Best Free Newsletter Platforms in 2026 (Ranked & Compared)
You do not need to pay anything to start a newsletter in 2026. Every major platform offers a free tier, but they differ wildly in what you get. Some cap your subscriber count. Some limit features. Some take a cut of your revenue. This guide breaks down exactly what each free tier includes so you can pick the right one.
Free Tier Comparison Table
| Platform | Free Subscriber Limit | Monthly Sends | Custom Domain | Analytics | Revenue Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kit (ConvertKit) | 10,000 | Unlimited | Yes | Basic | 0% |
| Substack | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Basic | 10% on paid subs |
| Beehiiv | 2,500 | Unlimited | Yes | Full | 0% |
| Ghost (self-hosted) | Unlimited | Depends on email provider | Yes | Full | 0% |
| Buttondown | 100 | Unlimited | No | Basic | 0% |
| Mailchimp | 500 | 1,000/month | No | Basic | 0% |
Our Rankings
Kit (ConvertKit) - Free up to 10,000 Subscribers
Kit's free tier is the most generous by subscriber count among hosted platforms. You get 10,000 subscribers, unlimited email sends, a landing page builder, basic email sequences, and subscriber tagging.
- 10K subscriber limit is extremely generous
- Landing page and form builders included
- Digital product sales on free plan
- Subscriber tagging and segmentation
- No revenue share on products or paid subs
- No visual email automations on free plan
- Limited reporting compared to paid tiers
- Newsletter editor is functional but basic
- No A/B testing on free plan
Best for: Creators who want to build a large list without paying, especially if you plan to sell digital products.
Beehiiv - Free up to 2,500 Subscribers
Beehiiv's free tier is smaller in subscriber count than Kit, but includes features no other free platform offers: a built-in referral program, SEO-optimized web hosting, detailed analytics, and access to the Boost network for cross-promotions.
- Built-in referral program (free plan)
- Full analytics on free tier
- SEO-optimized website for every newsletter
- Custom domain support
- Modern, clean editor
- 2,500 subscriber cap (must upgrade beyond that)
- Ad network requires paid plan
- Some advanced features locked to Scale plan
Best for: Newsletter-first creators who want built-in growth tools and plan to scale up quickly.
Substack - Free with Unlimited Subscribers
Substack charges nothing for free newsletters, regardless of subscriber count. There is no cap, no send limit, and no monthly fee. The catch: if you ever enable paid subscriptions, Substack takes 10% of that revenue, plus Stripe's processing fees (roughly 2.9% + $0.30).
- Unlimited subscribers, zero cost
- Built-in reader network drives discovery
- Zero setup required - write and publish immediately
- Custom domain support
- Podcast and video hosting included
- 10% cut on all paid subscription revenue
- Very limited design customization
- No automations or sequences
- Minimal analytics
- No A/B testing or advanced segmentation
Best for: Writers who want the simplest possible setup and plan to keep their newsletter free, or who value Substack's reader network for discovery.
#4 Ghost (Self-Hosted) - Free, Unlimited, Full Ownership
Ghost is open-source software you can install on your own server for free. There are no subscriber limits, no revenue share, and no feature restrictions. You get everything: memberships, analytics, custom themes, and a full content management system.
The cost is your time and a server. A basic DigitalOcean or Hetzner VPS costs $5-$12/month. Ghost(Pro) managed hosting starts at $9/month if you prefer not to self-manage.
- Completely free (self-hosted)
- Zero transaction fees on memberships
- Full data ownership
- Highly customizable with themes
- Built-in SEO and analytics
- Requires technical knowledge to self-host
- You handle updates, backups, and security
- Need separate email delivery (Mailgun, etc.)
- No built-in growth tools like referrals
Best for: Technical users who want full control and zero fees.
#5 Buttondown - Free up to 100 Subscribers
Buttondown is a minimal, developer-friendly newsletter tool. The free tier is very limited (100 subscribers), but the product itself is clean and well-built. If you are a programmer who wants a simple, Markdown-first newsletter tool, Buttondown is worth a look.
Best for: Developers and minimalists with small audiences. Not suitable for scaling on a free plan.
#6 Mailchimp - Free up to 500 Contacts
Mailchimp's free plan has been cut significantly over the years. It now allows only 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends. That is only 2 emails per subscriber per month. It also includes Mailchimp branding on all emails and lacks many features that competitors offer for free.
Important: Mailchimp counts unsubscribed and inactive contacts against your limit. You pay for contacts who are no longer receiving your emails. This is a significant hidden cost that no other platform on this list imposes.
Best for: Existing Mailchimp users with small lists. Not recommended for new newsletter creators in 2026.
Which Free Platform Should You Choose?
- Want the most subscribers for free? Kit (10,000 subscribers).
- Want the best growth tools for free? Beehiiv (referral program, analytics, SEO).
- Want zero friction, just write? Substack (unlimited, no setup).
- Want full ownership and zero fees? Ghost (self-hosted).
- Just testing with a tiny list? Buttondown (clean, minimal).
Our recommendation for most people: Start with Beehiiv's free plan for the best growth tools, or Kit if you need more than 2,500 subscribers for free.
Start with Beehiiv