The email marketing platform landscape has shifted dramatically. Substack has matured, Beehiiv has carved out the "creator-focused" niche, Ghost has become a legitimate publishing platform, and ConvertKit remains the workhorse for course creators.
Here's what you need to know to choose the right one for your newsletter business.
| Platform | Best For | Free Tier | Paid Starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | Writers, journalists | Unlimited | $0 (takes 10%) |
| Beehiiv | Newsletter businesses | 2,500 subscribers | $42/month |
| Ghost | Publishers, membership | Limited | $9/month |
| ConvertKit | Creators, course sellers | 1,000 subscribers | $29/month |
| Mailchimp | Small businesses | 500 subscribers | $13/month |
The good: Substack made newsletter publishing accessible to millions. The writing experience is clean and distraction-free. The native payments system is the easiest way to start charging for a newsletter. Discovery features (Discover, notes) can bring new free subscribers.
The bad: Substack takes 10% of your paid subscription revenue (on top of payment processing fees). Customization is limited. The analytics are basic compared to dedicated email marketing tools.
Ideal for: Writers, journalists, essayists, and anyone who wants the simplest path from writing to paid subscriptions.
Beehiiv launched in 2020 and quickly became the platform of choice for newsletter-based businesses. The product feels like it was built by people who actually send newsletters.
The good: Best-in-class analytics (open rates, click rates, subscriber trends). Built-in referral program features. Clean UI. Good automation. The "Zapier" integration ecosystem is solid.
The bad: Paid tier is expensive for small newsletters ($42/month after 2,500 subscribers). Payments feature (Beehiiv Boosts) is newer and less proven than Substack's native payments.
Ideal for: Newsletter creators who want to build a real "business"—especially those planning to monetize through sponsorships and display ads.
Ghost is the most powerful publishing platform on this list. It combines a CMS, email newsletter, membership/subscription features, and an API that developers love.
The good: Incredible flexibility. Full API access. Built-in membership and tiered subscription support. Clean, fast publishing experience. You own your data and can export anytime.
The bad: Has a steeper learning curve. Not as "out of the box" friendly as Substack or Beehiiv. The $9/month tier is just hosting—you'll pay more for advanced features.
Ideal for: Publishers who want full control, developers, and creators who want to build membership sites or sell courses alongside their newsletter.
ConvertKit has evolved from "email marketing for bloggers" to a full creator platform. Their tag-based system and visual automation builder are favorites among creators selling digital products or courses.
The good: Excellent for complex audience segmentation. Good automation flows. Visual rule builder. Strong ecosystem of integrations. Their Creator Challenge and community are valuable resources.
The bad: The email editor feels dated. Can be overkill for simple newsletters. Pricing creeps up as your list grows.
Ideal for: Creators who sell courses, digital products, or services alongside their newsletter—and need advanced automation.
Once the default for all email marketing, Mailchimp has repositioned as a small business marketing platform. Still widely used, but no longer the obvious choice for newsletter creators.
The good: Generous free tier. Reliable deliverability. Extensive integrations. Good for traditional email marketing (promotions, product launches).
The bad: Not built for newsletters-first creators. Complex pricing. The interface can feel overwhelming for beginners.
Ideal for: Small businesses that need traditional email marketing features alongside newsletters.
For my own newsletter business, I run on Beehiiv. The analytics are too valuable to give up, and the referral features have helped me grow faster than I would on other platforms. But I know several successful writers who swear by Substack, and Ghost users who would never switch.
The "best" platform is the one you'll actually use consistently. Pick one, start sending, and migrate later if needed. Your content matters more than your tool.