The short answer
Almost every platform has a free plan, but the limits vary a lot. Spedito’s free plan covers 500 contacts and 3,000 emails a month, with every feature and no Spedito branding in your emails. If you need a bigger list for free, Kit, Sender, EmailOctopus and Zoho Campaigns allow more contacts, but with their branding, sending limits or fewer features. The table below helps you choose.
Free plans compared
We collected the limits of each free plan from the official price lists, checked on 16 October 2026. Where a platform does not state a limit, we say “not stated”: we do not assume.
| Platform | Contacts | Emails a month | Emails a day | Their branding in your emails |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spedito | 500 | 3,000 | — | No |
| Kit | 10,000 | not stated | not stated | Yes |
| Sender | 2,500 | 15,000 | not stated | Yes |
| EmailOctopus | 2,500 | 10,000 | not stated | Yes |
| Zoho Campaigns | 2,000 | 6,000 | not stated | not stated |
| Mailjet | 1,000 | 6,000 | 200 | Yes |
| Mailchimp | 250 | 500 | 250 | Yes |
| MailerLite | 250 | 2,500 | not stated | Yes |
| Klaviyo | 250 | 500 | not stated | Yes |
| Omnisend | 250 | 500 | not stated | not stated |
| CleverReach | 250 | 1,000 | not stated | not stated |
| Brevo | not stated | not stated | 300 | Yes |
- Spedito has no daily limit, except during the first 14 days of a new account.
- Each name links to the full comparison, with sources and the date we checked.
Two examples to read the table. Brevo does not cap contacts but only lets you send 300 emails a day: a newsletter to 1,000 people takes four days. Mailchimp’s free plan stops at 250 contacts and 500 emails a month: enough to try it, not for a real newsletter.
Five things to check in a free plan
- How many contacts. The most visible limit, but not the only one. Check whether unsubscribed contacts count too.
- How many emails, per month and per day. A low daily limit forces you to split every send over several days.
- Branding in your emails. Many free plans add the platform’s logo to the bottom of every email. For a business that wants to look professional, that matters.
- Missing features. Free plans often leave out automations, custom forms, shop integrations or extra users. On Spedito they are all included, even for free.
- The first paid step. When you grow, what does the next plan cost? That is where a generous free plan can turn expensive.
What the first paid plan costs
The real comparison starts when you outgrow the free plan. Here is where some popular platforms begin:
- Mailchimp Essentials: $13 a month for 500 contacts.
- MailerLite Comfort: $12 a month for 500 subscribers.
- Klaviyo: $20 a month for 500 contacts.
- Spedito: €5 a month for up to 1,000 contacts, with 10,000 emails a month.
With Spedito, when you go past 500 contacts you lose no one: new subscribers keep arriving and we warn you before the limit. To email everyone, you pick the next tier; paying yearly saves 20%.
When to stay free and when to upgrade
- Stay free while your list is small and an occasional newsletter is enough: Spedito’s free plan covers 500 contacts with up to 3,000 emails a month.
- Upgrade when your list grows or you want to write more often: the price only follows your subscribed contacts.
- If you need thousands of contacts for free and do not mind the platform’s branding, look at Kit, Sender or EmailOctopus.
- Either way, try it with your real contacts and send yourself a test first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there truly free email marketing?
Yes, for small lists. Spedito is free up to 500 contacts and 3,000 emails a month, with automations, forms and integrations, no Spedito branding and no credit card.
Which free plan allows the most contacts?
Among the ones we compared, Kit goes up to 10,000 subscribers, Sender and EmailOctopus to 2,500, Zoho Campaigns to 2,000. In exchange they put their branding in your emails or limit some features: check the table.
Does Spedito’s free plan expire?
No: it stays free as long as you have up to 500 subscribed contacts. It does not expire and we do not ask for a card.
What happens if I go over the free plan’s limit?
On Spedito new subscribers keep arriving and you lose no one; we warn you at 90%. To email everyone, choose the €5 a month plan.