Kit alternatives
The main alternatives to Kit are MailerLite, beehiiv and Buttondown. For context: Kit is an email marketing platform that lets creators build an audience, automate emails and sell digital products and subscriptions. Below is what each alternative does and who it suits, so you can pick by what you need.
3 alternatives are compared here. Facts checked Oct 2026, from each tool's website.
Order is not paid for. How we rank.
| Tool | Pricing | Free plan | Lowest paid plan | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kit (the original) | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $33/mo | No |
| MailerLite | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | From $12/mo | No |
| beehiiv | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $49/mo | No |
| Buttondown | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | From $9/mo | No |
1. MailerLite
MailerLite is an email marketing platform that lets creators and small businesses send campaigns, automate emails and build websites and forms.
Best for: Creators, solopreneurs and small businesses that want email marketing plus simple sites and sign-up forms.
As of Oct 2026, MailerLite has a free plan and paid plans start at From $12/mo (source: mailerlite.com).
MailerLite vs Kit
- Both have a free plan.
- Lowest listed paid plan: MailerLite From $12/mo, Kit $33/mo.
Top MailerLite features
- Three email editors. Build emails with drag and drop, custom HTML or a simple text editor.
- Automations. Set up automated email workflows with one or more triggers.
- Websites and landing pages. Build a website and landing pages without code.
Kit vs MailerLite · MailerLite overview · MailerLite pricing
2. beehiiv
beehiiv is a newsletter platform that lets creators, publishers and brands write, grow and earn money from an email audience.
Best for: Writers, creators, publishers and businesses who want to run a newsletter and make money from it.
As of Oct 2026, beehiiv has a free plan and paid plans start at $49/mo (source: beehiiv.com).
beehiiv vs Kit
- Both have a free plan.
- Lowest listed paid plan: beehiiv $49/mo, Kit $33/mo.
Top beehiiv features
- Newsletter builder. Write and style each issue in one editor, with templates and campaign analytics.
- Website builder. Build a site for your newsletter without code, plus landing pages and link-in-bio.
- Ad network. A built-in ad network matches your newsletter with brands that pay to sponsor it.
3. Buttondown
Buttondown is an email newsletter platform that lets writers and businesses write, send and grow newsletters with a Markdown editor and a full API.
Best for: Writers, developers and small teams who want a simple, privacy-first newsletter tool they can extend.
As of Oct 2026, Buttondown has a free plan and paid plans start at From $9/mo (source: buttondown.com).
Buttondown vs Kit
- Both have a free plan.
- Lowest listed paid plan: Buttondown From $9/mo, Kit $33/mo.
Top Buttondown features
- Rich text or Markdown editor. Write issues in a rich text editor or in plain Markdown.
- Custom domain and archives. Send from your own domain and get a hosted archive of past issues.
- Paid subscriptions. Charge for your newsletter; Buttondown takes no fee from paid subscribers (add-on).
Kit vs Buttondown · Buttondown overview · Buttondown pricing
See every tool in Email marketing.