Your list grows month by month. For each month we use the cheapest option that fits: the free plan if it covers your list (and anything you need, like paid subscriptions), otherwise the first paid plan that does.
Prices are list prices from each platform's own pricing page, with the date we checked. Promotions are excluded. Platforms price by list size; if we haven't checked the exact size you're at, we use the next size we did check and say "up to".
Paid newsletters include the fees. Substack keeps 10% plus Stripe's fees; Kit charges 3.5% + 30¢ per sale, card processing included; beehiiv, Ghost and MailerLite take 0% but Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢ still applies. Paid subscriptions need beehiiv Lite, Ghost Publisher or MailerLite Comfort and up.
Sending limits count. MailerLite Free allows 2,500 emails a month and Comfort 10 times your subscriber tier; Mailchimp Free allows 500 a month. If you send more, the next plan is used.
What it leaves out: taxes, add-ons, and prices beyond 10,000 subscribers. Always confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.

Not sure which platform to look at first? The platform finder asks six questions and picks two. For each platform in depth, see our email and newsletter guides.