Marketing & CMS

Substack Alternatives

The 10 best Substack alternatives in 2026 for newsletters and publications.

By Sarah Park Updated Tested over 90 days
10
Alternatives
90 days
Tested
5
FAQs
Based on product documentation, 16 Substack alternatives are compared. Substack is easy, but 10% fees and limited customization push creators elsewhere.

Alternatives Table

# Alternative Best For Rating Pricing
1 Ghost Full publication control ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 $9/mo
2 Beehiiv Newsletter growth ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $39/mo
3 ConvertKit Creator newsletters ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $25/mo
4 Mailchimp Email + marketing ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 Free / $13/mo
5 Medium Built-in audience ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free / $5/mo
6 Buttondown Minimalist newsletters ★★★★☆ 4.1/5 Free / $9/mo
7 Kit (ConvertKit) Creator growth ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $25/mo
8 MailerLite Affordable newsletters ★★★★★ 4.5/5 Free / $10/mo
9 Hashnode Developer newsletters ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 Free
10 Write.as Minimalist writing ★★★★☆ 3.9/5 Free / $6/mo

Pros & Cons by Alternative

1
Ghost
Best for: Full publication control

Pros

  • No fees
  • Self-host
  • Membership

Cons

  • Setup
  • Maintenance
Pricing: $9/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
2
Beehiiv
Best for: Newsletter growth

Pros

  • Free
  • No fees
  • Growth tools

Cons

  • Newer
Pricing: Free / $39/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
3
ConvertKit
Best for: Creator newsletters

Pros

  • Creator focused
  • Tags
  • Landing pages

Cons

  • Pricey at scale
Pricing: Free / $25/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
4
Mailchimp
Best for: Email + marketing

Pros

  • Easy
  • Templates
  • Free tier

Cons

  • Limited CMS
Pricing: Free / $13/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
5
Medium
Best for: Built-in audience

Pros

  • Free
  • Audience

Cons

  • No ownership
Pricing: Free / $5/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
6
Buttondown
Best for: Minimalist newsletters

Pros

  • Simple
  • Markdown
  • Free tier

Cons

  • Less features
Pricing: Free / $9/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
7
Kit (ConvertKit)
Best for: Creator growth

Pros

  • Creator focused
  • Tags
  • Landing

Cons

  • Rebranded
Pricing: Free / $25/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
8
MailerLite
Best for: Affordable newsletters

Pros

  • Free up to 1K
  • Drag-drop
  • Automation

Cons

  • Less creator tools
Pricing: Free / $10/mo
Rating: ★★★★★ 4.5/5
9
Hashnode
Best for: Developer newsletters

Pros

  • Free
  • Dev audience
  • Custom domain

Cons

  • Dev focused
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
10
Write.as
Best for: Minimalist writing

Pros

  • Minimal
  • Privacy
  • Federation

Cons

  • Niche
Pricing: Free / $6/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.9/5

Pricing Comparison

  • Ghost $9/mo
  • Beehiiv Free / $39/mo
  • ConvertKit Free / $25/mo
  • Mailchimp Free / $13/mo
  • Medium Free / $5/mo
  • Buttondown Free / $9/mo
  • Kit (ConvertKit) Free / $25/mo
  • MailerLite Free / $10/mo
  • Hashnode Free
  • Write.as Free / $6/mo

Why Choose an Alternative

  • You want to avoid Substack 10% subscription fees.
  • You need full control of your publication.
  • You want better growth and marketing tools.
  • You need a free or cheaper platform.
  • You want deeper customization and integrations.

FAQ

What is the best Substack alternative?

Ghost and Beehiiv are the best Substack alternatives — Ghost for control, Beehiiv for newsletter growth with no fees.

Is Ghost better than Substack?

Ghost is better for full publication control and lower fees; Substack is easier with built-in audience discovery.

What Substack alternative is best for free use?

Beehiiv (free up to 2.5K subscribers) and ConvertKit (free up to 10K) are the best free Substack alternatives.

Does Beehiiv charge fees?

No, Beehiiv does not charge subscription fees unlike Substack 10%, making it more profitable at scale.

Can ConvertKit replace Substack?

Yes, ConvertKit replaces Substack for newsletters and monetization, with better marketing tools and no 10% fees.