{
  "schema": "stackpriced/report-summary@1.0",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "StackPriced",
    "url": "https://stackpriced.com",
    "owner": "Arthur Magoulianiti",
    "country": "CY",
    "contact": "hello@stackpriced.com"
  },
  "report": {
    "id": "newsletter-platform-true-cost-2026-q4",
    "title": "The True Cost of Newsletter Platforms, Q4 2026",
    "edition": "v2026-Q4 (1.0)",
    "as_of": "2026-10-14",
    "currency": "USD",
    "url": "https://stackpriced.com/",
    "free_comparison": "https://stackpriced.com/compare/kit-vs-beehiiv-vs-mailerlite-vs-substack.html",
    "offers": [
      {
        "name": "Personal",
        "price_usd": 39,
        "checkout_url": "PLACEHOLDER"
      },
      {
        "name": "Data / Team",
        "price_usd": 119,
        "checkout_url": "PLACEHOLDER"
      },
      {
        "name": "Pricing Watch",
        "price_usd_month": 15,
        "price_usd_year": 129,
        "checkout_url": "PLACEHOLDER"
      }
    ],
    "disclosure": "Publisher may participate in Kit, beehiiv and MailerLite affiliate programs. Rankings are cost formulas fixed before data collection; affiliate rates are not inputs.",
    "method": {
      "billing_default": "monthly",
      "card_assumption": "US cards: Stripe 2.9% + $0.30; Substack adds 10% + 0.7% Stripe Billing; Kit 3.5% + $0.30 incl. processing; beehiiv/MailerLite 0% take + Stripe (Stripe Billing 0.7% possibly additional, not modelled)",
      "tier_mapping": "beehiiv/MailerLite round up to next bucket; Kit min-max tier",
      "exclusions": [
        "VAT/sales tax",
        "FX",
        "refunds/disputes",
        "Apple IAP",
        "add-ons"
      ]
    }
  },
  "findings": [
    "MailerLite Comfort has the lowest monthly list price at 6 of 7 benchmark sizes (1k-100k); beehiiv Lite is cheaper at 50k.",
    "Kit Free runs a paid newsletter at $0 platform fee under 10k subscribers (3.5% + 30c checkout fee; no automations).",
    "Substack is the most expensive option once paid MRR exceeds ~$645-1,300 (8k list), and costs 16.6% of MRR at scale.",
    "Kit is relatively expensive at 100k (Creator $679 vs beehiiv Lite $469, MailerLite Comfort $439).",
    "Only MailerLite hosts subscriber data in the EU; the DPF register shows Kit, Inc. as Inactive - Lapse since 2026-07-31."
  ],
  "price_points_monthly_usd": [
    {
      "subscribers": 1000,
      "kit_free_available": true,
      "kit_creator": 39,
      "kit_pro": 79,
      "beehiiv_free_available": true,
      "beehiiv_lite": 59,
      "beehiiv_pro": 109,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 19,
      "mailerlite_power": 39,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 2500,
      "kit_free_available": true,
      "kit_creator": 59,
      "kit_pro": 99,
      "beehiiv_free_available": true,
      "beehiiv_lite": 79,
      "beehiiv_pro": 149,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 33,
      "mailerlite_power": 49,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 5000,
      "kit_free_available": true,
      "kit_creator": 89,
      "kit_pro": 139,
      "beehiiv_free_available": false,
      "beehiiv_lite": 109,
      "beehiiv_pro": 199,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 49,
      "mailerlite_power": 69,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 10000,
      "kit_free_available": false,
      "kit_creator": 139,
      "kit_pro": 189,
      "beehiiv_free_available": false,
      "beehiiv_lite": 139,
      "beehiiv_pro": 239,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 89,
      "mailerlite_power": 129,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 25000,
      "kit_free_available": false,
      "kit_creator": 199,
      "kit_pro": 279,
      "beehiiv_free_available": false,
      "beehiiv_lite": 199,
      "beehiiv_pro": 349,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 179,
      "mailerlite_power": 239,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 50000,
      "kit_free_available": false,
      "kit_creator": 379,
      "kit_pro": 519,
      "beehiiv_free_available": false,
      "beehiiv_lite": 299,
      "beehiiv_pro": 469,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 319,
      "mailerlite_power": 389,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    },
    {
      "subscribers": 100000,
      "kit_free_available": false,
      "kit_creator": 679,
      "kit_pro": 879,
      "beehiiv_free_available": false,
      "beehiiv_lite": 469,
      "beehiiv_pro": 699,
      "mailerlite_comfort": 439,
      "mailerlite_power": 489,
      "substack_platform_fee": 0,
      "substack_revenue_share_pct": 10
    }
  ],
  "transaction_fees": {
    "kit": "3.5% + $0.30 incl. processing (all plans)",
    "beehiiv": "0% platform take on Lite/Pro + Stripe",
    "mailerlite": "0% platform take on Comfort/Power + Stripe",
    "substack": "10% + Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 + 0.7% Stripe Billing"
  },
  "data_location": {
    "mailerlite": "EU",
    "beehiiv": "USA",
    "kit": "USA",
    "substack": "US-established"
  },
  "scenario_example": {
    "id": "A-paid-8k-no-automation",
    "inputs": {
      "subscribers": 8000,
      "paying_subscribers": 200,
      "price_usd_month": 8,
      "mrr_usd": 1600,
      "card_region": "US",
      "billing": "monthly plans"
    },
    "needs_automation": false,
    "results_usd_month": [
      {
        "option": "Kit Free",
        "platform_fee": 0,
        "transaction_fees": 116.0,
        "total": 116.0,
        "pct_of_mrr": 7.2,
        "note": "No automations/sequences"
      },
      {
        "option": "MailerLite Comfort",
        "platform_fee": 69,
        "transaction_fees": 106.4,
        "total": 175.4,
        "pct_of_mrr": 11.0,
        "note": "Comfort sends capped at 10x tier ceiling/month"
      },
      {
        "option": "MailerLite Power",
        "platform_fee": 99,
        "transaction_fees": 106.4,
        "total": 205.4,
        "pct_of_mrr": 12.8,
        "note": ""
      },
      {
        "option": "Kit Creator",
        "platform_fee": 119,
        "transaction_fees": 116.0,
        "total": 235.0,
        "pct_of_mrr": 14.7,
        "note": ""
      },
      {
        "option": "beehiiv Lite",
        "platform_fee": 139,
        "transaction_fees": 106.4,
        "total": 245.4,
        "pct_of_mrr": 15.3,
        "note": ""
      },
      {
        "option": "Substack",
        "platform_fee": 0,
        "transaction_fees": 277.6,
        "total": 277.6,
        "pct_of_mrr": 17.4,
        "note": ""
      },
      {
        "option": "Kit Pro",
        "platform_fee": 169,
        "transaction_fees": 116.0,
        "total": 285.0,
        "pct_of_mrr": 17.8,
        "note": ""
      },
      {
        "option": "beehiiv Pro",
        "platform_fee": 239,
        "transaction_fees": 106.4,
        "total": 345.4,
        "pct_of_mrr": 21.6,
        "note": ""
      }
    ]
  },
  "sources": {
    "kit_bundle": {
      "url": "https://kit.com/pricing",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official (vendor site code)"
    },
    "kit_features": {
      "url": "https://kit.com/pricing",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official (vendor site code)"
    },
    "kit_free_help": {
      "url": "https://help.kit.com/en/articles/16627071-the-kit-free-plan",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official help centre"
    },
    "kit_thirdparty_1": {
      "url": "https://solocontenttools.com/guides/kit-pricing-freelancers",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-09 (their check date)",
      "type": "third-party capture (corroboration)"
    },
    "kit_thirdparty_2": {
      "url": "https://smtpedia.com/platforms/kit/pricing/",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-24 (their check date)",
      "type": "third-party capture (corroboration)"
    },
    "kit_dpa": {
      "url": "https://kit.com/dpa",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "kit_gdpr": {
      "url": "https://help.kit.com/en/articles/2502571-gdpr-faq",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official help centre"
    },
    "kit_dpf": {
      "url": "https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/participant/9017",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "US Dept. of Commerce DPF register"
    },
    "beehiiv_pricing": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_paid_subs": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/features/premium-subscriptions",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_ads": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/ad-network",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_migrate": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/migrate",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_trust": {
      "url": "https://security.beehiiv.com/",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official trust centre"
    },
    "beehiiv_subprocessors": {
      "url": "https://subprocessors.beehiiv.com/sub-processor-list",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_dpa": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/dpa",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "beehiiv_llms": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/llms.txt",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_comparisons": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/comparisons",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "vendor marketing (not used for prices)"
    },
    "mailerlite_pricing_md": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/pricing.md",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "mailerlite_products": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/blog/sell-digital-products-and-subscriptions-through-mailerlite",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official blog"
    },
    "mailerlite_substack_page": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/substack-alternative",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "vendor marketing"
    },
    "mailerlite_dpa": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/data-processing-agreement",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "mailerlite_gdpr": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/gdpr-compliance",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "mailerlite_privacy": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "substack_cost": {
      "url": "https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official help centre"
    },
    "substack_export": {
      "url": "https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/6314498343700-How-do-I-export-my-email-list-on-Substack",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official help centre"
    },
    "substack_pa": {
      "url": "https://substack.com/pa",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "substack_privacy": {
      "url": "https://substack.com/privacy",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official legal"
    },
    "substack_welcome": {
      "url": "https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/24034796625428-How-do-I-set-up-welcome-emails-on-Substack",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official help centre"
    },
    "substack_sequences_3p": {
      "url": "https://www.yana-g-y.com/p/substack-just-released-automated",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "third-party (creator post)"
    },
    "stripe_cy": {
      "url": "https://stripe.com/en-cy/pricing",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "kit_affiliate": {
      "url": "https://kit.com/affiliate",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "beehiiv_partners": {
      "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/partners",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    },
    "mailerlite_affiliate": {
      "url": "https://www.mailerlite.com/affiliate",
      "retrieved": "2026-10-14",
      "type": "official"
    }
  },
  "head_to_heads": [
    {
      "slug": "kit-vs-beehiiv",
      "title": "Kit vs beehiiv: pricing and fees compared (2026)",
      "html": "https://stackpriced.com/compare/kit-vs-beehiiv.html",
      "md": "https://stackpriced.com/compare/kit-vs-beehiiv.md",
      "short_answer": [
        "Under 10k subscribers, no automations: Kit Free is $0 and still runs a paid newsletter (3.5% + 30\u00a2 per sale). beehiiv Free stops at 2,500 and has no paid subscriptions.",
        "Need automations, up to ~25k: Kit Creator matches or beats beehiiv Lite at every size we priced (e.g. $139 vs $139 at 10k, $89 vs $109 at 5k).",
        "Above ~25k: beehiiv Lite is cheaper ($299 vs $379 at 50k; $469 vs $679 at 100k), and its 0% take beats Kit's 3.5% checkout fee on paid revenue.",
        "Ad revenue: beehiiv's Ad Network (Lite+) has no direct Kit equivalent; Kit offers newsletter sponsorships and paid recommendations (Kit keeps 23.5%).",
        "EU data: both process subscriber data in the US. The DPF register lists Kit, Inc. as 'Inactive \u2013 Lapse' since 31 Jul 2026 (Kit's DPA still has SCCs)."
      ],
      "scenarios": [
        {
          "label": "8,000 subs \u00b7 200 paying \u00d7 $8 = $1,600 MRR",
          "cheapest": "Kit Creator",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "Kit Creator",
              "total": 235.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 14.7
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 245.4,
              "pct_of_mrr": 15.3
            },
            {
              "option": "Kit Pro",
              "total": 285.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 17.8
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 345.4,
              "pct_of_mrr": 21.6
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "25,000 subs \u00b7 750 paying \u00d7 $10 = $7,500 MRR",
          "cheapest": "beehiiv Lite",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 641.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 8.6
            },
            {
              "option": "Kit Creator",
              "total": 686.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 9.2
            },
            {
              "option": "Kit Pro",
              "total": 766.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 10.2
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 791.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 10.6
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "100,000 subs \u00b7 2,500 paying \u00d7 $10 = $25,000 MRR",
          "cheapest": "beehiiv Lite",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 1944.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 7.8
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 2174.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 8.7
            },
            {
              "option": "Kit Creator",
              "total": 2304.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 9.2
            },
            {
              "option": "Kit Pro",
              "total": 2504.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 10.0
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "slug": "substack-vs-beehiiv",
      "title": "Substack vs beehiiv: the real cost of a paid newsletter (2026)",
      "html": "https://stackpriced.com/compare/substack-vs-beehiiv.html",
      "md": "https://stackpriced.com/compare/substack-vs-beehiiv.md",
      "short_answer": [
        "Free newsletter, no revenue: Substack is $0 at any size; beehiiv is free only up to 2,500 subscribers.",
        "Paid newsletter: beehiiv Lite is cheaper once MRR passes Lite's price \u00f7 0.107, about $1,299 MRR at 10k subscribers and $1,860 at 25k.",
        "At scale: with $25,000 MRR, Substack costs $4,150/mo vs $1,944 on beehiiv Lite (16.6% vs 7.8% of MRR).",
        "Ads: beehiiv has a built-in Ad Network (Lite+). We did not verify an equivalent on Substack this edition.",
        "Leaving: Substack exports a subscriber CSV but not full names; beehiiv imports Substack lists and keeps Substack's post URL structure."
      ],
      "scenarios": [
        {
          "label": "8,000 subs \u00b7 200 paying \u00d7 $8 = $1,600 MRR",
          "cheapest": "beehiiv Lite",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 245.4,
              "pct_of_mrr": 15.3
            },
            {
              "option": "Substack",
              "total": 277.6,
              "pct_of_mrr": 17.4
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 345.4,
              "pct_of_mrr": 21.6
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "25,000 subs \u00b7 750 paying \u00d7 $10 = $7,500 MRR",
          "cheapest": "beehiiv Lite",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 641.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 8.6
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 791.5,
              "pct_of_mrr": 10.6
            },
            {
              "option": "Substack",
              "total": 1245.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 16.6
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "label": "100,000 subs \u00b7 2,500 paying \u00d7 $10 = $25,000 MRR",
          "cheapest": "beehiiv Lite",
          "results": [
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Lite",
              "total": 1944.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 7.8
            },
            {
              "option": "beehiiv Pro",
              "total": 2174.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 8.7
            },
            {
              "option": "Substack",
              "total": 4150.0,
              "pct_of_mrr": 16.6
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "confidence": {
    "beehiiv": "high",
    "mailerlite": "high",
    "kit": "high",
    "substack": "high"
  },
  "license": "Free to cite with attribution and link to https://stackpriced.com. Full tier tables in the paid Data edition."
}