Best tool for · Email & newsletters
What's the best newsletter platforms tool?
Publish, grow and monetize a newsletter.
Setup guide: Step-by-step: AI-assisted newsletter, with costs and steps checked against official docs.
First hour with beehiiv: setup checklist in the profile.
Short comparison
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | $0 · then 10% of revenue + Stripe fees | 1/5 | Not a content generator | Starting a paid newsletter for free |
| beehiiv | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then $49/mo billed yearly ($59 monthly) | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Growing and monetizing a newsletter |
| Kit | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then from $39/mo | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Creators selling products by email |
| Ghost | Paid plans only | Trial only | See official site | – | – | An owned site plus paid newsletter, 0% cut |
| Buttondown | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | – | – | Simple, developer-friendly newsletters |
Ranked by fit for solo businesses: tools we profile in depth first, then those used in our research notes, then the rest. Affiliate status never changes the order. See all 5 newsletter platforms tools with a ranked shortlist.
Quick answers
What's the best newsletter platforms tool?
Our overall pick is beehiiv: Growing and monetizing a newsletter.
What's the best free newsletter platforms tool?
Substack, which has a free plan or free version. Starting a paid newsletter for free.
Which newsletter platforms tool is easiest for beginners?
Substack, rated 1/5 to learn.