Email tools with a real free plan, so you can grow a list before paying.
| # | Tool | Starting price | Why it fits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MailerLite | Free plan | Small-to-mid-sized businesses | Visit |
| 2 | GetResponse | Free plan | Online course creators | Visit |
| 3 | Flodesk | Free plan | Visual/design-focused creators | Visit |
| 4 | Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | Free plan | Newsletter creators | Visit |
| 5 | beehiiv | Free plan | Independent newsletter creators | Visit |
| 6 | Substack | Free plan | Independent journalists and writers | Visit |
Easy-to-use, budget-friendly email marketing platform combining email, automation, landing pages and websites for small businesses and creators.
Best for: Small-to-mid-sized businesses, Budget-conscious creators and solopreneurs, Users wanting an easy drag-and-drop builder without a steep learning curve, Small teams needing a bundled website/landing-page + email tool.
Full review →All-in-one online marketing platform combining email marketing, marketing automation, landing pages, webinars, and ecommerce tools.
Best for: Online course creators, Webinar hosts, Ecommerce store owners, Small-to-mid marketing teams needing automation + email in one tool.
Full review →Design-forward email marketing platform for creators and small e-commerce brands who want visually distinctive, on-brand emails.
Best for: Visual/design-focused creators, Small e-commerce brands wanting on-brand, polished emails, Bloggers and influencers prioritizing aesthetics over deep automation.
Full review →Email marketing and creator-monetization platform built for creators to grow an audience and sell digital products or newsletters.
Best for: Newsletter creators, Coaches and course creators selling digital products, Solo creators monetizing an audience, Bloggers and YouTubers building email lists.
Full review →All-in-one platform bringing together newsletters, websites, and monetization tools to help creators and publishers grow and earn.
Best for: Independent newsletter creators, Media publishers monetizing via ads and subscriptions, Multi-publication networks and agencies (Max tier), Enterprises needing dedicated infrastructure/SSO.
Full review →Free publishing platform for independent writers to launch a newsletter and monetize it directly through reader subscriptions.
Best for: Independent journalists and writers, Paid subscription newsletter writers who want zero software cost upfront, Creators prioritizing simplicity and built-in discovery/network effects over deep marketing automation.
Full review →Selection based on each tool's own stated target users; verified 2026-07-09.