Loops alternatives: 6 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
A complete lifecycle automation engine with no contact ceiling; simplicity left the building.
Marketing, transactional email and workflows from one self-hosted app; SaaS-specific templates are fewer.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup or Docker Compose
dataSelf-hosted data lives in PostgreSQL, queues in Redis, and uploads in bundled MinIO or another S3-compatible store.
the catch vs LoopsPlunk covers the same broad messaging modes, but it has fewer SaaS-specific templates and integrations and asks you to own the sending and operational stack.
setupThe self-host path needs Docker, several subdomains, DNS/TLS, and an AWS SES account with credentials and domain verification.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Lifecycle journeys driven by product events, with richer branching and much heavier operations.
licenseMIT
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDittofeed Cloud or Docker Compose/Kubernetes self-host
dataSelf-hosted identity and configuration data lives in PostgreSQL and event/segment data in ClickHouse; optional blob data can use object storage.
the catch vs LoopsDittofeed offers richer event-driven journeys, but PostgreSQL, ClickHouse, event instrumentation, and delivery-provider setup make it vastly heavier to operate than Loops.
setupDocker Compose brings Postgres and ClickHouse, but the harder first step is instrumenting product events and connecting an email provider.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Modern campaigns, transactional mail and visual automations in one compose stack; event collection remains your job.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installNotifuse Cloud signup or self-host with Docker
dataSelf-hosted contact, campaign, event, and analytics data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded assets use S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs LoopsNotifuse provides campaigns, transactional mail, and visual automations, but product-event collection, infrastructure, and delivery configuration remain your responsibility.
setupSelf-hosting needs Docker, PostgreSQL, object storage, a public domain, and a separately configured SMTP or email API provider.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Hosted marketing and transactional email with automation; the 300-message daily cap is less startup-shaped.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
dataContacts, campaigns, consent records, and message events live in Brevo's cloud; contacts can be exported as CSV.
the catch vs LoopsBrevo Free sends campaigns and transactional messages, but its 300-per-day throttle and less product-event-native workflow make it a poorer fit for SaaS lifecycle messaging than Loops.
setupAuthenticating a custom sending domain requires adding DNS records.
facts verified 2026-08-10
The vendor's own free tier includes every lifecycle and transactional feature for 1,000 contacts.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
dataContacts, custom properties, events, workflows, and message history live in Loops' cloud; contacts can be imported/exported as CSV.
the catch vs LoopsLoops Free is the same product, but it stops being a full replacement once you exceed 1,000 contacts or 4,000 emails in a rolling 30-day period.
setupYou must authenticate a sending domain and instrument your app or API before lifecycle emails become useful.
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mautic | open source | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 10,300 | 2026-08 |
| Plunk | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 5,300 | 2026-08 |
| Dittofeed | MIT | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 2,887 | 2026-03 |
| Notifuse | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 2,038 | 2026-08 |
| Brevo Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Loops Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
Loops: The editor is trivial compared with inbox placement, compliance, reputation, unsubscribe handling, analytics, and audience growth infrastructure. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $588 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Loops?
Yes: Mautic, Plunk, Dittofeed and 3 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Loops?
Our verdict is PARCIAL. The visible SaaS email platform loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Loops earns its keep through deliverability, reputation, network, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at puedovibecodearlo.app/loops.
