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
Newsletter platforms compared: real monthly cost by subscriber count
beehiiv, Kit, MailerLite, Ghost, Buttondown and Substack: what each costs at your list size, for free and paid newsletters.
Monthly cost by list size
The cheapest plan that fits each size. ✓ marks the lowest price in each row.
| Your newsletter | beehiiv | Kit | MailerLite | Ghost | Buttondown | Substack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 subscribers | $0 | $0 | $19 | $18 | $9 | $0 |
| 5,000 subscribers | $109 | $0 | $49 | $74 | $29 | $0 |
| 10,000 subscribers | $139 | $0 | $89 | $105 | $79 | $0 |
| 25,000 subscribers | $199 | $199 | $179 | $166 | $239 | $0 |
| 50,000 subscribers | $299 | $379 | $319 | $245 | $319 | $0 |
| 100,000 subscribers | $469 | $679 | $439 | $327 | $459 | $0 |
| 5,000 subscribers · 250 paying $8/mo | $109 | not published | not published | $74 | $38 | $200 |
| 25,000 subscribers · 1,500 paying $8/mo | $199 | not published | not published | $166 | $248 | $1,200 |
Free newsletter rows assume no paid subscribers. Paid rows add each platform's fee on paid revenue; card processing fees are excluded.
Good to know: Monthly billing shown. Yearly billing is 10–20% cheaper on most platforms. Card processing fees (Stripe) apply to paid newsletters everywhere and are not included.
Every platform
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
Compare two platforms
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest newsletter platform?
At 25,000 subscribers, Substack costs nothing ($0) a month, then Ghost at $166. The answer changes with your list size: the table above shows each size.
Which newsletter platforms have a free plan?
beehiiv, Kit, MailerLite, Buttondown and Substack have free plans. The limits are on each platform page.