Free Email Marketing Platforms: Why MailerLite Works for Starters 📩

Relying only on social media to reach your audience? You’re missing a big opportunity.

Email is one of the most reliable ways to build trust, drive traffic and grow sales. But many small business owners avoid it because of cost or complexity.

If you’ve looked at tools like Mailchimp and felt overwhelmed—or underwhelmed—there’s another option.

MailerLite gives you the essentials for free, with less clutter and more control.

Why Email Marketing Still Works

• You own your list—no algorithm can take it away
  

• Emails feel personal and direct
  

• It's low-cost and easy to automate
  

• On average, email returns $42 for every $1 spent (Litmus)
  

• It keeps your brand top of mind
  

If you're posting to Instagram but not sending emails, you're leaving reach—and revenue—on the table.

What Is MailerLite? 

MailerLite is a free email marketing platform built for simplicity and results.

Here’s what you get on the free plan:

• Up to 1,000 subscribers
  

• 12,000 emails per month
  

• Drag-and-drop email builder
  

• Landing pages and signup forms
  

• Basic automations
  

• Email scheduling
  

It’s ideal if you're building your first list or getting back into email after a break.

MailerLite vs Mailchimp: What’s Different?

Feature	MailerLite (Free)	Mailchimp (Free)
Subscriber limit	1,000	500
Monthly sends	12,000	1,000
Landing pages	Yes	Limited
Automation	Basic	Limited
Ease of use	Clean and simple	More complex
Branding	Minimal	Heavily Mailchimp-branded
Best for	Beginners	Light campaigns only

When MailerLite Is Enough 

MailerLite is a great option if you:

• Are just starting to build your list
  

• Want to set up a welcome email or promo sequence
  

• Prefer clean design and fewer distractions
  

• Are focused on consistency, not complexity
  

You can launch your first email in under 30 minutes.

When You Might Outgrow It 

Consider a paid tool if you:

• Have over 1,000 subscribers
  

• Need advanced automation (like behaviour-based triggers)
  

• Run complex sales funnels
  

• Want deeper integrations with ecommerce or CRM tools
  

Even then, MailerLite’s paid tiers are more affordable than most.

Tips to Get Started with Email

• Offer a reason to subscribe (a discount, checklist, or tip)
  

• Start with one welcome email and one follow-up

  
  

• Keep messages short and focused
  

• Use a clear subject line—avoid clickbait
  

• Send regularly (once a week or fortnight is plenty)

The Bottom Line 

Email isn’t just another marketing channel—it’s your direct line to the people who want to hear from you.

You don’t need a big list or big spend—just the right message and the right tool.

Start with MailerLite and build your list the smart way.