Best / Newsletter platforms
Best open-source Newsletter platforms
The best self-hosted newsletter split in the c17.io catalog is listmonk for an AGPL-3.0 single-binary list (the published Substack / ConvertKit / beehiiv stack), Keila when you want that AGPL-3.0 ConvertKit-shaped UI — /compare/listmonk-vs-keila, Ghost when the job is a MIT publication plus members rather than a list app, and Plunk when the job is transactional send rather than editorial broadcasts. This is not Substack Notes or Klaviyo SMS. Transactional SMTP stays on /replace/postmark.
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Ranked picks
1
listmonkAGPL-3.0 single-binary lists — the c17 Substack/ConvertKit path. /compare/listmonk-vs-keila.
When to pick it: Broadcasts and segments you can export.
23,815 stars in the catalog
2
KeilaAGPL-3.0 ConvertKit-shaped newsletter — /compare/listmonk-vs-keila.
When to pick it: A visual list if listmonk is too bare.
2,246 stars in the catalog
3
GhostMIT publishing and memberships — a CMS, not only a list. /replace/medium and /replace/ghost-pro.
When to pick it: A site plus paid issues, not a CSV list app.
55,549 stars in the catalog
4
Plunk EmailOpen-source email platform already on /replace/mailchimp. Transactional send, not an editorial list.
When to pick it: SMTP and audiences, not Substack-shaped issues.
How they compare
| Tool | License | Self-host | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| listmonk | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 | Easy | Broadcasts and segments you can export. |
| Keila | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 | Easy | A visual list if listmonk is too bare. |
| Ghost | MIT License | Easy | A site plus paid issues, not a CSV list app. |
| Plunk Email | Not listed | Easy | SMTP and audiences, not Substack-shaped issues. |
Related pages
- listmonk / Keila / Ghost stack
- Ghost / WordPress stack
- Plunk or Posta + Resend stack
- Replace Substack
- Replace ConvertKit
- Replace beehiiv
- Replace Klaviyo
- Replace ActiveCampaign
- Replace Constant Contact
- Replace Brevo
- Replace Drip
- Replace Moosend
- Replace Omnisend
- Replace Sendinblue
- Replace Flodesk
- Replace Kit
- Replace MailerLite
- Replace WordPress.com
- Replace Squarespace
- Replace Wix
- Replace Medium
- Replace Ghost(Pro)
- Replace Memberstack
- Replace Outseta
- Replace Memberful
- Replace Patreon
- Replace Mailchimp
- Replace Mailgun
- Replace SendGrid
- Replace Postmark
- Replace Mandrill
- listmonk vs Keila
- All best open-source pages
- All compare pages
- All replace pages
- All stacks
- Tools catalog
FAQ
- listmonk or Keila?
- listmonk if you want the published Substack path (one binary). Keila if you want that visual UI — /compare/listmonk-vs-keila.
- Is this Ghost(Pro)?
- Ghost(Pro) is hosted Ghost — /replace/ghost-pro. Self-host Ghost if the newsletter is also the site.
- Why is Plunk last?
- Plunk is transactional send. Put it here so Mailchimp SMTP is not sold as an editorial list.
- Are these free?
- listmonk and Keila are AGPL-3.0. Ghost is MIT. You pay hosting and SMTP. Template users never pay c17.
- How do I deploy it?
- Open /stacks/listmonk-email. Persist Postgres. Import one CSV. Send through Resend.
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