Email marketing is a powerful tool for nurturing leads, converting customers, and fueling your business growth.

For startups, email marketing is absolutely crucial during that all-important early stage of customer acquisition.

The good news is, there are tons of super effective email tools out there that are made to help you build up your subscriber list and start converting those early leads.

Here at Interconnect, we understand that with so many options, choosing the right one can be tough.

So we've done all the hard work of researching and testing the top free email platforms on the market. 

Since they're mostly free, you can try out different options to see which one fits your unique business needs.

Without wasting any time, here are the 6 best free email marketing tools you can find in 2024

The 6 Best Free Email Marketing Software

MailerLite (Ideal for Simplicity and Ecommerce)

Features: 

• Drag-and-drop email builder
• Pre-designed templates
• Powerful landing page and website builder

Pros: 

• Easy-to-use interface
• Perfect for beginners
• Integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, making it easy to sell your digital products.

Cons: 

• Limited automation features in the free plan. 
• Subscriber limit of 1,000 after which you'll need to upgrade.

HubSpot (Perfect for Relationships and Workflows)

Features: 

• Free built-in customer relationship management (CRM) 
• landing page creation tool
• Customizable automation for your processes

Pros: 

• Build strong customer relationships with the free CRM. 
• Automate simple email sequences to nurture leads (e.g. welcome emails or abandoned cart reminders).

Cons: 

• Limited number of emails per month in the free plan. 
• Can feel overwhelming for complete beginners due to the additional CRM features.

Sender (Prioritize Delivery and Automation)

Features: 

• High deliverability rates, 
• Basic email automation builder

Pros: 

• Excellent email deliverability ensures your messages land in inboxes, not spam folders.
• Craft basic automated email sequences even on the free plan.

Cons: 

• Limited design options with the free plan templates. 
• Lacks some advanced features like A/B testing.
• May be overkill for very small businesses

SendPulse (Explore Multi-Channel Marketing)

Features: 

• Multi-channel marketing (SMS, web push notifications.)
• Email marketing automation
• AI-powered content recommendations

Pros: 

• Go beyond email with SMS marketing and other channels in the free plan. 
• Set up basic automated email sequences to engage your audience.
• Generous free plan limits

Cons:

• Limited number of subscribers and emails in the free plan. 
• Free plan lacks team management features
• Interface might feel a bit cluttered compared to simpler options.

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) (Maximize Contacts and SMS Integration)

Features: 

• Unlimited contacts
• SMS marketing integration

Pros: 

• Build a massive email list without limitations in the free plan.
• Integrate SMS marketing for a multi-channel approach (think promotional texts or order updates).
• Very generous free plan for small businesses

Cons: 

• Limited number of daily emails sent. 
• Design features might feel a bit basic compared to similar tools
• Less advanced automation than some competitors

Mailchimp (Leverage Brand Recognition and A/B Testing)

Features: 

• A/B testing for email campaigns, 
• Pre-built templates

Pros: 

• Benefit from brand recognition and a user-friendly interface. 
• Experiment with A/B testing to optimize your email campaigns for better results.

Cons: 

• Free plan hasstrict subscriber and send limits
• Lacks some automation features compared to other options on this list.
• Advanced features are only in paid plans

What Makes the Top Free Email Marketing Tools Stand Out?

The top free email marketing tools come packed with great features that are easy to use - all without costing you anything.

But how do these free tools differ from the rest? 

Let's take a look at the key things that set the best free email marketing services apart:

Easy to Use

No one has time for a complicated learning curve. Look for a tool with a user-friendly interface that lets you create and send beautiful emails in minutes, even if you're a complete email marketing beginner.

Subscriber Limits

As your startup takes flight, your email list should too!  Choose a platform that offers a decent number of subscribers in the free plan to accommodate your initial growth. Remember, there's always room to upgrade later.

Essential Features

The best free email tools have the core features you need to succeed. This includes:

Audience Segmentation: Not all subscribers are created equal. This feature lets you divide your list into targeted groups based on interests or behavior, allowing you to send customized emails that match each segment.

Automation: Save precious time by automating routine email sequences. Like welcome emails for new subscribers, abandoned cart reminders, or birthday greetings – all sent automatically, keeping your audience engaged without constant manual effort.

Templates and Customization: A library of pre-designed templates gives you a head start on creating professional-looking emails, while customization options allow you to add your brand flair and personality.

Reporting and Analytics: The best free email tools allow you to track key metrics like open rates and click-throughs to understand what's working and what's not. This lets you optimize your campaigns for maximum impact.

Deliverability Rates

Landing in inboxes, not spam folders, is important. The top free tools work hard to maintain a strong sender reputation and make sure your messages get delivered to your audience.

Growth Potential

While the free plans are perfect for starting out, the best tools also offer paid tiers you can easily upgrade to. This allows you to scale up your email marketing as your business grows, without having to switch to a new platform.

Additional Free Email Marketing Tools

Here are some additional free options worth considering, depending on your specific needs:

1. ConvertKit (Ideal for Bloggers and Creators)
2. Benchmark Email
3. Zoho Campaigns
4. GetResponse (Free Landing Page Builder)
5. Mailjet

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the best free email marketing tools and the key factors for choosing the right one, you're well on your way to turning website visitors into loyal customers.

Free tools are a great starting point, but eventually you might crave even more customization when its time to scale.

That's where Interconnect comes in. We offer a complete set of email marketing services designed to help your startup grow.

We can help you with crafting emails that convert, automating your work email sequences  or integrating your email marketing perfectly with all your other marketing tools.

Don't settle for "just okay" email marketing. Grab a free consultation today and write the next chapter in your startup's incredible success story!