MailerLite costs $12/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to MailerLite, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
MailerLite vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $12/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | MailerLite vs Brevo Free → |
| EmailOctopus Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | MailerLite vs EmailOctopus Free → |
| Kit Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | MailerLite vs Kit Free → |
| MailPoet Starter | free | — | — | ★ $0 forever | MailerLite vs MailPoet Starter → |
| Sender Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | MailerLite vs Sender Free → |
The picks
5 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Brevo Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedCampaigns, forms and automation with a 300-email daily throttle.
The catch vs MailerLiteBrevo Free covers campaigns, forms, and automation, but its 300-email daily throttle and weaker website/landing-page experience are worse than MailerLite.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- Authenticating a custom sending domain requires adding DNS records.
- your data
- Contacts, campaigns, consent records, and message events live in Brevo's cloud; contacts can be exported as CSV.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
EmailOctopus Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedNewsletters, one form and a small welcome automation for 2,500 contacts.
The catch vs MailerLiteEmailOctopus Free works for newsletters and a welcome flow, but its limited forms, automations, and reporting are less complete than MailerLite's small-site toolkit.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- You must verify a sender address or domain; DNS authentication is the first technical step.
- your data
- Lists, campaigns, automations, and reporting data live in EmailOctopus' cloud; contacts and reports can be exported as CSV.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Kit Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedForms, landing pages and one sequence for up to 10,000 subscribers; one recommendation slot is not yours.
The catch vs MailerLiteKit Free provides forms, pages, and one sequence, but its one-automation limit and Kit-managed recommendation slot are less flexible than MailerLite.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- There is no software install, but custom-domain sending requires DNS authentication and the free plan keeps one Kit-managed recommendation slot.
- your data
- Subscribers, tags, forms, broadcasts, sequences, purchases, and analytics live in Kit's cloud; subscriber and chart data export as CSV.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
MailPoet Starter
freeWordPress newsletters, forms and a basic welcome automation for 500 subscribers; WordPress is mandatory.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- 05
Sender Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA genuinely useful hosted list with forms, landing pages and workflows; branding remains.
The catch vs MailerLiteSender Free has a generous hosted allowance, but vendor branding and a weaker website-building surface make it less complete than MailerLite.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- A custom sending domain must be verified with DNS records for reliable delivery.
- your data
- Subscribers, campaigns, automations, and engagement events live in Sender's cloud; subscriber data can be exported.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · MailerLite open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to MailerLite?+
The top free alternative to MailerLite is Brevo Free (free). Campaigns, forms and automation with a 300-email daily throttle. Other popular MailerLite replacements include EmailOctopus Free, Kit Free, MailPoet Starter.
Can I self-host a free replacement for MailerLite?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to MailerLite, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: MailPoet Starter (free).
How much does switching from MailerLite to a free alternative save?+
MailerLite starts at $12/month per seat ($144/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Brevo Free saves $720 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own MailerLite clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for MailerLite is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For MailerLite, send newsletters, build forms, and run a small welcome sequence. The hard boundary is deliverability, editor polish, landing pages, automations, and integrations, plus deliverability, growth network, and integrations.
What is the catch when switching from MailerLite to Brevo Free?+
Brevo Free covers campaigns, forms, and automation, but its 300-email daily throttle and weaker website/landing-page experience are worse than MailerLite.
