Have you ever notice how people will casually drop, “Oh, you should start a newsletter” like it’s the same as saying “Just order fries”? Meanwhile, you’re here with 14 tabs open, wondering if “Beehiiv” is a vitamin, “Flodesk” is a design school, and whether “Substack” is some kind of fitness app for email nerds.

Newsletters are the most slept-on power move for ANY type of content creators — especially if you’re tired of playing roulette with Instagram’s algorithm. You own your email list. No freakin’ shadow-bans. No “we decided to show your post to 12 people today”. So, let’s walk through 7 newsletter platforms I’ve either used, tested, or obsessed over at 2 AM, so you can skip the overwhelm and get straight to the “send” button.

This article was inspired by a conversation I had with another content creator trying to figure out which platform is ‘the one.’ And just like I tell my clients when they’re choosing where to show up for their podcast or social account(s)—it’s not about being everywhere. It’s about knowing your audience and your mission, then picking the platform that makes the most sense for that. Alright let’s get to it, starting with:

---

1. Flodesk – The Instagram Model of Email Platforms

If Rihanna’s graphic designer built an email platform, it would be Flodesk.

• Best for: Creators who want their emails to look like a lifestyle shoot.
• Pros: Gorgeous drag-and-drop templates, unlimited subscribers for one flat fee (your wallet will thank you when you grow).
• Cons: Not built for deep automations — if you’re a “trigger-this-when-that-happens” kind of creator, you’ll feel limited. Also, no native way to collect payments.
• Sherley says: This is your platform if you want to wow people visually without coding, and you’re not trying to overcomplicate your setup.

---

2. Substack – The Chill Writer’s Clubhouse

Feels like a cozy co-working space where everyone’s in your corner — but they also take a cut.

• Best for: Writers, podcasters, journalists who just want to show up and write/talk.
• Pros: Free to start, your work can get discovered by other Substack readers, you can run paid subscriptions without extra tech.
• Cons: 10% fee on your paid subs, very limited customization — you’ll always look like… Substack.
• Sherley says: If you want zero setup stress and you’re cool with their branding on your work, this is your low-barrier entry point. Honestly, it’s still one of my faves — I use it for my BlkPodNews ‘Northern Voices’ column and the Black Canadian Creators Newsletter.

---

3. Beehiiv – The Growth Hacker’s Playground

Imagine if an email platform and a growth coach had a baby.

• Best for: Creators who want to grow aggressively and monetize early.
• Pros: Built-in referral program (subscribers help bring you more subscribers), native ad marketplace, segmentation, polls, killer analytics.
• Cons: Not the most stylish templates, and the best growth features aren’t on the free plan.
• Sherley says: This is your go-to if your top priority is list growth. Pair it with Canva or another design tool for branded flair.

---

4. Kit – The Boss of Automations

This one’s for the “I have a funnel for my funnel” crowd.

• Best for: Creators selling products, courses, memberships — anyone serious about email as a sales machine.
• Pros: Next-level tagging, segmentation, visual automations, high deliverability. You can also sell digital products right inside.
• Cons: Prices climb fast as your list grows. Templates are… fine.
• Sherley says: If you’ve got a clear product or offer and you want to run automated sequences that feel personal — this is your workhorse.

---

5. MailerLite – The Budget-Friendly All-Rounder

Simple, affordable, no drama.

• Best for: Beginners who want a balance between price, features, and ease of use.
• Pros: Good automation tools for the price, landing pages, pop-ups, clean templates, generous free plan.
• Cons: No flashy growth tools like Beehiiv’s referral program.
• Sherley says: This is the “get started now” platform. When you outgrow it, you can upgrade to the big leagues.

---

6. Ghost – The “I Own My Platform” Option

The independent artist of email platforms.

• Best for: Creators who want full control and zero platform revenue cuts.
• Pros: Open-source, self-hostable, blog + newsletter in one, full design control.
• Cons: Setup can feel like IKEA instructions written in another language unless you use Ghost(Pro).
• Sherley says: If you’re protective about your brand and don’t mind a little tech — Ghost gives you the keys to the castle.

---

7. Campaign Monitor – The Polished Pro

More corporate energy, but in a “we’re here to impress the board” way.

• Best for: Non-profits, event heavy businesses, creators partnering with brands.
• Pros: Beautiful, professional templates, strong segmentation, donation/event integrations.
• Cons: Expensive, not built for creator-first monetization.
• Sherley says: Great if your audience expects a polished, professional feel — or you’re working with funders and stakeholders who need things just so.

---

“Best For” Cheat Sheet:

• Growth & Referrals: Beehiiv
• Design Lovers: Flodesk
• Selling Products: Kit
• Community Monetization: Substack
• Budget-Friendly: MailerLite
• Brand Control: Ghost
• Nonprofits/Events: Campaign Monitor

---

I hope this was helpful! Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. Pick the platform that matches your current season, not your “five-year empire” fantasy. You can move later. You can rebrand later. But you can’t grow an email list you never start.

Sherley J.
Your Community Hypewoman. Strategy Nerd. Your #1 Content Cousin.