Editorial
Good Newsletter Open Rate
Benchmarks by niche and list size.
SiteBartar Research · Updated June 2026
Not sure between Beehiiv and Substack? Read our Beehiiv vs Substack comparison →
Direct answer
35–55%: healthy creator benchmark (varies by niche).
40%+: strong if list organic and double opt-in.
<20%: investigate spam placement, inactive segments, or wrong audience.
Apple MPP inflates opens — trend lines matter more than single issue.
Why this question matters
Open rate isn't revenue — paid conversion separate metric.
Sponsors ask opens — monetize-small-newsletter context.
List size growth often lowers % — normal if totals grow.
Re-engagement campaigns before panic switching ESP.
Get your personalized match
Answer a few questions — get a personalized match with reasons.
Take the Find Your Newsletter Platform quiz (~2 min)What changes the answer
B2B niche newsletters higher engagement common.
Daily sends different benchmark than weekly.
Subject lines and send time testable — platform A/B on Beehiiv/Kit.
Cold imported lists destroy opens — migration hygiene.
Compare your options
Platform choice minor vs deliverability setup — email-deliverability-creators.
Beehiiv/Substack/Kit all capable with proper SPF/DKIM.
Compare tools on growth features not open % magic.
best-newsletter-platform quiz.
Related questions
newsletter-send-frequency alignment.
switch-mailchimp-creator if legacy deliverability debt.
Verify domain authentication docs.
Track clicks + replies too.
Tools mentioned
Get your personalized match
Answer a few questions — get a personalized match with reasons.
Take the Find Your Newsletter Platform quiz (~2 min)Frequently asked questions
Good open rate?
Often 35–55% creators; below 20% investigate deliverability and list quality.
50% realistic?
Yes engaged niches; harder above 10K without segmentation.
Opens dropped suddenly?
Check spam, domain auth, content signals.
MPP impact?
Apple privacy inflates — watch trends.
Sponsor minimum?
Varies; engaged 1K often beats 10K cold.
Platform affect opens?
Deliverability setup matters more than brand.
Sources
- Industry benchmark reports
- Platform analytics docs
Disclosure: SiteBartar may earn commissions when you click partner links. Affiliate relationships never change match order or editorial scores. Full affiliate disclosure