Best newsletter platform 2026: our comparison
A newsletter platform helps you write, format, send and sometimes monetise a regular newsletter. Two worlds coexist on this niche: creator-first platforms built for the newsletter (Beehiiv, Kit, Substack), designed for growth and paid subscriptions, and classical email marketing tools (Brevo, MailerLite, Mailchimp), more focused on campaigns and automation. We compare them on the free plan and its real limits, built-in monetisation, audience growth, deliverability, data hosting and true price. Here is our 2026 shortlist.
Our pick at a glance
Our pickBeehiiv, the platform built to grow and monetise a newsletter, with a free plan up to 2,500 subscribers and 0% commission on paid subscriptions.
See ↓ Best free planKit (ex-ConvertKit), the most generous free plan in the comparison, up to 10,000 subscribers, highly appreciated by creators.
See ↓ Best for GDPRBrevo, EU-based editor, data hosted in the EU and free up to 300 emails a day: the safest option for compliance.
See ↓ Simplest to useSubstack, no installation or fixed cost: you publish in five minutes and the platform takes 10% on your paid subscriptions.
See ↓ Best valueMailerLite, the most intuitive editor at low cost, hosted in the EU (Lithuania).
See ↓ Most recognisedMailchimp, the historical reference, feature-rich but US-hosted and with a now very limited free plan.
See ↓At a glance
The best newsletter platforms compared
| Platform | Score | Free plan | Monetisation | Hosting | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Beehiiv Our pick | ★★★★½ 4.6 | ✓ 2,500 subs | Built-in (0%) | United States | $49 | See → |
 Kit Best free | ★★★★½ 4.5 | ✓ 10,000 subs | Built-in | United States | $39 | See → |
 Brevo EU-hosted | ★★★★½ 4.5 | ✓ 300/day | Not native | EU (France) | $9 | See → |
 Substack | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | ✓ Unlimited | Built-in (10%) | United States | $0 | See → |
 MailerLite | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | ✓ 250 subs | Digital products | EU (Lithuania) | $12 | See → |
 Mailchimp | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | ✓ 250 contacts | Not native | United States | $13 | See → |
Entry paid plan prices, indicative and checked in July 2026, excluding tax, in US dollars. Brevo is billed in euros; Beehiiv, Kit, Substack, MailerLite and Mailchimp charge in dollars on the global market (amounts vary with exchange rates). Pricing scales with the number of subscribers or send volume. Substack charges no subscription but takes 10% on paid subscription revenue (excluding Stripe fees). Beehiiv’s paid offer starts at $49 per month but remains free up to 2,500 subscribers. MailerLite’s free plan (250 subscribers, 2,500 sends a month since June 2026) and Mailchimp’s (250 contacts, 500 sends a month since January 2026) were both heavily cut in 2026.
Want to launch and monetise a newsletter?
Beehiiv combines growth and revenue: a free plan up to 2,500 subscribers, a built-in ad network and 0% commission on your paid subscriptions.
The top in detail
Our top newsletter platforms, analysed
Beehiiv
The best overall choice to launch and monetise a newsletter
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Built for the newsletter and its growth: cross-network recommendations, referral system, optimised signup pages and retention analytics.
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Solid free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends) and built-in monetisation with 0% commission on paid subscriptions, excluding Stripe fees.
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Built-in ad network and sponsorship platform to generate revenue without relying on external advertisers.
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Interface and support only in English, data hosted in the United States: less straightforward for GDPR compliance in Europe.
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The paid plan starts high: $49 per month once you exceed the free tier, costs climb quickly with subscriber count.
Our verdict
Beehiiv tops our ranking because it is built end to end for the newsletter creator: growth tools (referrals, recommendations, optimised signup pages), a built-in ad network and paid subscriptions with 0% platform commission. The free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends) is enough to launch for real. The trade-offs: an English-only interface, US data hosting and a paid plan that starts at $49 a month and climbs with your list.
Kit (ex-ConvertKit)
The most generous free plan for creators
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The most generous free plan in the comparison: up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends, forms and signup pages.
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Built for creators: automated sequences, cross-newsletter discovery and built-in digital product sales.
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Clean editor and excellent deliverability, with a large community and comprehensive documentation.
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Sequences and visual automation are limited on the free plan: you need the Creator plan to unlock them fully.
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Prices rose about 35% in September 2025 and the interface is in English only: the value proposition shifts once you go paid.
Our verdict
Kit wins on its free plan, the most generous here at up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends, forms and signup pages, and on a creator toolkit that spans automated sequences, cross-newsletter discovery and digital product sales. Two caveats: full visual automation is locked behind the Creator plan, and prices rose about 35% in September 2025, so the value shifts once you go paid.
Brevo
The best EU-based choice, data hosted in the EU
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European editor (ex-Sendinblue), data hosted in the EU, interface and support in English: the strongest GDPR argument in the comparison.
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Rare free plan: 300 emails a day and nearly unlimited contacts, because billing is based on send volume, not subscriber count.
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Complete suite (email, SMS, WhatsApp, marketing automation, light CRM) beyond simple newsletters.
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No native monetisation: Brevo does not integrate paid subscriptions like Substack, Beehiiv or Kit.
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The free plan requires a “Sent with Brevo” footer and the editor is less polished than MailerLite’s.
Our verdict
Brevo is the safest pick for a European publisher: it is an EU editor (ex-Sendinblue) that hosts your data in France and adds a full suite (email, SMS, WhatsApp, automation and a light CRM). Its send-based free plan (300 emails a day, near-unlimited contacts) is rare. The limits for this use case: no native paid subscriptions and a forced “Sent with Brevo” footer on the free plan.
Looking for an EU-based, GDPR-friendly platform?
Brevo hosts your data in France, offers an English interface and support, and its free plan sends up to 300 emails a day.
Substack
The simplest to start with no fixed cost
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The quickest learning curve: you create and publish a newsletter in minutes, no technical setup required.
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No fixed cost and unlimited subscribers: you only pay if you charge your readers, via the 10% commission.
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Discovery network, cross-recommendations and mobile app help you gain subscribers.
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The platform takes 10% of your paid subscription revenue (excluding Stripe fees), a fee that grows heavier as your paid audience scales.
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Very limited customisation and automation, data hosted in the United States and weak segmentation: Substack remains an editor, not a marketing platform.
Our verdict
Substack is the fastest way to start: you publish in minutes with zero setup, no fixed cost and unlimited subscribers, and you only pay when you charge readers. But the 10% cut on paid subscriptions grows heavy at scale, customisation and automation stay minimal and data is hosted in the United States. It is an editor, not a marketing platform.
MailerLite
The most intuitive, low-cost editor hosted in the EU
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One of the most intuitive editors on the market: a professional newsletter in minutes with no technical skills required.
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Among the lowest prices and built-in digital product and paid subscription sales to monetise your list.
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Lithuania-based editor, data in the EU: a solid compliance compromise for a global audience.
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The free plan was heavily cut in June 2026: just 250 subscribers and 2,500 sends a month, down from 1,000 subscribers.
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Interface and support in English only: the English translation is incomplete.
Our verdict
MailerLite is the best value for a clean, low-cost newsletter hosted in the EU (Lithuania), with one of the most intuitive editors and built-in digital product and paid-subscription sales. The catch: a free plan sharply trimmed in June 2026 (250 subscribers, 2,500 sends a month) and an English-only interface with an incomplete translation.
Mailchimp
The historical reference, rich but US-hosted
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The most recognised and richest platform: polished editor, templates, AI recommendations and a massive integrations ecosystem.
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Complete reporting and advanced e-commerce features for online stores that also send newsletters.
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Large community and abundant documentation to learn fast.
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Data hosted in the United States and no native paid subscriptions: a weakness for a monetised newsletter in Europe.
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Free plan trimmed in January 2026 (250 contacts, 500 sends a month) and pricing climbs quickly with list size.
Our verdict
Mailchimp remains the most recognised and feature-rich option, with a polished editor, deep e-commerce features and a huge integrations ecosystem. For a monetised newsletter in Europe, though, it is held back by US data hosting, no native paid subscriptions and a free plan trimmed in January 2026 (250 contacts, 500 sends a month) whose pricing climbs quickly with list size.
Our criteria
Comparison: monetisation, growth and deliverability
Beyond the sticker price, it is built-in monetisation, audience-growth tools and deliverability that separate a creator platform from a classical email tool. Here is our detailed, criterion-by-criterion analysis to help you decide.
Our method. We cross our hands-on interface tests (editor, signup pages, paid subscriptions, automation) with official pricing grids and public industry deliverability reports, re-checked at every price change. Last verified: July 2026.
Deliverability (inbox placement)
Deliverability is the share of your newsletters that land in the inbox rather than the spam folder. It depends on the platform’s sending infrastructure (IP reputation, SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication) as much as on your own list hygiene.
Share of emails landing in the inbox · indicative
Indicative figures based on public industry deliverability tests (July 2026). The longer the bar, the better.
- Kit and Beehiiv post the highest rates, backed by well-maintained sending infrastructure tuned for creators.
- MailerLite and Brevo hold a very good level while offering EU data hosting.
- The gaps stay small: your real deliverability will hinge above all on the quality of your list and on authenticating your domain.
Key takeaway. No platform guarantees 100% deliverability. Authenticate your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), keep your list clean and never buy subscribers. For more, see our guide to the average email open rate.
Monetisation and audience growth
This is where creator-first platforms pull ahead of classical email tools: built-in paid subscriptions, ad networks, referral engines and optimised signup pages. Here is what each platform covers.
✓ available · ✗ absent or very limited. Scroll the table horizontally if needed.
| Platform | Paid subscriptions | Commission | Ad / sponsor network | Referrals | Signup pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beehiiv | ✓ | 0% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kit | ✓ | Stripe only | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Substack | ✓ | 10% | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MailerLite | ✓ (products) | Stripe only | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Brevo | ✗ | n/a | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mailchimp | ✗ | n/a | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
- Beehiiv is the most complete for revenue: paid subscriptions at 0% commission plus a native ad network.
- Kit and Substack also embed monetisation and cross-recommendations, with Substack’s flat 10% cut versus Kit’s Stripe-only model.
- Brevo and Mailchimp have no native paid subscriptions: fine for a company newsletter, short for a monetised media.
Key takeaway. For a media newsletter you want to grow and monetise, Beehiiv and Kit lead and Substack is the quickest to start. For a company newsletter tied to an existing customer base, Brevo or Mailchimp make more sense thanks to automation and CRM.
Pricing by volume
Price depends on the billing basis: number of subscribers (most platforms), send volume (Brevo) or a commission on paid revenue (Substack). That difference changes everything as your list grows.
Indicative prices, excluding tax, checked in July 2026, in US dollars.
| Platform | Billing basis | Free plan | Entry plan | Higher tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beehiiv | By subscribers | 2,500 subs | $49/mo (Scale) | $99/mo (Max) |
| Kit | By subscribers | 10,000 subs | $39/mo (Creator) | $79/mo (Creator Pro) |
| Brevo | By send volume | 300 emails/day | $9/mo (Starter) | $18/mo (Business) |
| Substack | Commission | Unlimited | $0 + 10% | Stripe fees |
| MailerLite | By subscribers | 250 subs | $12/mo (500) | $39/mo (5,000) |
| Mailchimp | By contacts | 250 contacts | $13/mo (500) | $75/mo (5,000) |
Key takeaway. Substack costs nothing until you charge readers; Kit and Beehiiv have the most generous free plans; Brevo and MailerLite have the cheapest entry paid plans. Watch how quickly the price climbs with your subscriber count.
Hosting and GDPR compliance
If you email EU or UK subscribers, where your provider stores data matters for GDPR, along with your own consent and unsubscribe practices.
- Brevo (France) and MailerLite (Lithuania) host in the European Union, the simplest route to GDPR compliance.
- Beehiiv, Kit, Substack and Mailchimp host in the United States: still usable, but you must frame the EU data transfer with the appropriate safeguards.
- Compliance also depends on your own practices: consent, easy unsubscribe and a record of processing.
Key takeaway. If data sovereignty matters, favour an EU-hosted editor like Brevo or MailerLite. Also see our guide to email marketing laws.
Which newsletter platform for which use case?
In short, here is our recommendation by profile:
| Your profile | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Launch and monetise a media | Beehiiv | Growth tools, ad network and 0% commission on paid subs |
| Creator on a budget | Kit | Free up to 10,000 subscribers, sequences included |
| Fastest to start | Substack | Zero setup, no fixed cost, pay only on paid subscriptions |
| EU company / GDPR | Brevo | Data hosted in the EU, automation and a light CRM included |
| Clean newsletter, low cost | MailerLite | Intuitive editor, EU hosting and digital products |
| E-commerce newsletter | Mailchimp | Deep e-commerce features and a huge integrations ecosystem |
How we built this ranking
Each newsletter platform is scored on six weighted axes: the editor and layout (how easily you build a clean newsletter), monetisation and paid subscriptions (built-in payments, commission, ad networks), audience growth (referrals, signup pages, cross-recommendations), deliverability (how reliably campaigns land in the inbox), automation (sequences, triggered workflows, segmentation) and value for money (cost per subscriber tier, monthly or annual billing and the real limits of the free plan). We distinguish two use cases: launching a media newsletter you want to grow and monetise, where Beehiiv, Kit and Substack lead, and sending a company newsletter tied to an existing customer base, where Brevo, MailerLite and Mailchimp remain more relevant thanks to automation and CRM. We re-evaluate offers every time the pricing grid changes, hence the update date at the top of the page.
How to choose the right newsletter platform
Ask yourself one simple question first: do you want to monetise your newsletter? If yes, a creator-first platform with built-in paid subscriptions (Beehiiv, Kit, Substack) saves you from building your own payment system. Then compare the commission: Substack takes 10% on paid revenue, Beehiiv takes 0% (excluding Stripe fees). If you just want to send a newsletter to an existing audience, a classical email tool like Brevo or MailerLite works and costs less. Next, check data hosting: for a European company subject to GDPR, an editor that hosts in the EU (Brevo in France, MailerLite in Lithuania) simplifies compliance, whereas Beehiiv, Kit, Substack and Mailchimp host in the United States. Finally, look at free plan limits: Kit allows up to 10,000 subscribers, Beehiiv 2,500, while MailerLite and Mailchimp now cap at 250. A generous free plan lets you start seriously without spending.
Creator newsletter platform or email marketing tool: what is the difference?
Creator-first newsletter platforms were built for one job: publish regularly, grow your audience and monetise it via paid subscriptions or ads. They bet on simplicity, discovery between publications and built-in payments, but offer limited automation and segmentation. Classical email marketing tools manage complete marketing campaigns: triggered workflows, scoring, forms, sometimes a CRM. They are more powerful for managing customer relationships but are rarely built to sell newsletter subscriptions. The right choice depends on your goal: build a media (Beehiiv, Kit, Substack) or nurture an audience (Brevo, MailerLite, Mailchimp). For a full overview of campaign email tools, check our comparison of the best email marketing software 2026 and our email marketing hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best newsletter platform in 2026?
To launch and grow a newsletter, Beehiiv offers the best balance: a free plan up to 2,500 subscribers, a built-in ad network and 0% commission on paid subscriptions. Kit offers the most generous free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers), Substack the simplest onboarding, and Brevo the best EU option hosted in the EU. The right choice depends on your goal: monetise a media or nurture an audience.
Which free newsletter platform should you choose?
Kit has the broadest free plan, up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends. Beehiiv offers free up to 2,500 subscribers, and Brevo up to 300 emails a day with an almost unlimited base. Substack is free with no subscriber limits and only takes a cut if you charge readers. By contrast, the MailerLite (250 subscribers) and Mailchimp (250 contacts) free plans were heavily cut in 2026.
How do you monetise a newsletter?
Creator-first platforms embed paid subscriptions without you building a payment system. Substack takes 10% of subscription revenue (excluding Stripe fees), Beehiiv takes 0% commission and adds an ad network, while Kit lets you sell digital products and subscriptions. Brevo and Mailchimp do not have native paid subscriptions, but MailerLite lets you sell digital products.
Which newsletter platform is most GDPR compliant?
Compliance depends mostly on data hosting location and your own practices (consent, unsubscribe, processing record). Brevo (France) and MailerLite (Lithuania) host in the European Union and make compliance simpler. Beehiiv, Kit, Substack and Mailchimp host in the United States: they remain usable but involve an EU data transfer that you need to frame properly.
How much does a newsletter platform cost?
From $0 to a few tens of dollars a month depending on your audience. Entry paid plans start around $9 with Brevo, $12 with MailerLite, $13 with Mailchimp, $39 with Kit and $49 with Beehiiv (indicative prices, July 2026). Substack charges no subscription but takes 10% on paid subscription revenue. Cost then rises by subscriber tier, and annual billing is almost always cheaper per month than monthly payments.