A newsletter can become one of the most valuable assets in a side hustle. Social posts disappear in busy feeds, but an email list gives you a direct way to reach people who have asked to hear from you. This best newsletter platforms review looks at the tools that make that possible without creating another complicated job for your evenings.
The right choice depends on what you are building. A freelancer may only need a clean way to send updates and win repeat work. A creator may want paid subscriptions. An online shop may need automations that turn browsers into customers. Start with the business model, then choose the software – not the other way around.
Best newsletter platforms review: the short answer
For most new side hustlers, MailerLite is the easiest all-round place to start. It is straightforward, flexible and suitable for a simple email list that could later support products, services or a course.
Kit is a stronger option for creators selling digital products or building targeted email sequences. beehiiv is built for people treating a newsletter as the main business. Substack makes publishing and paid subscriptions simple, although you give up some control. Mailchimp remains useful for established small businesses, particularly those with ecommerce needs, but it can feel more involved than a beginner requires.
Here is a closer look at six platforms worth considering.
1. MailerLite: best for a practical first email list
MailerLite suits people who want to get moving without spending a weekend learning software. Its editor is clean, forms are easy to create, and you can build landing pages, basic automations and email campaigns in one place.
That matters when your side hustle is still taking shape. You might begin by offering a free checklist, then send useful weekly emails, then eventually introduce a low-cost digital product. MailerLite gives you room to make that progression without forcing you into a complex setup on day one.
Its main limitation is that it is not designed around a creator-led publishing business in the same way as beehiiv or Substack. If your entire plan is a large media newsletter with sponsorships and paid tiers, you may outgrow it. For most service providers, affiliate publishers and digital product beginners, that is not a problem.
2. Kit: best for creators who want to sell
Kit, previously known as ConvertKit, is built around the idea that subscribers are not all at the same stage. Someone who downloads your beginner guide should receive different emails from someone who has already bought your template pack. Kit handles this using tags, segments and visual automations.
This is useful when you have a clear offer. A career coach, Etsy seller, Notion template creator or freelance designer can create a sequence that welcomes new readers, shares helpful advice and introduces a relevant paid offer over time.
The trade-off is that Kit takes more thought to set up well. The platform itself is not difficult, but effective tagging and automations require you to understand your customer journey. If you have not yet decided what you are selling, MailerLite may feel less demanding. If monetisation is already part of the plan, Kit is often worth the extra effort.
3. beehiiv: best for growing a newsletter business
beehiiv is aimed at newsletter operators who want growth built into the product. It includes publishing tools, referral options, audience surveys, analytics and ways to add paid subscriptions or sponsorship income.
This makes it a good fit if your newsletter is the product, rather than simply a marketing channel. For example, you may publish a niche weekly briefing for UK property investors, local food businesses or people building side income. Your long-term income could come from premium editions, advertisers or partnerships.
The platform can be more than a first-time sender needs. Its growth features are valuable when you have a consistent publishing plan and a clearly defined audience. They will not compensate for an unclear topic or irregular emails. Choose beehiiv when you are prepared to treat your newsletter like a small media business.
4. Substack: best for simple publishing and paid readers
Substack removes much of the setup involved in starting a publication. You write posts, send them as emails and can introduce paid subscriptions when your readers see enough value in your work. It is particularly appealing to writers, commentators and subject-matter experts who want to focus on publishing rather than building funnels.
The benefit is speed. You can validate an idea quickly, build a routine and find out whether people care about your angle before investing heavily in branding or technical systems.
The downside is control. Substack is its own ecosystem, and its design and commercial model may not suit every business. It can also make your newsletter feel less connected to your wider website, products and customer journey. It is a sensible choice for a publication-first project, but less compelling if email is just one part of a broader online business.
5. Mailchimp: best for small businesses with wider marketing needs
Mailchimp has been a familiar name in email marketing for years. It offers email campaigns, customer data tools, templates, automations and integrations that can be useful for ecommerce brands and growing small businesses.
If you run an online shop with multiple products, seasonal promotions and customer segments, Mailchimp can cover a lot of ground. It is also a reasonable option if you already use it and your needs are modest.
For a solo beginner, however, its range of features can feel like clutter. Pricing can also become a bigger factor as your list grows. There is no reward for using the most famous tool if it slows you down. A simpler platform that you send from every week will do more for your income than a feature-heavy account left half-finished.
6. Brevo: best for businesses sending more than newsletters
Brevo is worth considering if you want email to sit alongside other customer communication, such as transactional messages, SMS or basic sales management. Its pricing structure can suit businesses that send a high volume of emails to a smaller list.
For example, a local service business, event organiser or online retailer may use it to send booking confirmations, promotional emails and follow-ups from one system. That broader focus is useful once operations become more involved.
It is not the most natural choice for someone launching a personal newsletter around a side hustle idea. The experience is more business-marketing led than creator led. Still, if your goal is to turn leads into clients rather than build an editorial audience, it deserves a look.
What matters more than the platform
Do not choose based on free-plan limits alone. A free plan is helpful while you test an idea, but the bigger question is whether the platform supports the next stage of your business. Think about whether you will need landing pages, automated welcome emails, paid subscriptions, digital product sales or more detailed audience segmentation.
Also consider list ownership and data protection. Your subscribers should have clearly opted in, understand what they are signing up for and be able to unsubscribe easily. For UK businesses, handling personal data properly is part of building trust, not just a box to tick. Avoid bought email lists completely. They damage deliverability and rarely produce real customers.
Most importantly, pick a platform that makes sending possible around your existing commitments. One useful email every week is a stronger starting point than an ambitious daily schedule that lasts ten days.
A simple way to make your choice
Choose MailerLite if you want a flexible, beginner-friendly platform. Choose Kit if you expect to sell digital products, services or coaching through targeted emails. Choose beehiiv if you are building a newsletter-led media business. Choose Substack if writing and paid readership are the focus. Choose Mailchimp or Brevo if you need email to support a more established small business operation.
You can change platforms later, but avoid changing your message every month. Pick one audience problem you can help with, create a useful sign-up incentive and send your first welcome email. The list starts becoming an asset when readers learn that opening your emails is worth their time.