Quick Overview
- 1#1: Beehiiv - All-in-one platform for creating, growing, and monetizing newsletters with AI tools, analytics, and referral programs.
- 2#2: ConvertKit - Creator-focused email marketing tool for building newsletters, automations, and subscriber relationships.
- 3#3: Substack - Publishing platform for newsletters with built-in discovery, payments, and audience growth features.
- 4#4: Mailchimp - Comprehensive email marketing service with templates, automation, and analytics for newsletters.
- 5#5: Ghost - Open-source publishing platform optimized for newsletters, memberships, and fast performance.
- 6#6: MailerLite - User-friendly email marketing platform with drag-and-drop builders and automation for newsletters.
- 7#7: Brevo - Affordable all-in-one marketing platform for email campaigns, SMS, and newsletter automation.
- 8#8: ActiveCampaign - Powerful email automation and CRM tool for personalized newsletter marketing and customer journeys.
- 9#9: Klaviyo - Data-driven email and SMS platform tailored for ecommerce newsletters and customer retention.
- 10#10: Buttondown - Minimalist newsletter platform for writers with simple sending, archiving, and subscriber management.
We ranked tools by evaluating key factors including feature depth, user-friendly design, data-driven capabilities, and overall value, ensuring they meet the needs of diverse users from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Comparison Table
This comparison table breaks down top newsletter marketing tools like Beehiiv, ConvertKit, Substack, Mailchimp, and Ghost, helping readers identify features, ease of use, and audience growth fit. Explore how each platform balances design, automation, and pricing to suit diverse needs, from creators to businesses, and learn which aligns best with your goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beehiiv All-in-one platform for creating, growing, and monetizing newsletters with AI tools, analytics, and referral programs. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 2 | ConvertKit Creator-focused email marketing tool for building newsletters, automations, and subscriber relationships. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 3 | Substack Publishing platform for newsletters with built-in discovery, payments, and audience growth features. | specialized | 9.0/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 4 | Mailchimp Comprehensive email marketing service with templates, automation, and analytics for newsletters. | other | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | Ghost Open-source publishing platform optimized for newsletters, memberships, and fast performance. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 6 | MailerLite User-friendly email marketing platform with drag-and-drop builders and automation for newsletters. | other | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Brevo Affordable all-in-one marketing platform for email campaigns, SMS, and newsletter automation. | other | 8.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 8 | ActiveCampaign Powerful email automation and CRM tool for personalized newsletter marketing and customer journeys. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 9 | Klaviyo Data-driven email and SMS platform tailored for ecommerce newsletters and customer retention. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 10 | Buttondown Minimalist newsletter platform for writers with simple sending, archiving, and subscriber management. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.4/10 |
All-in-one platform for creating, growing, and monetizing newsletters with AI tools, analytics, and referral programs.
Creator-focused email marketing tool for building newsletters, automations, and subscriber relationships.
Publishing platform for newsletters with built-in discovery, payments, and audience growth features.
Comprehensive email marketing service with templates, automation, and analytics for newsletters.
Open-source publishing platform optimized for newsletters, memberships, and fast performance.
User-friendly email marketing platform with drag-and-drop builders and automation for newsletters.
Affordable all-in-one marketing platform for email campaigns, SMS, and newsletter automation.
Powerful email automation and CRM tool for personalized newsletter marketing and customer journeys.
Data-driven email and SMS platform tailored for ecommerce newsletters and customer retention.
Minimalist newsletter platform for writers with simple sending, archiving, and subscriber management.
Beehiiv
specializedAll-in-one platform for creating, growing, and monetizing newsletters with AI tools, analytics, and referral programs.
Boosts: A native ad network for buying/selling targeted subscriber acquisition across Beehiiv newsletters
Beehiiv is a powerful newsletter platform built for creators, publishers, and businesses to create, grow, and monetize email newsletters with professional tools. It features a drag-and-drop editor, advanced segmentation, A/B testing, and robust analytics for optimized campaigns. Unique growth mechanisms like referrals and Boosts help scale audiences organically and through paid discovery, while seamless paid subscription handling supports direct revenue generation.
Pros
- Exceptional built-in growth tools like referrals and Boosts for audience expansion
- Seamless monetization with paid subscriptions, tipping, and ad marketplace
- High deliverability, detailed analytics, and creator-friendly free tier
Cons
- Pricing tiers escalate for very large lists over 100k subscribers
- Limited third-party integrations compared to enterprise email platforms
- Advanced customization may require some learning curve
Best For
Independent creators, publishers, and marketers focused on scaling newsletters with direct monetization and growth tools.
Pricing
Free forever up to 2,500 subscribers; Scale $42/mo (up to 100k); Max $84/mo (100k+); Enterprise custom.
ConvertKit
specializedCreator-focused email marketing tool for building newsletters, automations, and subscriber relationships.
Commerce: Seamless integration for selling digital products, subscriptions, and memberships directly within newsletters and automations.
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform tailored for creators, bloggers, podcasters, and online businesses, specializing in newsletters, audience growth, and monetization. It provides tools like customizable forms, landing pages, broadcasts, automated sequences, and advanced subscriber segmentation using tags and behaviors. The platform excels in visual automation building and integrates commerce features for selling digital products directly to subscribers.
Pros
- Intuitive visual automation builder simplifies complex sequences
- Powerful tagging and segmentation for precise targeting
- Built-in commerce tools for easy monetization of newsletters
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with subscriber growth
- Reporting and analytics lack depth compared to enterprise tools
- Fewer email template options and customization
Best For
Content creators, bloggers, and solopreneurs who need a creator-centric platform to grow, engage, and monetize their newsletter audience.
Pricing
Free plan up to 1,000 subscribers; Creator plan starts at $29/month (up to 1,000 subs), scaling to $2,900+/month for 300,000+ subs.
Substack
specializedPublishing platform for newsletters with built-in discovery, payments, and audience growth features.
Native paid subscription handling with revenue sharing and global payouts
Substack is a comprehensive platform designed for writers and creators to publish newsletters, manage subscribers, and monetize content through paid subscriptions. It simplifies email delivery, audience growth via recommendations, and handles payments seamlessly without needing third-party tools. Ideal for independent publishers, it combines blogging, emailing, and e-commerce in one intuitive interface.
Pros
- Seamless built-in monetization with paid subscriptions
- Strong audience discovery through recommendations
- Extremely simple publishing and email delivery
Cons
- Limited customization for designs and templates
- 10% platform fee on paid revenue
- Basic segmentation and automation compared to dedicated ESPs
Best For
Independent writers, journalists, and creators seeking an all-in-one solution to launch, grow, and monetize newsletters effortlessly.
Pricing
Free core platform; 10% fee + Stripe processing on paid subscriptions (no upfront costs).
Mailchimp
otherComprehensive email marketing service with templates, automation, and analytics for newsletters.
Advanced automation journeys that trigger emails based on user behavior and engagement
Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing platform designed for creating, sending, and optimizing newsletters with drag-and-drop templates, audience segmentation, and automation workflows. It provides robust analytics, A/B testing, and integrations to track performance and grow subscriber lists effectively. While versatile for small businesses, it also supports advanced features like behavioral targeting and content optimization for larger-scale campaigns.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick newsletter design
- Powerful automation and segmentation for personalized campaigns
- Comprehensive analytics and A/B testing tools
Cons
- Pricing scales steeply with larger contact lists
- Advanced features locked behind premium plans
- Deliverability can vary for high-volume senders
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses and content creators seeking an easy-to-use platform for scalable newsletter marketing.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 500 contacts (1,000 sends/month); paid tiers start at $13/month (Essentials) and go up to $350+/month (Premium) based on contacts and features.
Ghost
specializedOpen-source publishing platform optimized for newsletters, memberships, and fast performance.
Seamless integration of a high-performance CMS, email newsletters, and paid memberships in one platform without relying on external services
Ghost is a powerful, open-source publishing platform optimized for newsletters, blogs, and membership sites, allowing creators to send beautiful email newsletters directly from an intuitive editor. It handles subscriptions, payments via Stripe, and audience management without third-party email services. Ideal for independent publishers seeking full control over their content and monetization.
Pros
- Lightning-fast performance and stunning, customizable themes
- Built-in membership and subscription tools with Stripe integration
- Full audience ownership with easy exports and no platform lock-in
Cons
- Limited advanced marketing automation like segmentation or A/B testing
- Self-hosting requires technical setup; hosted plans scale pricing with audience size
- Fewer pre-built templates compared to drag-and-drop newsletter tools
Best For
Independent creators, journalists, and publishers who prioritize content quality, speed, and direct monetization over complex marketing automations.
Pricing
Self-hosted free (pay for your own hosting); Ghost Pro hosted starts at $9/month (500 members), $29/month (5,000 members), up to enterprise tiers.
MailerLite
otherUser-friendly email marketing platform with drag-and-drop builders and automation for newsletters.
Integrated pop-up and landing page builders that seamlessly connect to newsletters without needing third-party tools
MailerLite is a user-friendly email marketing platform tailored for newsletters, offering drag-and-drop email builders, automation workflows, and subscriber management tools to help users create engaging campaigns. It includes features like pop-up forms, landing pages, and segmentation to grow and nurture lists effectively. With a focus on simplicity and high deliverability, it's suitable for creators and small businesses sending regular newsletters.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick newsletter design
- Generous free plan up to 1,000 subscribers
- Strong automation and segmentation for targeted newsletters
Cons
- Limited advanced analytics and A/B testing options
- Fewer integrations compared to larger competitors
- Automation workflows lack depth for complex sequences
Best For
Small businesses, bloggers, and content creators who need an affordable, easy-to-use tool for straightforward newsletter marketing.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers; paid plans start at $10/month for 500 contacts (Growing Business) up to $299/month for 150,000 contacts (Advanced).
Brevo
otherAffordable all-in-one marketing platform for email campaigns, SMS, and newsletter automation.
RSS-to-email campaigns that automatically generate newsletters from blog or content feeds
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is a versatile all-in-one marketing platform specializing in email newsletters, transactional emails, SMS, and CRM integration. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, automation workflows, audience segmentation, and RSS-to-email campaigns for effortless newsletter creation from content feeds. With robust analytics and high deliverability rates, it's designed for businesses scaling email marketing across multiple channels.
Pros
- Generous free plan with 300 emails/day and no credit card required
- Multi-channel support including email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat
- Powerful automation and RSS-to-email for automated newsletters
Cons
- Drag-and-drop editor feels dated compared to competitors
- Advanced reporting and customization options are limited in lower plans
- Customer support can be slow for non-enterprise users
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses and content creators needing affordable, multi-channel newsletter automation without breaking the bank.
Pricing
Free (300 emails/day); Starter ($25/mo for 20k emails); Business ($65/mo for 20k emails); Enterprise (custom).
ActiveCampaign
enterprisePowerful email automation and CRM tool for personalized newsletter marketing and customer journeys.
Advanced behavioral automation that triggers personalized newsletter content based on user actions across channels
ActiveCampaign is a robust marketing automation platform that supports newsletter marketing through advanced email campaign tools, audience segmentation, and personalization features. It enables users to design responsive newsletters, automate delivery based on user behavior, and integrate with CRM for lead nurturing. While versatile for growing businesses, it emphasizes automation over simple newsletter publishing.
Pros
- Powerful automation workflows for personalized newsletter sequences
- Excellent segmentation and CRM integration for targeted campaigns
- High deliverability rates and detailed analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Pricing scales quickly with contact lists
- Interface feels complex for basic newsletter needs
Best For
Marketing teams at mid-sized businesses needing integrated automation and CRM alongside newsletter distribution.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Lite, 500 contacts), $49/month (Plus), $149/month (Professional); annual billing discounts available, enterprise custom.
Klaviyo
specializedData-driven email and SMS platform tailored for ecommerce newsletters and customer retention.
Predictive analytics and 'What's Next' AI for suggesting optimal send times and content personalization
Klaviyo is a powerful marketing automation platform designed primarily for e-commerce brands, enabling the creation of highly personalized newsletters and email campaigns using first-party customer data. It offers advanced segmentation, dynamic content, A/B testing, and revenue-tracking analytics to optimize newsletter performance and drive sales. While versatile for SMS and beyond, its core strength lies in turning newsletters into revenue-generating tools through deep integrations with platforms like Shopify.
Pros
- Exceptional segmentation and personalization based on real-time customer data
- Robust analytics with revenue attribution per newsletter
- Seamless e-commerce integrations like Shopify and BigCommerce
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners due to advanced features
- Pricing scales quickly with contact list size, expensive for small businesses
- Overkill for simple newsletter needs without e-commerce focus
Best For
E-commerce brands and DTC companies seeking data-driven, personalized newsletter marketing to boost revenue.
Pricing
Free for up to 250 contacts and 500 emails; paid plans start at $20/mo for 500 contacts, scaling to $100+/mo based on contacts and send volume (billed monthly).
Buttondown
specializedMinimalist newsletter platform for writers with simple sending, archiving, and subscriber management.
RSS-to-newsletter automation for automatically compiling and sending blog updates
Buttondown is a minimalist newsletter platform tailored for writers, creators, and small publishers seeking simplicity in email marketing. It enables easy composition in Markdown, subscriber management, and one-click sending with built-in RSS-to-newsletter automation for curating content from blogs. The tool emphasizes clean design, public archives, and basic analytics without the bloat of enterprise features.
Pros
- Incredibly simple and distraction-free interface
- Unlimited subscribers and sends for a flat $9/month
- Native Markdown support with RSS automation
Cons
- Limited advanced segmentation or automations
- Basic analytics lacking A/B testing or deep insights
- Fewer integrations than full-featured competitors
Best For
Independent writers and creators who prioritize simplicity over complex marketing automation.
Pricing
$9/month for unlimited subscribers/emails (pay-what-you-want model); free for first 100 subscribers.
Conclusion
The reviewed newsletter marketing tools each bring unique strengths, catering to diverse needs from creation to monetization. At the pinnacle, Beehiiv leads with an all-in-one approach, featuring AI tools, analytics, and referral programs that streamline growth. ConvertKit and Substack follow closely, with ConvertKit excelling in creator-focused relationships and Substack offering robust discovery and payment features, making them excellent alternatives for different priorities.
Take the first step in growing your newsletter—explore Beehiiv today to unlock its comprehensive tools and transform your content into a successful, engaged audience.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
