Free newsletter plans: what to check before building a welcome sequence
Check triggers, delays, plan limits and costs before assuming a free newsletter plan supports your welcome flow.
Documentation-based guide, checked November 8, 2026. No hands-on tests are reported. This guide contains a marked beehiiv affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you purchase a paid plan through it. Other links are ordinary official references.
1. Describe the messages, not just the list size
A subscriber allowance tells you how many people a plan can hold. It does not tell you whether each new reader can receive three messages on separate days. Write a small plan: a signup confirmation, a welcome message, and a follow-up. For each message, record who receives it and what should cause it to be sent. A scheduled issue sent to the whole list is different from a delay measured from each reader’s signup.
2. Check the current plan boundary
Kit’s Free plan documentation lists unlimited broadcasts for up to 10,000 subscribers, while sequences and visual automations need a paid plan. Beehiiv’s current pricing page separates Free from Lite, Pro and Enterprise, and lists automations under Lite. These are documented boundaries, not results from our own account tests. Recheck the live plan matrix and the features visible in your account before committing. A trial of paid features is not evidence that those features remain free after the trial.
3. Turn the sequence into a verification checklist
Check the entry trigger, the delay between messages, whether someone can enter twice, and what happens when a reader unsubscribes. If the journey includes a purchase, also ask whether the purchase should stop later messages. Record whether each capability is included, needs an upgrade, or remains unverified. Do not treat an unanswered question as a supported feature. If all you need is a regular issue, a broadcast workflow may be enough for the first month.
4. Separate the recurring fee from other costs
Before checkout, note the contact count, monthly or annual billing, sender-domain requirements, and any separate payment or domain costs. Check what happens when your list crosses a limit, a trial ends, or you downgrade. A monthly equivalent on an annual plan is different from the amount charged today. Keep your decision tied to a workflow you intend to run rather than an assumed future audience.
5. Leave with a written decision
Use the worksheet to list the same tasks for each candidate. A useful note might say: “I need one weekly issue now; a timed sequence is a later requirement.” Another might say: “My launch needs a sequence immediately, so I must verify the paid tier before choosing.” These examples are planning prompts, not recommendations based on measured performance. Keep a copy of your content and check how subscriber export works before importing a real list.
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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase a paid plan through the beehiiv link below. Check the current plan and the workflow you need before choosing.