EmailOctopus and Kit meet the volume requirements for one person sending four monthly campaigns to 1,000 subscribers. Brevo’s daily cap and MailerLite’s contact limit rule out their free plans for this specific setup. Features can still change the decision.
Start with the same sending pattern
We assume one permission-based, deduplicated list, one operator and every campaign sent to the entire list on the same day. Welcome messages and resends are additional.
| Free plan | Subscriber/storage limit | Sending allowance | Fits this setup? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EmailOctopus Starter | 2,500 subscribers | 10,000/month | Yes, by volume |
| Kit Free | 10,000 subscribers | Unlimited broadcasts | Yes, by volume |
| Brevo Free | 100,000 stored contacts | 300/day | No: same-day send cap |
| MailerLite Free | 250 subscribers | 2,500/month | No: both limits exceeded |
Official allowances: EmailOctopus plans ↗ / Kit Free plan ↗ / Brevo plan limits ↗ / MailerLite pricing ↗
A daily cap is different from a monthly allowance
At 300 emails per day, reaching 1,000 people takes at least four days by arithmetic. That may work for an evergreen update, but could undermine a time-sensitive announcement. Allowing staggered delivery changes the requirement; it is not an equivalent same-day comparison.
Two questions narrow the shortlist
Do you need automated welcome emails?
EmailOctopus Starter allows three automations. Kit Free excludes visual automations and email sequences. A large free subscriber allowance does not answer the automation question.
Will you mostly send broadcasts?
Kit’s larger free subscriber allowance is relevant if broadcasts are the main job. For EmailOctopus, count sends as well as people: 2,500 × 4 already uses 10,000 emails, leaving no room for additional welcome messages.
Feature sources: EmailOctopus automation ↗ / Kit Free plan ↗
Free software still needs your time
Someone must write the emails, verify permission, configure authentication and test unsubscribing. If there is no clear audience or useful message yet, define those before opening another account. An existing tool may already do the job.
The listed free plans cost USD 0 with a minimum of one account. Paid upgrades, taxes, domains, integrations and migration work need separate checks. These are standard published allowances, not confirmation of local billing or support in every country.
We may earn a commission on paid subscriptions. A free plan may be enough.
Read next: EmailOctopus vs Kit: free limits, automation and annual billing
Evidence and limits
Official sources checked November 13, 2026. We completed EmailOctopus free-account setup only; sending, deliverability and comparative usability have not been tested.
Calculations and recommendations are our interpretation of the stated conditions. We have not measured conversion rates, revenue or deliverability. Confirm current terms with each provider before subscribing.