Newsletter and email marketing platforms compared on price at real list sizes, API access, paid subscriptions and how hard it is to leave.
Email & newslettersKit, MailerLite, beehiiv, GetResponse and ActiveCampaign APIs compared on what matters to developers: sending, webhooks, rate limits and plan gates.
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Email & newslettersbeehiiv vs Kit for developers: who can publish via API, webhook delivery and limits, custom domains, data export, and cost at 1k, 10k and 50k.
Updated Oct 12, 2026
Email & newslettersWhat Kit, systeme.io, GetResponse, MailerLite and beehiiv cost at 1k, 5k, 10k and 25k subscribers, and what you give up at each price.
Updated Oct 12, 2026
Email & newslettersLeaving Substack for a real API and your own domain? Four alternatives compared on API access, migration of posts and paid subscribers, and the 10% break-even.
Updated Oct 12, 2026
Prices from each vendor's pricing page. Click through to a guide for the trade-offs.
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| Tool | Pricing | Free plan | Paid from | Price at 10k subs | Paid subscriptions | Automations | API | Custom domain | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ActiveCampaignAdvanced marketing automation | 14-day free trial; paid from $15/mo (Starter, 1,000 contacts, billed annually) | $15/mo (annual) | Visit | ||||||
 AWeberCreators who want unlimited automations plus built-in ecommerce | 14-day trial; paid from $15/mo (Lite, 500 subs, monthly billing) | 14-day trial (free plan limits not listed on pricing page) | $15/mo | $100/mo (Lite), $135/mo (Plus) | Lite: 3; Plus: unlimited | Buy and connect domains (all plans) | Visit | ||
 beehiivGrowing a paid or ad-supported newsletter | Free up to 2,500 subs; paid from $59/mo (Lite) | Up to 2,500 subs | $59/mo | $139/mo (Lite) | Paid plans | Visit | |||
 ButtondownMinimal, Markdown-first newsletters | Free up to 100 subs; paid from $9/mo (Basic, up to 1,000 subs) | Up to 100 subs | $9/mo | $79/mo base (Professional), add-ons extra | Add-on | Add-on | Not stated on pricing page | Sending included; archives on custom domain is an add-on | Visit |
 EmailOctopusLow-cost newsletters on a tight budget | Free up to 2,500 subs; paid from $10/mo (Pro, 500 subs, monthly billing) | Up to 2,500 subs | $10/mo | $44.50/mo (Pro) | Send from your domain on all plans | Visit | |||
 FlodeskDesign-led creators who also sell digital products | Free plan; paid from $25/mo (Lite, 1,000 subs, monthly billing) | Yes (forms, landing pages, email sending) | $25/mo | $72/mo (Lite), $79/mo (Pro) | Everything plan only | Pro and up (Lite: 1 bonus workflow) | Paid plans | All plans | Visit |
 GetResponseAll-in-one email, webinars and courses | 14-day free trial; paid from EUR 16/mo (Starter) | Free version after 14-day trial (limits not listed) | EUR 16/mo | EUR 69/mo (Starter) | Visit | ||||
 Ghost(Pro)Paid membership publications that want 0% platform fees | No free plan; from $18/mo (Starter, 1,000 members, monthly billing) | No (free trial) | $18/mo | $105/mo (Publisher) | Publisher and up | Via Zapier/n8n on Publisher and up | All plans | Visit | |
 KitCreators selling digital products and paid newsletters | Free up to 10,000 subs; paid from $33/mo (Creator) | Up to 10,000 subs | $33/mo | $0 (Free: no automations or API) | Paid plans | Visit | |||
 MailerLiteBudget email marketing with automations | Free up to 250 subs; paid from $12/mo (Comfort) | Up to 250 subs | $12/mo | $89/mo (Comfort) | Paid plans | Visit | |||
 MoosendBudget-friendly automation with unlimited sends | 30-day free trial; paid from $9/mo (Pro, 500 contacts, monthly billing) | 30-day trial only | $9/mo | $88/mo (Pro) | Not stated on pricing page | Visit | |||
 OmnisendEcommerce stores combining email, SMS and push | Free up to 250 contacts; paid from $16/mo (Standard, monthly billing) | Up to 250 contacts | $16/mo | $132/mo (Standard) | Not stated on pricing page | Visit | |||
 SenderBudget senders who want email and SMS automation | Free up to 2,500 subs; paid from $9/mo (Standard, 500 subs, monthly billing) | Up to 2,500 subs | $9/mo | $69/mo (Standard) | Paid plans (landing pages) | Visit | |||
 systeme.ioEmail, funnels and courses in one cheap tool | Free up to 2,000 contacts; paid from $17/mo (Startup) | Up to 2,000 contacts | $17/mo | $47/mo (Webinar) | Visit |