Best email marketing for solopreneurs (2026)
Email is the channel you own. Here's how the main options for one-person businesses compare, using each vendor's published pricing.
Last updated
Disclosure: some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never decides our picks. How we make money.
| Platform | Free plan | Fees / pricing notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | Yes | 0.6% transaction fee on sales (per Kit). Sponsor Network needs 10,000+ subscribers; Kit takes 23.5%. |
| beehiiv | Yes, up to 2,500 subscribers | 0% fee on paid subscriptions. Ad Network and paid subs from Lite (~$49/mo billed yearly). |
| Systeme.io | Yes | Email bundled with funnels and courses. Paid from $17/mo. |
| Beacons | Yes, 50 email sends/mo | Creator $10/mo: 500 sends. Creator Plus $30/mo: unlimited marketing emails. |
Best for creators selling products
Creator-focused email marketing with automations and digital product sales.
Free tier; paid plans on kit.com/pricing
Best for newsletter-first businesses
beehiiv
Newsletter platform
Newsletter platform with a native ad network and 0% fee on paid subscriptions.
Free up to 2,500 subscribers; Lite ~$49/mo (yearly)
Best all-in-one on a budget
Funnels, email marketing, courses and a store in one tool, with a free plan.
Free plan; Startup $17/mo
Best for social-first creators
Link-in-bio page with a built-in store and media kit.
Free plan (9% seller fee); Creator $10/mo (9% fee); Creator Plus $30/mo (0% fee); Creator Max $100/mo ($900/yr)
Still deciding? Read Kit vs beehiiv, Systeme.io vs Kit or our Kit review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best email marketing platform for a solopreneur?
If you sell products or services, Kit is built around that. If the newsletter itself is your business and you want ad revenue, beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscriptions and has a native ad network. If you want email, funnels and courses in one place, Systeme.io has a free plan.
Is there a free email marketing tool for solopreneurs?
Yes. Kit, beehiiv (up to 2,500 subscribers), Systeme.io and Beacons (50 sends a month) all have free plans.
Which platform takes the smallest cut of paid newsletter revenue?
beehiiv states 0% (you pay Stripe fees only). Kit states 0.6%. Substack takes 10% plus Stripe fees.
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