"Free" means something different at every vendor in this category. These are the limits each one publishes on its own pricing page, recorded on 5 September 2026.
The large free tiers
beehiiv Launch holds up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited email sends, basic analytics and custom domains. A/B testing is marked unavailable at this tier.
EmailOctopus Starter holds 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, keeps EmailOctopus branding on the message, limits reports to thirty days, and allows one landing page, one form and one user.
Sender Free Forever holds 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails a month with one seat, and keeps Sender branding on the emails.
The 250-contact tier
Mailchimp Free stops at 250 contacts with one seat, one audience, a maximum of 500 emails a month and 250 a day.
Klaviyo Free covers 250 profiles, 500 email sends a month, US$5 of mobile messages, 10,000 Composer credits and email support for the first sixty days.
Omnisend Free covers 250 contacts, 500 emails a month and 500 web push notifications.
MailerLite Free covers 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, and is the only one of this group that includes two seats.
Priced in emails, not people
Mailjet Free allows 6,000 emails a month with a 200-a-day limit and 1,000 contacts. The daily cap matters more than the monthly one for anyone sending a single campaign to a whole list.
Brevo Free is described as free forever with no credit card, aimed at individuals and solopreneurs; the paid tiers start at 5,000 emails a month.
Free because you run it
listmonk and Mautic charge no licence fee at any list size. You supply the server, the database and the sending route, and you own the deliverability problem that a hosted vendor would otherwise absorb.
Reading a free tier honestly
Three numbers decide whether a free tier is usable: the subscriber ceiling, the monthly send allowance, and any daily cap. A plan with 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 monthly emails supports four campaigns a month to a full list. A plan with 250 contacts and 500 monthly emails supports two. Branding, seat counts and report retention are the next tier of concerns, and they are the ones vendors are least likely to put in a headline.
