Best email newsletter tools in 2026
Picking the wrong newsletter tool costs you money, subscribers, and time. We compared the 8 best email newsletter tools on pricing, free tiers, deliverability, features, and who each one is really built for.
Start your free newsletter on blogrr →The 8 best email newsletter tools
blogrr
Writers who want blog + newsletter together
Free tier
Free forever, unlimited sends
Paid from
Free (paid subscriptions take 0%)
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Blog + newsletter in one platform
- ✓AI writing assistant
- ✓Full SEO control
Cons
- −Newer platform
- −Smaller ecosystem
Best free all-in-one for writers — blog, newsletter, and monetization with 0% commission.
Start for free →Beehiiv
Newsletter-focused creators who want growth tools
Free tier
Free up to 2,500 subscribers
Paid from
$42/month (Growth)
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Built-in referral program
- ✓Advanced analytics
- ✓0% commission
Cons
- −$42/month for full features
- −No blog SEO focus
Best for newsletter-first creators who want growth tools and 0% commission at scale.
ConvertKit (Kit)
Creators with advanced automation needs
Free tier
Free up to 10,000 subscribers (limited)
Paid from
$25/month
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Powerful automation
- ✓Large creator ecosystem
- ✓Commerce features
Cons
- −Complex for beginners
- −Price increases quickly with list size
Best for creators who need sophisticated email automation and have the budget for it.
Mailchimp
Small businesses and e-commerce
Free tier
Free up to 500 contacts
Paid from
$13/month
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Widely known
- ✓E-commerce integrations
- ✓Templates
Cons
- −Free tier very limited
- −Price gets expensive fast
Better for e-commerce than content creators — the free tier is too limited for newsletter growth.
Substack
Writers who want simplicity and discoverability
Free tier
Free forever
Paid from
Free (10% of paid subscriptions)
Commission
10% of paid revenue
Pros
- ✓Extremely simple
- ✓Built-in reader network
- ✓Zero setup
Cons
- −10% revenue cut is expensive at scale
- −Limited customization
Great for starting out but the 10% cut becomes significant as you grow.
Ghost
Professional publishers with technical skills
Free tier
Self-hosted only
Paid from
$9/month
Commission
0% (free plan: 10%)
Pros
- ✓Built-in newsletter + membership
- ✓Beautiful design
- ✓Fast performance
Cons
- −Requires monthly payment
- −Technical setup for self-hosting
Excellent for serious publishers willing to pay $9+/month; no free hosted option.
MailerLite
Small businesses wanting affordability
Free tier
Free up to 1,000 subscribers
Paid from
$9/month
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Affordable
- ✓Good deliverability
- ✓Easy automation
Cons
- −Less feature-rich than ConvertKit
- −Newsletter-only (no blog)
Good budget option for small businesses; limited features for serious content creators.
Constant Contact
Established businesses with marketing teams
Free tier
60-day trial only
Paid from
$12/month
Commission
0%
Pros
- ✓Strong deliverability
- ✓Event management features
- ✓Phone support
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Overkill for solo creators
Built for businesses, not individual creators — too expensive and complex for most bloggers.
Side-by-side comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Starting price | Commission | Blog included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| blogrr#1 | Free forever, unlimited sends | Free (paid subscriptions take 0%) | 0% | Yes |
| Beehiiv | Free up to 2,500 subscribers | $42/month (Growth) | 0% | No |
| ConvertKit (Kit) | Free up to 10,000 subscribers (limited) | $25/month | 0% | No |
| Mailchimp | Free up to 500 contacts | $13/month | 0% | No |
| Substack | Free forever | Free (10% of paid subscriptions) | 10% of paid revenue | No |
| Ghost | Self-hosted only | $9/month | 0% (free plan: 10%) | Yes |
| MailerLite | Free up to 1,000 subscribers | $9/month | 0% | No |
| Constant Contact | 60-day trial only | $12/month | 0% | No |
How to choose the right tool
The best email newsletter tool depends on your goals, technical comfort, and budget. Here are the four most common situations:
You want blog + newsletter together
If you plan to publish blog posts and send newsletters from the same platform, blogrr is the only free tool that does both natively with full SEO support.
You need advanced automation
For complex email sequences, tagging logic, and automation workflows, ConvertKit (Kit) leads the field — just budget for the cost as your list grows.
You want the simplest possible start
Substack gets you live in under five minutes with a built-in reader network. The 10% cut is the price of that simplicity — acceptable early, expensive later.
You are a business, not a creator
Mailchimp and Constant Contact are optimised for e-commerce and marketing teams. If you send promotional campaigns rather than editorial newsletters, they fit better.
Try blogrr — free newsletter + blog.
Blog, newsletter, paid subscriptions, and AI writing assistant — all on the free plan. 0% commission, unlimited sends, no credit card required.
Start free →