Best free newsletter platform in 2026, by use case
Checked 17 October 2026
There is no single "best" free platform; the right one depends on list size, whether you need automations, and how you plan to earn. Here are six options with their published free-plan limits.
| Platform | Free subscribers | Sends | Earning | First paid step | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| beehiiv | 2,500 | Unlimited | Digital products (0% platform fee), free recommendations; paid subscriptions and Ad Network need a paid plan | Lite: $49/mo billed yearly (pricing page default, 1,000-subscriber setting) | [1] [2] [3] |
| Kit | 10,000 | Unlimited broadcasts | Digital products & subscriptions, free recommendations; earning from Paid Recommendations needs a paid plan | Creator: $33/mo billed yearly ($390/yr) at 1,000 subscribers | [1] [2] |
| systeme.io | 2,000 contacts | Unlimited | Sell products/courses with 0% transaction fees (Stripe/PayPal fees apply); 1 course, 3 funnels, 1 blog | Startup: $17/mo | [1] |
| Substack | Unlimited | Unlimited | Paid subscriptions: Substack keeps 10% + Stripe fees | No monthly plan; optional custom domain one-time $50 | [1] |
| MailerLite | 250 | 2,500 emails/month | 1 digital product or booking on Free | Comfort: from $12/mo | [1] |
| Buttondown | 100 | Up to ~1 email/day to the list (pricing assumption) | Paid subscriptions add-on $9/mo | Priced by subscribers + add-ons ($9–$79/mo each) | [1] |
Checked 17 October 2026. Prices in USD as shown on the platforms' pages; they can vary by subscriber count, billing period, location and promotions.
Picks by use case
- Largest free list: Kit: up to 10,000 subscribers on Free. Substack has no subscriber cap but takes 10% if you charge.
- Newsletter + website + ads path: beehiiv: Free up to 2,500; ad network and paid subscriptions require a paid plan.
- Free writing, paid later with no monthly fee: Substack: free to publish; 10% of paid subscription revenue plus Stripe fees.
- Course or product funnel: systeme.io: 2,000 contacts, 3 funnels and 1 course free.
- Very small lists, simple tools: MailerLite (250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month) or Buttondown (free for the first 100 subscribers).
How this page was made: facts come from each platform's own pricing and help pages, read on 17 October 2026 (sources numbered in every row). We have not yet run a newsletter on each of these platforms, so we make no claims about deliverability or ease of use. We plan to run our own newsletter on a free plan and will report what we actually observe, with dates.
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