Email and Newsletter Tool Comparisons for Small Creators (2026)
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The right email tool depends on your list size, whether you charge for subscriptions, and how many automations you need. This page lists what each tool's official pages say about free plans and paid entry points, and links to the full comparisons.
At a glance
| Tool | Free option | Paid entry point | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit | Free plan: up to 10,000 subscribers and unlimited broadcasts; email sequences are not included on the free plan | Paid plans scale with list size; check the pricing page for your size | 2026-10-09 (official page) |
| beehiiv | Free plan: up to 2,500 subscribers; no paid subscriptions and no custom domain | Lite: $49/mo on yearly billing, priced for 1,000 subscribers; 0% take rate on paid subscriptions | 2026-10-06 (official page) |
| Substack | Free to publish, with no subscriber limit on free newsletters | No plan fee; takes 10% of paid subscription revenue plus card fees | 2026-09-28 (official page) |
| AWeber | A free option is mentioned, but its limits were not listed on the pricing page | Lite: $13/mo shown ($150 a year), Plus: $20/mo shown ($240 a year), both on yearly billing at 0–500 subscribers; 14-day trial | 2026-10-15 (official page) |
Comparison articles
- beehiiv vs Substack (2026): Flat Fee or 10% Cut for Your Paid Newsletter?
- AWeber Pricing (2026): Lite vs Plus, and What Your List Size Really Costs
Want your own numbers? Try the Plan Cost Calculator, or get one email a week on what SaaS tools really cost.