4 Best Substack Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 14 min read
Substack is a popular tool for writers wanting to monetize a newsletter. While it offers a free tier (Free (10% of paid subs)), its paid plans start at Free (10% cut). Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 4 best Substack alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 4
- Free alternatives: 4 (Beehiiv, ConvertKit (Kit), Ghost)
- Open-source options: Ghost
- Best overall: Beehiiv
- Best free: Beehiiv
Why Look for Substack Alternatives?
People commonly look for Substack alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Substack has a free tier, its paid plans starting at Free (10% cut) can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: 10% revenue cut and limited customization are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Substack overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | ✓ Free (10% of paid subs) | Free (10% cut) | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Writers wanting to monetize a newsletter |
| Beehiiv | ✓ Up to 2,500 subscribers | $39/mo | ⭐ 4.5 | No | Newsletter creators focused on growth |
| ConvertKit (Kit) | ✓ Up to 10,000 subscribers | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.4 | No | Content creators and newsletter writers |
| Ghost | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | $9/mo (hosted) | ⭐ 4.3 | ✓ Yes | Professional publishers wanting ownership |
| Buttondown | ✓ Up to 100 subscribers | $9/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Technical writers and developers |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Beehiiv
Newsletter platform built for growth.
Beehiiv is a modern newsletter platform built by early Morning Brew team members. It focuses on helping newsletter creators grow their audience with built-in referral programs, monetization tools, and a recommendation network. Beehiiv has quickly become the go-to platform for newsletter-first businesses.
Pros
- ✓ Built for newsletters
- ✓ Growth tools included
- ✓ Monetization options
- ✓ Modern interface
Cons
- ✗ Limited to newsletters
- ✗ Can get expensive
- ✗ Newer platform
- ✗ Limited automation
ConvertKit (Kit)
Email marketing platform designed for creators.
ConvertKit (now rebranding to Kit) is an email marketing platform built specifically for creators — bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It focuses on subscriber-first email marketing with powerful automation, tagging, and landing pages designed to help creators grow their audience and revenue.
Pros
- ✓ Built for creators
- ✓ Generous free tier
- ✓ Great automations
- ✓ Creator Network
Cons
- ✗ Limited design options
- ✗ Basic analytics
- ✗ No A/B testing on free
- ✗ Higher pricing at scale
Ghost
Open-source publishing platform for professional blogs and newsletters.
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform focused on professional content creators. It combines a beautiful blog/website with newsletter capabilities and membership features. Ghost can be self-hosted for free or used via Ghost(Pro) hosting. It's a popular choice for writers who want ownership of their platform.
Pros
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Beautiful design
- ✓ No revenue share
- ✓ Self-hostable
Cons
- ✗ Requires technical skill
- ✗ Limited free themes
- ✗ Paid hosting can be expensive
- ✗ No visual builder
Buttondown
Minimal newsletter tool for independent writers.
Buttondown is a small, elegant tool for producing newsletters. Built and maintained by a single developer, it focuses on doing email newsletters well without bloat. It supports Markdown, has a clean API, and offers features like automation and analytics without the complexity of larger platforms.
Pros
- ✓ Simple and clean
- ✓ Markdown support
- ✓ Indie-built
- ✓ Great API
Cons
- ✗ Limited free tier
- ✗ Basic templates
- ✗ Small team
- ✗ Limited design options
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Substack?
The best free alternative to Substack is Beehiiv, which offers Up to 2,500 subscribers.
Is there an open-source alternative to Substack?
Yes! Ghost is open-source alternative to Substack that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Substack?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Beehiiv, ConvertKit (Kit), Ghost. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $9/mo.
💰 Stop Overpaying for SaaS
Join smart professionals who receive our weekly roundup of the best SaaS deals, free alternatives, and money-saving tips.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.