Best AI Newsletter Platforms (2025)

By The Editorial Team January 2025

How do the platforms compare?

All platforms tested with real accounts. Updated regularly.

Best newsletter platforms — feature and pricing comparison
Platform	Starting price	Free plan	Paid subs	Custom domain	Analytics	CJK support	Referral	API	Action
Top pick Beehiiv	$42/mo	✓	✓	✓	✓	—	✓	✓	Try Beehiiv →
Kit	$49/mo	✓	✓	✓	✓	—	—	✓	Try Kit →
MailerLite	$15/mo	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	—	✓	Try MailerLite →
Substack	Free (rev share)	✓	✓	—	✓	✓	✓	—	Visit Substack →
Ghost	$9/mo	—	✓	✓	✓	✓	—	✓	Visit Ghost →

#1 Beehiiv — Best for monetization and growth

Beehiiv was built by former Morning Brew engineers with one goal: helping newsletters make money. It shows in every feature. The free Launch plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers and includes most core tools. Paid plans start at $42/mo for the Grow tier (10,000 subscribers).

#2 Kit — Best for automations and segmentation

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is the go-to for creators who need powerful email automation, subscriber tagging, and sequence management. Its free plan is the most generous in the category — up to 10,000 subscribers — but advanced features require a paid Creator plan.

#3 MailerLite — Best value for budget-conscious creators

MailerLite offers the lowest pricing in the market — $9/mo for up to 1,000 subscribers on a paid plan — plus a free tier for up to 1,000 subscribers. It covers the basics well and is particularly strong for creators who need CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AI newsletter platform overall?

Beehiiv is the best overall choice for most creators in 2025. It offers the most complete built-in monetization toolset — paid subscriptions, ad network, and referral program — starting from a generous free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers.

Which newsletter platform has the best free plan?

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers the most generous free plan with up to 10,000 subscribers, though automations are limited. Beehiiv's free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers) includes more growth features. Substack is always free for writers but takes 10% of paid subscription revenue.

Which platforms support paid subscriptions?

Beehiiv, Kit, MailerLite, Substack, and Ghost all support paid subscriber tiers. Beehiiv and Ghost have the lowest revenue share (0–5%), while Substack takes 10%. MailerLite and Kit charge flat monthly fees regardless of subscription revenue.

Which newsletter platform is best for CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) content?

MailerLite, Substack, and Ghost all support Unicode and CJK character sets well. Beehiiv and Kit have limited native CJK support and may need workarounds for non-Latin layouts.

How do affiliate commissions work on this site?

We earn a commission when you sign up for paid plans through our links — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend platforms we've tested directly. Substack and Ghost are reviewed here without affiliate relationships.

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