Mailchimp costs $20/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Mailchimp, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Mailchimp vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $20/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mautic | open source | GPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 10k | Mailchimp vs Mautic → |
| Plunk | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 5.3k | Mailchimp vs Plunk → |
| Notifuse | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 2.0k | Mailchimp vs Notifuse → |
| Brevo Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Mailchimp vs Brevo Free → |
| EmailOctopus Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Mailchimp vs EmailOctopus Free → |
| MailPoet Starter | free | GPL-2.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ $0 forever | Mailchimp vs MailPoet Starter → |
| Sender Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Mailchimp vs Sender Free → |
The picks
3 open source · 4 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Mautic
open sourceGPL-3.0+Self-host10kaug 2026The heavyweight open-source replacement for segmentation and automation; it also replaces ease with operations.
The catch vs MailchimpMautic offers more control but gives up Mailchimp's managed deliverability, upgrades, templates, integrations, and low-maintenance operation.
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
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Plunk
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted5.3kaug 2026Campaigns, transactional mail and workflows together; audience CRM depth is thinner.
The catch vs MailchimpPlunk's audience CRM, template ecosystem, campaign analytics, and non-technical marketing workflow are noticeably thinner than Mailchimp's.
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
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Notifuse
open sourceAGPL-3.0Local or hosted2.0kaug 2026A modern visual campaign and automation stack; you own the database and the deliverability chores.
The catch vs MailchimpNotifuse has a smaller template and integration ecosystem, and self-hosters assume database, upgrade, deliverability, and sending-provider work that Mailchimp handles.
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
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Brevo Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedCampaigns, forms and automation with many contacts but only 300 daily sends.
The catch vs MailchimpBrevo's free 300-email daily ceiling makes a single larger campaign slower than Mailchimp and its free emails carry Brevo branding.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, sender verification, and optional domain authentication
- setup
- The first meaningful hurdle is verifying the sender and setting SPF/DKIM records for a sending domain; without that, deliverability will disappoint.
- your data
- Contacts, campaigns, templates, automation events, and reports live in Brevo's cloud; exports are available, but the internal storage format is not disclosed.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
EmailOctopus Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA real small-list plan with forms and simple automations; reports expire after thirty days.
The catch vs MailchimpFree-plan reports expire after 30 days and the account is limited to one landing page or form, leaving less history and experimentation than Mailchimp.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, list import, and sender/domain verification
- setup
- A sender address must be verified, and serious sending should use an authenticated domain.
- your data
- Subscribers, campaigns, forms, automation state, and reports live in EmailOctopus's cloud; CSV import/export is supported, while the internal storage format is not disclosed.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 06
MailPoet Starter
freeGPL-2.0+Local or hostedCampaigns, forms, analytics and basic automation inside WordPress; the free list stops at 500.
The catch vs MailchimpIt works only inside WordPress and the free Starter allowance stops at 500 subscribers and 5,000 emails per month.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Install the WordPress plugin, create a MailPoet account, and enter the free Starter-plan key
- setup
- It requires an existing, maintained WordPress site plus a plan key and sender/domain approval; it is not a standalone email app.
- your data
- Lists, subscribers, newsletters, forms, and settings live in MailPoet tables inside the site's WordPress database; MailPoet's sending service processes recipient addresses and keeps delivery logs, which its documentation says are erased after three months.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 07
Sender Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedCampaigns, forms, analytics and unlimited workflows in a useful free tier; the monkey can retire.
The catch vs MailchimpSender's one-seat branded free plan has a smaller integration and template ecosystem than Mailchimp, even though its send allowance is generous.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, list import, and sender/domain verification
- setup
- The first real hurdle is authenticating the sending domain and warming a legitimate list rather than merely creating the account.
- your data
- Subscribers, campaigns, forms, automation state, transactional messages, and analytics live in Sender's cloud; the internal storage format is not disclosed.
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Mailchimp open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Mailchimp?+
The top free alternative to Mailchimp is Mautic (open source, GPL-3.0+). The heavyweight open-source replacement for segmentation and automation; it also replaces ease with operations. Other popular Mailchimp replacements include Plunk, Notifuse, Brevo Free.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Mailchimp?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Mailchimp, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Mautic (GPL-3.0+), Plunk (AGPL-3.0), Notifuse (AGPL-3.0), MailPoet Starter (GPL-2.0+).
How much does switching from Mailchimp to a free alternative save?+
Mailchimp starts at $20/month per seat ($240/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Mautic saves $1,200 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Mailchimp clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Mailchimp is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). A campaign sender is buildable, but Mailchimp's value is deliverability, templates, compliance, automations, segmentation, ecommerce integrations, and support.
What is the catch when switching from Mailchimp to Mautic?+
Mautic offers more control but gives up Mailchimp's managed deliverability, upgrades, templates, integrations, and low-maintenance operation.
