Independently tested ranking
Best Email Marketing Software for Creators in 2026
9 email and newsletter tools compared for creators on free plans, growth tools, paid subscriptions, digital product sales and price as your list grows.
- Tools compared
- 9
- With a free plan
- 7 of 9
- Median entry price
- $27/mo
- Average rating
- 4.6
On this page
- Quick answer
- Our top picks
- Key takeaways
- What is email marketing software?
- Comparison table
- The 9 best email marketing software for creators
- Best email marketing software by need
- What to look for
- How much email marketing software for creators cost
- How we ranked them
- How to choose email marketing software
- FAQ
- About the reviewer
- Related rankings
Which email marketing software is best for creators?
The best email marketing software for creators in 2026 is Kit for selling digital products with tag-based automations, beehiiv for growing and monetizing a newsletter, Substack for starting a paid newsletter for free, Ghost for a branded membership site with 0% platform fees, and MailerLite for low-cost automations. Kit's free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers, while Substack charges no monthly fee but keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue.
Our top picks
Best overall
Kit (ConvertKit)
Tag-based automations, built-in product sales and a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers make it the most complete tool for creators who sell.
Paid plans from $33/mo annual
See why we picked itBest for newsletter growth
beehiiv
Referrals, recommendations and an ad network that matches you with sponsors, with a 0% cut of paid subscriptions.
Paid plans from $49/mo annual
See why we picked itBest free paid newsletter
Substack
No monthly fee and built-in discovery through its app and Notes, in exchange for 10% of paid subscription revenue.
Paid plans from Free (10% of paid revenue)
See why we picked itKey takeaways
- Kit has the most generous free plan here: up to 10,000 subscribers with landing pages and product sales, but automations need a paid plan.
- Match the tool to how you earn: beehiiv for ads and referrals, Kit or systeme.io for courses and products, Substack or Ghost for paid subscriptions.
- Revenue share versus flat fee: Substack keeps 10% of paid revenue, while beehiiv, Ghost (Publisher and above) and Buttondown take 0% beyond Stripe fees.
- Most creator tools price by subscriber count, so model your cost at 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers. Flodesk stays flat with unlimited subscribers.
- Own your list from day one. Email subscribers stay reachable in a way a social following does not, so check that your tool lets you export them before you commit.
What is email marketing software?
Email marketing software for creators is a tool that lets writers, coaches, YouTubers, podcasters and course sellers collect subscribers, send newsletters and automated emails, and earn money from that list through products, paid subscriptions or sponsors. Unlike general email tools built for stores or sales teams, the best email marketing software for creators bundles growth and monetization features into the same dashboard.
For a creator, the software needs to do four jobs: capture subscribers with landing pages, forms or a link-in-bio page; deliver a regular newsletter that lands in the inbox; automate welcome and launch sequences; and turn readers into income, whether through paid newsletters, digital products, a referral program or an ad network. Free plans matter too, because most creators start with a small list and little budget.
Best email marketing software for creators compared
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kit (ConvertKit) |
Selling products to your list | Yes (10,000 subscribers) | $33/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 2 | beehiiv |
Newsletter growth and ads | Yes (2,500 subscribers) | $49/mo annual | ★4.7 |
| 3 | Substack |
Free paid newsletters | Yes (free to publish) | Free (10% of paid revenue) | ★4.4 |
| 4 |  Ghost |
Branded site and memberships | No (free if self-hosted) | $15/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 5 |  MailerLite |
Affordable automations | Yes (250 subscribers) | $12/mo | ★4.6 |
| 6 |  Flodesk |
Beautiful emails, flat price | Yes (forms and landing pages, no sending) | $38/mo annual | ★4.5 |
| 7 | systeme.io | Email, funnels and courses free | Yes (2,000 contacts) | $27/mo | Not yet reviewed |
| 8 | Buttondown | Markdown newsletters | Yes (100 subscribers) | $9/mo | Not yet reviewed |
| 9 | Kajabi | Courses, community and email | No (14-day trial) | Higher | Not yet reviewed |
Our ratings come from MakeSuccessOnline's hands-on reviews. Prices are the cheapest paid plan, billed monthly unless marked annual, checked November 2026; most rise with list size.
The 9 best email marketing software for creators in 2026
The right email marketing software for creators depends on how you make money. Each tool below leads for a specific kind of creator business, from paid newsletters to course launches.
#1Best overall for creators who sell digital products
Kit (ConvertKit)
An email marketing platform for creators that combines newsletters, automations and selling digital products.
- Paid plans from
- $33/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (10,000 subscribers)
- Best for
- Creators, writers, coaches and course sellers
- Works on
- Web
Kit, the platform formerly called ConvertKit, is built for creators whose email list has become a business. Every subscriber is one contact with tags for interests and purchases, so you can send a launch email only to people who clicked your course link and skip anyone who already bought.
It also lets you sell without another tool. Ebooks, courses, coaching and paid newsletters can be sold straight from Kit for 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale. The free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts and landing pages, while Recommendations, sponsorships and Paid Recommendations help you grow and earn from the list.
Key features
- Tags and segmentsEach subscriber is one contact tagged by interest and purchase, so you can target buyers, freebie downloaders or workshop attendees without juggling separate lists.
- Visual Automations and sequencesBuild welcome, nurture and launch flows on a visual canvas, triggered by signups, purchases, clicks or dates. Sequences can skip people who already bought. Paid plans only.
- CommerceSell ebooks, courses, coaching, digital products and paid subscriptions from Kit itself, for 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale, so a small creator does not need a separate checkout tool.
- Recommendations networkRecommend other creators' newsletters at signup and get recommended in theirs, free on every plan. Paid Recommendations and sponsor matching on Creator and Pro let you earn from the list too.
- Landing pages and formsUnlimited landing pages plus inline, pop-up and slide-in forms on every plan, including free, which covers lead magnets and waitlists from day one.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts, landing pages and forms, tagging, digital product and subscription sales, Recommendations; 1 user, no automations |
| Creator | $33/mo annual ($39 monthly) for 1,000 subscribers | Unlimited Visual Automations and sequences, RSS campaigns, SMS, apps and integrations, 2 users, no Kit branding, Paid Recommendations, sponsorships, free migration |
| Pro | $66/mo annual ($79 monthly) for 1,000 subscribers | Unlimited users, engagement scoring, deliverability reporting, newsletter referral system (SparkLoop), Subscriber Signals, advanced A/B testing, custom tracking domain |
List prices as of November 2026; paid plans rise with list size, and plans change often, so check Kit's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial of paid plans, no credit card.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers
- Simple tag-based subscriber model
- Sell digital products and paid newsletters without another tool
- Recommendations and sponsorships help you grow and earn
Cons
- Automations and sequences need a paid plan
- Email templates are fairly basic
- 3.5% plus 30 cents fee on every sale
Is it right for you?
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) ifYou sell, or plan to sell, courses, ebooks, coaching or a paid newsletter and want automations that react to what each subscriber buys.
Look elsewhere ifYou only send a free weekly newsletter and want automations at no cost, or you need a full CRM.
#2Best for growing and monetizing a newsletter
beehiiv
A newsletter platform with a built-in website, growth tools and ways to earn money, including an ad network and paid subscriptions.
- Paid plans from
- $49/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (2,500 subscribers)
- Best for
- Newsletter creators, writers and media brands
- Works on
- Web; installable app for your publication (iOS and Android, from your website)
beehiiv is built for creators whose newsletter is the product. Every publication gets a hosted website, and the growth tools sit right in the dashboard: a free recommendation network, paid recommendations, and a referral program that rewards readers for sharing. If your goal is a bigger list and income from sponsors, beehiiv puts most of what you need in one place.
Monetization starts on the Lite plan. The beehiiv Ad Network matches you with sponsors, so you do not have to sell ads yourself, and paid subscriptions run through Stripe with a 0% beehiiv cut. The free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, a website and a podcast, but no ads, paid subscriptions or automations.
Key features
- beehiiv Ad NetworkGet matched with sponsors and run ads in your newsletter without selling them yourself. Lite and above, and not available during trials.
- Referral programReward readers with milestones and prizes for sharing your newsletter. Lite and above.
- Recommendations and paid recommendationsRecommend other newsletters at signup and get recommended back for free, or pay to be recommended and earn by recommending others on paid plans.
- Paid subscriptionsCharge for premium posts through Stripe. beehiiv takes 0% of the revenue; only Stripe fees apply. Lite and above.
- Website, podcast and digital productsEvery publication gets a hosted website with an archive and signup forms, plus podcast hosting and digital product sales (1 product on Free, 3 on Lite, unlimited on Pro).
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers, newsletter, website, podcast, recommendation network, unlimited sends, 1 seat |
| Lite | $49/mo annual ($59 monthly) for 1,000 subscribers | Ad Network, paid subscriptions, referral program, 10 live automations, digital products, surveys, custom domains, 2 seats, 3 publications |
| Pro | $95/mo annual ($109 monthly) for 1,000 subscribers | No beehiiv branding, 10 seats, 10 publications, unlimited automations and segments, dynamic content, sponsorship storefront, WordPress integration |
| Enterprise | Custom | Dedicated IPs, SSO/SAML, account manager, unlimited seats |
List prices as of November 2026; paid plans rise with list size, so check beehiiv's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial of Pro, no credit card, which excludes custom domains, paid subscriptions and the Ad Network.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers
- 0% cut of paid subscription revenue
- Referrals, recommendations and paid recommendations built in
- Ad network brings sponsors to you
Cons
- Removing beehiiv branding needs the Pro plan
- Price climbs quickly as the list grows
- Not built for selling courses with sales automation
Is it right for you?
Choose beehiiv ifYour newsletter is your main business and you want to grow it with referrals and recommendations, then earn from ads and paid subscriptions.
Look elsewhere ifYou mainly sell courses or coaching and need purchase-based automations, where Kit or systeme.io fit better.
#3Best free way to start a paid newsletter
Substack
A free publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video that makes money by taking 10% of paid subscription revenue.
- Paid plans from
- Free (10% of paid revenue)
- Free plan
- Yes (free to publish)
- Best for
- Writers, journalists, podcasters and creators building a paid subscription
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android
Substack is the easiest way for a writer to start a newsletter and charge for it. There is no monthly fee and no subscriber limit. You publish, readers subscribe, and when you turn on paid subscriptions Substack keeps 10% of that revenue plus Stripe fees. For a creator testing whether people will pay, that means no upfront cost at all.
Its biggest advantage is discovery. Readers find new publications through the Substack app, Recommendations and Notes, a short-form social feed, so new writers can get found inside the network instead of relying only on social media. You also get podcasts, video, live video and subscriber chat, and you own and can export your list.
Key features
- Paid subscriptionsChoose which posts are free or paid-only and get paid directly by subscribers. You keep 90% of subscription revenue, minus card fees.
- Substack appReaders discover and read publications in the iOS and Android app, which helps a new creator get found without paying for ads.
- RecommendationsRecommend other publications on your site, at signup and in occasional digest emails, and get cross-promoted by writers who recommend you.
- Notes and ChatNotes is a short-form feed for sharing posts and talking with readers; Chat gives you private group conversations with subscribers.
- Podcasts and videoPublish a podcast, video posts and live video alongside your newsletter, so one subscription covers all your formats.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited subscribers, newsletter, website, podcasts, video, Notes, chat, Recommendations |
| Paid subscriptions | 10% of subscription revenue plus Stripe fees | Paywalled posts with free and paid tiers |
| Custom domain | $50 one-time | Use your own domain for your publication |
Fees as of November 2026; terms can change, so check Substack's site before you launch paid tiers. No monthly subscription fee.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No monthly fee and no subscriber limit
- Built-in discovery through the app, Recommendations and Notes
- Very simple to set up
- Podcasts, video and chat in one place
Cons
- 10% revenue share gets expensive as paid income grows
- No automations or advanced segmentation
- Limited design and branding control
Is it right for you?
Choose Substack ifYou are a writer starting a newsletter, want to test paid subscriptions without a monthly bill, and value being found inside a reader network.
Look elsewhere ifYou sell courses or products and need automations, or your paid newsletter already earns enough that a 10% cut costs more than a flat-fee tool.
#4Best for paid memberships with 0% platform fees
Ghost
An open-source publishing platform for websites, newsletters and paid memberships, available as managed hosting or self-hosted.
- Paid plans from
- $15/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (free if self-hosted)
- Best for
- Independent writers, publishers and media creators who want their own branded site
- Works on
- Web; managed Ghost(Pro) or self-hosted (open source)
Ghost is the pick for creators who want a real website and a paid membership under their own brand. Each post publishes to the web and to email at once, readers sign up as free or paid members, and you control the design with marketplace or fully custom themes. It feels like owning a small media business rather than renting space on a platform.
The money side is simple: Ghost takes 0% of paid subscriptions on the Publisher plan and above, with payments through Stripe. That makes it cheaper than Substack once paid income grows. The trade-off is fewer growth tools and only basic email automation. Ghost is open source, so technical creators can also host it themselves for free.
Key features
- Paid membershipsFree and paid signup forms turn readers into members, with monthly and yearly premium tiers through Stripe and a 0% Ghost transaction fee on Publisher and above.
- Web and email publishingA clean editor publishes each post to your website and as a newsletter at the same time, with multiple newsletters and audience segmentation.
- Themes and brandingChoose from hundreds of marketplace themes or use a fully custom design on Publisher and above, so your publication looks like your brand, not a platform.
- Offers and analyticsCreate discounts and special offers to win subscribers, and use native analytics to see popular content, engagement and your top fans.
- Social web and RecommendationsGhost 6.0 lets your publication follow and be followed across the fediverse, including Mastodon and Threads (in beta), and you can recommend other publications to readers.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/mo annual ($18 monthly) | 1,000 members, 1 staff user, website, newsletter, free custom domain, official themes; no paid subscriptions |
| Publisher | $29/mo annual ($35 monthly) for 1,000 members | Paid subscriptions with 0% Ghost fee, custom themes, 3 newsletters, 3 premium tiers, advanced analytics, custom sending domain, 3 staff users |
| Business | $199/mo annual ($239 monthly) | Up to 10,000 members, 15 staff users, 10 newsletters, 10 premium tiers, priority support |
| Custom | Custom | Unlimited members and staff, dedicated IP, SSO, uptime SLA, account manager |
List prices as of November 2026; Publisher rises with member count, so check Ghost's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial. The open-source software is free to self-host.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 0% Ghost fee on paid subscriptions
- Full branded website plus newsletter
- Open source and can be self-hosted
- Run by a non-profit foundation
Cons
- No free hosted plan, and Starter cannot take payments
- Fewer built-in growth tools than beehiiv or Substack
- Only basic email automations
Is it right for you?
Choose Ghost ifYou want a branded publication with paid memberships and would rather pay a flat monthly fee than give up a share of revenue.
Look elsewhere ifYou need email sequences to sell courses, or you want a free hosted plan to start.
#5Best budget pick with automations and digital products
MailerLite
An easy-to-use email marketing tool with automations, landing pages, websites and digital product sales at low prices.
- Paid plans from
- $12/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (250 subscribers)
- Best for
- Creators, small businesses and nonprofits on a budget
- Works on
- Web
MailerLite is one of the cheapest ways on this list to get email automations as a creator. Its Comfort plan starts at $12 a month for 500 subscribers and includes 50 automations, so you can run a welcome series, a freebie delivery sequence and a launch flow without paying Kit or beehiiv prices.
It also covers the rest of a small creator business. You can build landing pages, a website or a blog, sell digital products and bookings, and charge for a paid newsletter through Stripe. The editor is easy to learn and A/B testing works on every plan. The catch is a small free plan: 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month.
Key features
- Automation builderVisual automations with templates for welcome series and more. Free includes 3 automations, Comfort 50 and Power unlimited, so lead magnet and launch flows are affordable.
- Digital products and bookingsSell digital products and bookings directly from MailerLite: 1 product on Free, 5 on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
- Paid newsletter subscriptionsCharge readers for newsletter access through Stripe, without moving to a separate publishing platform.
- Landing pages, websites and pop-upsBuild landing pages, a website or a blog, plus embedded forms and pop-ups such as spin-the-wheel and teaser pop-ups to grow your list.
- AI writing assistant and A/B testingDraft emails and subject lines with the AI generator, then test subject lines and content on any plan, including free.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/mo, 3 automations, 1 website, 1 landing page, 3 forms, 1 digital product, 2 seats |
| Comfort | $12/mo ($10.80/mo annual) for 500 subscribers | 50 automations, 10 forms, 10 sites, 5 digital products, 3 seats, logo removal, API and MCP, RSS campaigns, email support |
| Power | $25/mo ($22.50/mo annual) for 500 subscribers | Unlimited automations, forms, sites, digital products and seats, multiple automation triggers, live chat support |
| Enterprise | Custom | 200,000+ subscribers, custom sending volume, priority and deliverability support |
List prices as of November 2026; prices rise with list size and Comfort caps monthly sends, so check MailerLite's pricing page before you buy. 14-day trial of premium features for new accounts.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low prices for small lists
- Automations on every plan, including free
- Websites, landing pages and digital products included
- Annual billing saves 10%
Cons
- Free plan is only 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month
- No creator growth network for recommendations or sponsors
- No built-in SMS
Is it right for you?
Choose MailerLite ifYou want automations, landing pages and simple product sales at the lowest monthly cost while your list is small.
Look elsewhere ifYou want built-in newsletter growth tools like referrals, recommendations or an ad network.
#6Best for design-led creators who want flat pricing
Flodesk
A design-focused email marketing tool with flat-rate pricing, unlimited subscribers and built-in checkout on its top plan.
- Paid plans from
- $38/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (forms and landing pages, no sending)
- Best for
- Lifestyle creators, coaches and small businesses who care about good-looking emails
- Works on
- Web
Flodesk suits visual and lifestyle creators because its emails look polished with almost no effort. Designer templates and custom fonts make a simple announcement feel on-brand, and the editor is easy to pick up. A link-in-bio page on every plan connects your Instagram audience straight to your list.
Pricing is its other draw. Both paid plans are a flat rate with unlimited subscribers and emails, so your bill stays the same as your list grows. The Everything plan adds checkout, sales pages, upsells and payment plans through Stripe with no extra Flodesk transaction fee. The Free plan builds forms and pages but cannot send emails.
Key features
- Designer templatesPolished, brand-forward email templates and custom fonts make good-looking emails easy without design skills, which matters for visual and lifestyle brands.
- Flat-rate pricingBoth paid plans include unlimited subscribers and emails at one price, so a fast-growing list does not raise your bill.
- Link in bio and formsA hosted link-in-bio page plus pop-up, embedded and hosted forms and landing pages, available even on the Free plan.
- CheckoutOn the Everything plan, sell products, courses and services with sales pages, upsells, subscriptions, payment plans and discount codes, with no extra Flodesk transaction fee.
- Workflow automationsAutomated welcome and nurture sequences on paid plans, plus A/B testing and automatic resends to people who did not open.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Forms, landing pages, link in bio, designer templates, audience segmentation; no email sending or automations |
| $38/mo annual ($46 monthly) | Unlimited subscribers and emails, workflow automations, A/B testing, no Flodesk branding, API and integrations, 1 seat | |
| Everything | $79/mo annual ($99 monthly) | Everything in Email plus unlimited checkouts, sales pages and upsells, subscriptions and payment plans, sales tax processing, 3 seats |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check Flodesk's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Flat price that does not rise with your list
- Unlimited subscribers and emails on paid plans
- Attractive templates and an easy editor
- Checkout with no extra Flodesk transaction fee
Cons
- Costs more than per-subscriber tools for very small lists
- Free plan cannot send emails
- Automation and segmentation are simpler than in Mailchimp or Brevo
Is it right for you?
Choose Flodesk ifYour brand is visual, you want emails that look designed, and you prefer one predictable price as your list grows.
Look elsewhere ifYou have a few hundred subscribers and want the cheapest option, or you need detailed tag-based automations.
#7Best free all-in-one for course creators on a budget
systeme.io
An all-in-one platform for sales funnels, email marketing, online courses, communities and websites, with a free plan.
- Paid plans from
- $27/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (2,000 contacts)
- Best for
- Solo creators, coaches and small online businesses
- Works on
- Web
systeme.io suits creators who want to sell a course or coaching offer without paying for five tools. One account covers email marketing, sales funnels, online courses, a community, a blog and checkout through Stripe or PayPal. The free plan supports up to 2,000 contacts with unlimited emails, which is enough to launch a first product.
Because everything is connected, automation rules can tag a contact, enroll them in a course or send an email when they opt in or buy. You can add order bumps and upsells, and run your own affiliate program. The email side is less refined than dedicated tools, with basic deliverability and reporting, but systeme.io takes no transaction fees on your sales.
Key features
- Email marketingSend newsletters and automated sequences to your contacts with no per-email sending cap, even on the free plan.
- Sales funnel builderBuild opt-in, sales and checkout funnels from templates and connect them to your email list and products, so a lead magnet and a sales page live in one place.
- Online courses and communitiesHost courses and memberships with drip release and run a member community, so you can sell and deliver from the same account.
- Automation rulesTag contacts, enroll them in courses or send emails when they opt in, buy or complete a step.
- Checkouts and affiliatesTake payments through Stripe or PayPal with order bumps and one-click upsells, and recruit affiliates to promote your products.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,000 contacts, funnels, email marketing, a course, a community, a blog and Stripe/PayPal checkout with usage limits |
| Startup | $27/mo | More contacts, funnels, courses and automations than Free |
| Webinar | $47/mo | Everything in Startup plus evergreen webinars and higher limits |
| Unlimited | $97/mo | Unlimited contacts, funnels, courses and other usage limits removed |
List prices as of November 2026, billed monthly; annual billing is cheaper. Plans change often, so check systeme.io's pricing page before you buy.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Useful free plan with 2,000 contacts
- Email, funnels, courses and community in one account
- No systeme.io transaction fees on sales
- Simple enough for beginners
Cons
- Email deliverability and reporting are basic
- Page editor is less flexible than dedicated builders
- Fewer native integrations than larger platforms
Is it right for you?
Choose systeme.io ifYou are launching your first course or coaching offer and want email, a sales funnel and course hosting for free or close to it.
Look elsewhere ifYour newsletter is the product and you want growth tools and polished email design.
#8Best minimalist newsletter for writers and developers
Buttondown
A simple, privacy-focused newsletter tool with a Markdown editor, priced by subscriber count with paid add-ons.
- Paid plans from
- $9/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (100 subscribers)
- Best for
- Independent writers, developers and small publications
- Works on
- Web
Buttondown is a quiet, focused newsletter tool for creators who just want to write. You draft in Markdown or rich text, send from your own domain on every plan, and each issue lands in a hosted web archive. It suits technical writers, developers and essayists who find drag-and-drop builders and growth dashboards distracting.
The base plans are cheap, from $9 a month for up to 1,000 subscribers. Extras are add-ons: paid subscriptions, tagging and RSS-to-email at $9 a month each, and automations at $29 a month. Paid subscriptions carry no Buttondown revenue cut beyond card fees. It has no built-in growth network, so you bring your own audience.
Key features
- Markdown and rich text editorWrite in Markdown or rich text, which suits technical writers and anyone who wants a distraction-free writing space.
- Custom sending domainSend from your own domain on every plan, including free, which keeps your brand on every email.
- Paid subscriptions add-onFor $9 a month, charge through Stripe with multiple tiers and pay-what-you-like pricing, with no Buttondown cut beyond card fees.
- Tagging and automations add-onsTag and target subscribers for $9 a month, and add automated emails for $29 a month when you need a welcome series.
- Hosted archive and RSS-to-emailEvery newsletter gets a web archive, and the RSS-to-email add-on turns blog posts into emails automatically.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 100 subscribers, rich text or Markdown editor, custom sending domain, hosted archive |
| Basic | $9/mo | Up to 1,000 subscribers; add-ons extra |
| Standard | $29/mo | Up to 5,000 subscribers; add-ons extra |
| Professional | $79/mo | Up to 10,000 subscribers; add-ons extra |
| Advanced | $139/mo | Up to 20,000 subscribers; add-ons extra |
List prices as of November 2026, billed monthly. Add-ons such as paid subscriptions, tagging, automations and branding removal cost extra. Prices assume at most one email a day to your list.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clean, minimal writing experience with Markdown
- Privacy-first approach
- No cut of paid subscription revenue
- Cheap for small lists, with a 50% nonprofit discount
Cons
- Many features are paid add-ons, so costs add up
- Free plan only covers 100 subscribers
- No built-in growth or discovery network
Is it right for you?
Choose Buttondown ifYou write in Markdown, care about privacy and want a simple newsletter without growth dashboards or design builders.
Look elsewhere ifYou want referral programs, recommendations or sponsor matching to grow the list for you.
#9Best all-in-one for established course creators
Kajabi
An all-in-one platform for creators to sell courses, coaching, communities and memberships, with built-in email and funnels.
- Paid plans from
- Higher
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Established creators, coaches and educators selling knowledge products
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android (Kajabi app for members)
Kajabi is for creators whose business is courses, coaching and community, with email as one part of the system. You can host courses with video, quizzes and drip content, run a member community with live events and challenges, and send broadcasts and automated sequences to the same contacts without a separate email tool.
It is a polished all-in-one option and charges no Kajabi transaction fees on sales, but it is expensive compared with systeme.io. Its email and funnel tools are also less advanced than dedicated email software. It makes sense once a knowledge business has proven revenue, not for testing a first idea.
Key features
- Email marketingSend broadcasts and automated sequences to your Kajabi contacts, so students and leads are reached from the same place they buy.
- CoursesBuild and sell online courses with video, quizzes and drip content, hosted by Kajabi.
- Communities and coachingRun a member community with posts, chat, live events and challenges, and sell one-to-one or group coaching with scheduling.
- Funnels and landing pagesUse funnel templates and a page builder to capture leads and sell products.
- Payments and checkoutTake payments with order bumps, upsells, coupons and payment plans, with no Kajabi transaction fees on sales.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | Higher | Entry plan for new creators with limited products and contacts |
| Basic | Higher | Courses, coaching, community, email and funnels |
| Growth | Higher | Adds an affiliate program and advanced automations |
| Pro | Higher | Highest product and contact limits plus code editor |
Kajabi is expensive compared with systeme.io, and plans have limits on products and contacts. Check Kajabi's pricing page for current prices before you buy. 14-day free trial.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Polished all-in-one experience for creators
- No Kajabi transaction fees on sales
- Courses, community and email work together
- Members get a mobile app
Cons
- Expensive compared with systeme.io
- Email and funnel tools are less advanced than dedicated software
- Plan limits on products and contacts
Is it right for you?
Choose Kajabi ifYou already earn from courses or coaching and want email, courses, community and checkout in one polished platform.
Look elsewhere ifYou are testing a first offer on a small budget or mainly run a newsletter.
Best email marketing software by need
- Selling courses and digital products by emailKit (ConvertKit)
- Growing a newsletter with referrals and adsbeehiiv
- Starting a paid newsletter for freeSubstack
- Branded membership site with 0% feesGhost
- Cheapest automations for a small listMailerLite
- Beautiful emails at a flat priceFlodesk
- Free email, funnels and coursessysteme.io
- Writing in MarkdownButtondown
- Courses, community and email in one premium platformKajabi
What to look for in email marketing software
- A free plan that fits your listFree limits vary widely, from 100 subscribers on Buttondown to 10,000 on Kit. Pick one you will not outgrow in the first few months.
- Monetization built inLook for paid subscriptions, digital product sales or an ad network so you can earn from your list without bolting on extra tools. Check the fee each one takes.
- Growth toolsRecommendations, paid recommendations and a newsletter referral program help readers bring in new subscribers. beehiiv, Kit and Substack lead here.
- Automations and taggingWelcome sequences, lead magnet delivery and launch flows that skip buyers save hours. Tag-based targeting lets you email only people interested in a specific offer.
- Landing pages, forms and link in bioYou need somewhere to send social followers. Built-in landing pages, pop-ups and a link-in-bio page remove the need for a separate page builder.
- Pricing as your list growsMost tools charge more per subscriber tier. Compare the price at your expected list size in a year, and watch for revenue shares and per-sale fees.
How much does email marketing software for creators cost in 2026?
Most creators can start for free. Paid plans run from about $9 to $59 a month at 1,000 subscribers and rise as your list grows.
| Tier | Typical price | Tools at this level | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Kit (10,000 subscribers), Substack, beehiiv (2,500), systeme.io (2,000 contacts), MailerLite (250), Buttondown (100) | New creators building a first list |
| Starter | $9 to $29/mo | Buttondown, MailerLite, Ghost Starter and Publisher, systeme.io Startup | Small lists that need automations, a paid tier or a branded site |
| Creator | $33 to $59/mo | Kit Creator, Flodesk Email, beehiiv Lite | Creators monetizing with products, sponsors or referrals |
| Pro and all-in-one | $66+/mo | Kit Pro, Flodesk Everything, beehiiv Pro, Ghost Business, systeme.io Unlimited, Kajabi | Established creator businesses and teams |
Entry prices for the smallest paid tier, from vendor pricing, November 2026. Annual billing is usually cheaper.
Price your tool at the list size you expect in 12 months, not today. A $33 plan at 1,000 subscribers can cost several times more at 10,000, while Flodesk stays flat and Substack charges nothing monthly but takes 10% of paid revenue. If you earn $2,000 a month from paid subscribers, that 10% is $200, which pays for most flat-fee tools on this list.
How we chose the best email marketing software for creators
We started with the email and newsletter tools in the MakeSuccessOnline directory and added well-known creator platforms we have not yet reviewed in full, such as Kajabi, Buttondown and systeme.io. We set each one up as a solo creator would: building a signup page, sending a newsletter, creating a welcome sequence and setting up a paid offer. We scored them on the criteria below alongside vendor documentation, and checked pricing and plan limits in November 2026.
- Creator monetizationPaid subscriptions, digital product sales, sponsorships and the fees each one takes.25%
- Growth toolsRecommendations, referral programs, discovery networks and list-building pages.20%
- Automation and segmentationWelcome and launch sequences, tagging and purchase-based targeting.15%
- Pricing and free planFree plan limits and cost as a list grows to 10,000 subscribers.20%
- Ease of useHow quickly a solo creator can design and send a good email.10%
- Ownership and flexibilityList export, custom domains, branding control and integrations.10%
How to choose email marketing software
- Decide how you will make moneyProducts and courses point to Kit, MailerLite or systeme.io. Sponsors and referrals point to beehiiv. Paid subscriptions point to Substack, Ghost or beehiiv.
- Start on a free planKit, beehiiv, Substack and systeme.io all have free plans big enough to test your idea before you pay anything.
- Set up your signup pathBuild a landing page or link-in-bio page and a lead magnet, then add the form to every social profile you have.
- Write a welcome sequenceCheck that the tool lets you automate a short welcome series on the plan you can afford, since many free plans exclude automations.
- Compare fees at your target sizeModel the monthly price at 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers, plus any revenue share or per-sale fee on paid subscriptions and products.
- Make sure you can leaveConfirm you can export subscribers and use a custom domain, so moving platforms later does not cost you your audience.
Check during the free trial
- Can I send a welcome sequence on the plan I would actually pay for?
- What fee does the tool take on paid subscriptions and product sales?
- How much will I pay at 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers?
- Can I remove the platform's branding and use my own domain?
- Can I export my full subscriber list, including tags, if I leave?
Red flags
- No way to export your subscriber list
- A revenue share that keeps growing as your paid income grows, with no flat-fee option
- Free plans that hide sending or automations behind a paywall you did not expect
- Monetization features that are locked out of the free trial
- Prices that jump sharply at each subscriber tier with no published price list
Email marketing software for creators FAQ
What is the best email marketing software for creators?
Kit is the best email marketing software for creators who sell digital products, thanks to tag-based automations, built-in commerce and a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers. beehiiv is best if your newsletter is the business and you want referrals and an ad network. Substack is the best free way to start a paid newsletter.
What is the best free email marketing platform for creators?
Kit has the most generous free plan for creators, covering up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited broadcasts, landing pages and product sales, though it excludes automations. Substack is free with unlimited subscribers but takes 10% of paid revenue. beehiiv is free up to 2,500 subscribers, and systeme.io is free up to 2,000 contacts with courses and funnels.
How much does email marketing cost for creators?
Most creators can start for $0. Paid plans at around 1,000 subscribers run from $9 a month on Buttondown to $33 a month annual on Kit Creator and $49 a month annual on beehiiv Lite. Prices rise with list size, except Flodesk, which charges a flat $38 a month annual with unlimited subscribers.
Is Kit or beehiiv better for creators?
Kit is better if you sell courses, ebooks or coaching, because its tags and Visual Automations react to purchases and it has built-in checkout. beehiiv is better if the newsletter itself is your product, with a referral program, an ad network and a 0% cut of paid subscriptions. Both have free plans and recommendation networks.
Is beehiiv or Substack better for a paid newsletter?
Substack is better for starting, because it costs nothing upfront and helps new writers get found through its app and Notes. beehiiv is better as paid income grows, since it takes 0% of subscription revenue against Substack's 10%, and it adds automations and an ad network on paid plans.
Is Substack or Ghost better for creators?
Substack is better for writers who want a free start and built-in discovery. Ghost is better for creators who want their own branded website and keep all subscription revenue, since it charges 0% on paid memberships from the $29 a month annual Publisher plan. Ghost has no free hosted plan, but you can self-host it for free.
How do I choose email marketing software as a creator?
Start with how you will earn. Pick Kit, MailerLite or systeme.io for products and courses, beehiiv for sponsors and referrals, and Substack or Ghost for paid subscriptions. Then compare free plan limits, check that automations are on a plan you can afford, model the price at 10,000 subscribers and confirm you can export your list.
Can creators sell digital products through email marketing software?
Yes. Kit sells ebooks, courses, coaching and paid subscriptions for 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale, MailerLite sells digital products and bookings, beehiiv sells digital products from its free plan up, and Flodesk's Everything plan adds checkout with no extra Flodesk fee. systeme.io and Kajabi go further with full course hosting and funnels.
About the reviewer
Editor & Reviewer, MakeSuccessOnline
William Harrison is an editor and reviewer at MakeSuccessOnline. He reviews each tools ranking before it goes live, checking plans, prices, free tiers and features against the tool's own documentation, and keeps rankings current as tools change.