tool, create a useful lead magnet, build a simple opt-in page, set up a welcome email that delivers the freebie, and drive traffic from Pinterest, YouTube, social media or your blog.
What is a lead magnet?
A lead magnet is a free resource, such as a checklist, template, toolkit or mini course, that you offer in exchange for someone’s email address. The best lead magnets solve one specific problem quickly.