Substack
Email Marketing · Free · since 2017
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Substack lets writers publish newsletters and charge for subscriptions. It takes 10% of paid subscription revenue — no upfront cost. Includes a web publication, app, and discovery network.
pros
- Free to use — takes 10% of paid subscriber revenue
- Built-in discovery and recommendation network
- Simple, distraction-free writing experience
- Mobile app for readers
cons
- 10% revenue cut is steep at scale
- Very limited customization
- Basic analytics
- No automation or segmentation
top Substack alternatives
Beehiiv Newsletter platform built for growth — with built-in referral programs, monetization, and analytics. Free 
ConvertKit Email marketing platform built for creators — newsletters, automations, and digital products. Free 
Buttondown Simple, elegant newsletter tool with markdown support, automation, and paid subscriptions. Free 
Ghost Open-source publishing platform focused on professional blogging with membership and newsletter features. Free Substack compared
Mailchimp vs Substack · ConvertKit vs Substack · Beehiiv vs Substack · Substack vs ActiveCampaign · Substack vs Brevo · Substack vs MailerLite · Substack vs Buttondown · Substack vs Resend
more email marketing tools
Mailchimp Email marketing platform with campaigns, automation, landing pages, and audience management. Free ConvertKit Email marketing platform built for creators — newsletters, automations, and digital products. Free Beehiiv Newsletter platform built for growth — with built-in referral programs, monetization, and analytics. Free 
ActiveCampaign Email marketing and CRM platform with sophisticated automation workflows and machine learning. $29/mo 
Brevo All-in-one marketing platform for email, SMS, chat, and CRM at accessible pricing. Free 
MailerLite Email marketing platform with landing pages, automations, and a generous free tier. Free