My Overall Pick
ConvertKit
The absolute best when it comes to complex automations.
Runner Up
Beehiiv
Everything you could possibly need in an email newsletter tool.
Best For Beginners
Mailerlite
Got No Experience With Newsletters? Doesn’t get easier.
Imagine going door-to-door delivering letters.
Nothing inherently wrong with that. But why not use a mailing service?
That’s what using Gmail vs a newsletter marketing tool is like. You also get WAY more useful features.
But which is the best?
I’ve reviewed and handpicked the 7 best newsletter platforms based on their:
- Ease of Use
- Cost
- User Interface
- Advanced features
- Design Templates
Read on.
What Are The Best Email Newsletter Software?
Here are my top 7 picks for the best email newsletter software.
- Convertkit: Best for Advanced Automations
- Beehiiv: Best All-in-One Newsletter Platform
- Mailerlite: Best for User-Friendly Interface
- MailChimp: Best for General Use
- Aweber: Best for Design Tools Integration (Canva)
- Constant Contact: Best for Integrations
- Substack: Best for Writers
1. Convertkit
Best for Advanced Automations
Convertkit is the G.O.A.T for creators when it comes to newsletter tools.
No experience starting a newsletter? No problem.
You can send your first broadcast within minutes of signing up.
They are uncontested regarding automation, tags, segments, and e-commerce solutions.
You can also create effective newsletter landing pages without a website.
Creators can also access the “Creator Network,” where they can connect, collaborate, and scale together.
It’s the ultimate email newsletter marketing hub.
Key Features:
Pros and Cons
Pros
- User-friendly interface, which makes it very easy to use
- Offer-based newsletters that allow you to turn readers into customers
- Good Deliverability
Cons
- Need the paid plan for more useful features
- Limited email design customizations
Pricing
Convertkit offers three plans, and their costs are affected by the size of your email list.
For an email newsletter of 300 subscribers, Convertkit starts at these prices:
- Free Plan: $0/month; (best for new creators)
- Creator Plan: $9/month, offers almost all features apart from Advanced reporting (Best for growing Creators)
- Creator Pro Plan: $25/month (Best for Established Creators)
The prices above are billed yearly.
My Take
Convertkit is my email newsletter software of choice. I will happily recommend it to any Creator I know.
Believe me when I say it’s the tool with the least friction.
Their automation features are unrivaled.
The only issue I have is their lack of design customizations. You’ll need to know a little HTML and CSS if you want complete flexibility.
But don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself.
Start your 14-day FREE trial now. No credit card required.
2. Beehiiv
Best All-in-One Newsletter Platform
Beehiiv is an all-in-one email newsletter management software designed specifically for creators serious about growth.
This is largely thanks to their awesome referral program and magic links that make signing up frictionless.
It’s also co-founded by a group of MorningBrew (one of the most popular newsletters in the world) alumni.
Beehiiv boasts an extensive list of other tools and features under one roof.
Key Features
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy-to-use email editor
- Seo-optimized web hosting
- Flat pricing structure
Cons
- Limited Website customization
- Lacks a lot of Third-party app integrations
Pricing:
- Free Plan: $0/month, supports up to 2,500 subscribers
- Grow Plan: $49/month, supports up to 10,000 subscribers
- Scale Plan: $99/month, supports up to 100,000 subscribers with access to all features.
My Take
Beehiiv has a soft spot in my heart.
From analytics to a partner network. It has everything you need to grow from 0 to a few hundred thousand.
They even have a reasonable flat pricing structure.
But why do I use it instead of ConvertKit? Automations…
Beehiiv just recently incorporated this feature. But it can’t compete with ConvertKit on this front.
That’s why this is my second pick.
Start your 14-day FREE trial now. No credit card required.
3. Mailerlite
Best for User-Friendly Interface
Mailerlite boasts a simple, easy-to-use design that makes newsletter creation a walk in the park.
Think about a platform where you don’t waste time figuring out which icon does what or how to get anything done.
It comes with more mind-blowing features like a drag-and-drop email builder, a stripe payment integration, triggered emails and email scheduling.
It’s one of the best options for your money out there.
Key Features
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very affordable
- Generous free plan with lots of features
- Easy-to-use visual builder
- Allows you to build landing pages
Cons
- Might have deliverability issues
- Relies on integrations rather than native features
- No native referral program
Pricing
Like most options on this list, Mailerlite’s price depends on your subscriber list, but it offers the following for a subscriber list of 1000.
- Free Plan: $0/month, up to 1000 subscribers, basic features
- Growing Business Plan: $9/month for 1000 subscribers, with added features available
- Advanced Plan: $19/month for 1000 subscribers, all features available
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing, request a quote
My Take
Mailerlite is great if you are looking for great value for your money.
The user experience and interface make it a fun tool to use without a hassle.
You can manage your first email list efficiently with even the free plan.
Even if you want the advanced plans later, you can afford them without breaking the bank.
It has many features. But it’s not as seamless as the first two on this list.
Start your 30-day FREE trial now. No credit card required.
4. MailChimp
Best for General Use
From a small agency in the 2000s to one of the biggest newsletter management tools ever.
Mailchimp is an OG in the email marketing game, and it has been around for so long for a reason.
What reason, you ask?
Well, the fact that it’s so easy to use that even a monkey can start a viral newsletter with it.
No kidding.
With the drag-and-drop email builder, you can create killer-looking emails with no experience at all.
No design skill is needed, and you can start immediately
And did I mention that if you are stuck on inspiration with your newsletter, you can ask for help from the AI creative assistant?
Mailchimp is probably the most well-known and great for any use.
Key Features
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy-to-use Interface
- Allows you to group and target specific subscribers based on tags
- The ability to personalize emails
- Has great deliverability rate
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- Customer support is not poor for free users
Pricing
Just like Convertkit above, the price is dependent on the subscriber list.
However, for a subscriber list of 5000, you have:
- Free: $0/month, with limited functions
- Essentials: $69/month with slightly more features
- Standard: $100/month with almost all the functions
- Premium: $350/month access to all features, priority support and advanced reporting. (Best for teams)
My Take
I like Mailchimp, and many people will say the same.
It was the tool I used most in my professional marketing career in high-growth startups.
However, the price might be an issue, especially for creators with a smaller budget.
But it’s battle-tested and loved by just about anybody.
5. Aweber
Best for Design Tools Integration (Canva)
Aweber is your HOLY GRAIL if you are a creator that loves aesthetic emails
Why?
Because It’s probably the only newsletter tool with the most design templates.
It has everything you need, from high-quality stock photos to over 600+ templates.
You can also connect your Canva account and import pictures into Aweber to use on your newsletters.
Key Features:
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very easy to use; good for newbies
- It is reasonably priced
- Highly customizable email newsletter templates
- Can create and use images from Canva
Cons
- Customer support is only available in English
- Lack of sophisticated automation options
Pricing
- Free: $0/month; with 1 list and landing page
- Lite: $42.42/month for 2501 to 5000 subscribers
- Plus: $50/month for 2501 to 5000 subscribers, priority support and unlimited email automation
- Unlimited: $899/month for unlimited subscribers and access to every feature
My Take
Overall, Aweber is the G.O.A.T. for designing beautiful newsletters.
I love the fact that there are hundreds of options and templates you could come up with just by using the design tools.
That said, if you are interested in more advanced features like advanced automation and sophisticated reporting, Aweber might not be the best option for your money.
I would recommend Aweber to creators focused on aesthetics who aren’t tech-savvy.
6. Constant Contact
Best for Integrations
One of the largest email newsletter management software out there.
Constant Contact is one of the top dogs, especially when you are looking for a newsletter tool with over 300+ third-party integrations.
Constant Contact comes with a Santa’s bag filled with features suited for those new to newsletter creation.
From unmatched live customer support and Shopify Integrations to advanced analytics.
Did I mention that all these can be found on one easy-to-navigate layout?
No?
Well, now you know.
You can create a killer newsletter for your brand today with Constant Contact’s email builder.
Key Features
Pros and Cons
Pros
- You can create an online store to sell your products
- Create ads for Facebook, Instagram etc., directly on the platform
- High deliverability rate
- Huge knowledge base with tutorial videos
Cons
- No free plan (Only free trial)
- Difficult to cancel
Pricing
Constant Contact offers the following plans.
- Lite: Starting at $12 per month, basic features like email templates
- Standard: Starting at $35 per month, everything in Lite plus added features like contact segmentation
- Premium: starting at $80 per month, every available feature
My Take
Constant Contact is one of those tools that is good at providing the basic services needed.
For an email newsletter creation tool, it ticks most of the boxes.
That said, though, I wouldn’t recommend this if you want to get the best value for your money or just starting.
There are better alternatives.
But this is great if you must integrate your email marketing platform with other popular tools.
7. Substack
Best for Writers
If you are a journalist or a writing creator, you must have heard of Substack.
It’s like a blog and newsletter combined.
With Subtstack, you can create newsletters easily and start getting paid with the premium subscription options.
Substack handles everything. All you need to do is write.
Writers can focus on their content without getting bogged down by complex formatting or technical challenges.
You can start immediately after signing up. No complicated onboarding. No fine-tuning.
Key features
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ability to monetize your work
- Create emails fast with a drag-and-drop email builder
- Serves as a blog
Cons
- 10% of your earnings go to Substack
- No email sequences
Pricing
Substack is free regardless of your email list size; however, it charges 10% on whatever you earn from your newsletters.
This is the only newsletter creation platform on this list that offers this free plan.
My Take
Compared to other options on this list, Substack lacks more advanced features like automations, integrations, and design freedom.
They seem to be focused on onboarding creators as fast as possible without any friction.
That’s great if all you want to do is write.
But you’ll start to feel the limitations as your list grows.
I recommend Substack to anyone that wants to have a newsletter but nothing else. It’s frictionless and easy.
Why Do You Need Email Newsletter Tools?
Here are some reasons why you desperately need one:
- Audience Engagement: Implement various snippets, buttons, polls or referral bonuses to encourage more audience engagement.
- Native Monetization Options: Access a bunch of monetization options for your newsletter. From paid subscriptions to selling digital products.
- Improved Deliverability: Adhere to privacy and spam policies so that you always land in the main inbox.
- Analytics and Insights: Track and understand your audience by getting deep insights into their behaviors from a single dashboard.
- Create Automation: Set up repeatable automation that sends email sequences on auto-pilot. Do it once and never touch it again.
How To Choose The Right Email Newsletter Platform?
I have included this short buying guide to help you choose independently if you don’t like my picks.
Here is a checklist of all the factors you have to consider when choosing an email newsletter platform:
- Easy-to-Use Interface: Unless you want to spend the entire day watching tutorial videos, I see no reason why the platform shouldn’t be easy to navigate.
- Automation: This allows you to set conditions and rules on your emails which the platform manages while you chill.
- Customizable Templates: These are a must. You need to be able to create nice-looking emails without being a graphic designer. Just drag and drop.
- Subscriber Management: It should allow you to organize, import and export your subscribers without a hassle.
- Analytics: you need to see what’s working, who opened your email, engagement time, bounce rate etc.
- Integration: It should allow you seamlessly connect to other third-party apps like WordPress, eCommerce platforms, social media etc.
- Mobile Responsiveness: It should create mobile-friendly emails that can be viewed on several platforms. Most people read emails on their phones, so don’t leave them hanging.
- Deliverability: Your emails must land in those inboxes, not the dreaded spam folder. Check the platform’s deliverability rate’s before you buy.
- Personalization: Look for newsletter platforms that allow you to personalize the emails by their name, gender etc. Make them feel special.
- Social Media Integration: The platform should make it easy for subscribers to share your newsletter with friends.
- Customer Support: It should easily access reliable customer support and tutorials to address your issues and potential questions.
- Budget-friendly: Unless you want to break the bank, you might want to find a platform that matches your budget.
Get these, and you are set.
What Are The Best Free Newsletter Platforms?
That title goes to Beehiiv. It has the most features on the free plan and allows you a high subscriber count on the free plan.
ConvertKit follows closely, though.
What Is the Best Email Newsletter Platform for Creators?
The best email newsletter platform for creators is ConvertKit, hands down. Their premium automation features, list management, creator network, monetization opportunities and customer support are hard to beat. This is my pick if the price isn’t an issue.
Precautions For Using Email Newsletter Platforms
There are some important precautions to consider when using email newsletter platforms like ConvertKit.
Here are some of them:
- Data Protection and Privacy: Unless you want to be like the Tiktok CEO at Congress, you might want to learn the data protection laws present in your region.
- List Hygiene: Regularly clean your subscriber list to eliminate inactive or invalid email addresses. This assures good deliverability rates.
- Unsubscribe Option: Respect your subscribers by placing an easy-to-find unsubscribe option in your newsletters.
- Compliance and Local Laws: Cross-check and double-check that your newsletter is breaking any laws related to email marketing in your region.
- Content Quality: Create content that is meaningful and speaks to your audience. This guarantees that they still want to read and reduce bounce rates.
Best Newsletter Platforms (FAQs)
What Are The Best Newsletter Platforms for Schools?
The best newsletter platforms for schools currently are Mailchimp and Constant Contact. Easy-to-use templates and setup processes will be valuable for school staff.
Can You Create Newsletters With Canva?
Yes. You can but only with Aweber.
What Is The Best Email Newsletter Platform for Dating Websites?
Mailchimp, Aweber and Convertkit will serve any purpose you want for a dating website. They each have an easy-to-use layout and robust features and are a good investment for your money.
What Is The Best Email Marketing Site To Send 2,500 Emails For Free?
Beehiiv is probably the only top-ranking email newsletter creation tool to support that number of subscribers on a free plan.
How Do Email Newsletters Make Money?
Email newsletters can make money in a few ways, including:
• Sponsored content
• Paid subscriptions
• Affiliate marketing
• Advertisements
• Donations
How Many Emails Can Mailchimp Send At Once?
Mailchimp can allow unlimited emails and subscribers for subscribers to the Premium plan.
Is It Necessary To Have a CRM Integrated With My Email Marketing Tool?
It’s unnecessary, but it helps streamline your workflow and improve communication by tracking customer data and interactions in one place. It assists in better segmentation, personalization, and campaign performance.
How Do Paid Newsletter Platforms Benefit Creators Compare to Free Options?
Paid newsletter platforms offer more advanced features, such as detailed analytics, marketing automation, additional email templates, and higher limits on the number of subscribers and sent emails. You won’t feel the limitations on a free plan if you have a small list. But that becomes more obvious once you grow.
Are There Any Downsides to Using an Email Marketing Automation Tool?
Not exactly downsides, but they require more time investment to set up and optimize. Automation can sometimes result in impersonal messaging if not executed effectively. Other than that, I don’t see why you wouldn’t use one. What are you going to do? Send emails individually via Gmail or Outlook?
Is It Possible To Create Responsive and Modern HTML Email Templates on Newsletter Builders?
Yes, many of the best email newsletter tools offer responsive and modern HTML email templates and a drag-and-drop editor for easy customization.
How Can I Migrate My Email Subscribers to a New Newsletter Service?
Most newsletter services will offer to import your existing email subscriber list via CSV or TXT format. It’s also usually free because they want you on their platform. Duh…
Is Substack Similar to MailChimp?
Substack is similar to MailChimp as they are both email marketing platforms. However, Substack has limited options for comprehensive features such as automation, customizations, list management, e-commerce solutions and more compared to a traditional platform like MailChimp.
To Sum Up
That wraps up my list of the 7 best newsletter platforms for creators in 2023.
Each has its special use cases, and I recommend you go through them carefully to choose the one that suits your needs the most.
But don’t take my word for it.
Try them out yourself.
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