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Best podcast newsletter platforms in 2026

An email list is the only audience no platform can switch off. Pick a platform that will still let you export the list on the day you leave.

Prices on this page last verified September 2026. Nobody paid to be here.

What we weighed

  • A one click export of your subscribers, no support ticket required.
  • Sensible pricing as the list grows, not a cliff at 1,000 people.
  • Automation for the welcome sequence, because that is the one that earns.
  1. 01Best for growing a list

    Beehiiv

    Free, then $49/moMonthlyPrice checked September 2026

    Recommendations, referrals, and ad tooling built in, which is the whole growth stack in one bill.

    Who it is for
    Writers and weekly hosts who want the list, a real site, and a letter that actually goes out, plus recommendations and ads they control.
    The gotcha
    Growth tools can turn the letter into a funnel, and paid prices jump with list size.

    Read the full Beehiiv verdict

  2. 02Best automation

    Kit

    FreeFreePrice checked August 2026

    Tags and sequences that make sense for a creator rather than a sales team.

    Who it is for
    A weekly host who wants a list they own, tags, and a welcome sequence after someone joins.
    The gotcha
    Free keeps one rec slot you cannot turn off, and Kit keeps that money.

    Read the full Kit verdict

  3. 03Best plain and cheap

    Buttondown

    FreeFreePrice checked September 2026

    Writes like a text file, sends like an email, and stays out of your way.

    Who it is for
    Hosts sending a written episode companion who want Markdown and a straightforward archive.
    The gotcha
    Advanced features are separate monthly add-ons, so a small list does not necessarily mean a small total bill.

    Read the full Buttondown verdict

  4. 04Best for paid subscribers

    Substack

    FreeFreePrice checked September 2026

    No monthly fee and paid posts work on day one, if you accept the revenue cut and the platform.

    Who it is for
    Writer-hosts who want the letter, the comments, and a free place to put the files, in one login.
    The gotcha
    Leaving later is messier than it looks on day one.

    Read the full Substack verdict

  5. 05Best free tier

    MailerLite

    Free, then $12/moMonthlyPrice checked August 2026

    A generous free allowance with automations included, which most free tiers hold back.

    Who it is for
    Solo hosts and small teams sending show notes and signup forms, who found Kit or Beehiiv too much platform.
    The gotcha
    People you deleted still count until the next bill if they were Active that cycle.

    Read the full MailerLite verdict

Not on the shortlist?

A shortlist is a shortlist. We list 32 newsletters tools in the catalog, filterable by budget and by what they actually do.

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