Best Newsletter Platforms

The best platforms for writing, growing, and monetizing an email newsletter. We compare beehiiv, Substack, Kit, and Ghost on monetization options, audience growth features, and what each costs as your list scales.

4 tools · Last updated June 11, 2026

Comparison Table

ToolBest forPricingFree planOpen sourceWhy choose it
beehiiv logobeehiivNewsletter creators and independent journalistsFreemium · from $39/moBest growth toolkit: referral program, recommendation network, and an ad marketplace.
Substack logoSubstackIndependent writers and journalists going paidFreeFree to start with built-in discovery — costs 10% of revenue once you charge subscribers.
Kit logoKitCreators selling courses, products, or paid contentFreemium · from $25/moCreator-focused automation with powerful tagging, sequences, and paid-product support.
Ghost logoGhostSerious publications with growing paid revenueFreemium · from $9/moOpen source publishing platform — own your site, archive, and member relationships outright.

All Picks

beehiiv

beehiiv

The newsletter platform built for growth — create, grow, and monetize your email audience without code.

Email MarketingContent Marketing
Substack

Substack

The home for independent voices — publish a newsletter, podcast, or community and get paid by subscribers.

Email MarketingContent Marketing
Kit

Kit

The creator marketing platform (formerly ConvertKit) — email, automations, and monetization built for creators.

Email MarketingAutomation+1
Ghost

Ghost

The open-source publishing platform — beautiful websites, newsletters, and paid subscriptions with 0% fees.

Email MarketingOpen Source+1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best platform to start a newsletter?

Substack is the fastest free start with built-in discovery, while beehiiv offers the strongest growth toolkit (referral program, boosts, ad network) once you get serious. If you want full ownership and your own site, Ghost is the open source pick.

Which newsletter platform is cheapest at scale?

Substack is free but takes 10% of paid subscription revenue, which gets expensive once you monetize. Flat-fee platforms like beehiiv, Kit, or self-hosted Ghost usually cost less than that 10% cut beyond roughly 100 paid subscribers.

Can I move my newsletter to another platform later?

Yes — subscriber lists export as CSV on all four platforms. The harder parts to migrate are paid subscriptions (Stripe relationships) and SEO from your archive, so pick a platform with a custom domain early if you expect to move.