Independently tested ranking
Best Newsletter Platforms for Creators in 2026
We compared the best newsletter platforms for creators on audience growth, sponsorships, paid subscriptions, product sales, revenue cuts and price as your list grows.
- Tools compared
- 9
- With a free plan
- 7 of 9
- Median entry price
- $33/mo
- Average rating
- 4.6
On this page
Which newsletter platform is best for creators?
The best newsletter platforms for creators in 2026 are beehiiv for growing and earning from ads and paid tiers, Kit for selling products to subscribers, Substack for a free start with app discovery, Patreon for creators who already have fans, and Ghost for a branded membership site with 0% fees. beehiiv's free plan covers 2,500 subscribers, and Kit's covers 10,000, while Substack and Patreon each take 10% of what you earn.
Our top picks
Best overall
beehiiv
Recommendations on the free plan, plus an Ad Network, referral program and 0%-cut paid subscriptions on Lite, make it the most complete growth and money toolkit.
Paid plans from $49/mo annual
See why we picked itBest for selling products
Kit (ConvertKit)
A 10,000-subscriber free plan with built-in commerce, then visual automations that turn readers into buyers.
Paid plans from $33/mo annual
See why we picked itBest free start
Substack
No monthly fee, no subscriber cap and discovery through its app, Notes and Recommendations, for 10% of paid revenue.
Paid plans from Free (10% of paid revenue)
See why we picked itKey takeaways
- beehiiv is the strongest newsletter platform for creators who want growth and ad income: recommendations work on its free plan, and the Ad Network, referrals and 0%-cut paid subscriptions start on Lite.
- Kit wins when products are your income: 10,000 free subscribers, commerce at 3.5% + 30 cents per sale and automations from $33/mo annual.
- Substack and Patreon cost nothing upfront but each take 10%. On $3,000 a month of member revenue that is $300 a month, more than most paid plans here.
- Growth networks matter more than templates when you start from zero. Recommendations on beehiiv, Kit, Substack and Ghost can bring readers you would never reach alone.
- Pick by income model first: ads and sponsors (beehiiv), products (Kit, systeme.io, Kajabi), paid subscriptions (beehiiv, Ghost, Substack) or fan memberships (Patreon).
What is a newsletter platform?
The best newsletter platforms for creators are tools that help you grow an email audience and earn from it, combining a writing and sending tool with growth features like recommendations and referrals and money features like sponsorships, paid subscriptions and product sales. They turn a list of readers into an income stream you own.
A newsletter platform for creators needs to do three jobs better than general email software. It must bring in new readers through networks, referrals or app discovery, it must offer several ways to get paid, and it must keep the revenue cut and per-subscriber cost low enough that growth stays profitable. Email marketing tools aimed at businesses focus on automation and segmentation instead; creators usually need audience growth first.
Best newsletter platforms compared
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | beehiiv |
Growth tools and ad revenue | Yes (2,500 subscribers) | $49/mo annual | ★4.7 |
| 2 | Kit (ConvertKit) |
Selling products to subscribers | Yes (10,000 subscribers) | $33/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 3 | Substack |
Free start and app discovery | Yes (free to publish) | Free (10% of paid revenue) | ★4.4 |
| 4 | Patreon | Memberships for existing fans | Yes (free to start, 10% of earnings) | Free (10% of earnings) | Not yet reviewed |
| 5 |  Ghost |
Branded site, 0% fees | No (free if self-hosted) | $15/mo annual | ★4.6 |
| 6 |  MailerLite |
Cheapest automations and paid newsletter | Yes (250 subscribers) | $12/mo | ★4.6 |
| 7 |  Flodesk |
Flat price, unlimited subscribers | Yes (forms and landing pages, no sending) | $38/mo annual | ★4.5 |
| 8 | systeme.io | Free email, funnels and courses | Yes (2,000 contacts) | $17/mo | Not yet reviewed |
| 9 | Kajabi | Premium courses, community and email | No (14-day trial) | $143/mo annual | Not yet reviewed |
Ratings are MakeSuccessOnline's. Prices are the cheapest paid plan, billed monthly unless marked annual, checked November 2026; most rise with list size, and percentage fees apply only when readers pay.
The 9 best newsletter platforms in 2026
Each pick below leads for a different creator income model, from ad-supported newsletters to fan memberships and course businesses. The ranking weighs audience growth and monetization above design.
#1Best overall newsletter platform for creators who want to grow and earn
beehiiv
A newsletter platform with recommendations, referrals, an ad network and paid subscriptions with a 0% cut.
- Paid plans from
- $49/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (2,500 subscribers)
- Best for
- Creators whose newsletter is the main product, from solo writers to small media brands
- Works on
- Web; installable app for your publication (iOS and Android)
beehiiv is the best newsletter platform for creators who want the newsletter itself to become the business. The free plan covers 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, a hosted website and podcast hosting, and it already includes the recommendation network. That means a new creator can swap signups with similar newsletters from day one, before paying anything.
The money tools start on Lite. The beehiiv Ad Network matches you with sponsors so you do not have to pitch brands yourself, paid subscriptions run through Stripe with a 0% beehiiv cut, and the referral program rewards readers who share. You can also sell digital products with a 0% platform fee. The trade-off is price: Lite starts at $49 a month billed annually for 1,000 subscribers and rises with every list tier, and removing beehiiv branding needs Pro.
Key features
- Recommendations networkRecommend other newsletters at signup and get recommended back. It works on the free plan, so it is the cheapest growth channel a new creator can switch on.
- Paid recommendationsPay other newsletters to recommend yours, or earn money by recommending others. Useful when you have budget to buy growth or an audience to rent out.
- beehiiv Ad NetworkGet matched with sponsors and run their placements in your issues without doing ad sales. Available on Lite and above, though not during a free trial.
- Referral programSet milestones and rewards so readers who share your newsletter earn prizes. It turns your most engaged fans into a growth channel. Lite and above.
- Paid subscriptions and digital productsCharge for premium issues through Stripe and sell digital products from your publication. beehiiv takes 0% of subscription revenue; you pay Stripe fees.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers, website, podcast, recommendation network, unlimited sends, 1 seat, 1 publication |
| Lite | $49/mo annual ($59 monthly) | From 1,000 subscribers (price rises with list size, up to 100,000): Ad Network, paid subscriptions, referral program, 10 live automations, custom domains, 2 seats, 3 publications |
| Pro | $95/mo annual ($109 monthly) | From 1,000 subscribers (up to 250,000): no beehiiv branding, unlimited automations and segments, dynamic content, sponsorship storefront, 10 seats, 10 publications |
| Enterprise | Custom | Dedicated IPs, SSO/SAML, account manager, unlimited seats |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Paid plan prices rise with list size. Lite and Pro come with a free trial, no credit card needed; some features, such as the Ad Network and team seats, are not available during the trial.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan covers 2,500 subscribers and includes recommendations
- 0% cut of paid subscriptions and digital product sales
- Ad Network earns sponsor money without ad sales work
- Website, podcast and up to 3 publications on Lite
Cons
- Removing beehiiv branding requires Pro at $95/mo annual or more
- Every list tier raises the monthly bill
- Automation is lighter than Kit for product funnels
Is it right for you?
Choose beehiiv ifYour newsletter is the product and you want to earn from sponsors, paid tiers and referrals without giving up a revenue share.
Look elsewhere ifYour income comes mainly from courses or coaching and you need tag-based sales funnels more than ad revenue.
#2Best for creators who turn newsletter readers into product buyers
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing for creators that combines newsletters, visual automations, recommendations and built-in commerce.
- Paid plans from
- $33/mo annual
- Free plan
- Yes (10,000 subscribers)
- Best for
- Creators, coaches and educators who sell digital products, courses or paid newsletters
- Works on
- Web
Kit is the newsletter platform for creators who earn more from what they sell than from ads. Its free plan holds up to 10,000 subscribers, the largest capped free tier here, with unlimited broadcasts, landing pages, forms, tags and the ability to sell digital products and paid subscriptions. Kit takes 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale, so you can launch an ebook or paid tier before paying a subscription.
The growth side is strong too. Free Recommendations swap signups with other Kit creators on every plan, and Creator adds Paid Recommendations and a sponsorship network that matches you with brands. Visual Automations, sequences and RSS campaigns need Creator, at $33 a month billed annually for 1,000 subscribers. The newsletter referral program and engagement scoring sit on Pro, and the email templates are plainer than Flodesk or beehiiv.
Key features
- Visual Automations and sequencesBuild welcome, launch and nurture flows on a visual canvas triggered by signups, purchases or clicks. This is how a free reader becomes a customer without manual work. Creator and Pro.
- CommerceSell ebooks, courses, coaching, digital downloads and paid newsletters straight from Kit for 3.5% plus 30 cents per sale, even on the free plan.
- RecommendationsRecommend other creators in your signup flow and appear in theirs, on every plan including free. Paid Recommendations on Creator and Pro let you buy or sell signups.
- Newsletter sponsorshipsKit matches creators with sponsors on Creator and Pro, so a free newsletter can earn alongside product sales.
- Tags and segmentsEvery subscriber is one contact with tags for interests and purchases, so you can email buyers, non-buyers and super fans differently from one list.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts, landing pages, forms, tagging, digital product and subscription sales, Recommendations, 1 user |
| Creator | $33/mo annual ($39 monthly) | 1,000 subscribers (price rises with list size): Visual Automations, sequences, RSS campaigns, SMS, Paid Recommendations, sponsorships, 2 users, no Kit branding |
| Pro | $66/mo annual ($79 monthly) | 1,000 subscribers: unlimited users, newsletter referral system, engagement scoring, Subscriber Signals, deliverability reporting, advanced A/B testing |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Prices rise with subscriber count. Commerce sales cost 3.5% + 30 cents each, and Paid Recommendations carry a Kit fee. 14-day free trial of paid plans, no credit card. Pro is currently discounted for the first year.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan covers up to 10,000 subscribers
- Sell products and paid newsletters from day one
- Recommendations and sponsor matching built in
- Tag-based model keeps one clean list
Cons
- Automations and sequences need a paid plan
- Referral program is locked to Pro
- 3.5% + 30 cents on every sale adds up at volume
Is it right for you?
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) ifYou sell courses, digital products or a paid tier and want automations that turn new subscribers into buyers.
Look elsewhere ifYou want ad revenue to be your main income or need a polished hosted website for your newsletter.
#3Best free newsletter platform with built-in audience discovery
Substack
A free publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video that takes 10% of paid subscription revenue.
- Paid plans from
- Free (10% of paid revenue)
- Free plan
- Yes (free to publish)
- Best for
- Creators, commentators and podcasters who want readers to find them inside a network
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android
Substack costs nothing to start and has no subscriber cap, which makes it the easiest newsletter platform for creators testing an idea. Its biggest draw is distribution. Readers browse publications in the Substack app, Notes works like a social feed where your posts can travel, and Recommendations put your newsletter in front of readers of related publications.
Creators who work across formats also get podcasts, video, live video and subscriber chat in the same place. The cost arrives when readers pay: Substack keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue, plus Stripe fees. There are no automations, segments, sponsorship tools or product sales, and design control is limited. A custom domain is a one-time $50. You own your list and can export it if you outgrow the platform.
Key features
- Substack app and NotesReaders discover new publications in the iOS and Android app, and Notes lets your short posts spread beyond your subscribers. For a creator starting from zero, this network reach is the main reason to pick Substack.
- RecommendationsRecommend other publications on your site and at signup. They can recommend you back, which drives steady cross-promotion inside the network.
- Paid subscriptionsSet any post as free or paid-only and get paid directly by subscribers. You keep 90% of revenue minus card fees.
- Podcasts, video and live videoPublish audio and video alongside your writing and go live with subscribers, so one subscription covers everything you make.
- ChatPrivate group chats with your subscribers build a community without a separate tool.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited subscribers, newsletter, website, podcasts, video, Notes, chat, Recommendations |
| Paid subscriptions | 10% of revenue + Stripe fees | Paywalled posts with free and paid tiers |
| Custom domain | $50 one-time | Use your own domain for your publication |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Substack has no monthly fee; it keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue, and Stripe charges its own card fees.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No monthly fee and no subscriber cap
- App, Notes and Recommendations bring in new readers
- Podcasts, video, live video and chat included
- Subscriber list can be exported
Cons
- 10% of paid revenue gets expensive as you grow
- No automations, segments or product sales
- Limited branding and design control
Is it right for you?
Choose Substack ifYou want to start free and get discovered by readers inside a large network before you invest in tools.
Look elsewhere ifYou already earn meaningful subscription revenue or want sponsors, products and automations in one platform.
#4Best for creators with an existing fan base who want paid memberships
Patreon
A membership platform where fans pay monthly for posts, video, podcasts and community, with posts delivered by email.
- Paid plans from
- Free (10% of earnings)
- Free plan
- Yes (free to start, 10% of earnings)
- Best for
- YouTubers, podcasters, artists and writers who already have an audience elsewhere
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android
Patreon is not a classic newsletter tool, but for many creators it does the newsletter's job: every post lands in members' inboxes, and you can export your member email list. It is built for creators who already have fans on YouTube, a podcast or social media and want them to pay monthly. Fans know how Patreon works, which makes the ask easier than sending them to an unfamiliar checkout.
You can offer several paid tiers, free memberships to collect fans before they pay, one-time purchases, native video, livestreams, podcasts with private feeds, and chat. Autopilot sends automated offers such as discounts and free trials to win and keep members. New creators pay a flat 10% of income plus processing and payout fees. What you give up is control: no email design, no sequences and little branding.
Key features
- Membership tiersOffer several monthly tiers with different perks, so a casual fan and a super fan can each pay what suits them.
- Free membershipsFans can join free and receive free and public posts by email and in the app. It is a list-building step that you can upgrade to paid later.
- Email delivery and list exportPosts go out as emails to members, and the member email list is exportable, so you are not locked in.
- Native video, livestreams and podcastsHost video, go live and publish podcasts with private RSS feeds and Spotify support, all behind one membership.
- AutopilotAutomated, targeted offers such as discounts and free trials aim to acquire, retain and upgrade members without manual campaigns.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10% of earnings + processing | Paid tiers, free memberships, one-time payments, posts, video, livestreams, podcasts, chat, email delivery, analytics, Autopilot |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Patreon is free to start. Creators who launched after August 4, 2025 pay a 10% platform fee on income, plus payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No monthly fee; you pay only when you earn
- Fans already trust the checkout
- Video, audio, livestreams and chat in one membership
- Free memberships and exportable member emails
Cons
- 10% fee plus processing and payout fees
- No email design, sequences or segmentation tools
- Little branding control and weak discovery for brand-new creators
Is it right for you?
Choose Patreon ifYou already have fans on YouTube, a podcast or social media and want them to fund your work monthly.
Look elsewhere ifYou are starting from zero and need a newsletter that helps strangers find and subscribe to you.
#5Best for creators who want a branded membership site with 0% fees
Ghost
An open-source platform for a website, newsletter and paid memberships, hosted by Ghost(Pro) or self-hosted.
- Paid plans from
- $15/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (free if self-hosted)
- Best for
- Creators and small media brands who want their own branded home on the web
- Works on
- Web; managed Ghost(Pro) or self-hosted (open source)
Ghost suits creators who want a real brand, not a profile on someone else's network. Your newsletter, archive and paid memberships live on your own site and domain, with marketplace or custom themes. On Publisher, at $29 a month billed annually for 1,000 members, Ghost takes 0% of subscription revenue, so a creator earning $3,000 a month keeps all of it apart from Stripe fees.
Growth tools are lighter than beehiiv or Substack. You get Recommendations, offers and discounts, multiple newsletters and native analytics showing your top fans, and Ghost 6.0 added a social web (ActivityPub) feature, still in beta, that lets people follow you from Mastodon or Threads. There is no ad network, referral program or sponsor matching, and automations are basic. Starter cannot take payments, so most monetizing creators start on Publisher.
Key features
- Paid memberships with 0% Ghost feeSell monthly and yearly premium tiers through Stripe on Publisher and above, with no Ghost cut. The saving grows with every paying member.
- Branded website and themesYour newsletter sits on a full website with your domain, using marketplace themes or, from Publisher, a custom theme.
- Offers and promotionsCreate discounts and special offers to convert free members or win back lapsed ones during a launch.
- RecommendationsRecommend other publications to your readers and build cross-promotion with creators in your niche.
- Social web (ActivityPub)Added in Ghost 6.0 and in beta: people on Mastodon, Threads and other fediverse apps can follow your publication, which adds a discovery channel outside email.
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) | From 1,000 members (price rises with members), 3 staff users, paid subscriptions with 0% Ghost fee, custom themes, 3 newsletters, 3 premium tiers, custom sending domain |
| 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; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Ghost(Pro) prices rise with member count; the open-source software is free if you host it yourself. 14-day free trial.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 0% Ghost fee on paid memberships
- Full branded website and archive
- Open source, so you can self-host
- Run by a non-profit foundation
Cons
- No free hosted plan, and Starter cannot take payments
- No ad network, referrals or sponsor matching
- Big price step from Publisher to Business
Is it right for you?
Choose Ghost ifYou want a branded membership site you control and plan to keep 100% of subscription revenue as it grows.
Look elsewhere ifYou need built-in discovery, referral rewards or sponsor matching to grow from a small audience.
#6Best low-cost newsletter platform for creators with a small list
MailerLite
An easy email marketing tool with automations, websites, paid newsletters and digital products at low prices.
- Paid plans from
- $12/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (250 subscribers)
- Best for
- Early-stage creators who want automations and a simple site on a tight budget
- Works on
- Web
MailerLite is the cheapest way for a creator to get automations, a website and a paid newsletter in one account. Comfort costs $12 a month for 500 subscribers, and includes 50 automations, up to 10 sites, five digital products and RSS campaigns. The editor is easy to learn, and A/B testing works even on the free plan, which helps you test subject lines while the list is small.
You can charge for newsletter access through Stripe and sell digital products and bookings from the same dashboard. What MailerLite lacks is a growth network: there are no recommendations, referral rewards or sponsor matching, so new readers come from your own channels. The free plan has also shrunk to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails a month, and Comfort caps monthly sends.
Key features
- Paid newsletter subscriptionsCharge for newsletter access through Stripe without moving to a separate platform.
- Digital products and bookingsSell downloads and paid sessions from MailerLite, with 5 products on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
- Automation builderVisual welcome and nurture sequences, with 3 automations on free, 50 on Comfort and unlimited on Power.
- Websites and landing pagesBuild a landing page, a simple website or a blog for your newsletter without paying for another tool.
- A/B testing on every planTest subject lines and content even on the free plan, so you learn what your audience opens early.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo, 3 automations, 1 website, 1 landing page, 1 digital product, 2 seats |
| Comfort | $12/mo ($10.80/mo annual) | 500 subscribers (price rises with list size), 50 automations, 10 sites, 5 digital products, RSS campaigns, no MailerLite logo, sends capped at 10x your tier |
| Power | $25/mo ($22.50/mo annual) | 500 subscribers, unlimited automations, sites, digital products and seats, unlimited emails (fair use), live chat support |
| Enterprise | Custom | 200,000+ subscribers, priority and deliverability support |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Prices rise with subscriber count; annual billing saves 10%. 14-day trial of premium features for new accounts.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low entry price for automations
- Paid newsletters and digital products included
- Websites and landing pages built in
- A/B testing on the free plan
Cons
- No recommendations, referrals or sponsor matching
- Free plan limited to 250 subscribers
- Comfort caps monthly sends
Is it right for you?
Choose MailerLite ifYou want automations, a simple site and a paid tier for the lowest monthly cost while your list is small.
Look elsewhere ifYou need built-in growth networks or ad revenue to find new readers.
#7Best flat-price newsletter for creators with large lists
Flodesk
Design-led email marketing with flat pricing for unlimited subscribers and a 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, wellness and visual creators who care about design and predictable costs
- Works on
- Web
Flodesk's pitch to creators is simple: the price does not go up as your audience grows. The Email plan costs $38 a month billed annually for unlimited subscribers and emails, so a creator with 25,000 readers pays the same as one with 500. Its templates and fonts are the most polished on this list, which matters for lifestyle, beauty and design creators whose emails are part of the brand.
The Everything plan, at $79 a month billed annually, adds checkout, sales pages, upsells, subscriptions and payment plans with no extra Flodesk transaction fee. Link in bio, forms and landing pages are free, but the free plan cannot send email. There is no growth network or sponsor matching, and automation and segmentation are simpler than Kit's. Checkout is only available in certain countries.
Key features
- Flat-rate pricingPaid plans include unlimited subscribers and emails at one price, so audience growth never triggers a higher tier.
- Designer templatesBrand-forward templates and custom fonts make good-looking issues easy without a designer.
- CheckoutOn Everything, sell products, courses and services with sales pages, upsells, subscriptions and payment plans through Stripe, with no extra Flodesk fee.
- Link in bio and formsA hosted link-in-bio page plus pop-up and embedded forms turn social followers into subscribers, on every plan.
- Workflow automationsWelcome and nurture sequences on paid plans, with resend to unopens and A/B testing.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Forms, landing pages, link in bio, designer templates, segmentation; no email sending |
| $38/mo annual ($46 monthly) | Unlimited subscribers and emails, workflow automations, A/B testing, no Flodesk branding, 1 seat | |
| Everything | $79/mo annual ($99 monthly) | Everything in Email plus unlimited checkouts, sales pages, upsells, subscriptions and payment plans, 3 seats |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Flat rate regardless of list size. 14-day free trial, no credit card. Checkout is limited to businesses in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Euro Area.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Price never rises with list size
- Most attractive templates here
- Checkout with no added Flodesk fee on Everything
- Link in bio and forms free
Cons
- Free plan cannot send email
- No recommendations, referrals or ad network
- Simpler automation than Kit
Is it right for you?
Choose Flodesk ifYou have or expect a large list and want beautiful emails at a predictable flat price.
Look elsewhere ifYou have a small list and a tight budget, or need growth networks to find readers.
#8Best free all-in-one for creators selling courses from their newsletter
systeme.io
An all-in-one platform for email, sales funnels, online courses, communities and a blog, with a free plan.
- Paid plans from
- $17/mo
- Free plan
- Yes (2,000 contacts)
- Best for
- Beginner creators and coaches who want email, funnels and course delivery in one low-cost tool
- Works on
- Web
systeme.io gives creators a newsletter, sales funnels, a course and a blog in one account, and the free plan never expires. It covers 2,000 contacts with unlimited email sends, three funnels, one course, one blog and a custom domain, so you can build a list and sell your first product without a monthly bill. systeme.io charges 0% transaction fees on all plans; Stripe or PayPal fees still apply.
It is a funnel tool first and a newsletter tool second. You get email sequences, automation rules, checkouts with order bumps and upsells, and your own affiliate program to recruit promoters. You do not get a growth network, a polished publication website or detailed email analytics, and deliverability tools are basic. Startup costs $17 a month for 5,000 contacts and 10 funnels.
Key features
- Email marketing with unlimited sendsSend newsletters and automated sequences with no per-email cap on any plan.
- Sales funnels and checkoutsOpt-in, sales and checkout pages with order bumps and one-click upsells, connected to your list and products.
- Online courses and communitiesHost courses with drip release and a member community next to your newsletter, so buyers get access automatically.
- Affiliate program managementRecruit affiliates and track commissions for your own products, which lets fans and peers promote your launches.
- Automation rules and workflowsTag contacts, enroll them in a course or send an email when they opt in, buy or finish a step.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,000 contacts, unlimited sends, 3 funnels, 1 course, 1 blog, 1 custom domain, 1 automation rule |
| Startup | $17/mo | Up to 5,000 contacts, 10 funnels, 5 courses, unlimited sends |
| Webinar | $47/mo | Up to 10,000 contacts, 50 funnels, 20 courses, evergreen webinars |
| Unlimited | $97/mo | Unlimited contacts, funnels, courses and automation rules |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Annual billing gives two months free. 0% systeme.io transaction fees on all plans; Stripe and PayPal fees apply.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Useful free plan that never expires
- Funnels, courses and email in one place
- 0% transaction fees
- Low paid prices
Cons
- No recommendation network or publication website
- Email reporting and deliverability tools are basic
- Page editor is less flexible than dedicated builders
Is it right for you?
Choose systeme.io ifYou want to sell a course or coaching offer to your list without paying for several tools.
Look elsewhere ifYour newsletter is the product and you want growth networks, sponsors and a publication website.
#9Best premium platform for established creators selling courses and community
Kajabi
An all-in-one platform for courses, coaching, communities and memberships, with built-in email and funnels.
- Paid plans from
- $143/mo annual
- Free plan
- No (14-day trial)
- Best for
- Established creators and educators with a proven offer and revenue to support a premium tool
- Works on
- Web, iOS, Android (Kajabi app for members; your own branded app on Pro)
Kajabi is for creators whose newsletter feeds a real education business. Email sits next to courses, coaching, a community and funnels, so a subscriber who buys is enrolled automatically, and every plan includes unlimited marketing emails. Basic costs $143 a month billed annually and covers 5 products and 2,500 contacts, which is a big jump from newsletter tools, but it replaces several subscriptions at once.
Growth, at $199 a month billed annually, is where creators get advanced automations, an affiliate program, Comment to DM and no Kajabi branding, with 25,000 contacts. Kajabi takes no revenue share, though Kajabi Payments card fees apply. As a newsletter tool it is thin: no recommendation network, sponsor tools or publication-style website. Choose it for the business around the newsletter, not the newsletter.
Key features
- Email marketingBroadcasts and automated sequences to your Kajabi contacts, with unlimited marketing emails on every plan.
- Courses and coachingBuild and sell courses with drip content and quizzes, plus one-to-one or group coaching, in the same account as your list.
- CommunitiesRun a member community with posts, chat and live events, which adds recurring revenue on top of the newsletter.
- Funnels and checkoutUnlimited landing pages and funnels with order bumps, upsells, coupons and payment plans.
- Affiliate program and Comment to DMOn Growth and Pro, recruit affiliates to promote your products and turn social comments into direct messages that lead to your list.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $143/mo annual ($179 monthly) | 5 products, 2,500 contacts, unlimited marketing emails, 2 admins, 1 website, 1 community, unlimited funnels |
| Growth | $199/mo annual ($249 monthly) | 50 products, 25,000 contacts, advanced automations, affiliate program, Comment to DM, no Kajabi branding, 11 admins |
| Pro | $399/mo annual ($499 monthly) | Unlimited products, 100,000 contacts, 3 websites, 3 communities, your own branded app, API, 26 admins |
List prices as of November 2026; plans change often, so check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. 14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. Kajabi takes no revenue share; Kajabi Payments card processing starts at 2.9% + 30 cents on Basic for US businesses.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Courses, coaching, community and email work together
- Unlimited marketing emails on every plan
- No Kajabi revenue share
- Branded app on Pro
Cons
- Expensive for creators still testing an offer
- No growth network or sponsor tools for the newsletter
- Advanced automations and affiliates need Growth
Is it right for you?
Choose Kajabi ifYou already sell courses or coaching and want email, products and community on one premium platform.
Look elsewhere ifYou are still building an audience, or your newsletter itself is what you sell.
Best newsletter platform by need
- Earning from sponsors without selling adsbeehiiv
- Selling courses and digital products by emailKit (ConvertKit)
- Getting discovered by new readers for freeSubstack
- Monthly memberships for existing fansPatreon
- A branded membership site with 0% feesGhost
- The cheapest automations and paid tierMailerLite
- A large list at one flat priceFlodesk
- Free funnels and courses with your listsysteme.io
- A premium course and community businessKajabi
What to look for in a newsletter platform
- Built-in growth networkRecommendation networks on beehiiv, Kit, Substack and Ghost swap signups between creators for free. App and feed discovery on Substack adds more reach. This is the cheapest way to grow a newsletter.
- Referral programRewards for readers who share turn fans into a growth channel. beehiiv includes one from Lite; Kit's newsletter referral system sits on Pro.
- Ad network and sponsorshipsA sponsor marketplace lets a free newsletter earn without you pitching brands. beehiiv has its Ad Network on Lite and above, and Kit matches creators with sponsors on Creator and Pro.
- Revenue cut on paid subscriptionsbeehiiv and Ghost (Publisher) take 0%, Kit charges 3.5% + 30 cents per sale, and Substack and Patreon take 10%. Model this at the income you expect, not today's.
- Product and course salesIf you sell ebooks, courses or coaching, check for checkout, upsells and automations that follow a purchase. Kit, Flodesk Everything, systeme.io and Kajabi lead here.
- Cost as your audience growsMost tools price by subscriber tier, so a $49 plan can triple as you grow. Flodesk stays flat, while Substack and Patreon charge only a percentage of earnings.
How much do newsletter platforms for creators cost in 2026?
Most creators can start free. Paid plans cost about $12 to $49 a month at 500 to 1,000 subscribers, and percentage-based platforms charge nothing monthly but take 10% of what you earn.
| Tier | Typical price | Tools at this level | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free or percentage-based | $0 (Substack and Patreon take 10%) | Kit (10,000 subscribers), beehiiv (2,500), systeme.io (2,000 contacts), MailerLite (250), Substack, Patreon | Creators testing an idea or with fans who will pay |
| Starter | $12 to $29/mo | MailerLite Comfort, systeme.io Startup, Ghost Starter and Publisher | Small lists that need automations, a paid tier or a branded site |
| Creator growth | $33 to $79/mo | Kit Creator and Pro, Flodesk Email and Everything, beehiiv Lite | Creators earning from sponsors, products or referrals |
| Pro and all-in-one | $95 to $399+/mo | beehiiv Pro, Ghost Business, systeme.io Unlimited, Kajabi Basic to Pro | Established creator businesses with teams, courses or large lists |
Entry prices at the smallest paid tier from vendor pricing, November 2026; annual billing where marked. Most plans rise with subscribers.
Run the numbers at the income you expect in a year. A creator earning $3,000 a month from paid members pays $300 a month to Substack or Patreon, while beehiiv Lite or Ghost Publisher cost far less at small list sizes and take 0%. If you plan to grow to 20,000 free readers and earn from sponsors, compare beehiiv's per-tier price with Flodesk's flat rate, and remember that Kit's 3.5% + 30 cents applies to every product sale.
How we chose the best newsletter platforms
We started with the newsletter and creator email tools in the MakeSuccessOnline directory and added well-known creator platforms we have not reviewed yet, such as Patreon, Kajabi and systeme.io. We tested each against the same creator jobs: launching a publication, growing from zero, turning on a paid tier or sponsorships, and selling a product. We combined hands-on reviews with vendor documentation, and checked plans, fees and pricing in November 2026.
- Audience growthRecommendations, referrals, paid recommendations, app discovery and signup tools.25%
- Monetization optionsAd network, sponsorships, paid subscriptions, products and memberships.25%
- Fees and pricingRevenue cut, free plan size and cost as the audience grows.20%
- Publishing and brandEditor, website, custom domain and branding removal.10%
- Automation and segmentationWelcome flows, launches and tags that turn readers into buyers.10%
- OwnershipList export, own domain and how easy it is to leave.10%
How to choose a newsletter platform
- Pick your income modelDecide whether sponsors, paid subscriptions, products or fan memberships will pay you. Each points to a different newsletter platform.
- Check the growth tools on your planRecommendations are free on beehiiv, Kit and Substack, but referral programs and paid recommendations often need a paid tier. Confirm what your budget includes.
- Model fees at your target incomeCompare 10% on Substack and Patreon, 3.5% + 30 cents per sale on Kit and 0% on beehiiv and Ghost at the revenue you want in 12 months.
- Price the plan at 10,000 subscribersPer-subscriber pricing climbs fast. Check the cost at your one-year goal, and compare it with Flodesk's flat rate.
- Plan for every format you makeIf you also podcast or make video, check for podcast hosting, video and community, which Substack, Patreon and beehiiv include.
- Test, then confirm exportSend real issues on a free plan or trial, ask a few readers if they landed in the inbox, and confirm you can export subscribers and paid members.
Check during the free trial
- Do recommendations and the referral program work on the plan you will actually pay for?
- How does sponsor matching work, and what share of ad revenue do you keep?
- What exactly is the platform's cut of paid subscriptions and product sales?
- What will you pay at 5,000 and 10,000 subscribers?
- Can you export free subscribers and paying members with their status?
Red flags
- Growth features shown on the pricing page that are disabled during the trial without saying so
- Revenue cuts that are hard to find or change by plan
- No way to export paying members or move their subscriptions
- Sponsor marketplaces that do not explain how ad revenue is split
- Promo prices that jump sharply after the first year
Newsletter platforms for creators FAQ
What are the best newsletter platforms for creators?
The best newsletter platforms for creators in 2026 are beehiiv for growth and sponsor income, Kit for selling products, Substack for a free start with discovery, Patreon for fan memberships and Ghost for a branded site with 0% fees. MailerLite, Flodesk, systeme.io and Kajabi suit low budgets, large lists and course businesses.
What is the best free newsletter platform for creators?
Kit has the largest capped free plan, at 10,000 subscribers with product sales included. beehiiv's free plan covers 2,500 subscribers with a website, podcast and recommendation network. Substack and Patreon are free with no subscriber cap but take 10% of what readers pay.
How do creators make money from a newsletter?
Creators earn from a newsletter through sponsorships, paid subscriptions, product sales and memberships. beehiiv's Ad Network and Kit's sponsorship matching bring in brand deals, beehiiv, Ghost and Substack handle paid tiers, Kit and systeme.io sell products, and Patreon runs fan memberships.
Is beehiiv or Kit better for creators?
beehiiv is better if your newsletter is the product, because it combines an ad network, referral program and 0% cut on paid subscriptions. Kit is better if you sell courses or digital products, thanks to its 10,000-subscriber free plan, commerce and visual automations.
Patreon vs Substack: which is better for creators?
Patreon is better for creators who already have fans and make video, podcasts or art, since it bundles tiers, livestreams and chat. Substack is better for writers and commentators who need new readers, because its app, Notes and Recommendations drive discovery. Both take 10% of paid income.
How much does a newsletter platform cost for creators?
Most creators start free, then pay about $12 to $49 a month at 500 to 1,000 subscribers. MailerLite starts at $12 a month, Kit at $33 a month billed annually and beehiiv at $49 a month billed annually. Substack and Patreon have no monthly fee but take 10%.
Which newsletter platform takes no cut of creator revenue?
beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscriptions and digital product sales, and Ghost takes 0% on Publisher and above. systeme.io and Kajabi also take no platform cut on sales. You still pay card processing fees to Stripe or PayPal on every platform.
How do I choose a newsletter platform as a creator?
Choose a newsletter platform by picking your income model first, then comparing growth tools, revenue cuts and the price at your one-year subscriber goal. Confirm that recommendations, referrals and sponsor tools work on your plan, and test exporting your list before you commit.
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.