7 Best Substack Alternatives in 2026

Last updated: February 2026 · 9 min read

Substack made starting a newsletter dead simple. But as your newsletter grows, its limitations become real: a 10% cut of paid subscription revenue, almost zero customization, no growth tools, no automations, and limited data ownership.

If you are considering leaving Substack, or want to start on a stronger platform from day one, these are the best alternatives in 2026.

Short Answer

Beehiiv is the best Substack alternative for most creators. It matches Substack's simplicity but adds a referral program, ad network, SEO-optimized hosting, and advanced analytics, all with no revenue cut. If you sell digital products, use Kit instead. If you want full ownership and open-source, use Ghost.

Why People Leave Substack

The 10% revenue cut. Substack takes 10% of all paid subscription revenue plus Stripe fees. At $5,000/month in revenue, that is $500/month to Substack. A flat-rate platform like Beehiiv ($39/month) saves you $461/month.
No growth tools. No referral program, no boost network, no SEO-optimized pages. Growth on Substack depends entirely on the recommendation algorithm, which you cannot control.
No automations. You cannot create automated welcome sequences, drip campaigns, or conditional email flows. Every other platform on this list can.
Limited customization. Every Substack looks the same. You cannot meaningfully change the design, layout, or branding.
Data portability concerns. You can export subscribers as CSV, but your content, engagement history, and subscriber metadata are harder to move.

1. Beehiiv — Best Overall Substack Alternative

Best for: Newsletter creators focused on growth and monetization

Beehiiv is the closest thing to "Substack but better." It is just as easy to set up, but includes a referral program, built-in ad network, boost system for cross-promotions, SEO-optimized web hosting, and advanced segmentation. No revenue cut. The free tier supports up to 2,500 subscribers with custom domains.

Built-in ad network and referral program
SEO-optimized website included
$39/month for up to 100,000 subscribers
No percentage of revenue taken

Try Beehiiv Free

2. Kit (ConvertKit) — Best for Selling Products

Best for: Creators selling courses, ebooks, or memberships alongside their newsletter

Kit is the best choice if your newsletter supports a business. Its visual automation builder is the strongest of any platform. You can sell digital products natively without Gumroad or Teachable. The free tier supports 10,000 subscribers, which is the most generous in the industry.

Best-in-class visual email automations
Native digital product sales
Free tier up to 10,000 subscribers
Deep integration ecosystem

Try Kit Free

3. Ghost — Best for Full Ownership

Best for: Developers, indie publishers, anyone who wants complete control

Ghost is open-source newsletter and publishing software. Self-host it for free or use Ghost(Pro) managed hosting from $9/month. You own everything: content, subscriber data, design. Native memberships and payments with 0% platform fee. Beautiful themes and full customization. The trade-off is more setup effort.

Open-source, self-hostable
Native memberships with 0% platform fee
Full theme and design control
Managed hosting from $9/month

Try Ghost

4. Buttondown — Best Minimalist Alternative

Best for: Writers who want simplicity without Substack's revenue cut

Buttondown is the indie alternative. Markdown-first editor, clean interface, paid subscriptions, solid API. Built and maintained by one person (Justin Duke). If you liked Substack's simplicity but want more control and no revenue cut, Buttondown delivers.

Markdown-native editor
Paid subscriptions built in
Starting at $9/month
RSS-to-email automation

Try Buttondown

5. Mailchimp — Best for E-Commerce Newsletters

Best for: Small businesses and e-commerce stores with newsletter needs

Mailchimp is overkill for pure newsletter creators, but if you run an e-commerce store and need deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration alongside your newsletter, it is the most capable option. Expect to pay more and deal with a more complex interface.

300+ integrations including Shopify and WooCommerce
Advanced A/B testing
Starting at $13/month

Try Mailchimp

6. Paragraph — Best Web3/Crypto Newsletter Platform

Best for: Web3-native writers and crypto communities

Paragraph is a newsletter platform built for the crypto and Web3 space. It supports token-gated content, on-chain subscriber data, and crypto payments. Niche, but if your audience is in Web3, it is purpose-built for you.

7. LinkedIn Newsletter — Best for B2B Distribution

Best for: B2B professionals who want built-in distribution

LinkedIn Newsletters let you publish directly to your LinkedIn network. Every connection and follower gets notified. Zero setup, massive distribution for B2B content. The limitations: you do not own the subscriber list, have minimal customization, and cannot monetize through paid subscriptions or ads. Best used alongside a primary platform, not as a replacement.

How to Migrate From Substack

Export your subscriber list. Substack Settings > Subscribers > Export. You get a CSV with email addresses and subscription status.
Sign up for your new platform. We recommend Beehiiv for most creators.
Import your subscribers. Upload the CSV. Beehiiv, Kit, and Ghost all have dedicated import tools.
Set up your new publication. Connect your custom domain, design your landing page, and configure your settings.
Notify your subscribers. Send a final issue on Substack letting readers know you have moved. Include a direct link to your new publication.
Redirect or archive your Substack. You can keep it up as an archive or unpublish. Consider adding a pinned post directing visitors to your new home.