Free reader magnet delivery: what each free plan really gives you

If you search for free reader magnet delivery software, you will find plenty of tools with a free plan. The catch is that "free" often means free to hand over a file, not free to collect the email addresses that were the whole point. This guide looks at what each free option really gives you, so you can pick one without a surprise later.

We make Storyfinch, which is one of the options, so read this with that in mind. We have stuck to what each provider says on its own website, and said where a free plan is the better fit than ours.

The short answer

• Free and collects reader emails: Storyfinch's free plan, or doing it yourself with Kit or MailerLite.
• Free but delivers files only: StoryOrigin's Basic plan and Prolific Works' Basic plan. Neither adds readers to your list.
• No free plan: BookFunnel. It has a 30-day refund instead.

What "free" usually means

A reader magnet only grows your mailing list if the reader's email address ends up with you. Before you commit to a free plan, check three things:

• Does it collect email addresses? Some free plans let readers download a book without ever giving you their address.
• Does it record consent? If anyone ever asks how a reader joined your list, you want to be able to show them. Our guide to proving email consent explains why.
• What are the limits? Free plans cap books, deliveries or features, and the cap decides how long the plan lasts you.

Storyfinch free plan

The free plan gives you one active reader magnet and 50 deliveries a month, with no card needed. Each reader gets a private download link that expires, and every signup is saved with a record of what the reader agreed to.

The readers are yours. On the free plan you download them as a spreadsheet and add them to your email service yourself. Adding them automatically is part of Pro, as are unlimited reader magnets, 2,000 deliveries a month and removing the small Storyfinch credit. See the pricing page for the current prices.

Best for: authors with one book to give away who want to start building a list today without paying.

StoryOrigin Basic

StoryOrigin's free Basic plan delivers files, but it does not collect reader email addresses. Reader magnets with email collection start on its Standard plan. Its real strength is newsletter swaps and group promotions. Our StoryOrigin comparison has the details.

Prolific Works Basic

Prolific Works has its own reader marketplace, and its free Basic plan runs giveaways, but it does not add readers to your list. That needs a paid plan. Our Prolific Works comparison covers it.

Kit and MailerLite on their own

If you already use one of these, you can skip a delivery service for your first book:

• Kit: a form's confirmation email can deliver a file once the reader confirms. This works on Kit's free plan, but automated follow-up sequences need a paid plan. See how to deliver a reader magnet with Kit.
• MailerLite: upload the book to the File Manager (PDF or EPUB, up to 10 MB) and link to it from an automated email when someone joins a group. The free plan includes three automations. See how to deliver a reader magnet with MailerLite.

The trade-off is that every reader gets the same file link, so it can be shared around, and readers get no help loading the book onto their device.

BookFunnel

BookFunnel has no free plan. Its cheapest plan delivers files but does not collect email addresses, and list-building starts on a much higher tier. It is the better choice if you will use its audiobook delivery or review copies. Our BookFunnel comparison has the prices.

At a glance

Plans and limits were checked on each provider's own website in October 2026, and they do change.

When free stops being enough

A free plan is a good place to start, and plenty of authors never need more. You will probably want to pay when:

• You have a second book to give away at the same time, and one active reader magnet is no longer enough.
• You are getting more than 50 signups a month, which is a sign the reader magnet is working. Past 50 deliveries in a calendar month, new signups are still saved with their consent record, but the book is not sent to them.
• Downloading a spreadsheet and adding readers by hand has become a chore, and you want them added to your email service automatically.

At that point Pro is a small yearly cost. If you would rather stay free, doing the spreadsheet step once a week is perfectly workable.

How to start for free

1. Create a free account. No card is needed.
2. Add your book as an EPUB, a PDF or both, with a cover and a short description.
3. Share your link in your newsletter, your back matter and your social profiles. Our guide to growing your author mailing list has more places to use it.

Frequently asked questions