Newsletter platform, by audience size + monetization
Picking a newsletter platform isn't about UI — it's about which monetization model the platform unlocks at your subscriber count. The right answer at 1k subscribers is the wrong answer at 50k.
The 4-option matrix
| Profile | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 subs — just getting started | beehiiv | beehiiv has the most generous free tier in the category (2,500 subs, unlimited sends) and a built-in ad network that pays from your first newsletter — no sponsorship cold pitching required. |
| 1k-25k subs — building toward paid tiers | Kit (formerly ConvertKit) | Kit (rebranded from ConvertKit) is the workhorse for creators in the 1k-25k subscriber range building toward paid newsletters and digital products. |
| 25k+ subs running paid + sponsorships | Ghost Pro | Ghost is the open-source platform for monetized newsletters (25k+ subs) that want full ownership of audience data, custom themes, and a publishing-first (not marketing-first) workflow. |
| 100k+ engaged subs — considering Substack Pro | Substack Pro (manual flagship) | Substack Pro is the channel-partner-only program for established operators (typically 100k+ engaged subs) negotiating advances and revenue-share deals. |
How matching works: we use your primary axis (above) to pick from one of 4 vendors. Budget, timeline, and experience tweak the explanation, not the recommendation. If your situation doesn't fit any of these cleanly, use the personal-recommendation form below — we'll route you manually.
FAQ
- Why only 4 options?
- Most "best of" lists pad to 10-15 vendors so they look comprehensive. We'd rather pick the 4 that actually cover the segment cleanly. If your case doesn't fit any of these, that's a signal to use the personal-recommendation form.
- Are these affiliate links?
- Yes — we earn a commission on signups, and that pays for keeping this tool maintained. The vendor pricing is identical whether you go direct or through our link.
- What if I want a different vendor?
- Tell us in the personal-recommendation form. We track which vendors get requested and rotate them in if the data supports it.
Prefer a personal recommendation?
Tell us your situation and we'll forward your details to the vendor you matched with above — they'll follow up with you directly. Same price either way; we earn a referral fee from the vendor only if you sign up. No bot, no spam, no quota. We earn a referral fee from the vendor only if you eventually sign up; you pay the same price either way.