Last Updated: May 2025
Starting a newsletter is one of the smartest moves you can make to connect directly with your audience. Unlike social media, where algorithms can bury your content, a newsletter lands right in your subscribers’ inboxes, giving you full control. But with so many platforms out there, choosing the best email newsletter software can feel overwhelming.
In 2025, with over 4.5 billion email users globally, projected to reach 4.8 billion by 2027, newsletters are a powerful way to engage and convert subscribers.
We tested countless platforms to find the best email newsletter software that could bring our vision to life without needing a custom tech stack. In this blog, we are sharing my top 10 picks for 2025, starting with a standout AI-driven platform.
This is a no-fluff, honest guide, no affiliate links, just real insights.
What Makes the Best Email Newsletter Software?
The best email newsletter software should make it easy to create engaging, visually appealing emails while offering tools to grow and monetize your audience. Key factors to consider include:
- Free plan limits: How many subscribers can you have before paying?
- Ease of use: Is the editor intuitive for crafting dynamic newsletters?
- Growth potential: Does it support scaling with features like referrals or paid subscriptions?
- Pricing scalability: How affordable is it as your list grows?
- Features: Can it handle polls, GIFs, and custom designs?
- Analytics: Are there robust dashboards to track performance?
- Migration: How easy is it to import or export subscriber lists?
- Deliverability: Does it ensure emails reach inboxes, not spam folders?
1. Saufter
Pricing
- Byte Bot: $8/month, 4,000 emails/month, includes segmentation and workflows
- Kilo Bot: $10/month, 4,000 emails/month, adds AI-suggested segments, campaign topics, website user tracking, and behavioral analysis
- Trial: 3-day free trial, no credit card required
Saufter is a cutting-edge, AI-powered platform designed for SaaS and e-commerce businesses but adaptable for dynamic newsletters. Its AI-driven personalization analyzes user behavior and competitor campaigns to create hyper-targeted emails, making it a top contender for the best email newsletter software.
While it’s newer and lacks a free subscriber tier, its low pricing and advanced features make it ideal for creators who want interactive, data-driven newsletters without a steep learning curve.
Key Features
- Competitor Monitoring: Tracks competitor email campaigns to inform your strategy
- User Behavior Analysis: Analyzes website activity to tailor content
- Smart Segmentation: AI suggests engagement-based audience cohorts
- Personalized Campaigns: Boosts deliverability with tailored messaging
- SaaS-Specific Tools: Tracks trial feature usage and sends nudges for drop-offs
- E-commerce Triggers: Supports cart abandonment, purchase, and order status emails
2. beehiiv
Pricing
- Launch: $0/month, up to 2,500 subscribers
- Scale: $39/month, starts at 1,000 subscribers
- Max: $99/month, starts at 1,000 subscribers
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, unlimited subscribers
Beehiiv is my go-to choice for my newsletter and a leading best email newsletter software pick. When it comes to beehiiv vs MailerLite, the choice often depends on your goals. beehiiv, built by former Morning Brew growth team members, is tailor-made for creators aiming to scale rapidly.
It offers a clean editor, a generous free plan, and built-in growth tools like referral programs, polls, and GIF support, perfect for digital magazine-style newsletters.
Key Features
- Intuitive Editor: Clean, minimal design for crafting engaging emails
- Referral Program: Incentivizes subscribers to invite friends
- Paid Subscriptions: 0% revenue cut, unlike Substack
- Ad Network: Optional monetization through premium advertisers
- Analytics: Tracks open rates, subscriber growth, and referrals
- Polls and Surveys: Built-in for interactive content
3. MailerLite
Pricing
- Free: $0/month, up to 1,000 subscribers
- Growing Business: $9/month (billed annually), starts at 1,000 subscribers
- Advance: $19/month (billed annually), starts at 1,000 subscribers
MailerLite is a versatile digital marketing tool with a dedicated newsletter builder, used by over 1.4 million users. Its drag-and-drop editor and 70+ newsletter blocks make it easy to create visually rich emails, earning it a spot among the best email newsletter software. It’s budget-friendly and supports automation, making it great for scaling.
Key Features
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: 70+ blocks for custom designs
- Custom HTML Editor: For technical users wanting unique layouts
- Automation: Welcome series and triggered campaigns
- Analytics: Tracks open rates, CTR, unsubscribes, and spam
- Website Builder: Create landing pages and signup forms
- High Deliverability: 92% user recommendation rate
4. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Pricing
- Newsletter: $0/month, up to 10,000 subscribers
- Creator: $9/month, starts at 300 subscribers
- Creator Pro: $50/month, starts at 1,000 subscribers
Kit is a creator-focused platform ideal for writers, musicians, and bloggers. Its generous free plan and automation tools make it a strong contender for the best email newsletter software, especially for those prioritizing monetization without revenue cuts.
Key Features
- Referral Program: Encourages subscriber growth
- Automation: Advanced sequences for targeted campaigns
- Digital Product Sales: Sell courses and eBooks
- Polls: Included in paid plans for interactivity
- Landing Pages: Build forms to capture subscribers
5. Flodesk
Pricing
- Free: $0/month, unlimited subscribers (limited sends)
- Email: $38/month, unlimited email features
- Email + Checkout: $64/month, includes sales pages
Flodesk is a design-first platform perfect for visually stunning newsletters. Its flat-rate pricing and e-commerce integrations make it a great choice for creators who want beautiful emails without complexity.
Key Features
- Designer Templates: High-converting, minimalist designs
- E-commerce Integrations: Shopify and WooCommerce support
- Visual Automation: Intuitive workflow builder
- Forms and Landing Pages: Capture leads easily
- Analytics: Reports a 12% open rate boost
6. Ghost
Pricing
- Starter: $11/month, up to 5,000 subscribers
- Creator: $31/month, starts at 1,000 subscribers
- Team: $63/month, starts at 1,000 subscribers
- Business: $249/month, starts at 10,000 subscribers
Ghost is a CMS-turned-newsletter platform, ideal for creators needing a website and newsletter combo. Its modern design and paid subscription support are strong, but it’s pricier than dedicated newsletter tools.
Key Features
- Full CMS: Build blogs and websites
- Paid Subscriptions: Monetize without revenue cuts
- Clean Design: Minimal, professional templates
- Analytics: Tracks content and subscriber metrics
7. Substack
Pricing
- Free: Unlimited subscribers, 10% cut on paid subscriptions
Substack is the easiest platform to start a newsletter, with a built-in reader network for discovery. However, its revenue cut and basic design make it less ideal for a feature-rich digital magazine.
Key Features
- Ease of Use: Simple setup for beginners
- Paid Subscriptions: Monetize with a 10% cut
- Reader Network: Discoverable within Substack
- Basic Analytics: Tracks open rates and subscriptions
8. Mailmodo
Pricing
- Lite: $39/month (billed annually), up to 2,500 subscribers
- Pro: $79/month (billed annually), starts at 2,500 subscribers
- Max: $159/month (billed annually), starts at 2,500 subscribers
Mailmodo offers interactive, AMP-powered emails, perfect for unique, app-like experiences. Its technical nature suits creators comfortable with no-code platforms, making it a standout for engagement.
Key Features
- AMP Emails: Interactive forms and quizzes
- WYSIWYG Editor: Build custom HTML templates
- Automation: Triggered campaigns for engagement
- Analytics: Tracks open rates, CTR, and form submissions
9. AWeber
Pricing
- Free: $0/month, up to 500 subscribers
- Lite: $15/month, starts at 500 subscribers
- Plus: $30/month, starts at 500 subscribers
- Unlimited: $899/month, up to 150,000 subscribers
AWeber is a reliable, long-standing platform with automation and ecommerce features. It’s great for small businesses but less design-focused for a digital magazine.
Key Features
- Smart Designer: Creates emails from your website
- Automation: Welcome sequences and triggers
- E-commerce: Sell digital products
- Deliverability: 90% template success rate
10. Campaign Monitor
Pricing
- Lite: $12/month, up to 500 subscribers
- Essentials: $29/month, starts at 500 subscribers
- Premier: $159/month, starts at 500 subscribers
Campaign Monitor is business-focused with ecommerce and SMS tools. It’s expensive for newsletter-only creators but suits established companies.
Key Features
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Customizable templates
- Automation: Targeted workflows
- E-commerce Tools: Support product sales
- Analytics: Advanced link tracking
Best Email Newsletter for Small Business
Small businesses need an email newsletter service that balances affordability, ease of use, and features to drive customer engagement. Saufter leads as the top email newsletter service for small businesses, leveraging AI to deliver personalized campaigns that boost conversions. Its low pricing ($8-$10/month) and AI-driven segmentation make it ideal for businesses with limited resources but big ambitions.
For small businesses selling products, Flodesk excels with stunning templates and e-commerce integrations, reporting a 12% open rate boost. Its flat-rate pricing ($38/month) suits growing teams, and Shopify compatibility streamlines sales.
MailerLite is another strong email newsletter service, offering a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and a drag-and-drop editor, perfect for businesses starting from scratch.
Campaign Monitor and AWeber cater to businesses with existing customer bases, providing ecommerce tools and automation. However, their higher costs make them less ideal for startups compared to Saufter’s budget-friendly AI features.
For small businesses seeking growth, Saufter’s higher click-through rates through behavioral analysis make it the go-to email newsletter service for 2025. Its competitor monitoring and automated triggers ensure small teams can compete with larger brands effectively.
Conclusion
In 2025, email newsletters continue to dominate digital marketing, with 376 billion emails sent daily, and users prefer email over other channels, driving conversions through personalized, engaging content.
Selecting the best email newsletter software depends on specific needs, but Saufter stands out as the top choice for creators seeking a dynamic, engaging newsletter experience. Its AI-driven personalization, competitor monitoring, and smart segmentation deliver hyper-targeted campaigns that boost engagement and deliverability, making it ideal for crafting digital magazine-style newsletters with rich interactivity.
While platforms like beehiiv, MailerLite, and Flodesk offer strong features for design, scalability, and affordability, Saufter’s innovative approach ensures newsletters resonate deeply with audiences. For creators aiming to stand out in crowded inboxes, Saufter provides unmatched value and cutting-edge tools to drive growth and impact.
