Email marketing remains one of the most reliable growth channels for startups, small businesses, and e-commerce brands. But when you’re just getting started, cost is often the biggest barrier. Free plans help bridge that gap, giving businesses the chance to test, learn, and grow before committing to paid tiers.
In 2025, however, the free plan landscape is shifting. MailerLite has announced that it will reduce its Free plan subscriber limit, while Mailmodo has launched a forever Free plan packed with AI tools. At the same time, cmercury continues to offer a growth-friendly Free plan designed for businesses that want more flexibility and fewer restrictions.
So which option makes the most sense for you? Let’s take a closer look.
MailerLite’s Free Plan: From Flexible to Restrictive
Until now, MailerLite’s Free plan allowed up to 1,000 subscribers. Starting September 23, 2025, that number drops to 500.
- Accounts with fewer than 500 subscribers can continue as usual.
- Accounts above 500 will lose the ability to send campaigns, run automations, or manually add subscribers unless they upgrade.
- The monthly email send limit stays at 12,000.
- Forms, popups, and landing pages will still collect subscribers, but you’ll need a paid plan to email them once you pass the limit.
What this means for users
For growing businesses, this change makes MailerLite’s Free plan far less practical. Just as your list begins to gain momentum, you’ll be forced to upgrade sooner than expected.
Mailmodo’s Free Plan: Generous but Limited
Mailmodo recently shifted from a 21-day trial to a forever Free plan. It offers:
- 500 contacts
- 4,000 email sends per month
- AI-powered tools for content generation, subject lines, and sequences
- One active journey and basic automations
- A/B testing, send-time optimization, and basic integrations
What this means for users
This plan is attractive for solopreneurs, indie hackers, and very small teams. The AI features add strong value, but the 500-contact cap makes it difficult to scale without upgrading.
cmercury’s Free Plan: Built for Growth
cmercury takes a different approach with its Free plan. Instead of limiting contacts or cutting essential features, it provides the flexibility to grow while keeping costs predictable.
With cmercury Free, you get:
- Unlimited contacts with no storage caps
- 6,000 email sends per month
- AI Subject Line Generator and AI Campaign Insights for smarter performance
- SmartSend pacing to protect deliverability
- Email validation and priority sending to improve inbox placement
What this means for users
This plan is built for small and growing businesses that don’t want to feel restricted. You can build your list freely, take advantage of AI-driven features, and still maintain reliable deliverability. For startups and e-commerce stores especially, this means you can grow without worrying about hidden costs or subscriber penalties.
Free Plan Comparison: cmercury vs MailerLite vs Mailmodo
| Feature | cmercury Free Plan | MailerLite Free Plan | Mailmodo Free Plan |
| Subscriber Limit | Unlimited contacts | 500 contacts | 500 contacts |
| Monthly Email Sends | 6,000 | 12,000 | 4,000 |
| AI Features | AI Subject Line Generator, AI Campaign Insights | Limited | AI-powered content creation, subject lines, sequences |
| Deliverability Tools | SmartSend pacing, Email Validation, Priority Sending | Standard only | Basic |
| Automations | Targeted campaigns and segmentation | Basic automations | 1 active journey, basic automations |
| Scalability | Flexible: pay-per-send beyond free tier, no penalties for growth | Costs rise as subscriber count increases | Upgrade required beyond 500 contacts |
The Bigger Trend: Free Plans Are Evolving
MailerLite’s move shows how some providers are tightening Free tiers to encourage earlier upgrades. Mailmodo’s launch shows the opposite, offering more features upfront but with small caps.
The common thread is that free plans are often designed to push users toward paid tiers quickly. What businesses truly need is a free plan that allows them to grow with flexibility and confidence.
Final Takeaway
- MailerLite Free Plan: Restrictive, with a 500-subscriber cap that limits growth.
- Mailmodo Free Plan: Generous features but designed for very small teams with a 500-contact limit.
- cmercury Free Plan: Unlimited contacts, 6,000 monthly email sends, and AI-driven features for smarter, more reliable campaigns.
At the end of the day, free email marketing should mean freedom to grow, not compromises that slow you down.
And experience a platform that helps you build, scale, and succeed without hidden restrictions.
Disclaimer: This blog post was created with the assistance of Human Content Creators, AI and Search tools to help collect information, plan content, and ensure accuracy. We strive to deliver valuable and well-researched insights to our readers.
Vishnu S - Deputy General Manager Marketing
Vishnu heads marketing at cmercury, but around here, he’s just Vishnu — the guy who loves turning complex email stuff into simple, actionable ideas. He writes about email marketing, SaaS growth, and the occasional marketing myth that needs busting. Expect honest takes, light banter, and tips that actually work.