Bench tool

Newsletter platform cost calculator

Most pricing pages hide the real number behind tiers. Set your subscriber count and see what each platform actually costs per month, with 2026 pricing.

050,000
$/mo

Substack has no per-subscriber fee, it takes 10% of what you earn from paid subscriptions. Leave at 0 if you do not charge.

PlatformEst. monthly costNotes
beehiiv logobeehiivCheapest
Read review
FreeFree to 2,500 subs. Scale plan flat pricing above that. Try free
Kit logoKit (ConvertKit)
Read review
FreeFree to 10,000 subs, then Creator plan.
Substack logoSubstack
Free10% of paid revenueNo platform fee, but takes 10% of paid subscription revenue.
MailerLite logoMailerLite
Read review
$29/moFree to 250 subs, then Comfort plan.
Mailchimp logoMailchimp
$75/moFree to 500 contacts, then Standard plan (climbs steeply).

Bottom line

At 2,500 subscribers, the cheapest option here is beehiiv at Free. Price is only one of our five scoring criteria, so check the full reviews before you decide.

Estimates based on published 2026 pricing at the entry paid tier for each platform. Actual cost varies with billing cycle, add-ons, and promotions. Some links are affiliate links, which never change our rankings.