ChatGPT answers, unedited

Brevo is a strong fit for a tiny bakery: its free plan supports a large contact list and up to 300 emails/day, which is plenty for a weekly specials newsletter for a modest customer list. TheGuideX First Reviewers

If you have under ~250 subscribers and want an especially simple editor, MailerLite is another option. TheGuideX

For your use case, I’d start with Brevo’s free tier and only pay as your list grows.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d look at Brevo first.

• Brevo: Free plan includes 300 email sends per day, a drag-and-drop editor, templates, basic reporting, and up to 100,000 stored contacts. That means a list of a few hundred or even a few thousand customers can often be served without paying, as long as you stay within the daily sending limit. Brevo Help
• Mailchimp: Its current free plan is limited to 250 contacts, so you may outgrow the free tier sooner. Mailchimp Mailchimp

For your use case, you probably don't need sophisticated automation or a CRM. You mainly want: customer signup → weekly email → pretty photo of the specials → send.

brevo.com

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your mailing list, I can estimate what you'd pay with Brevo vs. Mailchimp each month.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d pick brevo.com.

• Best budget choice: Brevo’s free plan is $0 and allows 300 emails/day, with up to 100,000 contacts stored. It includes a drag-and-drop editor and basic reporting. Brevo Help
• Why it fits a bakery: You can keep one customer list, make a simple “This week’s specials 🍞” template, and send it every week without paying just because your subscriber list grows.
• If you have fewer than 250 customers: mailchimp.com is another easy option, but its free plan is capped at 250 contacts and 500 sends/month. Mailchimp

My pick: Start with Brevo Free. For a weekly bakery newsletter, it should be plenty until your audience or sending volume gets substantially larger.

For a tiny bakery sending one weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Brevo.

• Brevo — particularly good if your list is growing because it charges primarily based on emails sent rather than contacts stored. Its free tier is useful for small lists, and paid plans start around $9/month according to current 2026 comparisons. ToolFit Sasanova
• MailerLite — my other pick if you care more about a very simple, polished newsletter editor. It’s consistently rated as a strong value for small businesses. ToolSkeptic EmailTooltester.com
• Mailchimp — easy and familiar, but I wouldn't choose it primarily to save money; its contact-based pricing can get expensive as your subscriber list grows. ToolFit LetterDuck

For your specific use case: I'd choose Brevo if you have a few hundred to several thousand customers and send just once a week. You can have an email like “🍞 This Week at the Bakery: Sourdough, Peach Galettes & Saturday Specials,” add a couple photos, and schedule it without paying for a bunch of sophisticated marketing features you don't need.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have, I can compare the cheapest 2–3 options for your exact list size.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d start with Brevo.

• Best budget pick: Brevo — its free plan allows up to 300 emails/day, so a weekly list of a few hundred or even a couple thousand people can be quite economical. Its pricing is based largely on emails sent rather than contacts stored, which is attractive if your customer list grows but you only email once a week. SMB Compare SaaSProbe
• Best for simplicity: MailerLite — especially nice if you want pretty bakery-style emails with a very easy drag-and-drop editor. Its free allowance has become smaller in 2026, though, so check the current tier against your subscriber count. EmailTooltester.com EmailTooltester.com
• I wouldn't start with Mailchimp for this use case. You'd mostly be paying for features you probably don't need.

My pick for you: Brevo if minimizing cost is the priority; MailerLite if ease of making attractive emails matters more.

For a weekly email, you really only need: a subscriber signup form, a nice template, scheduling, unsubscribe handling, and basic open/click statistics. You don't need a complicated marketing-automation system.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Brevo.

• Best budget pick: Brevo — its free tier allows up to 300 emails/day, with unlimited contacts, so a small weekly list may cost you nothing. Paid plans start around $9/month if you outgrow it. Software Rundown ClientStackLab
• Good alternative: MailerLite — especially nice if you care about attractive, drag-and-drop bakery-style emails and simple automation. Its free tier is smaller. ToolSkeptic
• I wouldn't start with Mailchimp — it's easy to use, but its current pricing is less attractive for a tiny business, particularly as your subscriber list grows. ClientStackLab

For your use case: I'd choose Brevo, make one reusable weekly template, and each week change the specials, photos, pickup details, and ordering link. That's plenty of sophistication for a local bakery without paying for features you won't use.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can tell you which option would actually be cheapest for your specific list size.

For a tiny bakery, I’d use a low-cost email newsletter platform rather than a full marketing suite. If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the cheapest good options for your size.

For a tiny bakery, I’d use a low-cost email newsletter service rather than a general-purpose marketing platform. Good options include:

• Mailchimp — very beginner-friendly; good if your list is small.
• Brevo — often attractive for small businesses because pricing is based partly on email volume.
• MailerLite — simple templates and automation without much complexity.

For a weekly specials list, I’d lean toward MailerLite or Brevo if keeping costs down is the priority. You can make one reusable template—“This Week’s Specials,” hours, ordering info—and update it each week.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can recommend the cheapest fit.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d look for a low-cost email marketing tool with:

• A free/cheap starter tier
• Easy drag-and-drop templates
• Simple subscriber management
• Scheduling/automation
• Basic open/click reporting

Good options include Mailchimp, MailerLite, and Brevo. For a small weekly list, MailerLite is often a particularly good balance of simplicity and price.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the current pricing and recommend the cheapest fit.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly newsletter, I’d start with Mailchimp if you want something easy and inexpensive at small subscriber counts.

A few good options:

• Mailchimp — beginner-friendly, templates, scheduling, and a free/low-cost entry point.
• MailerLite — often a strong budget choice, especially if you mainly need simple newsletters.
• Brevo — useful if you expect to send frequently and want pricing based partly on email volume.

My pick for your use case: MailerLite if keeping costs down is the priority; Mailchimp if ease of use and polished templates matter more.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the current pricing and recommend the cheapest fit.

For a tiny local bakery with a weekly specials list, you’ll usually want a simple email newsletter tool with a free or low-cost tier, rather than a full marketing automation platform.

Good options:

• mailchimp.com — A common starting point for small businesses. It has easy drag-and-drop newsletter templates, audience lists, and basic analytics. Good if you want something familiar and scalable.
• brevo.com — Often a better fit for very small businesses that send occasional newsletters because pricing is more based around email volume than just contact count.
• mailerlite.com — A strong budget option with simple designs, signup forms, and automation features without feeling overly complex.
• constantcontact.com — More small-business focused, with event tools and support, though it tends to cost more than the budget options.

For a bakery specifically, I’d prioritize:

1. Easy templates (photo of the weekly pastries, specials, hours, order link)
2. A signup form you can put near the register or on your website
3. Low cost at your subscriber size
4. Good mobile formatting since most customers will read on phones

A simple setup could be:

• Collect emails at checkout (“Get this week’s specials + first dibs on limited batches”)
• Send one email every week
• Include: featured item, preorder deadline, pickup times, and a photo
• Avoid heavy automation unless you need it

If you have fewer than a few hundred subscribers, I’d start with MailerLite or Brevo for keeping costs low. If you expect to grow into thousands of customers, Mailchimp is a reasonable long-term choice.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have now (e.g., 100, 1,000, 10,000) and whether you sell through a website, Instagram, or in-store only, I can narrow it down.

For a tiny local bakery, I’d use a simple email newsletter service rather than a full marketing platform.

Good low-cost options include:

• Mailchimp — easy to set up and has a free tier for small lists.
• MailerLite — particularly good for simple newsletters and small businesses.
• Brevo — useful if you want inexpensive sending as your list grows.

If your weekly specials are basically “This week’s pastries + prices + order link”, I’d lean toward MailerLite for simplicity and value.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Nitrosend. It’s built for email marketing, can create campaigns from your instructions, manage contacts/lists, and offers unlimited contacts on its plans.

I surfaced it as an option above so you can connect it if you want. For a small weekly list, I’d prioritize low fixed cost + simple templates + easy unsubscribe/contact management over advanced automation.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d look for a low-cost email marketing tool with:

• A free/cheap tier for a small subscriber list
• Easy drag-and-drop templates
• Simple signup forms
• Basic open/click reporting
• Automated unsubscribe handling

Good options to compare are Mailchimp, Brevo, and MailerLite. For a very small list, the free tiers can be enough to get started, so you don’t need an expensive marketing platform.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 1,000), I can recommend the cheapest fit and compare current pricing.

For a tiny local bakery with a weekly specials newsletter, I’d look for something that is:

• cheap at a few hundred subscribers
• easy to make pretty emails with photos of pastries
• simple signup forms (QR code at the counter, website, receipts)
• not overloaded with “marketing automation” features you won’t use

My shortlist:

1. mailerlite.com — probably the best fit for a small bakery

• Good-looking templates and a simple drag-and-drop editor.
• The free plan is aimed at small lists: up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. MailerLite MailerLite
• Easy use case: “Friday Specials 🍞 → photo → prices → order link → store hours.”
• Upgrade costs are usually reasonable as your customer list grows. MailerLite
• brevo.com — best if you may add SMS later

• Its free tier includes email campaigns and allows up to 300 email sends/day. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Useful if you eventually want things like text alerts for “fresh cinnamon rolls just came out.”
• The interface is a little more business-oriented than a tiny bakery may need.
• mailchimp.com — popular, but I’d compare pricing carefully

• It’s widely supported and has lots of integrations, but small businesses sometimes find they pay more as their audience grows.

For your situation, I’d start with MailerLite:

• Make one reusable “Weekly Specials” template.
• Add a signup QR code near the register.
• Send once a week (same day/time).
• Keep the email focused: 3–5 items, photos, preorder link, and pickup details.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list now (e.g., 100, 500, 2,000) and whether you need online ordering, I can narrow it down further.

For a tiny local bakery sending a weekly specials list, you’ll usually want a simple email newsletter tool rather than a full marketing platform. The best budget-friendly choices are:

• mailchimp.com — Good if you’re starting from scratch. It has easy templates, basic audience management, and a free tier (with limits) that works for small lists.
• brevo.com — Often a good value if you send regularly, because pricing is based more on emails sent than just contact count.
• mailerlite.com — Very bakery-friendly for simple newsletters: drag-and-drop editor, clean templates, and automation without much complexity.
• constantcontact.com — Easy for non-technical users, with extras for local businesses, but usually costs more.

For a weekly “Fresh this week: sourdough, cinnamon rolls, seasonal pie…” email, I’d lean toward MailerLite or Brevo:

• Small list (under ~1,000 customers): MailerLite is a strong fit.
• Growing list + frequent sends: Brevo can be more economical.
• Need the simplest setup possible: Mailchimp is familiar and widely supported.

A simple setup that works well for a neighborhood bakery:

1. Add a signup QR code at the counter and on receipts.
2. Send one email per week with: - This week’s specials
3. Pickup/order deadline
4. A photo of one featured item
5. A short “from the baker” note
6. Avoid heavy automation unless you actually need it.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g., 100, 1,000, 5,000) and whether you need online ordering integration, I can narrow it down.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly newsletter, I’d look for a lightweight email-marketing service rather than a full CRM. Good budget-friendly options include:

• Mailchimp — easy to use and good for a small subscriber list.
• MailerLite — particularly strong for simple newsletters and generally budget-conscious.
• Brevo — useful if you expect to send frequently, since pricing can be based more on email volume than subscriber count.

For a weekly specials list, MailerLite would be my first pick: simple templates, signup forms, automation if you need it later, and less complexity than you probably need for a small bakery.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the current free/paid tiers and tell you which is cheapest.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d use Mailchimp if you want the easiest all-around option, or MailerLite if keeping costs especially low is the priority.

• MailerLite — best budget pick; simple newsletter editor and automation.
• Mailchimp — very beginner-friendly and widely supported, but can get pricier as your subscriber list grows.
• Brevo — worth considering if you expect to send to a larger list but only once a week.

For a weekly bakery specials email, MailerLite is probably the sweet spot: inexpensive, easy to set up, and more than enough for a simple menu + photo + “order now” button.

For a tiny local bakery sending a weekly specials newsletter, you’ll probably want a simple email marketing tool with a free or very low-cost tier, rather than a full marketing platform.

Good fits:

• mailchimp.com — A common starting point for small businesses. It has easy templates, signup forms, basic automation, and a free tier (with limits that can change).
• brevo.com — Often a good budget choice because pricing is based more on emails sent than just contact count; useful if you have a growing list but only send weekly.
• mailerlite.com — Simple interface, clean newsletter designs, and a strong fit for small shops that mainly need announcements and promotions.
• constantcontact.com — More small-business focused, with lots of support, but usually costs more than the budget options.

For a bakery specifically, I’d lean toward:

1. MailerLite if you want the easiest “weekly specials + photos + order link” workflow.
2. Brevo if you have a larger customer list and want to keep costs predictable.
3. Mailchimp if you want a widely used tool with lots of tutorials.

A simple setup:

• Add a QR code at your counter/register: “Get this week’s specials.”
• Collect emails with permission (don’t add customers without consent).
• Send once a week: 3–5 featured items, pickup hours, preorder deadline, and a nice photo.
• Avoid overly complex automations—you likely don’t need them.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g., 100, 1,000, 5,000) and whether you take online orders, I can narrow it down to the cheapest practical option.

For a tiny local bakery, I’d keep it simple and look for a low-cost email newsletter platform with:

• A free or very cheap starter tier
• Easy drag-and-drop templates
• A subscriber list you own/export
• Basic signup forms
• Scheduling and unsubscribe handling
• No need for advanced automation

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can recommend the cheapest good options and compare their current pricing.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with brevo.com.

• Brevo: Free plan allows 300 email sends per day and up to 100,000 stored contacts. That’s plenty if your list is a few hundred customers and you send once a week. Brevo Help Brevo Help
• Mailchimp: Also has a free tier, but it’s capped at 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, making it easier to outgrow for a weekly bakery newsletter. Mailchimp Mailchimp
• Brevo paid: Starts around $9/month if you eventually need more sending capacity. Brevo Help

My pick: Brevo for a bakery—simple newsletters, low cost, and you don't get charged simply because your customer list grows. The main catch on free is Brevo branding and the 300-sends/day limit. Brevo Help

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list, I can tell you which free/cheap option makes the most sense.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d look at:

• mailchimp.com — easy to use, lots of templates, and a free/low-cost starting point.
• mailerlite.com — particularly good for small lists; simple editor and generally budget-friendly.
• brevo.com — good if you expect to send frequently or want SMS later.

My pick for your use case: MailerLite. If you're just sending one attractive “this week's breads, pastries, and specials” email, it's simple without paying for a bunch of marketing features you won't use.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the current pricing and recommend the cheapest fit.

For a tiny bakery sending a weekly specials newsletter, I’d pick Brevo.

• brevo.com — its free plan allows 300 email sends per day, with no time limit, and includes a drag-and-drop editor and basic reporting. That’s plenty if your list is a few hundred customers. Brevo Help Brevo
• If you grow beyond that, Brevo’s Starter plan starts at $9/month and includes 5,000 emails/month. Brevo Help
• Mailchimp is another easy option, but its current free plan is limited to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, so you could outgrow it sooner. Mailchimp

Bottom line: For a simple “This week’s sourdough, cookies & pie” email, Brevo gives you the most breathing room for $0.

For a tiny bakery sending one weekly specials email, I’d use brevo.com.

• Free: up to 300 emails/day, with unlimited contacts. Brevo Help Brevo
• Paid: starts at about $9/month if you outgrow the free tier. Brevo Help
• It has a drag-and-drop editor, templates, signup forms, and basic reporting, so you don't need technical skills. Brevo Help
• The pricing is based primarily on emails sent rather than how many contacts you store, which is particularly nice for a small business that sends just once a week. SMB Compare

One caveat: if you have more than 300 subscribers, you can't send the entire weekly newsletter in one day on Brevo's free plan.

If your list is under 1,000 people, I'd also consider mailerlite.com because its free tier is especially generous for simple newsletters. stackfyi.com

For your use case, though, Brevo would be my first pick for keeping costs down.

For a tiny bakery sending one weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Brevo.

• Brevo: free forever, with up to 300 emails/day. That’s plenty if your list is a few hundred customers, and it includes a drag-and-drop editor and basic analytics. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com
• Mailchimp: also has a free tier, but it’s capped at 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, so you’ll hit the ceiling sooner as your customer list grows. mailchimp.com
• Brevo paid: starts around $9/month if you outgrow the free tier. help.brevo.com

My pick: Brevo — simple enough for a weekly “This week’s croissants + Saturday special” email without paying much.

Brevo

One caveat: the free plan includes Brevo branding, and the 300-email limit is per day, not per campaign. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d pick Brevo.

• Free plan: $0, with up to 300 email sends per day and up to 100,000 stored contacts. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com
• It has a drag-and-drop editor and templates, so you can make a nice-looking “This Week’s Specials” email without technical work. www.brevo.com
• If your list grows, the Starter plan currently begins around $9/month. www.brevo.com
• The free plan has no time limit, so you don't have to worry about a trial suddenly expiring. help.brevo.comhelp.brevo.com

Mailchimp is another solid choice, but its current free tier is capped at 250 contacts and 500 email sends/month, so Brevo gives you more breathing room for a weekly newsletter. mailchimp.com

My pick: Brevo if keeping costs down is the priority; Mailchimp if you particularly prefer its interface/ecosystem.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list, I can tell you which plan would actually cost you the least.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d look at these:

1. Brevo — best overall for a growing local list. Its free plan is $0 and allows 300 email sends/day, plus a drag-and-drop editor and basic analytics. That’s plenty if you have a few hundred customers. help.brevo.com
2. Mailchimp — easiest mainstream option. Its free plan currently covers up to 250 contacts and 500 sends/month. That's enough for a very small bakery list, but you'll hit the ceiling sooner. mailchimp.com
3. Buttondown — cheapest if you want extreme simplicity. The first 100 subscribers are free, with a straightforward newsletter editor and no-fuss setup. marketing.buttondown.com

My pick for you: Brevo. A weekly “This Week at the Bakery 🍞” email with your specials, hours, and an occasional photo is exactly the sort of lightweight campaign it handles well—and you can stay free for quite a while.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (50, 200, 1,000, etc.), I can tell you which one will be cheapest for your specific situation.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d pick MailerLite.

• MailerLite: Free for up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. It has a drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, basic automations, and reporting—plenty for a weekly specials email. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com
• Brevo: Also worth considering if your list is larger. Its free tier allows 100,000 stored contacts but limits you to 300 email sends/day, which can be awkward for a weekly blast. help.brevo.com
• Mailchimp: Has a free tier up to 250 contacts, but I'd choose it mainly if you already use Mailchimp; its current pricing structure is less attractive for a tiny, budget-conscious operation. mailchimp.com

My pick: MailerLite — especially if your list is under 250 people. You can send one weekly newsletter essentially for free, then upgrade when your customer list grows. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com

MailerLite pricing and free plan

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d pick MailerLite.

• MailerLite — Free for up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month, with a drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, and basic reporting. That’s plenty for a weekly newsletter to a small local customer list. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com
• Once you outgrow 250 subscribers, its paid Comfort plan starts at $12/month. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com
• Brevo is another good cheap option: its free plan allows 300 email sends/day and up to 100,000 stored contacts, but the daily sending limit can be awkward if your list gets bigger than 300. help.brevo.com

My pick: MailerLite for simplicity; Brevo if you expect your list to grow substantially or want SMS/CRM features later.

For a bakery, I'd keep the newsletter extremely simple: this week's specials + pickup/order info + one good photo + a single “Order Now” button.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d start with MailerLite.

• Free: up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com
• That’s plenty for a weekly newsletter: 250 customers × 4 weeks = about 1,000 emails/month.
• It has an easy drag-and-drop newsletter editor and signup forms, so you can collect customers' emails at the bakery. www.mailerlite.com
• When you outgrow it, the next plan currently starts at $12/month. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com

Another good option: Brevo. Its free plan allows up to 300 email sends per day and up to 100,000 stored contacts, but the daily sending limit makes it a little less convenient if your list grows. help.brevo.com

My pick for your bakery: MailerLite. It's inexpensive, straightforward, and better matched to a recurring weekly specials list than a full-blown marketing system.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Brevo.

• Free: up to 300 emails/day, so a list of a few hundred customers is workable. help.brevo.com
• Easy editor: drag-and-drop templates, reusable designs, contact lists, and basic reporting. help.brevo.com
• Cheap to grow: Starter begins at $9/month for 5,000 emails/month. help.brevo.com
• It also offers pay-as-you-go credits that don't expire, which is handy if you occasionally skip a week. www.brevo.com

For your use case: I'd make one nice "This Week at [Bakery]" template, add the specials and a photo each week, and send it to your opted-in customer list. You probably don't need the fancy automation/CRM features yet.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list, I can recommend the cheapest option between Brevo, MailerLite, Mailchimp, etc.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d look at Mailchimp first if you want something easy and inexpensive, especially if your list is still small.

Other good options:

• Mailchimp — very beginner-friendly, templates, signup forms, and basic automation.
• Brevo — often attractive for small businesses that send newsletters regularly because pricing is based more on email volume than just subscriber count.
• MailerLite — simple, clean editor and good fit for straightforward weekly newsletters.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (e.g. 100, 500, 2,000), I can compare the cheapest option for your bakery.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d pick MailerLite.

• MailerLite has a free plan for up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month—more than enough for a weekly newsletter to a small customer list. www.mailerlite.com
• It has a straightforward drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, basic automation, and reporting, so you don't need much technical setup. www.mailerlite.com
• If you grow past 250 subscribers, its paid Comfort plan starts at $12/month. www.mailerlite.com

Runner-up: Brevo. Brevo also has a free plan, but it's limited to 300 email sends per day, which can be slightly awkward for a larger weekly list. Its paid Starter plan begins at $9/month. help.brevo.com

I'd skip Mailchimp for this use case unless you specifically need its ecosystem; its current paid plans start considerably higher. mailchimp.com

Bottom line: Start with MailerLite Free. For a weekly bakery specials list, it's probably the best combination of cheap + simple + enough room to grow.

For a tiny local bakery with a weekly specials list, you’ll probably want something simple, inexpensive, and easy to reuse rather than a full marketing platform. A few good options:

• MailerLite — often a strong fit for small businesses: easy drag-and-drop emails, templates, subscriber groups, and automation. Good if you mainly send “this week’s pastries / hours / preorder reminders.”
• Brevo — budget-friendly if you have a growing list or want to send more frequently. It has a free tier with daily sending limits.
• Mailchimp — very popular and beginner-friendly, though its free/low-cost tiers have changed over time and can become pricier as your list grows.
• Buttondown — a simpler newsletter-focused tool if you mostly want a clean weekly email without lots of marketing features.

For a neighborhood bakery, I’d generally pick:

1. MailerLite if you want the best balance of ease + bakery-friendly features.
2. Buttondown if you just want to write a weekly note and hit send.
3. Brevo if you expect your customer list to grow quickly.

A simple setup that works well:

• Collect emails at the counter with a QR code (“Get Friday specials”).
• Send once a week on the same day/time.
• Include: featured items, preorder deadline, pickup hours, a photo, and a short personal note.
• Avoid sending every promotion separately; customers are more likely to stay subscribed.

If you already use a point-of-sale system (Square, Toast, Shopify, etc.), it may also have built-in customer email tools that could be the cheapest route.

For a tiny local bakery with a weekly specials list, you probably want something simple, inexpensive, and easy to maintain rather than a full marketing platform.

Good options:

• MailerLite — Often a strong fit for small businesses: easy newsletter templates, subscriber lists, basic automation, and a free/low-cost tier for smaller audiences.
• Brevo — Good if you have a modest list but might send frequently; pricing is often based more on emails sent than just contacts.
• Mailchimp — Very beginner-friendly with lots of templates and integrations, though costs can rise as your list grows.
• Substack — Extremely simple if your newsletter is more like “this week’s pastries, stories, and bakery news” and you don’t need advanced marketing features.

For a neighborhood bakery, I’d usually lean toward MailerLite:

• Create one reusable “Weekly Specials” template
• Add a signup form at the counter, on receipts, and on your website
• Send once a week with photos, new items, preorder links, and store hours
• Avoid paying for features you won’t use

A few bakery-specific tips:

• Keep the list permission-based (customers should opt in).
• Put the signup link on your Google Business Profile/website if you have one.
• Don’t over-send; a weekly “what’s fresh this week” email is usually enough.
• Export your subscriber list occasionally so you’re not locked into one service.

If you tell me roughly how many subscribers you have (e.g., 100, 1,000, 5,000) and whether you need online ordering links, I can narrow it down.

For a tiny bakery sending one simple weekly specials email, I’d start with MailerLite.

• MailerLite: Free for up to 250 active subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. It has a drag-and-drop newsletter editor and signup forms, which is plenty for a weekly bakery specials list. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com
• Brevo: Also has a free plan, with up to 300 emails/day and 100,000 stored contacts. It’s attractive if your list grows substantially or you eventually want SMS/CRM features. help.brevo.com

My pick: MailerLite — it’s simpler for the specific job of “here are this week’s pastries, come by the bakery.” Once you exceed 250 subscribers, its paid plan starts at $12/month. www.mailerlite.comwww.mailerlite.com

MailerLite pricing and signup

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list, I can tell you which option will cost you the least.

For a tiny bakery sending a weekly specials newsletter, I’d pick MailerLite.

• MailerLite: Free for up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month. It includes a drag-and-drop editor, signup forms, basic automations, and reporting—plenty for a weekly bakery specials email. www.mailerlite.com
• Brevo: Also free, with unlimited contacts but a 300-email/day sending limit. This can be better if your subscriber list is already larger than 250. help.brevo.com
• Mailchimp: Has a free tier capped at 250 contacts and 500 sends/month, so it's less attractive for a weekly newsletter once your list gets beyond roughly 125 people. mailchimp.com

My pick: MailerLite — especially if you're starting with a few dozen or a couple hundred regular customers. It's inexpensive, simple, and gives you room to grow without paying immediately. www.mailerlite.com

MailerLite pricing and free plan

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list, I can tell you which option will be cheapest for your specific bakery.

For a tiny bakery sending a simple weekly specials newsletter, I’d start with Brevo or Sender.

• Brevo — probably the best fit if you want to keep costs predictable. Its free plan allows unlimited contacts and up to 300 emails/day, so a modest weekly customer list can stay free. softwarerundown.com
• Sender — worth considering if your list is growing. Current comparisons put its free tier around 2,500 subscribers / 15,000 emails per month, with a drag-and-drop editor. mailtoolfinder.com
• MailerLite — a good choice if you care most about making the newsletter look polished without much fuss; its free tier is also quite generous, though reported limits vary with the current plan structure. toolskeptic.comwww.stackfyi.com
• Mailchimp — easy to use, but I wouldn't choose it for a new budget-conscious bakery list; its free tier is considerably more restrictive in 2026. www.stackfyi.com

My pick: Brevo. For “Here are this week's croissants, sourdough, and Saturday specials,” you don't need a complicated marketing system. You mainly want an attractive template, signup form, unsubscribe handling, and reliable delivery without paying much.

If you tell me roughly how many customers are on your email list (e.g. 200, 800, 2,000), I can tell you which one will actually be cheapest for your bakery.