GetResponse costs $49/mo.
These cost $0.
8 free alternatives to GetResponse, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for GetResponse is Listmonk (AGPL-3.0 Open Source). Across this category, 7 self-hostable tools are available (including Listmonk and Billion Mail). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,940/year compared to GetResponse's $49/mo subscription.
The catch: listmonk is fast and explicit about subscriber states, but it lacks Brevo's managed deliverability, broad automation suite, CRM-style contact tools, and polished visual workflow builder.
GetResponse vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $49/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listmonk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 24.2k | GetResponse vs Listmonk → |
| Billion Mail | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 16.2k | GetResponse vs Billion Mail → |
| Mautic | open source | GPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 10.9k | GetResponse vs Mautic → |
| Plunk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 5.6k | GetResponse vs Plunk → |
| Notifuse | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 2.3k | GetResponse vs Notifuse → |
| Sendportal | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 2.2k | GetResponse vs Sendportal → |
| Keila | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 2.3k | GetResponse vs Keila → |
| Hyvor Post | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 34 | GetResponse vs Hyvor Post → |
The picks
8 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Listmonk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host24.2knov 2026Send email campaigns and transactional messages to millions of subscribers with a single high-performance binary backed by Postgres.
The catch vs GetResponselistmonk is fast and explicit about subscriber states, but it lacks Brevo's managed deliverability, broad automation suite, CRM-style contact tools, and polished visual workflow builder.
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
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Billion Mail
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host16.2knov 2026Self-hosted email marketing platform with unlimited sending, AI-powered email creation, real-time analytics, and no monthly fees. Complete SMTP solution.
The catch vs GetResponseRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed GetResponse.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/aapanel/billionmail or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Mautic
open sourceGPL-3.0+Self-host10.9knov 2026Mautic is a free and open source marketing automation platform that helps businesses manage leads, create campaigns, and analyze results.
The catch vs GetResponseMautic can match deep automation, but the user must operate the application, database, cron, upgrades, backups, mail transport, and deliverability stack.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Download the production package or install with Composer, then configure PHP, a database, cron, and a mail transport
- setup
- The first wall is not the installer but production operation: PHP and database tuning, several cron jobs, HTTPS, backups, upgrades, SMTP/API sending, and DNS authentication.
- your data
- Contacts, segments, campaigns, events, and reports live in the configured MySQL or MariaDB database; assets, configuration, logs, and queue files live on the server filesystem.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 04
Plunk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host5.6knov 2026Plunk unifies marketing, transactional, and broadcast emails into a single, complete solution for businesses of all sizes.
The catch vs GetResponsePlunk is developer-first and much thinner in visual audience management, CRM depth, segmentation tooling, and marketer-oriented reporting.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted signup, or the official Docker Compose stack
- setup
- Hosted use still needs domain authentication; self-hosting adds PostgreSQL, Redis, MinIO, Nginx or another proxy, exposed web and SMTP services, DNS, and ongoing deliverability work.
- your data
- The self-hosted stack stores core data in PostgreSQL, jobs and cache in Redis, and objects in MinIO; hosted data is kept in Plunk's EU infrastructure.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 05
Notifuse
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host2.3knov 2026Free open-source email platform for newsletters and transactional emails. Self-hosted alternative to Mailchimp with visual MJML editor, A/B testing, and analytics.
The catch vs GetResponseNotifuse is newer and narrower, without ActiveCampaign's mature CRM, predictive features, and thousand-plus integration ecosystem.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Hosted signup, or one application container plus PostgreSQL for self-hosting
- setup
- Self-hosting still needs Docker, PostgreSQL, a public HTTPS endpoint, an SMTP or API sending provider, and correctly authenticated sending domains.
- your data
- Self-hosted contacts, campaigns, automations, and events live in PostgreSQL; files can use S3-compatible storage, and the configured email provider receives message payloads. Hosted data lives in Notifuse's cloud.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 06
Sendportal
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host2.2knov 2026Open-source email marketing platform offering unlimited subscribers, campaigns, and workspaces. Self-hosted solution with powerful API and beautiful interface.
The catch vs GetResponseRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed GetResponse.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/mettle/sendportal or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 07
Keila
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Self-host2.3knov 2026Self-hosted newsletter platform with powerful features, data protection, and full control over your mailing lists and campaigns.
The catch vs GetResponseKeila 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
- 2026-11-07
- 08
Hyvor Post
open sourceOpen SourceLocal34nov 2026Create and send newsletters with complete privacy protection. No tracking, no data collection - just simple, clean email delivery with customizable templates and archive sites.
The catch vs GetResponseCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/hyvor/post or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
GetResponse Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 8 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · GetResponse open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to GetResponse?+
The top free alternative to GetResponse is Listmonk (open source, AGPL-3.0). Send email campaigns and transactional messages to millions of subscribers with a single high-performance binary backed by Postgres. Other popular GetResponse replacements include Billion Mail, Mautic, Plunk.
Can I self-host a free replacement for GetResponse?+
Yes. Of the 8 free alternatives to GetResponse, 7 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Listmonk (AGPL-3.0), Billion Mail (Open Source), Mautic (GPL-3.0+), Plunk (AGPL-3.0), Notifuse (AGPL-3.0), Sendportal (Open Source), Keila (AGPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from GetResponse to a free alternative save?+
GetResponse starts at $49/month per seat ($588/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Listmonk saves $2,940 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own GetResponse clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for GetResponse is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for GetResponse or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 8 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Listmonk.
What is the catch when switching from GetResponse to Listmonk?+
listmonk is fast and explicit about subscriber states, but it lacks Brevo's managed deliverability, broad automation suite, CRM-style contact tools, and polished visual workflow builder.
