Our recommendation changes with the send
For a weekly newsletter, we would start by comparing Kit's broadcast allowance against the actual audience. Its published Free tier supports up to 10,000 subscribers and unlimited broadcasts. That makes it more plausible than MailerLite Free for a list already above 250 people. It does not establish better inbox placement or make every automation free.
For a small local service business, we would give MailerLite a serious look: its published Free tier includes 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails and three automations. Those limits can be enough for a welcome flow and an occasional update. We would skip it as a free recommendation if the list is already near the ceiling; an impending upgrade belongs in the decision today.
The free-plan tradeoffs
Brevo's official free-plan FAQ caps sending at 300 emails per day, with no rollover. Larger campaigns need requeuing across days. We would not use that free tier for an 800-person event announcement that needs to arrive together. Brevo is a useful additional comparison here; it is not a configured affiliate tool in this publication.
| Candidate | Where we would use it | Reason to reject it |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | A broadcast newsletter expected to grow beyond a few hundred subscribers | Your required automated customer journey needs a paid tier; free audience size alone cannot settle that |
| MailerLite | A list below 250 subscribers needing no more than three automations | Subscriber, monthly send or automation cap is already tight |
| Brevo | Occasional campaigns to a small audience with low daily volume | More than 300 recipients must receive the same announcement that day |
A concrete case: 200 people becomes 800
Assume four broadcasts a month and no automation messages. At 200 subscribers that is 800 emails, within MailerLite's published allowance. At 800 subscribers it becomes 3,200 emails and exceeds both of its free limits. Brevo still cannot reach all 800 on one day. Kit's published broadcast limits accommodate this example, which is why it leads our shortlist for this particular job.
This is arithmetic and editorial judgment, not a deliverability test. We have not compared spam placement, editor speed or support response across these services. An existing sender that already works deserves a place in the comparison: migration effort is real, and an unused free allowance is not a saving.
Watch demos / Official walkthroughs
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Kit / Official video
Kit’s New Vertical Navigation: A Full Walkthrough
What to look for: Locate subscriber, email, and automation navigation before choosing a workflow.
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Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Kit pricing Accessed 2026-09-20
- MailerLite pricing Accessed 2026-09-20
- Brevo free-plan limits Accessed 2026-09-20
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