beehiiv
Newsletter platformsNewsletter platform with a free plan to 2,500 subscribers and 0% take on paid subscriptions
- Free plan
- Up to 2,500 subscribers
- Paid from
- $59/month (Lite, 1,000 subscribers)
- Hosting
- Cloud
Newsletter alternatives to Substack
Last updated · 7 options
Quick answer: beehiiv and Ghost take 0% of paid-subscription revenue but charge monthly fees; Buttondown and Kit sit in between. The more you earn from paid subscriptions, the more a 0% platform matters.
Free to publish, but Substack keeps 10% of what paying readers give you. Here are 7 newsletter options, listed.
What Substack costs
- PublishingFree
- Paid subscriptionsSubstack keeps 10% (plus card fees)
“Writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees.”
From the vendor's own pricing page (substack.com), checked 22 Oct 2026. Prices change and may exclude tax, so check before you decide.
Buttondown
Newsletter platformsSmall, writer-focused newsletter service; free for 100 subscribers
- Free plan
- First 100 subscribers
- Paid from
- $9/month (Basic, up to 1,000)
- Hosting
- Cloud
Ghost
Newsletter platformsOpen-source publishing and newsletters; Ghost(Pro) hosting or free to self-host
- Free plan
- No free hosted plan
- Paid from
- $18/month (Starter, up to 1,000 members)
- Hosting
- Cloud or self-hosted
Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Newsletter platformsCreator email platform with a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- Free plan
- Up to 10,000 subscribers
- Paid from
- $39/month (Creator, 1,000 subscribers)
- Hosting
- Cloud
Listmonk
Self-hosted and open sourceFast, self-hosted newsletter and mailing-list manager
- Free plan
- Free software (you pay for hosting and sending)
- Hosting
- Self-hosted
MailerLite
Email marketing for small businessesSimple email marketing with a free plan and low entry prices
- Free plan
- 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails a month
- Paid from
- $12/month (Growing/Comfort, 500 subscribers)
- Hosting
- Cloud
Paragraph
Newsletter platformsNewsletter and publishing platform with a free plan
- Free plan
- Free plan available
- Hosting
- Cloud
Alternative to Substack
No tools match these filters. Suggest one.
Format and fit filters only use details we found in each project's own documentation. A tool that isn't shown may still support it.
Compare Substack alternatives
- Mailchimp vs MailerLite
- Mailchimp vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
- Substack vs beehiiv
- Substack vs Ghost
- beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
- MailerLite vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
FAQ
Is there a newsletter alternative to Substack?
Yes. NewsletterAlts lists 7 options: beehiiv, Buttondown, Ghost, Kit (formerly ConvertKit), Listmonk, MailerLite and Paragraph.
How much does Substack cost?
Publishing: Free; Paid subscriptions: Substack keeps 10% (plus card fees). These are the vendor's published prices, checked 22 Oct 2026 on substack.com.
Related categories: Newsletter platforms · Self-hosted and open source · Email marketing for small businesses
Email platform prices change often and some exclude VAT. Prices shown are monthly unless we say otherwise. Always check the final price on the vendor's site before you pay.