Mailchimp's free tier is genuinely rough for anyone serious about building an email list from scratch. The good news: two platforms offer far more generous free plans that won't choke you out of the gate. Here's what to do this week.
Move 1: Start with Brevo if you need volume and CRM features
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) gives you 300 emails per day — roughly 9,000 per month — and unlimited contacts on their free plan, according to Selzy's comparison of free email marketing tools. That unlimited contact storage is the real differentiator; most free plans cap you at 250–500 contacts, so you can actually build your list without immediately hitting a paywall.
When you do outgrow the free tier, Mailtrap's platform comparison notes that Brevo's paid plans start from $9 for 5,000 emails (with up to 500 contacts). Beyond email, it's a full CRM suite with multichannel marketing built in, so you're not stuck cobbling together tools later.
One caveat: Mailtrap's review lists Brevo's free plan contact limit as 500 rather than unlimited — the two sources disagree on this point. Selzy's comparison table is the source calling it unlimited. Before committing, it's worth checking Brevo's current pricing page directly to confirm which figure is current.
Move 2: Try Kit if you prioritize subscriber count over email volume
If your focus is building a large audience, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) supports up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited email sends on their free plan. Startup Owl's head-to-head comparison notes this is 40x more subscribers than Mailchimp's free plan (10,000 vs. 250). For creators, bloggers, and newsletter operators building an audience, this is the clear winner.
Fair warning though: Kit's free plan requires Kit branding on all emails and forms, and forces participation in their Creator Network Recommendations program. Worth knowing before you start building.
The trade-off you need to understand
Most free plans include platform branding in your emails — the specific terms vary by platform, but it's the standard cost of not paying. Factor that into how you present your brand to early subscribers, and plan your upgrade timeline accordingly.
The bigger question isn't which free plan is flashiest — it's which one matches your current list size and how fast you expect to grow. Brevo wins if you're importing or growing a larger contact database from day one. Kit wins if you're a creator who needs headroom on subscribers and sends freely without worrying about daily caps.