10 Best Substack Alternatives for Founders [2026 Updated]

1. Beehiiv

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://www.beehiiv.com
• Overview: A newsletter platform built for creators and media businesses, with a website builder, audience growth tools, and built-in monetization. It offers a free starter plan and paid tiers for advanced features such as the ad network and paid subscriptions.

2. Ghost

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://ghost.org
• Overview: An open-source publishing platform from a non-profit foundation that combines blogging, email newsletters, and paid memberships. Creators can self-host it or use the managed Ghost(Pro) service and keep full ownership of their audience and revenue.

3. Kit

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://kit.com
• Overview: Formerly ConvertKit, Kit is an email marketing platform designed for creators to send newsletters, build landing pages, and sell digital products. It includes automation, subscriber tagging, and paid newsletter features, with a free plan for smaller audiences.

4. Buttondown

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://buttondown.com
• Overview: A minimalist newsletter tool for independent writers, with Markdown support, an API, and paid subscription options. It is known for its simple interface, privacy-friendly approach, and a free tier for small lists.

5. MailerLite

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://www.mailerlite.com
• Overview: An affordable email marketing platform with a drag-and-drop editor, automation, landing pages, and websites. It supports paid newsletter subscriptions and offers a free plan for small lists.

6. Patreon

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://www.patreon.com
• Overview: A membership platform where creators earn recurring income from fans in exchange for exclusive posts, content, and community access. It lets writers publish gated updates and monetize their audience directly through subscriber tiers.

7. Medium

• Type: Free
• URL: https://medium.com
• Overview: An online publishing platform where writers can publish articles and build a following for free. Writers can earn money through the Medium Partner Program, and publications and email delivery help them reach subscribers.

8. Letterdrop

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://www.letterdrop.com
• Overview: A content marketing platform for managing blog publishing, SEO, and distribution for B2B teams. It is better suited to company content programs than individual newsletter writers, but it covers the publishing and audience-building workflow.

9. Mailchimp

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://mailchimp.com
• Overview: A widely used marketing platform that lets users design and send email newsletters, manage audiences, and automate campaigns. It offers templates, analytics, and landing pages, with a free plan for small lists.

10. Curated

• Type: Paid
• URL: https://curated.co
• Overview: A newsletter platform focused on curated link-based newsletters, with tools to collect links, write summaries, and send to subscribers. It also supports sponsorships and a public archive, making it suited to curators and community newsletters.