Best free email marketing software for coaches in 2026

Once you’ve created a lead magnet, the next question is usually a practical one.

How do you actually deliver it, collect email addresses, and stay in touch with the people who’ve shown interest in your work?

That’s where email marketing software comes in.

There are lots of tools out there, which is why this can feel confusing fast. Especially when you’re trying to keep costs low while you’re building. The good news is that there are some genuinely solid free options that are more than enough to get started.

In this post, I’m walking through the best free email marketing software for coaches and service based businesses tend to use in 2026, what each one offers, and how to choose what’s right for you.

Why your email platform matters

Your email marketing tool isn’t just somewhere emails live.

It’s the system that delivers your lead magnet, welcomes new subscribers, and supports the relationship that follows. When it works well, everything feels smooth and intentional. When it doesn’t, things fall apart quickly.

At a minimum, a good platform should:

Handle subscribers reliably Deliver your lead magnet automatically Allow simple automation Support landing pages or forms

Let’s look at the main free options and what they actually give you.

MailerLite

MailerLite is one of the most popular choices for coaches, and it’s often where people start.

On the free plan, you can have up to around 1,000 subscribers and send up to 12,000 emails per month. Landing pages and forms are included, along with basic automation, which makes it easy to deliver a lead magnet and set up a welcome sequence.

MailerLite is relatively easy to use and doesn’t feel overwhelming, which is a big plus if email marketing is new to you.

Best suited if you want something simple, clean, and flexible enough to grow with you.

Systeme.io

Systeme.io takes a more all in one approach.

The free plan includes up to around 2,000 subscribers with unlimited emails, plus landing pages, basic automation, and funnel building tools. This makes it appealing if you want your email marketing, lead magnets, and funnels living in one place.

It’s not as design focused as some other platforms, but it’s functional and efficient.

Best suited if you want everything under one roof and don’t mind a slightly more utilitarian feel.

Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit is popular with creators and coaches who want a more writing focused, relationship led approach to email.

The free plan allows up to around 10,000 subscribers, with email broadcasts and basic automation included. Landing pages and forms are available, though design options are fairly minimal compared to other tools.

Automation is strong for tagging and simple sequences, which works well if you like segmenting based on behaviour.

Best suited if your emails are more conversational and content driven.

Find out what makes a good lead magnet and what does on our free webinar

Sender.net

Sender offers a generous free plan and often flies under the radar.

You can have up to around 2,500 subscribers and send up to 15,000 emails per month. Landing pages and automation are included, making it a solid option for delivering lead magnets and nurturing subscribers.

The interface isn’t quite as polished as some others, but the features are there.

Best suited if you want higher limits on the free plan and don’t mind a simpler interface.

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo offers a free plan that focuses more on email volume than subscriber count.

You can send up to around 300 emails per day, with automation, forms, and CRM style features included. Landing pages are available, though more advanced options sit behind paid plans.

It’s a good choice if you want email marketing combined with broader contact management.

Best suited if you’re thinking about longer term customer relationships rather than just newsletters.

EmailOctopus

EmailOctopus is a lightweight, no fuss email marketing platform.

The free plan allows up to around 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month. Automation and forms are available, but landing pages are limited compared to other tools.

It integrates well with tools like Amazon SES and keeps things fairly stripped back.

Best suited if you want something affordable, simple, and technical without unnecessary extras.

Omnisend

Omnisend is more commonly associated with ecommerce, but some service based businesses still use it.

The free plan includes up to around 250 subscribers and 500 emails per month, along with basic automation and forms. Landing pages are limited on the free tier.

It’s generally better suited to businesses with product based workflows, but worth mentioning for completeness.

Best suited if you run an ecommerce business or expect to integrate email with online sales.

Quick comparison to help you choose

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by options, this quick comparison can help narrow things down without overthinking it.

If you want something simple and visual, with landing pages and automation built in, MailerLite is often an easy starting point.

If you want funnels, emails, and automation living in one place from day one, Systeme.io tends to suit people who like an all in one setup.

If your emails are more content led and you care about tagging and segmentation based on behaviour, Kit usually feels like a good fit.

If you want higher free limits and don’t mind a simpler interface, Sender.net and EmailOctopus are worth a look.

If you want email marketing combined with broader contact management, Brevo can make sense, especially if you’re thinking longer term.

If you’re running ecommerce or expect to integrate email closely with sales, Omnisend is designed with that in mind.

There isn’t a wrong choice here. The best option is the one that supports your lead magnet delivery and follow up without creating extra work for you.

When free tools start to feel limiting

Free plans are designed to help you get going, not necessarily to support long term growth.

As your list grows and your systems become more connected, you might want deeper automation, CRM features, or everything working together in one place. That’s often the point where people look at paid platforms like GoHighLevel.

It’s not something most people need at the beginning, but it can make sense later on when you want your email marketing, funnels, and client management working together.

If you want support choosing or setting things up

Choosing an email platform isn’t just a tech decision. It affects how your lead magnets work, how you follow up, and how people experience your brand.

If you want help deciding which tool fits your business or setting it up so everything flows properly, this is something I support coaches with regularly.

Written by Nikki Clements, founder of Brand You, formerly Nikki Carter Designs. Known as the Lead Magnet Queen, Nikki helps coaches and service based businesses build aligned brands that support visibility, credibility, and sustainable growth.