Quick answer
Use Kit if automation and creator sales workflows matter. Use Substack if you want the fastest publication-style path. Use MailerLite or Buttondown if budget and simplicity matter most. Use Ghost if publishing and membership ownership are central.
Alternatives by workflow
| Alternative | Best for | Skip if |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | Creators selling services, products, courses, or launches through email. | You mainly want a newsletter publication engine. |
| Substack | Writers who want very low-friction publishing and paid subscriptions. | You need more stack control or custom workflow depth. |
| MailerLite | Budget-conscious email marketing and simple newsletters. | You need newsletter-native growth and monetization tooling. |
| Ghost | Publishing sites, memberships, and owned content brands. | You want the simplest email-only setup. |
| Mailchimp | Small businesses that want broad email marketing features. | You are building a creator-first newsletter brand. |
| Buttondown | Minimalist newsletters and developer-friendly simplicity. | You want broader growth/monetization features. |
When beehiiv is still the better fit
beehiiv remains the stronger choice when the newsletter is the main product and you plan to use growth, referral, ad, or paid-publication-style features.
Pricing verification
Check official pricing before choosing: beehiiv, Kit, MailerLite, Mailchimp, Ghost, and Buttondown.
Read next
For a direct decision, read beehiiv vs Kit. For budget planning, read cheapest newsletter stack.