11 Free Email Marketing Tools That Actually Work for Startups in 2026

Mailchimp remains the gold standard for startup email marketing, and their free tier proves why. With 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly emails, it's perfect for early-stage startups testing product-market fit. The drag-and-drop editor produces professional campaigns without design skills, while their template library includes 100+ mobile-responsive options. Insider tip: Mailchimp's audience insights show you the best times to send emails based on your subscriber behavior, a premium feature most tools charge for.

ConvertKit's free plan offers 1,000 contacts with unlimited email sends, making it incredibly generous for content creators and B2B startups. Their visual automation builder lets you create sophisticated welcome sequences and lead nurturing campaigns that rival paid tools. The landing page builder includes conversion-optimized templates, while their form builder integrates seamlessly with WordPress and Shopify. Best for: ConvertKit shines when you're building an audience through content marketing.

Brevo stands out with unlimited contacts on their free plan, though you're capped at 300 emails per day. This makes it perfect for startups that need both marketing emails and transactional messages (order confirmations, password resets, shipping notifications). Their SMS marketing integration lets you reach customers across channels, while the CRM functionality helps track leads without additional tools. New this update: Brevo added WhatsApp Business integration to their free tier.

MailerLite's free tier includes 1,000 contacts and 12,000 monthly emails, but their landing page builder steals the show. You get access to 50+ conversion-optimized templates and a drag-and-drop editor that rivals Unbounce. The popup builder helps capture leads directly on your website, while their automation workflows let you nurture subscribers based on behavior. Insider tip: MailerLite's survey tool helps you segment subscribers based on preferences, improving engagement rates by 40%.

Moosend offers 1,000 contacts with unlimited emails, but their ecommerce automation templates set them apart. Pre-built workflows for abandoned cart recovery, product recommendations, and win-back campaigns save hours of setup time. Their website tracking reveals which products subscribers view, enabling personalized email content. The drag-and-drop editor includes product blocks that pull directly from your store catalog. Best for: Ecommerce startups on Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce.

Benchmark Email provides 500 contacts and 3,500 monthly emails with something most free tools don't offer: phone and chat support. Their Smart Content feature personalizes emails based on subscriber location and preferences, while the A/B testing capabilities help optimize subject lines and send times. The social media integration lets you share campaigns across Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with one click. Insider tip: Benchmark's email polls boost engagement rates by letting subscribers vote directly in emails.

Omnisend's free plan includes 500 contacts and up to 15,000 emails monthly, focusing heavily on ecommerce automation. Their omnichannel approach combines email, SMS, and push notifications in single campaigns. Pre-built workflows for welcome series, birthday campaigns, and customer win-back sequences require minimal setup. The segmentation engine uses purchase behavior, browsing history, and engagement data to create targeted lists. New this update: Omnisend added Google Ads integration for retargeting email subscribers.

Constant Contact offers just 100 contacts on their free tier, but unlimited email sends and excellent local business features make it worthwhile for specific use cases. Their event management tools help promote workshops and networking events, while the social media toolkit schedules posts across platforms. The template library includes designs for restaurants, fitness studios, and professional services. Best for: Local service businesses and brick-and-mortar startups that host events.

GetResponse provides 500 contacts and 2,500 monthly emails, but their webinar platform integration sets them apart. You can promote webinars through email campaigns, then automatically follow up with attendees and no-shows using different sequences. The landing page builder includes webinar-specific templates, while the conversion funnel feature maps out complete customer journeys. Insider tip: GetResponse's Perfect Timing feature analyzes when each subscriber is most likely to open emails.

Substack offers unlimited contacts and emails for free, taking a 10% cut only when you charge subscribers. This makes it perfect for content startups building paid newsletter businesses. The simple editor focuses on writing without distractions, while the built-in payment processing handles subscriptions automatically. Substack's network effect helps readers discover your newsletter through recommendations from other publishers. Best for: Content creators wanting to monetize newsletters from day one.

Mailjet's free tier includes 6,000 contacts but limits you to 200 emails daily, making it challenging for traditional marketing campaigns. However, their robust API and transactional email capabilities make it valuable for technical startups. The collaborative email builder lets multiple team members work on campaigns simultaneously, while the A/B testing includes statistical significance calculations. Best for: Developer-led startups that want programmatic email control.