Notes on tools for running a newsletter, blog or small online business

Simple, sourced guides to help you pick the right tool.

Each guide compares tools using the information published on the tools' own official pages. Every fact links to its source and shows the date we checked it. Prices and plans change, so please confirm on the official page before you decide.

Guides

• What "free" actually means on 8 email platforms

  Eight free plans, the two ceilings each one sets, and the arithmetic that tells you which one you will hit first. Checked 2026-09-21.

• Kit vs MailerLite: where the free plans actually stop

  The free plan limits, the automation line that decides most of it, and what each one costs at 500 to 10,000 subscribers. Checked 2026-09-20.

• Kit vs beehiiv: the point where the cheaper one changes

  Two generous free plans built for different things, and the list size where the cheaper paid plan swaps over. Kit checked 2026-09-20, beehiiv October 4, 2026.

• How to choose an email marketing platform: Kit vs MailerLite vs beehiiv

  All three side by side: free plans, automations, branding and the first paid plan at four list sizes. Kit and MailerLite read 2026-09-20, beehiiv October 4, 2026.

• Systeme.io pricing, checked: what the free plan includes and when you start paying

  Four plans, what the free plan includes, and four rules that are in the terms rather than on the pricing page. Checked 2026-09-28.

• Kit pricing, checked: the free plan, Creator vs Pro at every list size, monthly vs yearly

  Free, Creator and Pro from 1,000 to 25,000 subscribers in both billing modes, and two refund texts that disagree. Checked 2026-09-25.

• MailerLite pricing, checked: what 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails get you, and every paid step after

  Free, Comfort and Power from 500 to 50,000 subscribers, the June 2026 change to the free plan, and how sending can move you up a tier. Checked 2026-09-25.

• beehiiv pricing, checked: Free, Lite, Pro and Enterprise at every subscriber count

  Free, Lite, Pro and Enterprise from 1,000 to 250,000+ subscribers, plan type versus plan tier, and what the terms say about pauses and refunds. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Mailchimp alternatives with a free plan: where each one stops, checked on the pricing pages

  Seven other free plans next to Mailchimp's, on contacts, monthly emails, automations and branding. Checked 2026-09-20, 2026-09-21 and 2026-09-25.

• How to start an email list for free without a website

  A hosted sign-up page on a free plan, the address you share, delivering a freebie, and the CAN-SPAM basics. Checked 2026-09-25.

• GetResponse pricing, checked: the free plan, Starter, Marketer and Creator at every list size

  The Free account before and after 14 days, every list-size step in both billing modes, how contacts are counted and the List extension fee. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Substack pricing, checked: free to publish, a 10% fee when you charge, and what Stripe adds

  Free to publish at any size, the share of each paid subscription, Stripe's fees with worked examples, the custom domain fee and exporting your list. Checked October 4, 2026.

• What you can build on Systeme.io's free plan: a website, a blog, three funnels and a course, checked

  One website, one blog, three funnels and a course on the Free plan, the one automation rule, and the lifetime sales limit in the terms. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Flodesk pricing, checked: the Free plan, Lite, Pro and Everything at every subscriber count

  The Free plan, the trial, and Lite, Pro and Everything at every subscriber step in both billing modes. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Ghost(Pro) pricing, checked: Starter, Publisher and Business at every member count, monthly vs yearly

  Starter, Publisher and Business at every member step in both billing modes, the member limit and cancelling. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Podia pricing, checked: Mover, Shaker and Earthquaker, the 5% fee, and what the 14-day trial leaves you with

  Three plans in both billing modes, Mover's transaction fee, email subscribers and the trial. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Carrd pricing, checked: the free plan, and Pro Lite, Standard and Plus at every site count

  The free plan and every step of the three Pro plans by number of sites, paid by the year. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Kajabi pricing, checked: Basic, Growth and Pro, monthly vs annual, and what the 14-day trial asks of your card

  Basic, Growth and Pro in both billing modes, the trial, payment rates, extras and cancelling. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Calendly pricing, checked: the Free plan, Standard and Teams per seat, monthly vs yearly, and the Teams seat tiers

  The Free plan, Standard and Teams per seat in both billing modes, and the Teams tiers. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Framer pricing, checked: the Free plan, Basic and Pro at every credit option, monthly vs yearly, and editor seats

  The Free plan, and Basic and Pro at every credit option in both billing modes. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Moosend pricing, checked: the 30-day trial and the Pro plan at every contact count, monthly, biannual and annual

  The trial and the Pro plan at every contact count in three billing modes. Checked October 4, 2026.

• Gumroad fees, checked: 10% plus 50 cents per sale, card processing on top, 30% on Discover, and a lower rate for big months

  Fees on direct and marketplace sales, worked out on four prices, with refunds and tax. Checked October 4, 2026.

• AWeber pricing, checked: the Free plan, Lite and Plus at every subscriber tier, monthly vs annual, and the 14-day trial

  The Free plan, Lite and Plus at every subscriber tier in both billing modes, and the trial. Checked October 5, 2026.

• Teachable pricing, checked: Starter, Builder and Growth, monthly vs yearly, the 7.5% fee on Starter, and the 30-day refund window

  Starter, Builder and Growth in both billing modes, the fee on Starter, and the refund window. Checked October 5, 2026.

• Tally pricing, checked: what the free form builder includes, the fair use limits, Pro and Business monthly vs yearly, and the no-refund rule

  The free plan and its fair use limits, and Pro and Business in both billing modes. Checked October 5, 2026.

• Buttondown pricing, checked: free for the first 100 subscribers, the price at every list size, monthly vs yearly, and the add-ons

  The free first 100 subscribers, the price at every list size, and the add-ons. Checked October 5, 2026.

• Cal.com pricing, checked: the free plan, Teams and Organizations per user, monthly vs yearly, seat billing and SMS credits

  The free plan, Teams and Organizations per user, seat billing and credits. Checked October 5, 2026.

• WordPress.com pricing, checked: the free plan, Personal to Commerce, first-term vs renewal prices, 1 to 3 years, and the refund windows

  The free plan and four paid plans in four payment periods, with renewal prices. Checked October 5, 2026.

Browse by topic

• Comparisons — two or three tools side by side at the same list size.
• Pricing — what a tool costs at each list size, and the terms behind the price.
• Free plans — where each free plan stops.
• Home & DIY — plans and projects for building at home, read from the sales pages.
• Pets — courses and products for pet owners, starting with dog training, read from the sales pages.

How these pages are written

• Facts (prices, plan limits, features) are quoted from each tool's official page, with the link and the date checked.
• Where we could not confirm something, the page says so instead of guessing.
• We do not describe results, earnings or personal experience that we cannot show.
• Every quote and price is checked by script against the saved official page before a page goes up. See How we check and the editors.
• Some links may be affiliate links. See the Affiliate Disclosure.