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Starting a free newsletter
You are starting a newsletter from zero and want a tool that will not bill you while the list is small.
The pick
Kit
It stays free up to 10,000 subscribers, the longest free runway of the tools we checked.
Skip it if
Skip Kit if you need visual automations and sequences early — those unlock on the Creator plan at $33 a month.
Skip Kit if you will pay soon and send little — MailerLite’s paid plans start at $10.80 a month billed yearly.
Runner-up
MailerLite
MailerLite wins when your list is small and you want cheaper paid plans sooner.
Paid tiers start at $10.80 a month billed yearly, but the free plan caps at 500 subscribers.
Evidence
Checked on 5 October 2026
- Kit’s free plan runs to 10,000 subscribers at $0 a month, with unlimited broadcasts, landing pages and forms. Source
- Kit’s Creator plan costs $33 a month at 1,000 subscribers ($390 billed yearly); Pro costs $66 a month. Source
- MailerLite’s free plan caps at 500 subscribers; paid plans start at $10.80 a month billed yearly at 500 subscribers. Source