Email marketing tool for a coach who sends a weekly lesson series to a list

I’d start with MailerLite if you mainly want to send a weekly lesson and welcome new subscribers. It has email campaigns, forms/landing pages, and automations; its free plan includes up to 12,000 monthly emails, though the subscriber limit and features are worth checking for your account. Paid plans currently start at $12/month. (mailerlite.com)

If you want the lessons to run as an automated course sequence—for example, a new subscriber gets Lesson 1, then Lesson 2 each week—consider Kit. It’s built for creators and offers email sequences and visual automations on its paid Creator plan; its free plan supports broadcasts but not those automation features. (kit.com)

Quick rule: weekly emails you write and send to everyone → MailerLite; an automated lesson series with subscriber tags and follow-up funnels → Kit.

Short answer: For a weekly lesson series, I'd start with Kit (formerly ConvertKit). A cheaper option like MailerLite or a one-time-fee tool like SendFox works if budget matters more than advanced automation.

Kit

• The free plan is generous on subscribers, but it doesn't handle a lesson series well. One source notes the free tier allows only one automation and no sequences, so you'd need a paid plan. The free Newsletter plan is limited to 1 automation and no sequences. Creator adds unlimited automations, sequences, and A/B subject line testing.
• Pricing: one 2026 source lists Creator at $33/mo annual or $39/mo monthly for 1,000 subscribers. Costs rise with list size, so check the current table before committing.
• Best fit: selling a course, coaching or a paid newsletter is the use case where the Creator plan makes sense.

MailerLite

• A cheaper alternative. One comparison lists a free plan up to 1,000 subscribers, then from $10/month, and it's described as best for a straightforward newsletter.
• Watch out for complex branching. One review notes that complex sales processes require closer workflow planning in this tool.

SendFox

• Good if you want a one-time payment. One guide says it is free for 1,000 contacts and $29 once for 5,000. It's built for a list that books calls, so it fits a coach who wants a lesson series that leads to a consultation.

ActiveCampaign

• Choose this only if you need a sales pipeline or branching logic, such as different paths for different leads. Sources disagree on its entry price, so verify on the vendor's site.

Beehiiv

• A newsletter-first platform. It suits a weekly publication more than a structured course, and one source notes free up to 2,500 subscribers, then from $39/month.

My recommendation for your setup

1. If you have fewer than about 1,000 subscribers and want to keep costs low, start with MailerLite's free tier and build the lesson sequence there.
2. If you expect to grow or sell a paid program, start with Kit's Creator plan. Its sequences are built for exactly this kind of series.
3. Load the lessons as an automated sequence (one email per week, with a call-to-action at the end) rather than sending them manually.

Pricing changes often, and these figures come from third-party sites that disagree in places. Confirm current prices on each vendor's site before you choose.

For a coach running a weekly lesson series, your primary need is a tool that handles automated sequences (to deliver the lessons) and subscriber tagging (to track who is participating) without unnecessary technical complexity.

Based on your specific needs, here are the most recommended tools for 2026:

Top Recommendations

• Best Overall for Coaches: Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
  • Why it fits: Kit is built specifically for creators and coaches. It excels at automated sequences, which is perfect for a weekly lesson series. Its tag-based system allows you to easily track where a subscriber is in your lesson series and segment them (e.g., separating those who have finished the series from those who are still in progress). It also has a very generous free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers.
• Best Budget Option: MailerLite
  • Why it fits: If you want a straightforward, easy-to-use tool for a simple newsletter and basic automated sequences, MailerLite is highly regarded. It is often preferred by coaches who want an intuitive interface without the "enterprise-level" complexity of some other platforms. It is affordable and reliable for consistent, weekly communication.
• Best for Simplicity & "Quick Wins": SendFox
  • Why it fits: Created by the team behind AppSumo, SendFox is intentionally simple. It is excellent if you want to set up a signup page and an automated welcome/lesson series without getting bogged down in complex features. It is very cost-effective, often offering a one-time payment option for larger lists, making it great for coaches who want to keep overhead low.

Key Features to Look For

When evaluating these (or any other) tools, ensure they support these coaching-specific needs:

1. Automated Sequences: You need the ability to "set and forget" your lesson series so that when someone subscribes, they automatically receive the lessons on a schedule (e.g., one email per week) without you needing to send them manually.
2. Subscriber Tagging: This is critical. You want your tool to automatically "tag" someone when they join your series and perhaps remove that tag or add a new one once they complete it. This helps you avoid sending sales emails for a program they have already finished.
3. Integrations: Ensure the tool connects easily with your existing calendar (like Calendly) or booking system so that you can include your scheduling link in your emails.
4. Simplicity Over "Features": Avoid enterprise-level tools (like high-tier HubSpot or complex CRMs) unless you have a dedicated team. For a solo coach, you need a tool that you will actually use consistently every week, rather than one that feels like a full-time job to manage.

A Quick Strategy Tip

• Don't mix roles: Your email tool should be your marketing and nurturing channel, not your program delivery platform. If you have extensive worksheets, videos, or course materials, host those in a dedicated coaching portal or course platform, and use your email tool to send the links and reminders. This keeps your email list clean and your coaching content organized.

MailerLite is a good starting point for a coach sending a weekly lesson series. You can set up an automated sequence that starts when someone signs up, then send one lesson each week. Its free plan includes up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails per month, signup forms, and automations; paid plans start at $12/month at the 500-subscriber tier.¹

If you expect a larger list or want pricing based more on how often you send than on your contact count, Brevo is another option. Its free plan stores up to 100,000 contacts and allows 300 sends per day, with automation limited to 2,000 contacts.²

My pick: MailerLite for a straightforward weekly teaching sequence. Check its current plan limits against your list size and expected sends before choosing.