The Free Tier Playbook
50+ no-code tools with genuinely useful free tiers, organised by category.
Most free tiers are designed to make you upgrade. These ones actually let you build, launch, and validate before spending anything. Every entry has been checked for what the free tier covers and when it stops being enough.
What it does for you
Start without a budget
Every tool listed has a free tier that is actually usable, not just a restricted demo that forces an upgrade after 10 minutes.
Know what you are getting
See exactly what each free tier covers before you sign up for anything. No surprises after you have already built on it.
Know when to upgrade
Each entry shows the exact limit that signals you need to move to a paid plan. No guessing, no accidental overage charges.
Build the right stack
Combine tools from different categories that work together so your free stack covers website, automation, email, and payments.
What is covered
Eight categories of tools with free tiers worth using
Websites
Build and publish a website before spending anything. These tools cover everything from simple one-pagers to full marketing sites.
- Carrd — simple one-page sites, free on custom domain
- Framer — design-forward site builder, free tier with branding
- Webflow — full CMS site builder, free with Webflow subdomain
App Builders
Build functional apps and internal tools without writing code. Free tiers are generous enough to validate most ideas.
- Bubble — full no-code app platform, free to build and test
- Glide — data-driven apps from spreadsheets, free tier available
- Softr — build portals from Airtable or Google Sheets, free plan
Automation
Connect apps and automate workflows. Free tiers cover enough operations to run a lean early-stage business.
- Make — 1,000 operations/month free, visual scenario builder
- Zapier — 100 tasks/month free, largest app library
- Pipedream — 10,000 events/month free, developer-friendly
Databases
Store and manage your data without setting up infrastructure. These cover spreadsheets through to full relational databases.
- Airtable — spreadsheet meets database, free up to 1,000 records/base
- Notion — flexible workspace and database, free for personal use
- Supabase — PostgreSQL with auth and storage, generous free tier
Send newsletters and automated emails. Every tool here lets you build a list and start sending before you pay anything.
- Kit — up to 10,000 subscribers free, forms and automations included
- Beehiiv — newsletter platform, free up to 2,500 subscribers
- MailerLite — 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month free
Forms
Collect signups, run surveys, and build intake forms. Free tiers here are extremely generous for early-stage use.
- Tally — unlimited forms and responses free, no watermark
- Fillout — 1,000 submissions/month free, conditional logic included
- Google Forms — unlimited forms and responses, always free
Payments
Accept payments from day one. These tools charge per transaction rather than a monthly fee, so you only pay when you earn.
- Stripe — no monthly fee, 1.5% + 20p per UK transaction
- Lemon Squeezy — merchant of record, handles EU VAT automatically
- Gumroad — sell digital products, 10% fee on free plan
AI Tools
Use AI to speed up writing, research, and building. All of these have meaningful free tiers that do not expire.
- Claude — strong reasoning and writing, free tier with daily limits
- ChatGPT — broad capability, free tier on GPT-4o with limits
- Perplexity — AI-powered search, free tier for research and summaries
Free resource
More free blueprints
Browse the full collection of free blueprints for no-code founders.