Campaign Monitor costs $12/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Campaign Monitor, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Campaign Monitor vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $12/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| listmonk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 23k | Campaign Monitor vs listmonk → |
| Keila | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 2.2k | Campaign Monitor vs Keila → |
| Notifuse | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 2.0k | Campaign Monitor vs Notifuse → |
| phpList | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 864 | Campaign Monitor vs phpList → |
| Brevo Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Campaign Monitor vs Brevo Free → |
| EmailOctopus Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Campaign Monitor vs EmailOctopus Free → |
| Sender Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Campaign Monitor vs Sender Free → |
The picks
4 open source · 3 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
listmonk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host23kjul 2026Campaigns, segments and analytics in one fast compose file; templates favor competence over theatre.
The catch vs Campaign Monitorlistmonk is fast and capable, but its utilitarian editor and template workflow are less polished for design-heavy branded campaigns than Campaign Monitor.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Docker Compose or a single release binary plus PostgreSQL
- setup
- You still need a PostgreSQL database and a trustworthy SMTP/API sender with authenticated DNS.
- your data
- Subscribers, campaigns, templates, and analytics live in a PostgreSQL database on your server.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Keila
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted2.2kaug 2026A friendly campaign editor, forms and tracking without contact pricing; delivery is your SMTP provider's job.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorKeila gives you a friendly campaign editor and tracking, but delivery reputation, SMTP configuration, backups, and upgrades become your responsibility rather than Campaign Monitor's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Keila Cloud signup or Docker image plus PostgreSQL
- setup
- Self-hosting requires Docker, PostgreSQL, a public HTTPS domain, and credentials for SMTP, SES, SendGrid, Mailgun, or Postmark.
- your data
- Self-hosted subscribers, campaigns, and job state live in PostgreSQL; uploaded campaign assets live on persistent server storage.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Notifuse
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted2.0kaug 2026Visual MJML campaigns, scheduling, A/B tests and analytics; bring PostgreSQL and a sender.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorNotifuse supports visual MJML campaigns, tests, and analytics, but operating the database, storage, and sender is a much steeper price than Campaign Monitor's hosted simplicity.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Notifuse Cloud signup or self-host with Docker
- setup
- Self-hosting needs Docker, PostgreSQL, object storage, a public domain, and a separately configured SMTP or email API provider.
- your data
- Self-hosted contact, campaign, event, and analytics data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded assets use S3-compatible storage.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
phpList
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted864jul 2026Campaigns, segmentation and click tracking from the old guard; the interface remembers when gradients were a feature.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorphpList covers campaigns, segmentation, and click tracking, but its dated interface and weaker modern template workflow are noticeably less pleasant than Campaign Monitor.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Free hosted signup or upload the PHP package to a web host
- setup
- Manual hosting means configuring PHP, MySQL, cron/queue processing, and a sender; the installer is old-school rather than one-click.
- your data
- Self-hosted subscribers, preferences, queues, campaigns, and analytics live in a MySQL/MariaDB database; CSV/Excel import and export are built in.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
Brevo Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA visual campaign editor and basic reports with a 300-email daily speed limit.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorBrevo Free has a visual campaign editor and basic reports, but the 300-email daily cap and free-tier branding are much more restrictive than Campaign Monitor.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- Authenticating a custom sending domain requires adding DNS records.
- your data
- Contacts, campaigns, consent records, and message events live in Brevo's cloud; contacts can be exported as CSV.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 06
EmailOctopus Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedCampaigns and reports for 2,500 contacts; branding and a 30-day reporting window are the tax.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorEmailOctopus Free handles campaigns and reports, but its branding, 30-day reporting window, and three-automation ceiling are a clear downgrade from Campaign Monitor.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- You must verify a sender address or domain; DNS authentication is the first technical step.
- your data
- Lists, campaigns, automations, and reporting data live in EmailOctopus' cloud; contacts and reports can be exported as CSV.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 07
Sender Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedBranded campaigns, subscribers and click reports in a genuinely useful free tier.
The catch vs Campaign MonitorSender Free is a strong hosted substitute for small lists, but branding, one-user access, and free-tier limits make it less capable for growing campaign teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- setup
- A custom sending domain must be verified with DNS records for reliable delivery.
- your data
- Subscribers, campaigns, automations, and engagement events live in Sender's cloud; subscriber data can be exported.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Campaign Monitor open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Campaign Monitor?+
The top free alternative to Campaign Monitor is listmonk (open source, AGPL-3.0). Campaigns, segments and analytics in one fast compose file; templates favor competence over theatre. Other popular Campaign Monitor replacements include Keila, Notifuse, phpList.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Campaign Monitor?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Campaign Monitor, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: listmonk (AGPL-3.0), Keila (AGPL-3.0+), Notifuse (AGPL-3.0), phpList (AGPL-3.0).
How much does switching from Campaign Monitor to a free alternative save?+
Campaign Monitor starts at $12/month per seat ($144/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like listmonk saves $720 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Campaign Monitor clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Campaign Monitor is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Campaign Monitor, compose branded campaigns, manage subscribers, and report delivery and clicks. The hard boundary is template editor, deliverability, journeys, agency features, and integrations, plus deliverability, growth network, and integrations.
What is the catch when switching from Campaign Monitor to listmonk?+
listmonk is fast and capable, but its utilitarian editor and template workflow are less polished for design-heavy branded campaigns than Campaign Monitor.
