Building an email list is arguably the best insurance policy you can have in the affiliate marketing world. Social media algorithms can change overnight, and search rankings are never a guarantee. In fact, the very nature of how we find products is moving away from the traditional search bar toward “agentic commerce,” where AI assistants do the browsing for us. As the era of manual searching begins to fade, having a direct line to your audience isn’t just a perk—it’s survival. That list of names and addresses in your dashboard? That belongs to you, regardless of how the tech landscape shifts.
The challenge is that most professional-grade email tools start charging you the moment you have a handful of subscribers. If you’re just starting out or trying to keep your overhead low, those monthly fees eat into your commissions before you’ve even hit your stride.
I’ve spent a lot of time digging through the fine print of various platforms. It’s a bit of a minefield because many “free” plans actually ban affiliate marketing in their terms of service. You don’t want to spend weeks building a list only to have your account nuked the first time you send a recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Asset Ownership: Free email tools allow you to build an audience you own, protected from social media algorithm shifts.
- Affiliate-Friendly Selection: Choosing a service that explicitly allows affiliate links is essential to avoid sudden account bans.
- Scalability: Modern free plans offer enough automation to nurture leads and earn commissions without initial overhead.
1. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Kit has a massive reputation in the creator space for a reason. Their free plan is incredibly generous, allowing you to manage up to 10,000 subscribers. Honestly, for someone just starting out, that is a massive runway you won’t find anywhere else.
The platform is built specifically for people who sell—whether that’s their own products or someone else’s. It’s a very “clean” experience; you aren’t bogged down by complex design tools because they prioritize text-based emails that actually get delivered to the primary inbox. One of the best parts is their “Creator Network,” which lets you partner with other writers to grow your list via mutual recommendations.
- Pros: Huge subscriber limit (10,000); built-in “Creator Network” for discovery; excellent deliverability for text-based content.
- Cons: The editor is very basic if you want heavy visual branding; most automation features are locked behind the $29/month entry price.
2. GetResponse
If you’re looking for a “pro-affiliate” stance, GetResponse is often the first name mentioned. They don’t just “allow” affiliate marketing; they actively support it with features like a landing page builder and even a basic website builder on the free plan.
The catch? Their free tier caps you at 500 subscribers. It’s a lower ceiling than Kit, but the tools you get—like one landing page and unlimited email sends—make it a powerful “starter kit” for testing a new niche. They also offer a “Free-forever” plan that includes essential lead-gen tools.
- Pros: High-end landing page builder included; explicitly supports affiliate marketers; includes a website builder.
- Cons: 500-subscriber limit is quite low; the UI can feel a bit crowded with features you can’t use on the free plan.
3. Sender
Sender is a bit of a hidden gem. If you’re looking for the most “bang for your buck” (or lack thereof), this might be it. Their free plan allows up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month.
What’s really impressive here is that they don’t gate their automation features behind a paywall. You can set up welcome sequences and abandoned cart triggers on the free plan, which is usually a premium feature elsewhere. It works surprisingly well if you are running an e-commerce-style affiliate store.
- Pros: Advanced automation features for free; high subscriber and send limits; very easy-to-use visual editor.
- Cons: Fewer third-party integrations compared to Mailchimp or AWeber; reporting is functional but basic.
4. MailerLite
I’ve always liked MailerLite for its balance. It’s easy enough for a beginner but has enough “under the hood” for when you start getting advanced. However, they recently tightened things up; their free plan now covers 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails a month.
They have a drag-and-drop editor that is genuinely one of the best in the business. If you like your emails to look like high-end digital magazines, this is a great choice. Just keep in mind they are pretty picky about their approval process, so make sure your site looks professional before applying.
- Pros: Clean, modern interface; includes a landing page builder; great deliverability rates.
- Cons: Subscriber limit was halved recently to 500; strict manual approval process; no pre-made templates on the free version.
5. EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus is built on a “simplicity first” philosophy. Their free plan lets you have 2,500 subscribers and send 10,000 emails a month. They are very popular with affiliates because they aren’t as “trigger-happy” with account bans as some of the bigger corporate tools.
If you’re migrating from a platform like Mailchimp and the complexity is giving you a headache, this will feel like a breath of fresh air. It’s fast, lean, and does exactly what it says on the tin.
- Pros: High subscriber limit; very straightforward interface; less likely to ban affiliates for minor link issues.
- Cons: Automation is very basic (mostly just welcome drips); the form builder is a bit limited in design.
6. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo takes a different approach. Instead of limiting your subscribers, they give you unlimited contacts but limit your daily sends to 300 emails.
This is a great setup if you’ve got a massive list but you only tend to email them every once in a while. For example, if you have 3,000 people but only send a “Deal of the Month” to a small segment each day, Brevo is perfect. They also include a built-in CRM and transaction email tools.
- Pros: Unlimited contacts; include SMS and WhatsApp marketing features; powerful CRM tools.
- Cons: The 300-emails-per-day limit is a hard ceiling; no landing pages or heatmaps on the free plan.
7. beehiiv
Beehiiv is the “cool kid” on the block right now. Designed by the team behind Morning Brew, it’s a newsletter-first platform. Their “Launch” plan is free for up to 2,500 subscribers and focuses heavily on the reading experience.
If your affiliate strategy relies on long-form content (like a weekly deep-dive into tech gadgets), beehiiv is probably your best bet. It makes your emails look like something people actually want to sit down and read.
- Pros: Built-in growth tools like recommendations; unlimited email sends; sleek, modern blog-style newsletters.
- Cons: Not really built for “salesy” promo-heavy affiliate marketing; the custom CSS features require a paid upgrade.
8. AWeber
AWeber is the “old reliable” of the industry. They’ve been around forever and were one of the first platforms to embrace affiliate marketers. Their free plan supports up to 500 subscribers and 3,000 email sends per month.
One thing I love about AWeber is that they don’t treat free users like second-class citizens. You actually get 24/7 phone and chat support, which is almost unheard of when you aren’t paying a dime.
- Pros: World-class customer support; great Canva integration; very reliable deliverability.
- Cons: The platform feels a bit dated; pricing jumps significantly once you hit 501 subscribers.
9. Zoho Campaigns
You might know Zoho for their office suite, but their email marketing tool is actually quite robust. The free plan allows for 2,000 subscribers and 6,000 emails a month.
It looks and feels a bit more “corporate,” which might be a turn-off if you’re used to the slicker vibes of beehiiv. However, if you are looking for a tool that handles segmentation and tagging with high precision, Zoho is a sleeper hit.
- Pros: Strong integration with the Zoho ecosystem; very secure and stable; decent automation.
- Cons: Steeper learning curve; the templates can look a bit generic and “business-y.”
10. Mailjet
Mailjet is excellent if you are tech-savvy. They offer a free plan with unlimited contacts and 6,000 email sends per month (limited to 200 per day).
What makes them unique is their collaboration tools. If you’re working with a partner on a project, you can both jump in and edit the same template at the same time. It’s like Google Docs for email marketing.
- Pros: Unlimited contacts; excellent real-time collaboration; very high-level API for developers.
- Cons: 200-email daily limit is quite restrictive for launches; the interface is geared more toward developers than marketers.
Why “Affiliate Friendly” Actually Matters
I’ve seen it happen dozens of times. An affiliate signs up for a popular tool (like Mailchimp), spends three days building a beautiful landing page, sends their first email with a link to a ClickBank offer, and—poof—the account is suspended within an hour.
Most of the giant providers make their money from local businesses—think bakeries or law firms. They see affiliate marketing as high-risk because it often has higher complaint rates. That’s why tools like Kit, GetResponse, and AWeber are so valuable; they understand the business model.
When you’re using these free tools, don’t just blast links. Use the automation features to build a “Welcome Sequence.”
- Day 1: Deliver the freebie you promised.
- Day 3: Share a helpful tip or a personal story.
- Day 5: Then introduce the affiliate product as a solution to a problem.
This “bridge” method keeps your account safe and honestly makes you more money because people actually trust what you have to say.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are affiliate links allowed in free email accounts?
Generally, yes, but you need to check the “Prohibited Content” section of the Terms of Service. Most providers hate “get rich quick” schemes and pharmaceutical offers. If you’re promoting standard software, courses, or physical products, you’re usually fine.
What is a “Lead Magnet” and do I need one?
A lead magnet is a bribe—a free piece of value you give in exchange for an email address. Affiliates use things like “The Top 10 Tools for [Niche]” or a “Quick Start Checklist.” Without one, your sign-up rate will be very low.
Can I move my list if I want to switch providers later?
Yes. All of these tools allow you to export your subscribers as a CSV file. You can then import that file into a new tool. Just be aware that the new provider might ask you to prove how you collected those emails to ensure you aren’t a spammer.
Wrapping Up
Choosing a tool is less about the “best” one and more about which one fits your specific workflow. If you want a massive list, go with Kit. If you want complex automation, try Sender.
Which of these features is the most important for your current project? Is it the subscriber limit or the design flexibility? Let me know in the comments below—I’m curious to see what everyone is using lately!
And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more deep dives into affiliate strategy.
Sources:
- www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/free-email-marketing-services/
- www.zapier.com/blog/free-email-marketing-software/
- www.emailvendorselection.com/best-email-marketing-platforms/
- www.g2.com/products/sender-net/reviews
- www.help.brevo.com/hc/en-us/articles/208580669-FAQs-What-are-the-limits-of-the-Free-plan
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