1
Ghost Open source
Open-source publishing with newsletters, memberships and paywalls built in; 0% platform fee, hosted from $9 a month.
#4.2k web rank · ▲ 15 this week · ★ 55k · MIT · No revenue share; Ghost(Pro) hosting from $9/mo or self-host free · accepts Health & Supplements
8.9/10
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform that combines a fast website, an email newsletter, a metered or hard paywall and paid memberships billed through your own Stripe, with no revenue share. Managed hosting starts at $9 a month; self-hosting is free. It is the choice of publishers who want ownership and a real site rather than a hosted feed, at… Read more →
Pros
- Website, newsletter, paywall and memberships in one place with no cut of revenue
- Self-hostable and fully yours; excellent SEO and speed
Cons
- Fewer growth tools than Substack or beehiiv (no built-in network or ad marketplace)
- Self-hosting requires technical comfort
Pricing: Open source, paid cloud from $9/mo · Payout: Via your Stripe · newsletter membership paywall open source
2
Free newsletter hosting with one-click paid subscriptions; Substack takes 10% of paid revenue.
#450 web rank · ▲ 1 this week · 10% of paid subscription revenue plus Stripe fees · accepts Health & Supplements
8.5/10
Substack hosts newsletters, podcasts and video with a paid subscription switch that bills through Stripe and takes 10% of revenue. Its recommendation network and app are the main growth engine for writers starting from nothing. Costs nothing until you charge; the 10% is the price of the network, and publishers with large paid lists sometimes migrate to Ghost or beehiiv… Read more →
Pros
- Zero setup, the recommendation network brings subscribers, and paid tiers are one switch
- Podcasts, video, chat and Notes included
Cons
- 10% forever, and no ads or sponsorship tooling of its own
- Design control and custom domains are limited
Pricing: Free · Payout: Via Stripe (2-7 days) · newsletter paid subscriptions recommendations writers
3
Email marketing for creators with paid newsletters, digital product checkout, tip jars and a sponsor network.
#4.4k web rank · ▲ 53 this week · Commerce: 3.5% + 30c per transaction; plans from $25/mo (free to 10,000 subscribers) · accepts Health & Supplements
8.2/10
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is an email marketing platform for creators with automations, forms and landing pages, plus Kit Commerce for selling digital products, paid newsletters and tips at 3.5% plus 30 cents. Free up to 10,000 subscribers with limits, then from $25 a month. Its Creator Network and sponsor network add growth and revenue for established lists. Read more →
Pros
- Automations, landing pages and commerce in one tool
- Creator Network recommendations and a sponsor network for larger lists
Cons
- Paid newsletter features are less polished than Substack's
- Costs rise with list size
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $25/mo · Payout: Via Stripe · email marketing creators automations commerce
4
Affordable email marketing with paid newsletter subscriptions and digital product sales via Stripe.
#4.3k web rank · ▲ 19 this week · No cut on paid subscriptions (Stripe fees apply); plans from $10/mo · accepts Health & Supplements
7.6/10
MailerLite is a low-cost email platform with automations, a site builder, paid newsletter subscriptions and digital product sales through Stripe, from $10 a month. It lacks the network effects of Substack and beehiiv but is a solid, cheap home for a list. Read more →
Pros
- Cheap, clean and includes paid subscriptions and a website builder
- Free plan to 1,000 subscribers
Cons
- Fewer creator-specific growth features
- Approval process for new accounts
Pricing: Free plan, paid from $10/mo · Payout: Via Stripe · email marketing paid newsletter affordable