Editorial
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared
Free tier limits compared honestly.
SiteBartar Research · Updated June 2026
Not sure between Beehiiv and Substack? Read our Beehiiv vs Substack comparison →
What free includes
Substack: publish free, pay rev-share on paid only.
Beehiiv/ConvertKit: subscriber caps — verify live.
Ghost: open source; hosting costs money.
Custom domain often paid tier on all.
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared guidance in "what free includes" applies to Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, and Ghost in-stack — run free newsletter platform with monetization and automation constraints.
Substack free
Fastest start — substack-review-2026.
Rev-share hits when monetizing paid.
Notes discovery included.
substack-10-percent-when-worth-it for break-even.
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared guidance in "substack free" applies to Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, and Ghost in-stack — run free newsletter platform with monetization and automation constraints.
Get your personalized match
What free tiers actually include.
Take the Free Newsletter Platform Quiz quiz (~2 min)Beehiiv free
Growth tools partially gated — beehiiv-pricing-2026.
Tier jumps as list grows.
Archive SEO value on paid tiers.
beehiiv-growth-features context.
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared guidance in "beehiiv free" applies to Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, and Ghost in-stack — run free newsletter platform with monetization and automation constraints.
ConvertKit free
Automation limits on free — convertkit-pricing-2026.
Good for tiny list funnel tests.
Upgrade path clear at cap.
Kit branding on free verify live.
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared guidance in "convertkit free" applies to Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, and Ghost in-stack — run free newsletter platform with monetization and automation constraints.
Honest pick
Experiment free; pay before ad spend to list.
free-newsletter-platform quiz.
newsletter-cost-breakdown-2026 at scale.
why-best-of-lists-lie on 'best free' lists.
Free Newsletter Platforms Compared guidance in "honest pick" applies to Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, and Ghost in-stack — run free newsletter platform with monetization and automation constraints.
How to decide
free newsletter platform with list size, monetization model, and automation depth stated upfront.
Compare beehiiv-or-substack or convertkit-vs-beehiiv-guide if two ESPs survive constraint filtering.
Configure DNS and welcome sequences before paid traffic — email-deliverability-creators baseline.
Platform tiers change quarterly — re-verify pricing the week you migrate or enable paid billing.
Export subscriber tags to CSV before any ESP migration — tag loss is harder to repair than template mismatch.
Verification before you commit
Screenshot Substack vs Beehiiv vs Convertkit vs Ghost pricing, rule PDFs, or feature limits dated today — "Free Newsletter Platforms Compared" advice goes stale when vendors ship quiet tier changes.
Run a proof project sized to learn workflow: demo account, test send to seed inboxes, or sandbox trade before max deposit.
Follow internal links to compare pages and discover hubs — they answer adjacent questions free newsletter platform alone does not cover.
Retake free newsletter platform in Deep mode if constraints shifted while reading — open-text hints improve edge-case matching.
Bookmark editorial-standards — explainable scoring beats star ratings when annual billing or migration is on the line.
Write down which options you eliminated and why — future-you needs the disqualifiers when renewals or rule changes arrive.
| Platform | Best for | Pricing model | Ownership | Growth tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | Writing-first + network | Free; ~10% on paid | Export OK; billing friction | Notes discovery |
| Beehiiv | Growth + monetization | SaaS tiers | Export + API | Referrals, Boost, SEO archive |
| ConvertKit | Automations + CRM | SaaS tiers | Strong export | Visual automations |
| Ghost | Owned site + memberships | SaaS or self-host | Full ownership | Memberships, SEO |
Tools mentioned
Get your personalized match
What free tiers actually include.
Take the Free Newsletter Platform Quiz quiz (~2 min)Frequently asked questions
Truly free newsletter?
Substack publish free; others cap features/subscribers. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
Free custom domain?
Rare on free tiers — verify each platform. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
Beehiiv free limits?
Verify beehiiv.com pricing live. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
ConvertKit free enough?
Tiny list tests only typically. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
Ghost free?
Software yes; hosting/ops not. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
Quiz?
free-newsletter-platform. Cross-check ESP docs and free newsletter platform before migrating a live list. Editorial-standards explains scoring — affiliates never reorder results.
Sources
- SiteBartar editorial methodology — editorial-standards
- Official platform pricing and feature documentation
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