Which newsletter tool has the most generous free plan? (2026 data)
In 2026 the most generous free newsletter plans are Kit (free up to 10,000 subscribers), beehiiv (up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends), and Brevo (unlimited stored contacts, around 9,000 emails a month). MailerLite gives 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails. The famous name, Mailchimp, is now the stingiest after cutting its free plan to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month in February 2026. The right pick depends on which limit matters to you: subscriber count or emails sent.
A free plan means two completely different things depending on how a tool counts. Subscriber-based tools (Kit, beehiiv, MailerLite) cap how many people are on your list but let you mail them freely. Send-based tools (Brevo) let you store unlimited contacts and instead cap how many emails you send. So the most generous plan for you depends entirely on your shape: a large list you email rarely, or a small list you email often.
Free plans ranked by what they actually give (June 2026): Kit: up to 10,000 subscribers, paid newsletters supported. The most subscribers of any free plan. beehiiv: up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends, website and recommendation network included. Brevo: unlimited stored contacts, 300 emails a day (about 9,000 a month). Best if your list is large but low-volume. MailerLite: 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month, with automation included. Mailchimp: 250 contacts and 500 emails a month after its February 2026 cut. Once the default, now the smallest free tier here. GetResponse and ActiveCampaign: trials rather than a real free plan, so budget from day one.
Two takeaways. First, match the limit to your habit: creators building a big audience should start on Kit or beehiiv (they count subscribers generously), while someone with a large but rarely-mailed list saves most on Brevo (it counts emails, not contacts). MailerLite is the sweet spot for beginners who want a bit of both with the friendliest editor. Second, the cautionary tale: Mailchimp built its brand on a generous free plan and has spent years shrinking it, most recently to 250 contacts in February 2026. If you are choosing today, pick on the current limits, not the reputation, because free tiers move, almost always downward.