Read from the pricing page
Newsletter tools ranked on what they cost, not on what they claim.
12 newsletter and email marketing tools, compared on what a paying sender really spends. Each price is read from the vendor’s own page and carries the date we last checked it.
beehiiv
4.6Built by newsletter people, with growth tools nobody else has.
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The best newsletter tools, ranked
Ranked on quality, ease of use and price.
- 4.6
From $43.08/mo
Free version available
- 4.6
From $10/mo
Free version available
- 4.5
From $9/mo
Free version available
- 4.5
From $33/mo
Free version available
- 4.5
From $20/mo
Free version available
- 4.3
From $13.12/mo
Head to head
Every head-to-head we have published
Two providers side by side, on price and on what you actually get.
14 all comparisons
Independently compared
Tools are judged on features, ease of use, and price. No newsletter platform can pay for a better spot.
Free plans taken seriously
Some free tiers carry a real newsletter for years; others exist to push you onto a paid plan. We say which is which.
Judged on real work
The test is the job itself: growing a list, getting a good email out the door, and reading the results afterwards.
Kept up to date
Email tools reprice their tiers often. Ours are re-checked on a schedule and every review shows its date.
Compare the real price of every newsletter tool
Our live index ranks all 11 newsletter tools by what they actually cost.
Compare pricesLowest prices
liveReviews
Our independent verdicts, dated and sourced.
beehiiv
beehiiv Inc.
“The platform that treats your newsletter as a business from day one. Free up to 2,500 subscribers, a referral program and ad network built in, and no cut taken from paid subscriptions. The strongest growth story in this lineup.”Editorial team, via MailShortlist
MailerLite
MailerLite
“The most pleasant editor of this line-up and a free plan you can genuinely start a business on. For beginners, this is our first recommendation.”Editorial team, via MailShortlist
Brevo
Brevo SAS
“Paying per email sent instead of per contact makes Brevo unique. We stored tens of thousands of contacts for free. For a big list you do not email daily, it is by far the cheapest serious option.”Editorial team, via MailShortlist
Kit (ConvertKit)
Kit Inc.
“Built around the creator. The writing experience is wonderfully clean, the free plan runs up to 10,000 subscribers, and paid newsletters give you direct monetization. The standard for creators.”Editorial team, via MailShortlist
Insights
Practical guides and explainers to help you pick the right newsletter tool.
The best free newsletter tool
How the free plans really differ, from 2,500 free subscribers to 10,000 to unlimited contacts.
The best newsletter platform for creators
These platforms are built for makers who grow an audience and earn from it directly.
The best email tool for online stores
The store top picks for abandoned carts, purchase-behavior segments, and revenue per email.
The best Substack alternative
Outgrowing the 10% fee? How to pick a successor and move your list.
The best newsletter tool for beginners
The friendliest editor, free to start, and room to grow without switching.
Starting a newsletter for free: the real options
Which free plans are genuinely generous and which are mostly bait. Compared honestly.
How to choose a newsletter tool
Work through these checks and within five minutes you will know which newsletter tool suits your list.
Frequently asked questions
The questions people ask most, answered short and straight.
What is the best free newsletter tool?
Brevo has the most generous free plan for sending: 300 emails a day with unlimited stored contacts. MailerLite is the friendliest place to start with up to 250 subscribers. For newsletter-first creators, beehiiv is free up to 2,500 subscribers. Mailchimp cut its free plan back hard in early 2026, so we no longer recommend it as a starting point.
Should I pay per contact or per email sent?
If you have a big list but only email occasionally, paying per email sent (like Brevo) is far cheaper. If you email a small list frequently, paying per contact works fine. Most tools charge per contact, so check this before your list grows.
Do I need marketing automation?
Not for a simple newsletter. If you want welcome series, abandoned cart emails, or behavior-based campaigns, look at ActiveCampaign or GetResponse. Start simple; you can always switch later.
Should I use Substack or a dedicated newsletter tool?
Substack is the fastest way to start a paid newsletter, but it takes 10% of your paid subscription revenue and owns the reader relationship. beehiiv and Kit give you more growth tools, your own audience data, and no revenue cut on paid plans. If writing is a hobby, Substack is fine; if it is a business, move to beehiiv or Kit.
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