Best platforms for paid newsletters
To sell subscriptions, compare the platform's cut of your revenue with its monthly price: a percentage costs little at the start and a lot later.
Quick answer beehiiv is the top pick, followed by Substack and Ghost.
Top pick
beehiiv by beehiiv
Newsletter platform with websites, an ad network, paid subscriptions and automations.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $49/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Free plan subscribers
- 2,500
- Website
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $49/moTry beehiiv free
Substack by Substack
Free publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video; takes 10% of paid subs.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free
- Cut of paid subs
- 10%
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- 10%
- Website
- Yes
- Automations
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry Substack free
Ghost by Ghost Foundation
Open-source publishing platform for websites, newsletters and paid memberships.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- From $15/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Website
- Yes
- Ad network
- No
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $15/moTry Ghost free
Kit by Kit
Email marketing for creators (formerly ConvertKit) with automations and paid newsletters.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $33/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- 0.6%
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- 0.6%
- Free plan subscribers
- 10,000
- Website
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $33/moTry Kit free
MailerLite by MailerLite
Email marketing with automations, websites, landing pages and paid newsletters.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $10.80/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Free plan subscribers
- 250
- Website
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $10.80/moTry MailerLite free
Buttondown by Buttondown
Simple newsletter tool with a Markdown editor, paid subscriptions and web archives.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $9/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Free plan subscribers
- 100
- Website
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $9/moTry Buttondown free
Patreon by Patreon
Creator membership platform; posts can be emailed to free and paid members.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free
- Cut of paid subs
- 10%
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- 10%
- Website
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026FreeTry Patreon free
Flodesk by Flodesk
Design-focused email marketing with forms, landing pages, workflows and checkout.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- Free plan · paid from $19/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Website
- Yes
- Automations
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026Free plan · paid from $19/moTry Flodesk free
Kajabi by Kajabi
All-in-one creator platform with courses, website, community, email and newsletters.
- Sells paid subscriptions
- Price
- From $143/mo
- Cut of paid subs
- None
- Paid subscriptions
- Yes
- Platform cut
- None
- Website
- Yes
- Automations
- Yes
Price, checked Oct 26, 2026From $143/moTry Kajabi free
Compare the top picks
| App | Price | Cut of paid subs | Paid subscriptions | Platform cut | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| beehiiv | Free plan · paid from $49/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Substack | Free | 10% | Yes | 10% | Yes |
| Ghost | From $15/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Kit | Free plan · paid from $33/mo | 0.6% | Yes | 0.6% | Yes |
| MailerLite | Free plan · paid from $10.80/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Buttondown | Free plan · paid from $9/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Patreon | Free | 10% | Yes | 10% | Yes |
| Flodesk | Free plan · paid from $19/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
| Kajabi | From $143/mo | None | Yes | None | Yes |
How we picked
We compared 15 newsletters apps and kept the 9 that fit this guide. We don't test apps ourselves: features and prices come from each app's own site, and the order follows what independent reviewers recommend. No app pays to be listed or placed higher, and whether an app pays us a commission never changes its place.
Questions
How are these apps ranked?
Apps that independent "best of" roundups recommend come first, the most often recommended at the top; the rest follow with the best-known first. Every app listed meets this guide's needs.
Are these links sponsored?
Links to apps whose affiliate programs have approved Build Your Toolkit are affiliate links, marked as such, so we may earn a commission if you sign up for a paid plan. It doesn't change what you pay, and no app pays to be listed or placed higher.
Where do the prices come from?
From each app's own pricing page, on the date shown next to the price. Prices for newsletters apps change often, so check the vendor's page before you buy.