Three years ago, I launched my blog on (what else?) pet activities. To keep my readers in the loop about new blog posts, I decided to start sending out a biweekly newsletter.
Needless to say, choosing the right platform felt impossible! I tested what felt like dozens of them, but hey, at least I got some solid insights to share with you.
Interested? Let’s dig in!
But first, what is an email newsletter service? Do you need it? And why?
What is an Email Newsletter Service?
An email newsletter software helps you collect email subscribers, design visually appealing emails, and send them out to your audience. Essentially, it’s the engine behind your email marketing efforts. They range from simple tools with basic features to sophisticated platforms packed with detailed reporting features and automation capabilities.
You might be thinking, “Email? In the age of social media?”. But here’s the thing: they say the best way to make yourself algorithm-proof is to start a newsletter, and it’s true! A subscriber list is valuable because you own that direct line of communication with your audience. You’re not at the mercy of a social media algorithm deciding who sees your content.
If that sounds good, let’s move to a quick roundup of the top newsletter platforms worth checking out.
10 Best Newsletter Platforms – A Quick Roundup
No time to read it all? Here’s your TL;DR.
| Platform | Cost (Starting at) | Free Plan | Best for |
| Sender | $7/mo | Yes – 2,500 subs, 15,000 emails/mo | SMBs, ecommerce brands, content marketers |
| Mailchimp | $13/mo | Yes – 500 contacts, 1,000 emails/mo | Solopreneurs, beginners, local businesses |
| Constant Contact | $12/mo | No – 30-day trial only | Nonprofits, small teams, event-based businesses |
| Kit | $25/mo | Yes – 10,000 subs, unlimited emails (trial) | Shopify stores, creator brands, indie publishers |
| HubSpot | $9/mo | Yes – 2,000 contacts & emails/mo | SAAS startups, agencies, service businesses |
| Beehiiv | $49/mo | Yes – 2,500 subs, unlimited emails | Writers, indie publishers, content creators |
| Flodesk | $35/mo | Yes – List building only (no sending) | Designers, coaches, lifestyle brands |
| Campaign Monitor | $12/mo | No – 30-day trial only | Agencies, designers, premium brands |
| GetResponse | $15/mo | No – 30-day trial only | Educators, coaches, marketing teams |
| ActiveCampaign | $15/mo | No – 15-day trial only | B2B companies, agencies, high-volume marketers |
How to Choose the Best Newsletter Platform?
Choosing the right platform depends on your needs, budget, and tech-savviness.
Here are some key questions to ask when evaluating different email marketing services:
- What’s your budget? Are you looking for a generous free plan to start or ready to invest in premium features?
- What are your design needs? Do you need a drag-and-drop editor, or are you comfortable working with basic templates?
- How large is your subscriber list? Some platforms have pricing tiers based on subscriber count.
- Do you need marketing automation? Look for platforms offering campaign scheduling and automation features if you need to streamline your email marketing.
- Do you want to sell digital products directly through your newsletter? Some platforms offer this functionality, making managing your products and sales easy.
- How easy is it to create and integrate signup forms with your website? This is crucial for growing your email subscribers.
- Do you need a landing page editor? This can help create dedicated signup or sales pages.
10 Best Newsletter Platforms in 2025
Finding the right newsletter platform isn’t just about picking a name off a list—it’s about choosing the one that actually works for you.
I’ve tested these tools, explored all the features, and dug into what makes each one shine (or fall short).
Let’s walk through the best digital newsletter platforms for an in depth email marketing tools comparison.
Sender — Newsletter Platform with Drag-and-Drop Editor
Sender is built for businesses that need a reliable, no-BS newsletter software without burning through their budget. Unlike some tools that charge extra for automation, Sender includes drip sequences, and transactional emails—even on a completely free account.
This makes it the perfect solution for businesses of all sizes that want to get the most out of their email marketing without breaking the bank.
The drag-and-drop editor is smooth, the pre-built templates look professional, and deliverability is solid—even with high-volume sending. Unlike some platforms restricting free plan users, Sender offers a generous sending limit (15,000 emails/month) without cutting core features and includes SMS marketing capabilities for comprehensive customer outreach.
Worried about switching from your current email platform? Don’t be. Sender makes migration a breeze with its simple import tools and helpful support team. You can easily transfer your existing subscriber lists, email templates, and even automation workflows without breaking a sweat.
Key Features
- Unlimited automation. Set up drip sequences, autoresponders, and behavioral triggers without hitting a paywall. This ensures you can nurture leads and engage subscribers at every stage of their journey;
- A/B testing. Automate A/B testing for automation sequences and use multivariate testing for finding winning campaigns. Constantly optimize your emails for higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions;
- Smart segmentation. Target subscribers based on behavior, location, or past interactions without needing advanced knowledge. This advanced segmentation delivers personalized content that resonates with each segment and boosts engagement;
- User-friendly interface. Sender prides itself on being intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners with no email marketing experience. The newsletter builder allows you to quickly create and send beautiful emails without any technical hurdles.
Sender Pricing
Here’s an overview of Sender pricing:
- Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails/month;
- Standard Plan: $7/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails/month;
- Professional Plan: $14/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and 24,000 emails/month;
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing.
Mailchimp — Best Email Marketing Platform for Beginners
Everyone’s heard of Mailchimp—it’s often one of the first email newsletter platforms people try. And there’s a reason for that. It’s easy to set up, simple to use, and doesn’t overwhelm you with complex features.
If you’re just starting out and need a no-fuss newsletter platform, comprehensive Mailchimp newsletter features make it a solid choice.
Mailchimp guides you with step-by-step tutorials, pre-built email templates, and an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, making it incredibly beginner-friendly. Within minutes, you can send a test email and see how everything works.
However, the initial honeymoon phase can quickly fade as your subscriber list grows and your needs become more complex. Mailchimp pricing model, while seemingly affordable at first glance, can quickly become expensive as you require more advanced features and larger subscriber limits.
Key Features
- Beginner-friendly email editor. Quickly create visually appealing emails with pre-designed templates or customize your own layouts without any coding knowledge;
- Pre-built automation workflows. Set up welcome emails, abandoned cart emails, and basic customer engagement sequences without coding. Save time and nurture relationships by automating essential email communications based on subscriber behavior;
- Basic audience groups & insights. Understand your audience better and tailor your messaging by dividing subscribers into groups based on demographics, interests, or purchase history;
- Free plan for getting started. Mailchimp’s free plan allows 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly email sends.
Mailchimp Pricing
Now, let’s take a look at Mailchimp pricing:
- Free Plan: Up to 500 subscribers;
- Essentials Plan: $13/month for up to 500 contacts;
- Standard Plan: $19/month for up to 500 contacts;
- Premium: $305/month for up to 10,000 contacts.
“My overall experience with Mailchimp has been positive. It’s a well-rounded platform that makes creating and managing email campaigns straightforward and effective. While there are some limitations and the pricing could be more accessible, the platform delivers on its promise of simplifying email marketing.”
— Alec from Capterra
Constant Contact — Newsletter Software with Google Sheets
Constant Contact newsletter software stands out for its seamless Google Sheets integration, making it incredibly easy to manage subscriber lists and import contacts directly from your spreadsheets. This feature is particularly valuable for small businesses and organizations that already use Google Workspace for their operations.
The platform excels at simplifying newsletter management for non-technical users. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and extensive template library, you can create professional-looking newsletters without any design experience. Constant Contact also offers robust event management tools, making it an excellent choice for organizations that frequently host webinars, workshops, or community events.
What sets Constant Contact apart is its focus on deliverability and compliance. The platform includes built-in tools to help you maintain a good sender reputation and stay compliant with email regulations. Their customer support is particularly strong, offering priority support on high tier plans and live chat to help you troubleshoot issues quickly.
Key Features
- Google Sheets integration. Seamlessly import and sync contact lists directly from Google Sheets, making subscriber management effortless for teams already using Google Workspace;
- Event management tools. Built-in event registration, ticketing, and follow-up capabilities that integrate with your email campaigns. Perfect for organizations hosting webinars, workshops, or community events;
- Drag-and-drop editor. User-friendly email builder with professional templates that require no design skills. Customize layouts, add images, and create branded newsletters in minutes;
- Deliverability optimization. Advanced tools to maintain sender reputation, including spam testing, list hygiene features, and compliance monitoring to ensure your emails reach inboxes.
Constant Contact Pricing
Let’s explore the Constant Contact pricing:
- Free trial: 30-day trial only
- Lite Plan: $12/month for up to 500 contacts and 2,500 emails/month
- Standard Plan: $35/month for up to 500 contacts with advanced features like automation and polls
- Standard Plan: $80/month for up to 500 contacts with advanced automation and segmentation
“Constant Contact has been very useful for e-news, event, and fundraising communication. For the most part the platform is user friendly and intuitive to use. It’s important to keep an eye on the number of contacts in your system and remove any outdated ones because Constant Contact bills by the number of contacts in your account.”
— Allyson from Capterra
Kit — Newsletter Platform Best for Monetization
If you’re serious about turning your newsletter into a revenue stream, Kit is one of the best platforms to consider.
Unlike other email marketing tools that focus solely on automation and newsletter templates, Kit is best for creators and independent publishers looking to monetize their audience. It provides everything you need to grow, engage, and monetize your subscribers, all in one place.
One of the biggest challenges with monetizing newsletters is handling the logistical headaches. Setting up payment gateways, managing subscriber lists, and delivering premium content often require cobbling together a patchwork of different tools and platforms.
Kit elegantly addresses these pain points with its all-in-one platform designed explicitly for newsletter marketing. I was thoroughly impressed with its built-in paywall, subscription management system, and sponsorship tools.
These features seamlessly integrate, providing a streamlined and user-friendly experience for turning your newsletter into a sustainable income source.
Key Features
- Custom domains & websites. Unlike some platforms, Beehiiv lets you build your own branded newsletter site for free. Establish a professional online presence that reflects your unique brand and engage visitors beyond just your emails;
- Referral & growth tools. Integrated referral programs, audience segmentation, and smart recommendations help you scale faster. Attract new subscribers organically and segment your audience for targeted messaging, leading to higher engagement;
- Monetization options. Run a paid newsletter, add sponsorships, or earn via Kit’s built-in ad network. Kit provides multiple avenues to monetize your content and build a sustainable business around your newsletter, including unlimited sales pages for product promotion;
- Creator-friendly analytics. Track key metrics to understand what content performs best and make data-driven decisions to optimize your newsletter’s growth.
Kit Pricing
Below is a breakdown of Kit pricing options:
- Free Trial: Up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited emails;
- Creator Plan: $25/month for 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails;
- Creator Pro: $50/month for 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails, unlimited automations and users.
“I’ve had a great experience. There is a bit of a learning curve when you first start, but Kit is a powerful email marketing tool with loads of customizations and automations that make it worth the time to learn it.”
— Monica from Capterra
HubSpot — Email Marketing Software with Free Tier
HubSpot‘s free access tier is one of the most generous in the industry, offering robust email marketing features without any cost. You get access to professional email templates, basic automation workflows, and detailed analytics—features that many platforms reserve for paid packages only.
What makes HubSpot particularly powerful is its integrated CRM features. Unlike standalone email platforms, HubSpot automatically tracks every interaction your contacts have with your business, from website visits to email opens. This creates a complete picture of your customer journey, enabling highly personalized email campaigns
The platform excels for businesses looking to scale their marketing efforts. As your needs grow, you can seamlessly upgrade to access advanced features like lead scoring, A/B testing, and sophisticated automation sequences. HubSpot’s educational resources are exceptional too—their academy offers free courses that can transform your marketing skills.
Key Features
- Integrated CRM system. Automatically track every customer interaction across email, website, and sales touchpoints. Build comprehensive contact profiles that enable highly personalized email campaigns based on actual behavior data;
- Marketing automation workflows. Create sophisticated email sequences triggered by specific actions, like website visits or form submissions. Nurture leads automatically and guide prospects through your sales funnel;
- Advanced analytics & reporting. Deep insights into email performance, contact engagement, and revenue attribution. Track which emails drive actual sales and optimize your campaigns based on ROI data;
- HubSpot Academy access. Free access to comprehensive marketing education, including certifications in email marketing, inbound marketing, and sales.
HubSpot Pricing
Here’s what you need to know about HubSpot pricing:
- Free Plan: Up to 2,000 contacts and 2,000 emails/month with basic CRM and email tools
- Starter Plan: $9/month for up to 1,000 contacts with advanced email features and automation
- Professional Plan: $792/month for up to 2,000 contacts with advanced marketing automation and reporting
- Enterprise Plan: $3,600/month for up to 10,000 contacts with full marketing suite and custom reporting
“Overall I have a great experience with Hubspot Marketing. I do a mixture of operations and marketing duties during my day and my experience in the marketing module has helped me in areas of operations as well. The social content scheduling aspect of it has been seamless!”
— Allie from Capterra
Beehiiv — Newsletter Software Designed for Content Creators
Most newsletter platforms are built for businesses, not creators. Beehiiv flips the script, offering a tool designed specifically for writers, bloggers, and content-driven brands.
Whether you’re building a paid newsletter, growing an engaged community, or monetizing content, Beehiiv provides the publishing power of Substack but with more control over growth, analytics, and monetization.
For newsletter creators feeling stifled by Substack’s limitations, Beehiiv emerges as a breath of fresh air. It’s not just another email platform with a basic newsletter function tacked on; Beehiiv offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed specifically for building and monetizing engaged audiences, making it one of the leading online newsletter platforms.
At its core, Beehiiv boasts a powerful email editor that empowers you to craft beautiful, engaging newsletters. But it goes far beyond that, providing a built-in blog functionality to seamlessly integrate your written content and an arsenal of audience growth tools to expand your reach.
Key Features
- Custom domains & websites. Unlike some platforms, Beehiiv lets you build your own branded newsletter site for free. This means you can maintain a consistent brand identity and professional appearance;
- Referral & growth tools. Integrated referral programs, audience segmentation, and smart recommendations help you scale faster. These tools empower you to grow organically and reach the right subscribers;
- Monetization options. Run a paid newsletter, add sponsorships, or earn via Beehiiv’s built-in ad network. Beehiiv provides flexible ways for you to turn your newsletter into a revenue stream.
Beehiiv Pricing
Let’s review the Beehiiv pricing plans available at the moment:
- Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited emails;
- Scale Plan: $49/month for up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails;
- Max Plan: $109/month for up to 1,000 subscribers with unlimited emails;
- Enterprise: Custom pricing.
“Overall, Beehiiv has helped me start a newsletter and get to grips with email marketing. It’s fairly cost effective, especially for smaller subscription lists. I haven’t found all the features available yet though, as it can be difficult and confusing to navigate the site.”
— Genevieve from Capterra
Flodesk — Newsletter Service with Great Free Plan
Flodesk shines as a user-friendly email marketing platform known for its beautiful email designs. If visually appealing newsletters are a priority and you’re just starting, Flodesk offers a great entry point for building your email list and nurturing subscribers without the immediate pressure of paid subscriptions.
Flodesk’s key strength lies in its intuitive email builder with custom templates, allowing beginners to create stunning, image-rich emails. The platform provides a curated selection of templates designed with aesthetics, making it easy to maintain a consistent brand image.
While Flodesk’s automation capabilities are not as extensive as some other platforms, its focus on design and unique pricing model make it an attractive option for businesses starting with email marketing and prioritizing visual appeal.
Flodesk also stands out among free newsletter software options with its generous trial period.
Key Features
- Responsive email templates. Flodesk offers a curated library of stunning, mobile-responsive templates that make your newsletters look incredibly professional, even if you’re not a designer;
- Intuitive visual editor. Easily customize your chosen template using Flodesk’s drag-and-drop editor. No coding required, so you can focus on making your newsletter visually appealing and on-brand;
- Easy segmentation. Group your subscribers based on their interests, purchase history, or engagement level. This allows you to send more targeted and relevant newsletters that resonate with each segment.
- Unlimited subscribers (all plans). Grow your email list without worrying about hitting subscriber limits or facing increased costs. Flodesk’s pricing is based on the number of emails you send, not how many subscribers you have.
Flodesk Pricing
Check out Flodesk pricing to see what fits your needs.
- Free Plan: For growing your list only (no monthly emails);
- Pro Plan: $35/month for unlimited emails and subscribers;
- Advanced Plan: $35/month for unlimited emails and subscribers.
“The most aesthetically pleasing ESP out there! Every template they offer for emails, landing pages, and forms are so beautiful. SUPER easy to use, and perfect if you just need a basic ESP.”
— Allison from Capterra
Campaign Monitor — Newsletter Platform for Beautiful Designs
Some emails just look better. You know them when you see them—the clean layout, the perfect spacing, the way the call-to-action just pops.
If design is a priority, Campaign Monitor is a good email marketing software choice. Whether you’re a brand, an agency, or a business that values aesthetics, try out this platform.
From the moment you sign up for Campaign Monitor, it’s clear that email design is a top priority. This isn’t just another platform with clunky templates and limited customization options. Instead, Campaign Monitor empowers you to create visually stunning emails that captivate your audience.
Their drag-and-drop builder is a joy to use, offering a seamless and intuitive design experience. You’ll have complete control over every aspect of your email’s appearance, from the fonts and spacing to the placement and style of your images.
And unlike the generic, often outdated templates found in other cheap email marketing services, Campaign Monitor provides a library of pre-designed templates that are genuinely polished, modern, and visually appealing.
Key Features
- Pixel-perfect email builder. Every element is customizable, from padding to typography, ensuring brand consistency in every email;
- Advanced email personalization. Deliver highly relevant content to each subscriber based on their interests, purchase history, or engagement, leading to stronger connections and better results;
- Seamless branding. Unlike some platforms, there’s no forced branding on emails—even on lower-tier plans. Maintain a professional image and present a unified brand experience to your audience without distracting third-party logos;
- Powerful segmentation and automation tools. Create automated email sequences triggered by specific actions or behaviors to nurture leads, onboard new customers, and boost engagement.
Campaign Monitor Pricing
Here’s how Campaign Monitor pricing is structured:
- Free Trial: 30-day trial only (no permanent free plan);
- Basic Plan: $12/month for up to 1,000 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month;
- Higher Tiers: Advanced segmentation and automation (specific details not provided in source).
“Overall, I am making the most out of my subscription. It is nice that it is reliable when sending multiple campaigns. I am sure that my promotion will not be put into spam and will be read by my subscribers. I hope that someday the one-time campaign plan will be less pricey.”
— Airish from Capterra
GetResponse — Marketing Automation with Free Access
GetResponse stands out as a comprehensive marketing automation platform that offers free access to essential email marketing tools through its 30-day trial period. Unlike many competitors that limit automation features to paid plans, GetResponse provides robust workflow builders and newsletter segmentation capabilities even during the trial phase.
GetResponse stands out immediately with its intuitive automation workflow builder. This powerful tool empowers you to craft sophisticated, multi-step email sequences that engage your audience at precisely the right moment.
Beyond email, GetResponse offers a suite of tools to streamline your marketing efforts, including additional features like an AI-powered landing page builder that make it easy to create professional-looking online assets without needing coding skills.
And for those who leverage webinars, GetResponse removes the need for third-party services like Zoom with its built-in webinar functionality. This makes it an exceptional choice for coaches, educators, and marketers who want a centralized platform to host engaging live sessions and connect with their audience in real-time.
Key Features
- Visual automation builder. Set up complex workflows with conditions, tags, and behavior-based triggers;
- Integrated webinar hosting. Run live and on-demand webinars without needing extra tools like Zoom or Google Meet. This all-in-one solution simplifies your webinar marketing, from promotion and registration to post-event follow-ups.
- AI-driven email segmentation. Automatically group subscribers based on engagement, clicks, and past interactions;
- Landing page creator. Design high-converting landing pages with GetResponse’s easy-to-use builder and pre-made templates. Capture leads and drive conversions with dedicated landing pages that align with your email campaigns and brand messaging.
GetResponse Pricing
Let’s walk through the GetResponse pricing tiers:
- Free Trial: 30-day trial only (no permanent free plan);
- Email Marketing Plan: $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts with unlimited emails;
- Higher Tiers: Marketing automation and webinar features (specific details not provided in source).
“It has an accessible interface that makes it easy for a single person to set up and monitor multiple campaigns at once. The analytics dashboard gives immediate feedback on campaign performance with ease.”
— Sasha from Capterra
ActiveCampaign — Newsletter Platform with Great Deliverability
You know how important it is to reach your audience with your emails, right? ActiveCampaign gets that. It’s more than just a newsletter tool; it’s designed to make sure your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders.
And it’s packed with features that help you connect with your subscribers on a deeper level.
Creating eye-catching newsletters is easy with ActiveCampaign’s drag-and-drop designer. Use their templates or start from scratch – it’s up to you. And because ActiveCampaign is serious about deliverability, you can be confident those emails will reach your subscribers’ inboxes.
But it’s the automation that really sets it apart. If someone visits your website and downloads a freebie. ActiveCampaign can automatically send them a welcome email series, followed by targeted messages based on their interests.
You can also see what’s working and what’s not with detailed analytics. Track opens, clicks, and even conversions to fine-tune your strategy, making it one of the best software for newsletters available today.
Key Features
- Best-in-class automation. Set up multi-step workflows that react to customer behavior—no manual follow-ups needed;
- Lead scoring & CRM sync. Automatically rank leads based on engagement and send them to the sales team when they’re ready. This helps you prioritize your hottest leads and ensures that your sales team is following up with the most qualified prospects;
- Predictive sending. AI-driven features analyze recipient behavior and optimize send times for higher open rates. By sending your emails at the times when your subscribers are most likely to engage, you can significantly improve your email deliverability and ROI;
- A/B testing for email optimization. Test different subject lines, email content, and calls to action to see what resonates best with your audience.
ActiveCampaign Pricing
Take a look at the ActiveCampaign pricing details below:
- Free Trial: 15-day trial only (no permanent free plan);
- Lite Plan: $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts and 10,000 emails/month;
- Higher Tiers: Advanced CRM and sales automation.
“ActiveCampaign has made our marketing practices yield more and better results by helping us understand and adopt new personalized marketing campaigns that allow us to target customers based on their needs. This has by a greater margin seen us have a great attraction to new customers by turning potential leads to customers.”
— Lydia from Capterra
Conclusion
Choosing the right newsletter platform depends on your specific needs, whether you’re a creator, ecommerce brand, or small business.
Tools like Sender and HubSpot stand out for ecommerce users with their robust automation and strong deliverability. Beehiiv and Kit are ideal for content creators and writers focused on audience growth and monetization, while Mailchimp remains a solid choice for beginners due to its ease of use and broad feature set.
If design is a priority, platforms like Campaign Monitor and Flodesk offer beautiful templates and intuitive editors. For more advanced needs like webinars or CRM integration, GetResponse and ActiveCampaign provide powerful automation and segmentation features.
No matter your budget or goals, there’s a newsletter service that fits—from those with generous free plans to tools with other features meant for larger businesses.
