Pricing for email marketing platforms changes frequently. This article was last verified in August 2026. Check each platform's current pricing page before making a decision.
Most small churches are looking for the same thing: a way to send a weekly or fortnightly newsletter to their congregation, for free or close to it, without needing a communications degree to operate it.
The good news is that several platforms do exactly this, and most churches under 100 members will never need to pay anything at all. The less obvious news is that Australian organisations sending bulk email have three obligations under the Spam Act 2003, and most church admins setting up their first newsletter list have not heard of them.
This article covers three platforms that work well for small churches, how to claim nonprofit discounts where they exist, and the compliance basics every Australian church sending bulk email needs to know. It does not cover church management software with built-in email (that is a separate question) or enterprise platforms designed for organisations far larger than most Australian congregations.
What most small churches actually need
A congregation of 50 to 150 people sending a weekly newsletter, event notices, and the occasional pastoral update needs a platform that:
Has a free or low-cost plan adequate for lists under 500 people
Can be operated by someone with no technical background
Delivers reliably to Gmail, Outlook, and the email clients most congregation members use
Includes a working unsubscribe link (required by Australian law)
That is not a long list. Most of the major platforms meet it. The differences worth paying attention to are how each platform handles the free tier, what the nonprofit discount looks like, and whether pricing stays manageable as the list grows.
Prices below are shown in US dollars, as quoted by each platform, with an approximate Australian dollar equivalent alongside. The AUD figures are estimates only, based on the exchange rate at the time of writing, and will move as the exchange rate does. None of the platforms reviewed advertise Australian dollar pricing.
Three platforms worth considering
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue, sometimes misspelled as "Bravo") offers the most generous free tier of the platforms reviewed. The free plan covers 300 emails per day with no cap on contacts, meaning a church of 100 people can send a daily email indefinitely at no cost. The entry paid plan (Starter) is USD $9 per month (approximately AUD $13). Brevo offers a 20% discount for verified NGOs; the application is at Brevo's NGO discount page. Brevo is the strongest choice for a church with a large or fast-growing list, since the free plan has no subscriber cap.
MailerLite has a free plan covering 500 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. For a weekly newsletter to 100 members, that is comfortably sufficient. The Growing Business plan starts at USD $10 per month (approximately AUD $14). MailerLite offers the strongest nonprofit discount of the platforms reviewed: 30% off all paid plans for verified nonprofits. The application requires documentation of registered nonprofit status; details are at MailerLite's nonprofit discount page. MailerLite is the best all-round pick for most churches under 150 members, combining a generous free tier with the deepest nonprofit discount.
Mailchimp is the platform most people reach for first, largely because of name recognition. It is worth knowing that Mailchimp cut its free plan significantly in January 2026: the free tier now covers only 250 contacts and 500 sends per month, with a daily limit of 250. A church of 100 members sending a weekly newsletter of around 100 emails would reach those limits quickly. The Essentials plan starts at roughly USD $13 to $15 per month (approximately AUD $18 to $21). Mailchimp's nonprofit discount is 15%, the lowest of the platforms compared here. Mailchimp is worth choosing if the church, or the volunteer running its communications, is already familiar with it or uses it for other marketing, though it is the priciest of the three once the free tier is outgrown.
Platform | Free plan | Entry paid plan (USD/mo) | Entry paid plan (approx. AUD/mo) | Nonprofit discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brevo | 300 emails/day, unlimited contacts | $9 | ~$13 | 20% for NGOs |
MailerLite | 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo | $10 | ~$14 | 30% on paid plans |
Mailchimp | 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | ~$13-15 | ~$18-21 | 15% |
Nonprofit discounts and how to claim them
Every platform listed offers a discount for registered charities and nonprofits, but none of them apply it automatically. Claiming the discount requires an application and documentation, typically confirmation of registered charitable or nonprofit status.
For Australian churches, ACNC registration (or equivalent state-based incorporation) is usually sufficient documentation. The application process differs by platform: Brevo and MailerLite handle it through a support request or a dedicated application page; Mailchimp has a billing request process.
The discount is worth claiming before committing to a paid plan. On MailerLite's Growing Business plan at USD $10 per month, a 30% discount reduces the annual cost from USD $120 to roughly USD $84 (approximately AUD $118 at the time of writing, though exchange rates vary). That is not a large amount in dollar terms, but it is money the church does not need to spend.
Australian Spam Act: the three things you need to know
The Spam Act 2003 (Cth) applies to Australian organisations sending bulk commercial electronic messages, including email. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) enforces it.
There is an exemption for registered charities, but it is narrower than most people assume. It applies only to messages related to the charity's own goods and services, and its scope is contested in practice. ACMA enforcement activity has increased significantly: more than $16 million in spam penalties was issued in the 18 months to April 2025. The safest approach for any Australian church sending a bulk newsletter is to comply with the full requirements regardless of exemption status.
The three requirements are straightforward.
Consent. Recipients must have given consent to receive the emails. This can be express (they opted in to a list) or inferred (they provided contact details in a context where communications are reasonably expected, such as joining a church). Document consent where you can.
Sender identification. Every email must accurately identify the organisation sending it, by its correct legal name or ABN, with contact details that remain accurate for at least 30 days after sending.
Unsubscribe. Every email must include a working unsubscribe link. Unsubscribe requests must be actioned within five business days. The link must not require the recipient to pay a fee or create an account to unsubscribe. Every platform listed in this article handles the unsubscribe link automatically. The obligation to action requests within five business days is the church admin's responsibility.
ACMA publishes plain-language guidance in ACMA's spam guide.
For most small Australian churches, the right choice comes down to list size, budget, and what the person running communications is already comfortable with. MailerLite is the best default for a typical congregation under 150 members, combining a generous free tier with the strongest nonprofit discount. Brevo suits a church with a larger or fast-growing list, since its free plan has no cap on contacts. Mailchimp is worth choosing if the church already uses it elsewhere or wants the most widely recognised platform, though it is the priciest of the three once the free tier is outgrown. A church that has moved to a paid plan should check whether it has claimed its nonprofit discount. And any church sending bulk email should confirm its consent, sender identification, and unsubscribe processes are in order.