Mailchimp bills you by contacts even if you send twice a month, and its free plan keeps shrinking. Here are the alternatives built for low-volume bloggers.
If you send your readers one or two emails a month, Mailchimp is a strange fit, and it keeps getting stranger. It charges by how many contacts you store, not how often you send, so a big, quiet list costs the same as a busy one. Meanwhile its free plan has shrunk to a fraction of what it once was, recently down to 250 contacts with automation stripped out. For a blogger who just wants to reach subscribers now and then without paying for machinery you never touch, there are cheaper, simpler, and often free options that fit the way you actually work.
The Short Version
Mailchimp prices by contact count and its free tier has narrowed to 250 contacts with no automation, which punishes low-volume senders. Two models fix that. If your list is large but you email it rarely, Brevo charges by emails sent rather than contacts stored, so a quiet list stays cheap or free. If you would rather a generous subscriber-based free plan, Kit covers up to 10,000 subscribers, while Beehiiv and EmailOctopus are free to around 2,500. And if you just want to publish with zero fuss, Substack is free until you charge for subscriptions. Pick the model that matches your list size and how little you send.
Why Mailchimp doesn’t fit a low-volume blogger
The mismatch is the pricing model. Mailchimp bills by the number of contacts on your list, so as your subscribers grow, your bill grows even if your sending never does. Two emails a month to 3,000 readers costs the same as two a day. On top of that, the free plan that once made Mailchimp the obvious starter choice has been cut back repeatedly, most recently to 250 contacts with email automation removed. For an infrequent sender, you end up paying for a marketing suite to do the job of a simple newsletter. The alternatives below either price around sending or give you far more room for free.
The alternatives worth switching to
Brevo, if your list is big but quiet. Brevo prices by emails sent, not contacts stored, so you can keep unlimited subscribers and only pay for volume. Its free plan covers roughly 9,000 emails a month, which is plenty for one or two sends to a sizable list, and paid tiers start low. This is the single best fit for a large list you rarely email.
Kit, for the most generous free tier. Kit, formerly ConvertKit, offers a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers with forms, landing pages, and segmentation. It is built for creators, so it stays light while still giving you room to grow far beyond what Mailchimp’s free plan allows.
Substack, for the simplest possible publishing. Substack is free with no subscriber cap and only takes a cut if you charge for paid subscriptions. There are fewer marketing bells and whistles, but if you just want to write and hit send to a growing audience, nothing is easier to start.
Beehiiv, for growth-minded writers. Beehiiv is free up to about 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, and it bundles a website builder, segmentation, and monetization tools. It suits a blogger who wants the newsletter to become a real channel, not just an afterthought.
EmailOctopus, for cheap and focused. EmailOctopus does email and little else, with a free plan around 2,500 subscribers and low-cost paid tiers. If you want a straightforward sender without a sprawling dashboard, it is an easy pick.
Buttondown, for the minimalists. Buttondown is a small, writer-first tool with a plain, markdown-based composer and modest pricing. It is ideal if you want a quiet, no-clutter newsletter and are happy on a small free or cheap plan.
How they compare at a glance
| Tool | Free tier | Pricing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | ~9,000 emails/mo, unlimited contacts | By emails sent | Big list, rare sends |
| Kit | Up to 10,000 subscribers | By subscribers | Most free headroom |
| Substack | Unlimited, free | Cut of paid subs only | Simplest publishing |
| Beehiiv | Up to ~2,500 subscribers | By subscribers | Growth and monetizing |
| EmailOctopus | Up to ~2,500 subscribers | By subscribers | Cheap and focused |
| Buttondown | Small free tier | By subscribers | Minimalist writers |
Free-tier limits shift often, and both Mailchimp and MailerLite trimmed theirs in 2026, so confirm the current numbers before you commit.
How to pick without overthinking it
Answer two questions. First, how big is your list, and second, how often do you really send? If your list is large and you email it once or twice a month, Brevo’s send-based pricing wins outright. If your list is smaller and you want room to grow for free, Kit gives you the most headroom. If you value simplicity above features, Substack lets you publish today with nothing to configure. Do not chase the tool with the longest feature list, because for a low-volume blogger those features are cost you carry and never use. One note on timing: TinyLetter, the old go-to for simple senders, shut down in 2024, so it is not an option, and any guide still recommending it is out of date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mailchimp so expensive for a small blog?
Because it charges by the number of contacts you store, not by how much you send. A growing list raises your bill even if you email twice a month, and the free plan has shrunk to 250 contacts, so low-volume bloggers pay for capacity they do not use.
What’s the cheapest option if I rarely send?
Brevo, because it prices by emails sent rather than contacts. You can keep unlimited subscribers and stay on the free plan of about 9,000 emails a month, which easily covers one or two sends to a large list.
Which alternative has the most generous free plan?
Kit, with a free tier for up to 10,000 subscribers. Beehiiv and EmailOctopus are free to around 2,500 subscribers, and Substack is free with no cap until you charge for paid subscriptions.
Is Substack a good Mailchimp replacement?
For simple publishing, yes. It is free, has no subscriber limit, and is the easiest way to start sending. You give up advanced marketing features and it takes a cut only if you monetize, which many casual bloggers never do.
Can I move my list off Mailchimp easily?
Usually yes. Export your subscribers as a CSV from Mailchimp and import them into the new tool, then send a first email to confirm everything arrived. Keep your old account until the new one is working.
Is TinyLetter still available?
No. Mailchimp shut TinyLetter down in early 2024, so it is no longer an option. Buttondown and EmailOctopus are the closest simple, low-cost replacements for that kind of plain newsletter.
Practical Takeaway
A newsletter you send twice a month should not cost like a daily marketing operation. Look at your list size and your real sending habit, then match the model: Brevo when the list is big and quiet, Kit when you want the most free room, Substack when you just want to publish. Export your subscribers, import them, send a test, and keep the old account until the new one proves itself. The right tool is the one that charges for what you actually do, not for a suite you never open. For more on making those sends count, see our tips to boost your email conversion rate and why email marketing still earns its place.