Which newsletter service do you use? (The best UX/UI + monetisation aspects)
When I started my newsletter 2 years ago, I used Mailchimp – I was familiar with it from previous projects because it offered fairly extensive analytics and testing. The problem was that the articles weren’t public. Mailchimp is more suitable for business newsletters like sales offers, etc.
Monetization:
When I wanted to take the next step and monetise, I looked into Beehiiv. At that time, however, I wasn’t in the mood to pay the costs without yet earning any revenue – in my opinion, Beehiiv has the best monetisation model (subscriptions, ad revenue sharing, sponsorships, etc.). Considering costs...
... I went with a backup plan – Substack.
They offered fewer email formatting options, but at the same time allowed newsletters/articles to be publicly accessible. Since then, they’ve added subscriptions and email testing, and so far, I’m satisfied.
At the same time, I’m still exploring opportunities. 😅
What has been your experience with newsletter services and potential monetisation?
Can you recommend a good email or newsletter service, along with additional tools that are useful for email marketing?
Replies
Cal ID
I’ve mainly used Substack so far. I love how simple it is for public posts and paid subs. Beehiiv is solid for monetization, but I agree on the costs when starting out.
I’m curious about ConvertKit for this segmenting and automation, but haven’t tried it yet (Heard good things on Reddit btw).
minimalist phone: creating folders
@sanskarix I tried that one too, but ConvertKit wasn't my cup of tea. I like Substck or Beehiiv more :D
Cal ID
@busmark_w_nika Thanks! I really wanted to know it from someone who has tried ConvertKit.
LaunchPedia
We've used Mailerlite, Convertkit, and substack
I feel convertkit is better. Their segmentation, double option, freebie download setup is better when compared to others.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@karthik_tatikonda Maybe you could explain ConvertKit more to @sanskarix who is interested in trying it out.
Great breakdown, Nika
I’ve actually tested Mailchimp, Beehiiv, and Substack too each has strong points, but the biggest gap I noticed is automation + follow-up personalization.
For some of my clients, I’ve been using GoHighLevel connected with AI email workflows to automate engagement and segment readers based on behavior.
It’s been great for monetization too since we can upsell, track opens, and trigger personalized offers automatically.
Curious have you ever experimented with connecting your newsletter to automation tools like that?
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ameenullahi_bareeroh_darasimi Haven't tried to be honest. I also tried MailerLite but somehow missed that automation option :D I will check GoHighLevel. TY for the recommendation! :)
@busmark_w_nika Awesome! You’ll definitely find the automation side in GoHighLevel super useful it combines email, SMS, and funnels all in one.
If you’d like, I can show you a quick example of how automation works there it’s a big time-saver, especially for newsletters.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ameenullahi_bareeroh_darasimi do you have any demo video?
@busmark_w_nika Yes sure
Triforce Todos
What’s been the hardest part for you: growing subscribers or monetizing them?
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@abod_rehman I am trying both but converting them to paid is hard one for me atm.
When I started Curiosity Saved The Cat, I looked into Beehiiv, Substack, and Kit. I went with Beehiiv because of their multitude of growth features (recommendations, analytics, complex monetization scheme, boosts, referral program, website builder). It has a wider range of growth-oriented features than Kit, and I personally like that it's just email-oriented, as Substack has a social media vibe to it (however, I do believe it's easier to grow on Substack thanks to this).
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ruxandra_mazilu Have you started earning with the Beehiiv ecosystem? I mean, I wanted to try them, but it wouldn't be cost-effective for me from the very beginning :)
MailerCheck
Not sure if this is still relevant, but @MailerLite just launched their MPC server, which allows you to analyze your own data instead of following general email marketing best practices. For example, if you ever wanted to know what subject lines work the best with YOUR customers, you can get this information with a single prompt. Or if you want to know what content resonates with your subscribers, it will analyze all your sent campaigns, compare open and click rates, and then give you a summary of what content had the best results (such as personal anecdotes, product reviews, resource sharing etc.)
I believe this is the 2025 email marketing trend that will re-shuffle the popularity of ESPs.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@veronika_leskova1 I noticed this one! :) Thank you for reminding :)
I’ve tried a few newsletter platforms, and for me it comes down to UX, monetisation flexibility, and analytics:
Beehiiv — great for growing with monetisation in mind, clean UI, and built-in sponsorship/ad tools. Worth it if you want growth + revenue.
Substack — simple and public-friendly, but limited design options unless you invest extra time. Great for community-building.
ConvertKit — strong on automation and integrations, easy to use, but monetisation features aren’t as native as Beehiiv’s.
Ghost — a self-hosted option with a clean UI, subscription paywalls, and full control over branding. More technical but powerful long-term.
I’d add TinyLetter for minimalism if you want simplicity over features, and MailerLite if budget is a concern but you want advanced design tools.
Curious — what’s your priority: best UX or best monetisation model?