A weekly newsletter does not always mean four sends a month. With 2,500 subscribers, four sends use 10,000 emails; five use 12,500. EmailOctopus Free has no spare capacity in the first scenario. Kit is another option for broadcasts, but automation changes the comparison.
Budget for the fifth send
We assume one operator, a constant permission-based list of 2,500 unique subscribers, and each campaign reaching the whole list on the same day. These are volume calculations, not promises about delivery.
| Schedule | Calculation | Emails needed |
|---|---|---|
| Four broadcasts | 2,500 × 4 | 10,000 |
| Five broadcasts | 2,500 × 5 | 12,500 |
| Four broadcasts plus 300 extras | 2,500 × 4 + 300 | 10,300 |
The 300 extras are an illustrative total for automated messages or resends within the period. If the list grows, recalculate each broadcast's audience too.
Compare four free plans
Scroll the table horizontally on a small screen. Each is a USD 0 free plan with a minimum of one account; temporary paid-plan trials are excluded.
| Service | Free allowance | 2,500 people × 4 | Key constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| EmailOctopus Starter | 2,500 subscribers; 10,000 emails/month | Uses the entire allowance | No room for a fifth send or extras |
| Kit Free | 10,000 subscribers; unlimited broadcasts | Fits by volume | Automations and sequences require a paid plan |
| Brevo Free | 100,000 stored contacts; 300 sends/day | Cannot send to everyone that day | Storage is not a sending allowance |
| MailerLite Free | 250 subscribers; 2,500 emails/month | Exceeds both limits | Do not confuse emails with subscribers |
Subscriber capacity is only one constraint
At 300 emails a day, reaching 2,500 people takes at least nine days by arithmetic. Brevo does not roll unused daily sends forward. Staggering an announcement over those days is a different requirement from a same-day weekly newsletter.
EmailOctopus Starter allows three automations, but having the feature does not create extra sending capacity. Likewise, Kit's unlimited broadcasts do not include free automated sequences.
A practical decision sequence
- Count scheduled sends.Check the actual calendar and allowance period for a fifth newsletter.
- Add the extras.Include welcome messages, resends and other automated messages.
- Specify the features.Kit Free is a volume candidate for broadcasts. If automation matters, compare EmailOctopus's allowance and paid options too.
- Compare upgrading with switching.Check annual prepayment, tax, billing currency, branding removal, integrations, domains and migration work.
If an existing setup works, a larger free allowance alone may not justify moving. Permission records, unsubscribe data, forms and automation all need attention during migration. If there is no clear audience or useful message yet, a paid subscription can wait.
Choose 2,500 subscribers, four or five campaigns, and your additional sends in the calculator. We may earn a commission on paid subscriptions; a free plan may be enough.
Sources and limits
Official information checked November 13, 2026. Only EmailOctopus free signup and initial setup have been checked; sending, deliverability and comparative usability remain untested. Calculations and recommendations are our interpretation. Local billing, taxes and country availability must be checked before subscribing.