Our Top Picks
AWeber
Newsletters plus sequences, RSS-to-email, a Newsletter Assistant and Stripe sales pages, with 24/7 support.
beehiiv
An ad network, paid subscriptions and a built-in newsletter website.
Kit
Up to 10,000 free subscribers with creator-focused tools.
If your newsletter supports a business, whether coaching, courses, services or products, start with AWeber. If your newsletter is the business, look at beehiiv.
Three Kinds of Newsletter
Before comparing tools, decide which of these describes you:
Keeps customers and prospects engaged, then sells your own products or services. Needs sequences and selling tools.
The newsletter is the product. Earns from sponsors, ads and paid subscriptions. Needs growth and monetization tools.
Stays in touch with readers, members or a congregation. Needs simplicity and a low cost.
Newsletter Platforms Compared
| Platform | Best for | Free plan | How it helps you earn |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Business newsletters | 500 subscribers, 3,000 sends/month | Sell your own offers via Stripe sales pages |
| beehiiv | Media newsletters | Up to 2,500 subscribers | Ad network and paid subscriptions on paid plans |
| Kit | Creator newsletters | Up to 10,000 subscribers | Creator commerce on paid plans |
| Substack | Writers starting from zero | Free to publish | Paid subscriptions; Substack takes a percentage |
| Ghost | Independent publishers | Self-hosted option; paid hosting | Memberships with no revenue cut |
| MailerLite | Budget newsletters | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month | Digital products on paid plans |
| EmailOctopus | Simple low-cost newsletters | 2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month | Not a focus |
- AWeber: Best for Business Newsletters
AWeber combines a dependable newsletter with the tools that turn readers into customers. Its Newsletter Assistant drafts a weekly email in your voice, RSS-triggered workflows send new posts, podcasts or videos automatically and the editor includes AI writing help and Canva.
Beyond the newsletter, workflows handle welcome sequences and follow-ups, and Stripe-powered sales pages let you sell digital products, services and memberships. The free plan covers 500 subscribers and 3,000 sends a month. See how to start a newsletter.
Start a newsletter that sells, with automation and sales pages included. AWeber's free plan gets you going.
Try AWeber Free
- beehiiv: Best for Media Newsletters
beehiiv is built around publishing and monetization: a newsletter website, referral and recommendation tools, an ad network and paid subscriptions. Its free plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers, and Lite costs $49 a month on yearly billing with a 0% take rate on paid subscriptions.
Choose it if sponsors and paid readers are your revenue. See AWeber vs beehiiv.
- Kit: Best for Creator Newsletters
Kit's free plan allows up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts. Sequences and automations require Creator, from $33 a month at 1,000 subscribers.
Choose it if you have a large audience to broadcast to and plan to sell digital products later. See AWeber vs Kit.
- Substack: Best for Writers Starting From Zero
Substack lets you publish for free and charge for paid subscriptions, taking a percentage of subscription revenue. Its built-in reader network can help new writers find an audience.
Trade-off: you have less control over design, automation and selling your own products than on a dedicated email platform. If you already have a business, AWeber's sequences and sales pages offer more.
- Ghost: Best for Independent Publishers
Ghost is a publishing system with a website, newsletter and paid memberships in one. It doesn't take a cut of membership revenue. You can self-host it, which is technical, or pay for hosted Ghost.
Choose it if you want full ownership of a publication and are comfortable with a more technical setup.
- MailerLite and EmailOctopus: Best Budget Options
MailerLite's free plan covers 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, and EmailOctopus's covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month with its branding. Both suit simple newsletters where low cost matters most. See best free email marketing software.
What to Look For in Any Newsletter Platform
- Writing and design tools that make weekly sending easy.
- A welcome sequence for new readers.
- An archive or RSS-to-email if you publish on a blog.
- Monetization that matches your model: your products, ads or paid subscriptions.
- Data portability so you can export your list anytime.
AWeber's Newsletter Assistant, RSS emails and sales pages turn readers into customers. Start free.
Best Newsletter Platform FAQs
What is the best newsletter platform for a small business?
AWeber, because it combines newsletters with sequences, sales pages and 24/7 support.
What is the best newsletter platform for making money from ads?
beehiiv, which includes an ad network and paid subscriptions on its paid plans.
Is Substack free?
Substack is free to publish and takes a percentage of paid subscription revenue.
Can I send blog posts as a newsletter automatically?
Yes. AWeber's RSS-triggered workflows send new blog posts, podcasts or videos automatically.