Best free newsletter platforms for beginners
A newsletter tool emails people who already signed up. It does not find them. beehiiv is first because its free plan has the smaller subscriber cap, 2,500, so that limit is the one to read first. Kit is next: its free plan is $0 and goes up to 10,000 subscribers. Systeme.io is last because it also builds pages and a simple course, and its free plan caps contacts at 2,000. You do not need all three. All three Visit buttons are affiliate links. That is not why they are in this order.
Checked October 2026.
1 · Free tier
beehiiv
- What it does
- Hosts an email newsletter and a simple newsletter site, with writing help in the editor.
- Who it is for
- People who want to email their own list and are fine starting without a paid plan.
- Free plan
- Free is $0 and the page calls it free forever. It includes unlimited email sends, up to 2,500 subscribers, 1 publication, 1 team seat, and a 30-day analytics lookback.
- Price we checked
- Free is $0, up to 2,500 subscribers. Lite is $49 a month and Pro is $95 a month, both shown with yearly billing (a monthly toggle is on the page).
- The catch
- A free plan is not the same as unlimited sending. Paid plans add things like paid subscriptions and branding removal. Read the current limits on the pricing page before you import a list.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
2 · Free tier
Kit
- What it does
- Hosts an email newsletter. Kit was formerly called ConvertKit. The pricing page lists landing pages, forms, and email broadcasts.
- Who it is for
- People who want to email a list they already have and can start on a free plan with a subscriber cap.
- Free plan
- Free is $0 a month, up to 10,000 subscribers. The page lists unlimited landing pages and forms, unlimited email broadcasts, and audience tagging and segmentation.
- Price we checked
- Creator is $33 a month billed yearly ($390). Pro was shown at $50 a month for the first year on a limited-time offer, then $66 a month, billed yearly. These are yearly-billing prices; monthly costs more.
- The catch
- The price changes with the subscriber count you select. A yearly figure is not the month-to-month bill, and a limited-time offer is not the renewal price. Removing Kit branding is listed on a paid plan. The Creator and Pro buttons offer a 14-day trial. Kit does not find subscribers.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
3 · Free tier
Systeme.io
- What it does
- Builds sales pages, sends email, and hosts a simple online course in one account.
- Who it is for
- Beginners who want pages, email, and a course in one login and can start on the free plan.
- Free plan
- The pricing FAQ says the free plan never expires and needs no card. It lists up to 2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course, 1 blog, unlimited emails, 1 automation rule, and 1 email campaign.
- Price we checked
- Free is $0 (2,000 contacts, 3 sales funnels, 1 course). Startup is $17 a month. Webinar is $47 a month. Unlimited is $97 a month.
- The catch
- The free plan caps contacts, funnels, and courses. Pages and courses take setup time. Read what the free plan leaves out before you build a whole site on it.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Also read
Questions
- Will a free newsletter platform find subscribers?
- No. These tools email a list you already have.
- Do I need more than one?
- No. Pick beehiiv or Kit for a newsletter. Look at Systeme.io if you also want pages and a simple course in the same login.
- Are the beehiiv and Kit paid prices month-to-month?
- No. beehiiv's $49 and $95 figures are shown with yearly billing. Kit's Creator price is $33 a month billed yearly. Monthly billing costs more.
- Are the Visit buttons affiliate links?
- Yes. beehiiv, Kit, and Systeme.io. The order follows the free-plan limit and the job, not the commission.