When you’re exploring digital marketing channels, email often stands out as one of the most cost-effective ways to reach and engage your audience. But one of the first questions businesses ask is: What does email marketing cost—and can you really get started for free?
The short answer: yes, you can start for free. But the better question is whether free is the right fit for your business goals.
In the following, we’ll break down the options, the limitations of free tools, the advantages of paid plans, and how to evaluate the right balance between cost and value.
Why email marketing remains cost-effective
Email marketing consistently delivers one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) in digital marketing. Industry studies estimate an average ROI of $36 to $42 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most affordable and impactful channels compared to social media ads, pay-per-click campaigns, or influencer marketing.
What makes email so efficient?
- Direct reach: You’re not at the mercy of changing algorithms.
- Personalization: Campaigns can be highly targeted to customer segments.
- Scalability: Whether you’re emailing 100 or 100,000 people, the incremental cost stays relatively low.
With those benefits in mind, the next step is understanding what you’ll pay (or not pay) to get started.
Free email marketing options
Many platforms, including DailyStory, offer free email marketing plans. These are a great way for small businesses, startups, or non-profits to test the waters without committing budget upfront.
Common features of free plans include:
- A limited number of subscribers (often about 250 to 500).
- A monthly send limit (for example, 1,000 to 2,500 emails per month).
- Access to basic templates and drag-and-drop editors.
- Standard reporting features, such as open and click rates.
Benefits of starting free
- Zero upfront cost: Ideal if you’re bootstrapping.
- Risk-free testing: See how email fits into your marketing strategy.
- Skill building: Learn how to design campaigns, segment audiences, and interpret performance metrics without financial pressure.
Limitations of free plans
While attractive at first glance, free email marketing plans often come with restrictions:
- Limited list size: You’ll quickly outgrow a cap of a few hundred contacts.
- Reduced features: Advanced automation, A/B testing, or integrations with your CRM are typically locked behind paid tiers.
- Branding requirements: Some providers place their logo or messaging in your emails.
- Support limitations: Customer service may be minimal or community-forum only.
For many small businesses, free can be a great starting point, but as soon as your list or campaigns grow, the cracks begin to show.
Paid email marketing plans
What to expect
When you’re ready to level up, paid plans unlock the features and scalability you need to grow your business.
Typical benefits of paid email marketing include:
- Larger or unlimited subscriber lists.
- Higher or unlimited monthly send volumes.
- Access to advanced automation, personalization, and segmentation tools.
- Deeper analytics and reporting dashboards.
- Integrations with e-commerce platforms, CRMs, and other software.
- Priority support and onboarding assistance.
How much does email marketing cost?
The cost of email marketing varies depending on the platform and the size of your list. Typical ranges include:
- $0 to $20 per month: Starter plans with limited features and a small subscriber cap.
- $30 to $80 per month: Mid-tier plans with automation, integrations, and larger list allowances.
- $100 to $300-plus per month: Advanced plans for growing businesses with tens of thousands of contacts and more sophisticated needs.
Enterprise-level email marketing can exceed $1,000 per month, especially when paired with dedicated IPs, advanced deliverability tools, and managed services.
Free vs. paid: Choosing what’s right for you
The decision isn’t just about cost—it’s about value.
Ask yourself:
- How many contacts do I need to reach?
- Do I need automation (like abandoned cart reminders or drip campaigns)?
- Am I ready to invest in growing my list and maximizing ROI?
- How important is integration with my existing tools (such as Shopify or Salesforce)?
If you’re just starting out, a free plan may be enough to learn the ropes and validate your strategy. But if you’re serious about scaling, paid options quickly pay for themselves in efficiency, reach, and revenue.
DailyStory’s free email marketing option
At DailyStory, we believe businesses of all sizes should be able to experience the power of email marketing. That’s why we offer a free version of DailyStory—perfect for small lists, new businesses, or anyone curious about trying our platform.
With DailyStory’s free plan, you can:
- Send professional-looking campaigns with customizable templates.
- Manage up to three active automations to streamline follow-ups and engagement.
- Capture leads with web forms, popup forms, magic forms, and QR codes.
- Stay organized with the marketing campaign calendar.
- Connect with other tools through Zapier integrations.
- Access developer documentation and the JavaScript API if you want to extend functionality.
- Get help with support documentation, as well as chat and email support.
- And more!
These features give you a solid foundation to launch your email marketing without cost. And when you’re ready to expand, upgrading unlocks unlimited automations, landing pages, URL shorteners, native integrations, advanced APIs, push notifications, custom domains, and more.
Conclusion
Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective channels you can invest in, and yes—you really can start for free. Free options are an excellent choice for businesses testing the waters, but as your needs expand, paid plans offer the tools and scale to drive even greater results.
Whether you’re sending your first campaign or looking to level up your marketing strategy, DailyStory makes it easy to get started at no cost and grow into advanced capabilities when the time is right.
