Start with three numbers
Write down your active subscribers, campaigns per month and maximum recipients on one day. Add automated messages separately. For example, 200 readers × four campaigns + 30 new readers × two welcome messages = 860 monthly sends. The busiest day is a separate calculation.
A focused shortlist
Our comparison covers MailerLite, Brevo and Kit. MailerLite is worth examining for a small first list; Brevo makes daily scheduling especially important; Kit deserves a look for a newsletter-led business. These are starting points for investigation, not a ranking based on hands-on testing. Use the comparison on our homepage for current published allowances.
Keep a worksheet before choosing
Record: active audience today; expected audience in six months; scheduled campaigns; automated sends; peak daily volume; required integrations; number of people editing; and whether branding removal matters. Mark each requirement as essential or optional. An unused feature should not decide your purchase.
Calculate the real cost of changing tools
A free plan can still cost time. Rebuilding a form, checking consent data, recreating templates and learning a new editor all take effort. If your list is about to cross a limit, inspect the paid tier now so that a successful launch does not force a rushed migration.
For a business operating in Europe
Check the provider’s contractual entity, available currency, tax treatment and data-processing documentation. A tool being suitable for European readers is not evidence that it is European-owned or that all processing happens in Europe. Keep those questions separate from the number of emails included.
Before sending to real subscribers
Use permission-based lists, identify the sender clearly and provide an unsubscribe route. Review the provider’s acceptable-use rules for your content. Do not upload purchased addresses as a shortcut to growth. Test your domain authentication and a sample campaign before importing the full list.
When to pay
Upgrade when a required workflow, audience size or delivery deadline no longer fits. Set a review point at roughly 80% of the relevant allowance so you have time to compare options. That percentage is our planning suggestion, not a provider rule. A paid subscription should solve a specific constraint you can name.
Sources and further reading
- MailerLite pricing
- Brevo plan documentation (source: https://help.brevo.com/hc/en-us/articles/208589409-About-Brevo-s-pricing-plans; provider link not active)
- Kit pricing (source: https://kit.com/pricing; provider link not active)
Plan terms can change. Confirm the current allowance and total price before subscribing.
Considering MailerLite?
Use the comparison above to check whether it fits your workflow.
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