beehiiv
3 plans · checked 28 Oct 2026Free up to 2,500 subscribers and 0% fee on paid subscriptions, but paid plans climb fast with list size.
Free planUp to 2,500
1,000 subscribers$0/mo
10,000 subscribers$139/mo
Paid newsletters0% fee
Find the cheapest newsletter platform for your list.
Type your subscriber count. We show what each platform really costs per month, from its official pricing page.
How it works
Step 1
Enter your list size
Free and paying subscribers together. Add paying subscribers if you sell subscriptions.
Step 2
We pick the right plan
For each platform, the cheapest plan that fits your list, plus any cut taken from your revenue.
Step 3
Compare and choose
Results are sorted by monthly price. Open any line to see exactly how the number was built.
The platforms we track
Kit
3 plans · checked 28 Oct 2026The most generous free plan (10,000 subscribers), and Creator stays cheaper than most rivals at mid-size lists.
Free planUp to 10,000
1,000 subscribers$0/mo
10,000 subscribers$0/mo
Paid newslettersNot published
MailerLite
3 plans · checked 28 Oct 2026The cheapest general email tool at most list sizes; it is built for email marketing more than for paid newsletters.
Free planUp to 250
1,000 subscribers$19/mo
10,000 subscribers$89/mo
Paid newslettersNot published
Ghost
3 plans · checked 28 Oct 2026Open-source and fee-free on paid subscriptions: the best value for paid newsletters at mid-size lists.
Free planNo
1,000 subscribers$18/mo
10,000 subscribers$105/mo
Paid newsletters0% fee
Buttondown
2 plans · checked 28 Oct 2026Cheap, simple and privacy-first; features like paid subscriptions or analytics are $9/month add-ons.
Free planUp to 100
1,000 subscribers$9/mo
10,000 subscribers$79/mo
Paid newsletters$9/mo add-on
Substack
1 plan · checked 28 Oct 2026Free at any list size; you pay only when you earn, but 10% of paid revenue becomes expensive as a paid newsletter grows.
Free planYes
1,000 subscribers$0/mo
10,000 subscribers$0/mo
Paid newsletters10% of revenue
Popular comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest newsletter platform?
It depends on your list size. At 5,000 subscribers, Kit and Substack cost nothing ($0) a month. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above to see the ranking for your list.
Which newsletter platforms take a cut of paid subscriptions?
From the official pricing pages: beehiiv: 0% fee; Kit: not published; MailerLite: not published; Ghost: 0% fee; Buttondown: $9/mo add-on; Substack: 10% of revenue. Card processing fees (Stripe) apply on every platform and are not included.
How up to date are these prices?
Every plan was read on the platform's official pricing page with monthly billing selected, and each platform page shows the date it was checked. The last check was on 28 Oct 2026. Changes go into the price change log.
Is NewsletterBill paid by these platforms?
Some “Visit” links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you sign up. It never changes the order, the prices or the cheapest pick: results are always sorted by price.