Last updated: October 2026 | Prices checked against each vendor’s pricing page or, where noted, independent pricing reviews
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Email is still one of the cheapest and most effective ways for a small business to bring customers back. The good news: you don’t need to spend much. Several tools offer genuinely useful free plans, and paid plans start under $20 a month. The catch is in the limits: how many contacts, how many emails, which features and whose logo appears in your emails.
Free plans compared
| Tool | Free plan limit | Automation on free plan | Branding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Up to 100,000 stored contacts, 300 emails a day | Limited | Brevo logo on emails |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | No sequences or visual automations | Kit branding |
| beehiiv | Up to 2,500 subscribers | Limited | beehiiv branding |
| Mailchimp | Up to 250 contacts, 500 emails a month | No | Mailchimp branding |
| Klaviyo | 250 active profiles, 500 emails a month, 150 SMS credits | Yes (e-commerce flows) | Klaviyo branding |
| Constant Contact | No free plan (free trial) | — | — |
Cheapest paid plans
| Tool | Entry paid plan | Starting price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Starter | From $9/mo | 5,000 emails a month, no daily cap |
| Constant Contact | Lite | $12/mo ($10.20 yearly) | 10× contacts in monthly sends, 1 user |
| Mailchimp | Essentials | From $13/mo | 10× contacts in sends, 3 seats |
| Brevo | Standard | From $18/mo | Automation, A/B testing, logo removed |
| Mailchimp | Standard | From $20/mo | Up to 200 automation flows |
| Klaviyo | From $20/mo | E-commerce flows and segmentation | |
| Kit | Creator | $33/mo (1,000 subscribers) | Unlimited automations and sequences |
| beehiiv | Lite | $49/mo (yearly) | Up to 100,000 subscribers, paid subscriptions, ad network |
Prices rise with list size on most tools; figures are starting prices at the lowest tier.
The best pick for each situation
Biggest free list: Brevo
Brevo’s free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts and sends 300 emails a day. If you have a large customer list that you email occasionally, it’s hard to beat, as long as you accept Brevo’s logo in your emails.
Best free newsletter: Kit
Kit’s free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers for broadcasts. Upgrade to Creator for automated welcome sequences.
Cheapest automation: Brevo Standard or Mailchimp Standard
Both put real automation (welcome series, follow-ups) around $18–$20 a month at the smallest tiers.
Best for online stores: Klaviyo
Klaviyo’s free plan includes e-commerce flows for small lists, and its Shopify integration is excellent. It gets more expensive as your list grows.
Simplest for local businesses: Constant Contact
No free plan, but Lite at $12 a month is simple, and the 30-day money-back guarantee lowers the risk.
Cost example: 2,000 contacts, two emails a month
About 4,000 emails a month.
| Tool | Plan that fits | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Brevo | Free (300 a day is enough if you send in batches) or Starter | $0–$9/mo |
| Kit | Free (no automation) | $0 |
| Mailchimp | Essentials (price at 2,000 contacts) | Check calculator; above the $13 starting price |
| Constant Contact | Lite (price at 2,000 contacts) | Check calculator; above the $12 starting price |
For a small list sent a couple of times a month, a free plan from Brevo or Kit usually does the job.
Tips to keep costs down
- Clean your list. Contact-based tools (Mailchimp, Klaviyo) charge for every stored or active contact.
- Send less, better. Email-volume tools (Brevo) charge for sends.
- Pay yearly where discounts are offered.
- Start free, upgrade for automation. Most of the value comes from a welcome sequence and a few automated follow-ups.
- Avoid paying for features you don’t use, such as SMS or advanced reporting.
What to set up first (it’s free)
- A signup form on your website and in your shop or booking flow.
- A welcome email that thanks new subscribers and tells them what to expect.
- A simple monthly newsletter with one useful tip, one offer and one piece of news.
- Segments for customers versus prospects, so you can send relevant offers.
- Authentication of your sending domain (SPF and DKIM), which improves deliverability on any platform.
How to choose in two minutes
- Big list, occasional sends, tiny budget: Brevo Free.
- Writer or creator starting a newsletter: Kit Free.
- Online store: Klaviyo Free, then Klaviyo Email.
- Want polished design and automation under $25: Mailchimp Standard or Brevo Standard.
- Local business that wants simplicity: Constant Contact Lite.
- Paid newsletter with sponsors: beehiiv.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest email marketing software?
For free, Brevo (largest list) and Kit (up to 10,000 subscribers) stand out. For paid plans, Brevo Starter from $9 a month is among the cheapest.
Is Mailchimp still free?
Yes, for up to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, without automation.
Can I remove the logo on a free plan?
Generally no. Brevo removes its logo from the Standard plan (or with a paid add-on on Starter).
Which is best for a small business newsletter?
Kit for a simple free newsletter, Brevo for a large list on a budget, and Mailchimp if you want polished design tools.
The bottom line
You can run professional email marketing for free with Brevo or Kit, and add automation for about $20 a month with Brevo Standard or Mailchimp Standard. Choose based on your list size, how often you send and whether you sell online.
Related: Brevo vs Mailchimp · Mailchimp vs Kit · Klaviyo vs Mailchimp · beehiiv vs Substack vs Kit