The best free newsletter platform for 2026
If you want to grow a newsletter without paying up front, Beehiiv gives you the most generous free plan for the money, with up to 2,500 subscribers and real growth tools built in. Small businesses that lean on automation will do better with MailerLite or AWeber. Below are six free plans compared honestly, including where each one starts charging.
Beehiiv
Beehiiv was built by former Morning Brew operators, and it shows in the growth and monetization tooling: referral programs, a recommendation network, and a built-in ad marketplace all sit on the free tier. The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, which is unusually generous for this space. The catch is that custom send domains and deeper analytics are gated behind paid plans.
Try Beehiiv free →| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beehiiv | Creators building and monetizing a newsletter | Up to 2,500 subscribers | ~$39/mo (Scale) | Try free |
| 2 | MailerLite | Automation on a free plan | 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo | ~$10/mo | Try free |
| 3 | AWeber | Small-business email and landing pages | 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/mo | ~$15/mo | Try free |
| 4 | Kit | Creators who want tag-based automation | Up to 10,000 subscribers | ~$29/mo | Try free |
| 5 | Brevo | Transactional plus marketing email | Unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day | ~$9/mo | Try free |
| 6 | Mailchimp | Beginners who want name recognition | 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/mo | ~$13/mo | Try free |
Beehiiv
Creators building and monetizing a newsletterBeehiiv was built by former Morning Brew operators, and it shows in the growth and monetization tooling: referral programs, a recommendation network, and a built-in ad marketplace all sit on the free tier. The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, which is unusually generous for this space. The catch is that custom send domains and deeper analytics are gated behind paid plans.
Pros
- Free up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends
- Referral program and recommendation network included free
- Ad network lets you earn from your list early
Cons
- Automation is thinner than dedicated email tools
- Custom domain and advanced analytics require a paid plan
MailerLite
Automation on a free planMailerLite gives you a real automation builder, landing pages, and a drag-and-drop editor on the free plan, which most rivals reserve for paying customers. The free tier covers 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month. Support on the free plan is limited to email and can be slow, and its approval process for new accounts is stricter than most.
Pros
- Genuine automation workflows on the free tier
- Clean editor plus free landing pages and forms
- Cheap paid upgrade at around $10/mo
Cons
- Free-tier support is email only and can lag
- Strict account approval can delay new signups
AWeber
Small-business email and landing pagesAWeber is a long-running small-business platform, and its free plan bundles email, landing pages, and basic automation for up to 500 subscribers. It connects to a wide set of ecommerce and CRM tools, which helps if you already run a small store. The free tier puts an AWeber logo on your emails, and the editor feels dated next to newer tools.
Pros
- Email, landing pages, and sign-up forms in one free plan
- Strong integrations for small stores and CRMs
- Responsive phone and live-chat support
Cons
- AWeber branding stays on free-plan emails
- Editor and templates look dated
Kit
Creators who want tag-based automationKit (formerly ConvertKit) offers one of the highest free subscriber caps at 10,000, which suits creators who send simple broadcasts and want room to grow. Its tagging and segmentation model is excellent for selling digital products. The trade-off is that automations, sequences, and third-party integrations stay locked until you upgrade.
Pros
- Free up to 10,000 subscribers
- Tag-based segmentation built for selling products
- Clean, distraction-free writing experience
Cons
- Automations and sequences are paid-only
- Templates are plain and hard to heavily customize
Frequently asked questions
Which newsletter platform has the best free plan in 2026?
For newsletter creators, Beehiiv leads with up to 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends, plus growth tools like referrals and an ad network at no cost. If you want more raw subscriber headroom, Kit allows up to 10,000 contacts free but locks automations behind a paid plan. MailerLite is the pick if free automation matters most.
Are these free plans genuinely free, or a limited trial?
These are ongoing free tiers, not time-limited trials. Beehiiv, MailerLite, AWeber, Kit, Brevo, and Mailchimp all let you stay on the free plan indefinitely within their limits. You only pay when you cross a subscriber or send threshold, or need features like custom domains and advanced automation.
Can I move my list from Mailchimp to Beehiiv or MailerLite?
Yes. You export your subscribers from Mailchimp as a CSV file and import them into the new platform, which most tools walk you through in a few minutes. Beehiiv and MailerLite both accept CSV imports and will re-verify addresses to protect deliverability. Rebuilding automations by hand is the main manual step, since those do not transfer between platforms.
What is the best free platform for a small business rather than a creator?
AWeber fits small businesses well because its free plan bundles email, landing pages, and sign-up forms with strong ecommerce and CRM integrations. MailerLite is a close alternative if you want stronger free automation. Beehiiv is better suited to content creators and audience growth than to store or service marketing.
When should I upgrade from a free plan to paid?
Upgrade once you outgrow the free subscriber cap or need gated features such as a custom sending domain, detailed analytics, or full automation. As of 2026, paid plans start around $9 to $15/mo on MailerLite, Brevo, and AWeber, while Beehiiv's paid tiers begin near $39/mo. Watch your growth rate, since contact-based tools like Mailchimp get expensive fast.
Which free plan should you pick?
Start with Beehiiv if you are building an audience and care about growth and monetization, since its free tier reaches 2,500 subscribers before you pay anything. Choose MailerLite if you want the strongest automation on a free plan, and AWeber if you run a small business and want landing pages plus email in one place. Pricing here is directional as of 2026, so confirm current limits on each site before you commit.
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