Best Newsletters & Publishing in 2026.
Platforms for monetizing newsletters and written content
Ghost
Self-hosted: free. Ghost(Pro): from $9/month. Stripe handles payments (0% platform fee).Open-source publishing with built-in paid memberships
Open source publishing platform with native paid memberships via Stripe. 0% platform fee — only Stripe's processing costs. Best for established writers who want full control.
Beehiiv
Free up to 2,500 subscribers. Scale from $42/month. 0% platform fee on paid subs.Newsletter platform with paid subscriptions and ad network
Newsletter platform built for growth. Strong analytics, A/B testing for subject lines, paid subscriptions, and a built-in ad network. 0% platform fee on paid subscriptions.
Kit
Free up to 10,000 subscribers. Creator from $25/month.Creator email marketing with paid subscriptions
Formerly ConvertKit. Email marketing platform with paid newsletter and product monetization features. Strong automation and segmentation.
Substack
10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe handles payments.Publish and monetize newsletters
Simplest way to launch a paid newsletter. Large built-in discovery network. 10% fee at scale makes it expensive compared to Ghost or Beehiiv.
How to choose
- Match the tool's category and best-for tags to your stack.
- Decide if you need a merchant of record (global tax handled) or DIY billing.
- Weigh paywall and A/B testing capabilities against fee competitiveness.
- Compare ease of setup against the depth of advanced billing you need.
Not sure which tool fits your project?
Answer 3 questions and get a personalized monetization stack recommendation.
Start the wizard→