Best Free Newsletter Platforms in 2026: 9 Platforms Compared

Substack is the simplest way to start a newsletter. You can publish free issues to any number of subscribers, and turning on paid subscriptions is straightforward. Readers can also discover your work through Substack itself, which helps a new writer find an audience without ads.

The cost appears only when you earn. Substack takes 10 percent of paid revenue, plus card processing fees, so a large paid list becomes expensive compared with a flat-fee platform. Design and automation are also basic. If writing and paid subscriptions are the core, Substack is an excellent start. If you need deep automation, look elsewhere.

beehiiv is built for newsletters as a business. The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, and the platform adds referral programs, recommendations, and an ad network to help a publication grow and earn. It also charges no platform fee on paid subscriptions, apart from payment processing.

Paid plans are the catch, starting around $49 per month for the Lite tier in recent pricing guides. That is a jump from free, though it can still beat a 10 percent revenue share for a larger paid list. If your newsletter itself is the product, beehiiv is one of the strongest free starts. If you only send occasional business email, a cheaper marketing tool may fit better.

Kit, formerly ConvertKit, is made for creators who sell through email. The free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, which is generous, and the platform focuses on forms, tags, sequences, and product sales. That makes it a good fit for a writer, coach, or course creator whose newsletter feeds a business.

The free plan limits automation, and paid plans start in the $29 to $39 per month range depending on billing and list size, with a transaction fee on some commerce sales. The editor is also plainer than a design-led tool. If you sell to your list, Kit is a practical free start. If you only publish a newsletter, beehiiv or Substack may feel more focused.

Mailchimp is the safe, familiar choice for small business email. It offers templates, audience segments, automations, and links to many other tools, from online stores to booking apps. That breadth helps a business that sends promotions, updates, and event mail from one place.

The free plan is now small, at 250 contacts and 500 sends per month in recent pricing guides, and paid plans from $13 per month rise as contacts grow. For a tiny list, the free plan still works. For a growing newsletter, beehiiv or Kit may give more room at a lower early cost. Choose Mailchimp when integrations and all-round marketing matter most.

MailerLite is a favorite for budget-conscious senders. The editor is clean, the templates look modern, and paid plans start at $12 per month for small lists. For a small business or creator who sends regular campaigns without complex automation, it offers good value.

Free limits matter, at 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails per month, so a growing list will need a paid plan sooner than on Kit or beehiiv. New accounts may also face a review step before sending. If you want a simple, low-cost email tool and you can live within those limits, MailerLite is easy to recommend.

Brevo, formerly Sendinblue, suits businesses that need more than newsletters. The free plan allows 300 emails per day with a large contact allowance, and paid plans from $9 per month are priced by sending volume. SMS, WhatsApp, and transactional email can sit in the same account.

That model helps a business with a large list but modest sending frequency. The daily cap can frustrate a publisher who sends a large issue at once, and the archive feels more like campaign copies than a public magazine. For a small business that mixes marketing and transactional mail, Brevo is a strong low-cost choice.

Ghost is for publishers who want to own their site. It combines a website, a newsletter, and paid memberships, and it takes no cut of membership revenue apart from payment fees. That ownership appeals to independent media, blogs, and creators who do not want to rent their audience from a network.

The hosted service is paid, starting at $9 per month in recent guides, with higher tiers for larger member counts. Self-hosting the open-source software is free, but it needs server care. Setup also takes more time than Substack. If ownership and a full publication site matter most, Ghost is worth the paid start. If you only want free email, start elsewhere.

Buttondown is deliberately minimal. You write in Markdown or a simple editor, send to subscribers, and keep a public archive. The free plan covers up to 100 subscribers, and paid plans start at $9 per month, with extra features sold as add-ons. That clarity suits writers and developers who want a simple tool without a large platform.

The limits are real. One hundred free subscribers will not last long for a growing newsletter, and add-ons can raise the bill. Design is also plain, which some readers will love and others will find dull. For a small, personal newsletter with a technical audience, Buttondown is a clean and honest choice.

Constant Contact is built for local businesses, nonprofits, and event organizers. Templates are easy to use, event pages and RSVPs are built in, and support resources are strong. That makes it a good fit for a shop, church, club, or charity that sends regular updates and event invitations.

It is not a free platform in the same sense as the others. Paid plans start at $12 per month, with a free trial rather than a permanent free tier, and costs rise with contacts. For a business that needs event tools and hands-on support, that price can be fair. For a free newsletter start, Substack, beehiiv, or Kit will save money.