TinyLetter may be gone, but the need for simple, affordable newsletter software is very much alive.
If you're still searching for a new home for your mailing list - or you've been making do with a tool that doesn't quite fit - this TinyLetter alternatives guide is for you.
What happened to TinyLetter?
TinyLetter was a free, no-frills newsletter service originally founded by Phil Kaplan in 2010 and acquired by Mailchimp the following year. It built up a loyal following among writers, bloggers, indie creators, and small businesses who just wanted a simple way to reach their audience - without paying for a stack of features they'd never use.
In late 2023, Mailchimp announced it would be shutting TinyLetter down, with the service officially closing on 29th February 2024. The decision came as Mailchimp increasingly shifted focus towards larger commercial customers, and TinyLetter - free, simple, and low-revenue - no longer fit that direction.
What to look for in a TinyLetter alternative
TinyLetter's appeal came down to three things:
- Simplicity (easy to set up and use)
- Generous free plan
- Focus on newsletters rather than trying to be an all-in-one marketing suite.
The ideal TinyLetter alternative should honour that same spirit - while also offering the features it notably lacked, such as automation, landing pages, and proper analytics. Here are five of the best options available right now.
5 alternatives to TinyLetter
1. EmailOctopus (best for simplicity and value)
EmailOctopus was built on a philosophy very similar to TinyLetter’s: email marketing shouldn't be complicated or expensive. Founded in 2015, it's now used by over 100,000 businesses, authors, creators, and organisations, and consistently earns praise for its ease of use and responsive support - available to all users, including those on the free plan.
If TinyLetter felt like home, EmailOctopus will feel familiar - but with meaningful upgrades that give you more control over your audience and your campaigns.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop email editor with 100+ mobile-friendly templates
- Email automation (welcome sequences, drip campaigns, date-based triggers)
- Landing page and sign-up form builder
- Audience segmentation and personalisation
- Integrations with 500+ apps via Zapier, including Shopify and WordPress
- Custom HTML editor
- 20% lifetime discount for nonprofits
Pricing: The free Starter plan lets you send 10,000 emails per month to up to 2,500 subscribers, with no credit card required and no time limit. It includes the drag-and-drop editor, automations, and up to 3 landing pages and forms.
The Pro plan starts from $9/month (billed annually) or $10/month (billed monthly), unlocking unlimited landing pages and forms, permanent reports, unlimited users, and priority support.
Best for: Writers, creators, authors, small businesses, and nonprofits who want the simplicity of TinyLetter with the features needed to actually grow.
2. Substack (best for writers who want to monetise)
Substack is a publishing platform that combines newsletters, a website, and paid subscription tools in one place, with a built-in discovery network that can help new writers find readers organically.
It's free to use as long as you're not charging for your newsletter - Substack only takes a cut once you start earning. That makes it attractive for writers just starting out, or those who simply want to share their writing without worrying about platform costs.
Key features:
- Clean, distraction-free writing editor
- Built-in website and archive for every newsletter
- Paid subscription support via Stripe
- Built-in recommendation and discovery network
- Podcast and video support
- Full ownership and export of your subscriber list
Pricing: Free to publish. However, Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue, plus Stripe's payment processing fees. There are no monthly platform fees.
The catch is that Substack's fee of 10% of subscription revenue (plus Stripe processing fees of around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) can add up significantly as you scale. A newsletter earning $5,000/month on Substack will pay around $500/month in platform fees alone.
Best for: Writers and journalists who want a frictionless way to build and potentially monetise an audience, and who value Substack's built-in network for discoverability. Less suitable if you want advanced email marketing features or want to keep 100% of your subscription revenue.
3. MailerLite (best for growing newsletters that need more features)
MailerLite has long been popular with independent creators and small businesses who want a clean, well-designed tool without the complexity of larger platforms. It sits nicely between the simplicity of TinyLetter and the power of full marketing suites.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Email automation workflows
- Website and landing page builder
- A/B testing (on paid plans)
- Sell digital products and paid subscriptions
- 24/7 email support on paid plans
Pricing: The free plan covers up to 500 subscribers with 12,000 monthly emails, though it has limited templates and includes MailerLite branding.
The Growing Business plan starts at $9/month (annual) or $10/month (monthly) for 500 subscribers with unlimited sends.
The Advanced plan, which unlocks a custom HTML editor, promotion pop-ups, and unlimited automation triggers, starts at $18/month (annual) or $20/month (monthly) for 500 subscribers.
Best for: Newsletter creators who've outgrown a basic tool and need features like automation, A/B testing, and digital product sales - but still want a relatively clean and simple interface.
4. Buttondown (closest to TinyLetter's spirit)
If what you loved most about TinyLetter was its stripped-back simplicity, Buttondown is the closest like-for-like replacement. Built and run by a small, independent team, it's a deliberately minimalist newsletter tool aimed squarely at writers who want to write - not fiddle with settings.
- Markdown and WYSIWYG editor
- Public web archive for every newsletter
- Paid subscriptions via Stripe (0% platform fee on paid plans)
- Basic automation and tagging
- REST API and Zapier integration
- Privacy-focused: analytics are off by default
Pricing: Free for up to 100 subscribers. Paid plans start at $9/month for up to 1,000 subscribers, scaling by approximately $5/month per additional 1,000 subscribers. Buttondown takes 0% of subscription revenue on paid plans; a small cut applies only on the free tier.
Best for: Writers and indie creators who want the most TinyLetter-like experience - minimal, clean, and out of your way. Not ideal if you want visual email templates, advanced analytics, or a full marketing toolkit.
5. Ghost (best for creators who want a full publishing platform)
Ghost is an open-source publishing platform that combines a blog, newsletter, and membership/subscription system in one place. The tradeoff is complexity. Ghost requires more setup than the other tools here, and some features (like self-hosted email delivery) require third-party integrations.
Key features:
- Full website, blog, and newsletter in one platform
- Paid membership and subscription tiers via Stripe (0% platform fee)
- Custom themes and full design control
- Audience segmentation and multiple newsletters
- Built-in SEO tools
- 14-day free trial on all plans
Pricing: Ghost Pro plans start at $18/month (billed monthly) or $15/month (billed annually) for the Starter plan, which covers up to 1,000 members and includes newsletters and a custom domain.
The Publisher plan, which adds paid subscriptions, custom themes, and advanced analytics, starts at $35/month (monthly) or $29/month (annually). There's no free plan, but a 14-day free trial is available. Self-hosting Ghost is free, though it requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
Best for: Creators and independent publishers who want to build a serious, long-term publication with full control over branding, design, and revenue - and are prepared to invest a little more time in getting set up.
Quick comparison: TinyLetter alternatives at a glance
Tool | Free plan | Paid plans from | Best for |
EmailOctopus | 2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month | $9/month | Simplicity, value, and growth |
Substack | Unlimited (free newsletters) | 10% of paid revenue | Writers wanting built-in monetisation |
MailerLite | 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month | $9/month | Feature-rich but still simple |
Buttondown | 100 subscribers | $9/month | Minimalist, TinyLetter-like experience |
Ghost | None (14-day trial) | $15/month (annual) | Full publishing platform |
So, which should you choose?
Whichever platform you choose, migrating is straightforward - all you need is a CSV export of your existing subscriber list, which most platforms will let you import directly. If you'd like tips on building your list from that point forward, our guide on how to build an email list is a good place to start.
