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Email marketing for churches is mostly logistics: the weekly bulletin, event sign-ups, and the note that welcomes a first-time visitor before they drift away. Most churches are paying for contacts they could hold free. systeme.io holds 2,000 contacts with unlimited sends and adds event pages with sign-up forms at no cost. Zeffy is free at any list size for congregations focused on giving, and it pays this site nothing.
- 1Our pick
systeme.io
Free, then $17/mo
Best for: the bulletin, event pages with sign-ups, and a welcome sequence for visitors
The catch: no church management features; not a giving platform
Try systeme.io free - 2
Zeffy
Free at any size
Best for: churches whose email is tied to giving and donor records
The catch: nonprofit fundraising tool; no funnels or courses
- 3
MailerLite
Free to 250, then from $12/mo
Best for: a plain weekly bulletin
The catch: 250 contacts on the free plan
- 4
Planning Center
Not verified today
Best for: churches that already run membership and services there
The catch: email is one module of a bigger system
Prices and free-plan limits checked September 17, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page.
What to send
- The weekly bulletin. Service times, the week’s focus, volunteer needs, and one link to the sermon. Same day, same time, every week.
- Event sign-ups. A page per event with a form, so you know numbers for the potluck, the retreat, or the kids’ programme.
- The visitor welcome. Three emails over two weeks to anyone who filled in a connect card: what happens on a Sunday, who to ask for, and an invitation to one small group.
- Seasonal notes. Christmas and Easter service times, sent twice, because this is when people who never open do.
A first sequence
Build the visitor welcome first; it is the one that changes attendance. Day 0: thank them for visiting, with a photo of the people they met. Day 4: what to expect next Sunday, including parking and what the kids do. Day 10: one specific invitation to a group or a meal, with a name attached.
What it costs as the list grows
A congregation list of 800 is free on systeme.io and around $20 a month on Mailchimp Essentials. Above 2,000 contacts systeme.io is $17 a month, and Zeffy stays free at any size if giving rather than events is the focus.
Free plan, no card. Affiliate link; we earn a commission on paid plans. Zeffy pays us nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free email tool for churches?
systeme.io for bulletins and event sign-ups to 2,000 contacts. Zeffy is free at any size for giving-focused congregations.
How often should a church email its congregation?
Weekly for the bulletin. Extra sends for events and seasonal services only.
Can we take donations through systeme.io?
You can take payments through Stripe or PayPal, but it is not a giving platform with donor receipting. Zeffy or a church giving tool handles that properly.
Do we need church management software as well?
If you track membership, groups, and rosters, yes. Email tools handle the sending, not the pastoral records.
Related: marketing automation for nonprofits, Zeffy email marketing.