Quick Overview
- 1#1: Mailchimp - Comprehensive email marketing platform for designing, automating, and analyzing newsletters at scale.
- 2#2: ConvertKit - Creator-focused email tool for building newsletters, subscriber relationships, and monetization.
- 3#3: Beehiiv - Modern newsletter platform with growth tools, advanced analytics, and seamless monetization.
- 4#4: Substack - Simple platform for writers to publish, distribute, and earn from email newsletters.
- 5#5: MailerLite - Affordable drag-and-drop email builder with automations and popups for newsletters.
- 6#6: ActiveCampaign - Advanced email automation and CRM platform for personalized newsletter campaigns.
- 7#7: Brevo - Versatile email marketing service offering newsletters, SMS, and transactional emails.
- 8#8: Constant Contact - Easy-to-use email tool for small businesses to create and send professional newsletters.
- 9#9: Ghost - Open-source publishing platform with integrated newsletter delivery and memberships.
- 10#10: AWeber - Established email marketing software with tagging, automations, and newsletter templates.
Tools were evaluated based on core functionality (automation, design, monetization), user-friendliness, reliability, and value, ensuring they cater to both beginners and scaling teams across key use cases.
Comparison Table
Email newsletter software is a vital tool for connecting with audiences, offering diverse options to suit different needs. This comparison table outlines key features—including ease of use, automation capabilities, pricing, and platform strengths—helping readers identify the best fit for their goals, whether for business growth, content sharing, or community building.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mailchimp Comprehensive email marketing platform for designing, automating, and analyzing newsletters at scale. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 2 | ConvertKit Creator-focused email tool for building newsletters, subscriber relationships, and monetization. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | Beehiiv Modern newsletter platform with growth tools, advanced analytics, and seamless monetization. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 4 | Substack Simple platform for writers to publish, distribute, and earn from email newsletters. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 5 | MailerLite Affordable drag-and-drop email builder with automations and popups for newsletters. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | ActiveCampaign Advanced email automation and CRM platform for personalized newsletter campaigns. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 7 | Brevo Versatile email marketing service offering newsletters, SMS, and transactional emails. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.6/10 |
| 8 | Constant Contact Easy-to-use email tool for small businesses to create and send professional newsletters. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 9 | Ghost Open-source publishing platform with integrated newsletter delivery and memberships. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 10 | AWeber Established email marketing software with tagging, automations, and newsletter templates. | specialized | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.2/10 |
Comprehensive email marketing platform for designing, automating, and analyzing newsletters at scale.
Creator-focused email tool for building newsletters, subscriber relationships, and monetization.
Modern newsletter platform with growth tools, advanced analytics, and seamless monetization.
Simple platform for writers to publish, distribute, and earn from email newsletters.
Affordable drag-and-drop email builder with automations and popups for newsletters.
Advanced email automation and CRM platform for personalized newsletter campaigns.
Versatile email marketing service offering newsletters, SMS, and transactional emails.
Easy-to-use email tool for small businesses to create and send professional newsletters.
Open-source publishing platform with integrated newsletter delivery and memberships.
Established email marketing software with tagging, automations, and newsletter templates.
Mailchimp
specializedComprehensive email marketing platform for designing, automating, and analyzing newsletters at scale.
Customer Journey Builder for advanced multi-step automation workflows
Mailchimp is a leading all-in-one email marketing platform that enables users to design, send, and track email newsletters with ease. It features a drag-and-drop editor, extensive template library, audience segmentation, A/B testing, and automation workflows for personalized campaigns. Additionally, it offers integrated tools for landing pages, signup forms, analytics, and even paid ads across multiple channels.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible for beginners
- Robust automation and segmentation for targeted newsletters
- Generous free plan with core features up to 500 contacts
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with larger audiences
- Advanced analytics and support limited to higher tiers
- Occasional complexity in automation setup for non-experts
Best For
Small businesses, creators, and marketers seeking an easy-to-use platform for scalable email newsletters.
Pricing
Free for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends/month; paid plans start at $13/month (Essentials) and go up to $350+/month for enterprise features based on audience size.
ConvertKit
specializedCreator-focused email tool for building newsletters, subscriber relationships, and monetization.
Advanced subscriber tagging system for hyper-personalized automations and targeting
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed specifically for creators like bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers, focusing on building and monetizing email lists through newsletters, automations, and subscriber segmentation. It provides tools for creating landing pages, signup forms, and sequences to nurture subscribers, with strong emphasis on tagging for personalized communication. The platform also integrates commerce features for selling digital products directly to audiences.
Pros
- Creator-focused tools with excellent subscriber tagging and segmentation
- Visual automation builder that's intuitive for sequences and broadcasts
- Built-in commerce for seamless digital product sales and monetization
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with large subscriber lists
- Limited selection of email templates compared to generalist tools
- Reporting and analytics are solid but not enterprise-level advanced
Best For
Content creators, bloggers, and podcasters who want to grow engaged audiences and monetize through email.
Pricing
Free plan up to 300 subscribers; Creator plan starts at $15/month for 1,000 subscribers, scaling to $29/month for 3,000 and higher tiers based on list size.
Beehiiv
specializedModern newsletter platform with growth tools, advanced analytics, and seamless monetization.
Recommendation Network for automated cross-promotions across newsletters
Beehiiv is a creator-centric email newsletter platform that enables users to build, grow, and monetize newsletters with tools for seamless publishing, subscriber management, and analytics. It stands out with built-in growth features like the Recommendation Network for cross-promotions and Boosts for paid subscriber acquisition, alongside support for paid subscriptions with zero platform fees. The platform also includes an ad marketplace and a drag-and-drop editor tailored for modern newsletters.
Pros
- Powerful growth tools like Recommendation Network and Boosts
- No platform fees on paid subscriptions
- Integrated ad network for monetization
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for large lists
- Fewer advanced automation options than competitors
- Limited template variety
Best For
Independent creators and publishers aiming to rapidly grow and monetize newsletters through organic referrals and ads.
Pricing
Free up to 2,500 subscribers; Scale ($42/mo for 10k subs), Max ($99/mo for 100k subs), Enterprise (custom).
Substack
specializedSimple platform for writers to publish, distribute, and earn from email newsletters.
Integrated paid subscription system with instant payouts and low-friction reader conversions
Substack is an all-in-one platform designed for writers and creators to publish newsletters, host content on the web, and deliver directly to subscribers' inboxes. It streamlines audience building, email distribution, and monetization through integrated paid subscriptions and payment processing. With tools for analytics, scheduling, and a recommendation network, it empowers independent publishers to focus on content creation without managing technical infrastructure.
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface requiring no technical expertise
- Seamless built-in monetization with paid subscriptions
- Powerful recommendation network for organic audience growth
Cons
- 10% platform fee on all paid subscription revenue
- Limited email customization and automation options
- Less flexibility for advanced segmentation or integrations
Best For
Independent writers, journalists, and solo creators seeking a simple platform to launch, grow, and monetize newsletters.
Pricing
Free to start and use; 10% fee on paid subscriptions plus Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).
MailerLite
specializedAffordable drag-and-drop email builder with automations and popups for newsletters.
Built-in popup and form builder with one-click integration for effortless lead generation
MailerLite is an affordable email marketing platform specializing in newsletters, offering drag-and-drop email builders, automation workflows, and subscriber segmentation for creators and small businesses. It includes tools for landing pages, popups, and websites to capture leads effortlessly. With a focus on simplicity, it supports A/B testing, RSS-to-email campaigns, and detailed analytics without overwhelming users.
Pros
- Generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor and automation builder
- Responsive 24/7 customer support via chat
Cons
- Limited advanced automation compared to enterprise tools
- Fewer third-party integrations than larger competitors
- Reporting lacks some depth in subscriber behavior insights
Best For
Small businesses, bloggers, and content creators seeking an easy-to-use, budget-friendly newsletter solution.
Pricing
Free for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month; paid plans start at $10/month for 500 contacts (billed annually), scaling by subscriber count with no contracts.
ActiveCampaign
enterpriseAdvanced email automation and CRM platform for personalized newsletter campaigns.
Visual automation builder with site messaging and predictive personalization based on user behavior
ActiveCampaign is a powerful email marketing platform designed for automation, personalization, and customer relationship management. It enables users to create dynamic email newsletters, set up sophisticated workflows triggered by user behavior, and integrate CRM functionalities to nurture leads effectively. Beyond basic newsletters, it offers site tracking, split testing, and machine learning for optimized campaigns, making it suitable for scaling marketing efforts.
Pros
- Advanced automation with conditional logic and behavioral triggers
- Built-in CRM and sales pipeline management
- Strong analytics, A/B testing, and high deliverability rates
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners due to feature depth
- Pricing scales quickly with contact list size
- Template library is functional but less visually diverse than competitors
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and marketing teams seeking robust email automation and CRM integration for personalized newsletters and lead nurturing.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Lite plan, 500 contacts) up to $149/month (Professional), with Enterprise custom pricing; scales by contact volume and features.
Brevo
specializedVersatile email marketing service offering newsletters, SMS, and transactional emails.
Unlimited contacts across all plans, enabling scalable list management without extra costs
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a comprehensive email marketing platform designed for creating and sending newsletters, with tools for automation, segmentation, and analytics. It features a drag-and-drop editor, responsive templates, A/B testing, and deliverability optimization to help users engage audiences effectively. Beyond newsletters, it integrates SMS, chat, and CRM functionalities, serving as an all-in-one solution for multichannel marketing.
Pros
- Generous free plan with 300 emails per day and unlimited contacts
- Strong automation workflows and audience segmentation
- High deliverability rates and multichannel support (email, SMS, chat)
Cons
- Drag-and-drop editor feels dated compared to competitors
- Advanced features like custom domains require Business plan or higher
- Customer support can be slow for free tier users
Best For
Small to medium businesses seeking an affordable, scalable platform for email newsletters with growth into SMS and automation.
Pricing
Free (300 emails/day, unlimited contacts); Starter from $25/mo (20k emails); Business from $65/mo; Enterprise custom pricing.
Constant Contact
specializedEasy-to-use email tool for small businesses to create and send professional newsletters.
Comprehensive library of professionally designed, industry-specific templates
Constant Contact is an established email marketing platform tailored for small businesses, non-profits, and organizations to create and send professional email newsletters and campaigns. It features a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, a vast library of customizable templates, and tools for audience segmentation, A/B testing, and performance analytics. Additional capabilities include event management integration, signup forms, and basic automation workflows, making it suitable for straightforward marketing needs.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor ideal for beginners
- Extensive template library and mobile-responsive designs
- Responsive customer support via phone, chat, and email
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with contact list size
- Limited advanced automation compared to competitors
- Some key features like detailed reporting locked behind premium plans
Best For
Small businesses and non-profits seeking an easy-to-use tool for email newsletters without needing complex automations.
Pricing
Starts at $12/month (Lite, up to 500 contacts), $35/month (Standard), $80/month (Premium); billed annually for 18% discount; free trial available.
Ghost
specializedOpen-source publishing platform with integrated newsletter delivery and memberships.
Direct audience ownership with newsletters sent from your own domain, bypassing big email providers
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform designed for creators to build blogs, websites, and email newsletters with a focus on simplicity and independence. It features a powerful Markdown editor, built-in email delivery system, and membership tools to monetize newsletters directly. Users can self-host for free or use Ghost(Pro) for managed hosting with reliable email sending and analytics.
Pros
- Seamless integration of content creation and email newsletters
- High email deliverability with direct sending
- Membership and paid subscription tools built-in
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical setup and maintenance
- Limited advanced email marketing features like A/B testing
- Pricing scales quickly with audience size on hosted plans
Best For
Independent publishers and creators seeking a unified platform for newsletters and memberships without relying on third-party email services.
Pricing
Free self-hosted; Ghost(Pro) starts at $9/month (Starter, 500 subscribers) up to $199+/month (Business, 100k+ subscribers), billed monthly.
AWeber
specializedEstablished email marketing software with tagging, automations, and newsletter templates.
Award-winning customer support including free one-on-one training sessions
AWeber is a veteran email marketing platform specializing in email newsletters, autoresponders, and automated campaigns for businesses of all sizes. It provides drag-and-drop email builders, customizable templates, list segmentation, and basic automation workflows to help users grow their subscriber lists and engage audiences effectively. With strong emphasis on deliverability and compliance, it's a reliable choice for consistent newsletter delivery.
Pros
- Exceptional customer support with phone, email, and live chat
- User-friendly drag-and-drop editor and templates
- Proven high email deliverability and compliance tools
Cons
- Limited advanced automation compared to top competitors
- Pricing scales quickly with subscriber count
- Interface feels somewhat dated in design
Best For
Small businesses and beginners who prioritize ease of use and reliable support for straightforward email newsletters.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month (up to 500 subscribers), Plus at $39/month (2,500 subscribers), Unlimited from $149/month; 30-day free trial.
Conclusion
The reviewed tools span diverse needs, from robust scaling to building deep subscriber connections. Leading the pack, Mailchimp impresses with its comprehensive design, automation, and analytics tools, making it a top pick for many. Closely following, ConvertKit and Beehiiv stand out as strong alternatives—ConvertKit for creator-focused growth, Beehiiv for modern, data-driven strategies—each excelling in specific niches.
Begin your newsletter journey with Mailchimp’s intuitive platform to design, automate, and analyze campaigns, and turn your audience engagement into impact.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
