Newsletter4 platforms compared

Best CMS for a Newsletter Site in 2026

Compare the best platforms for running a newsletter with a companion website. Publish archives, grow subscribers, and monetize your writing.

Build an audience with a newsletter that lives on your own domain, not someone else's platform.

TL;DR — Our Top Pick

Ghost is our top recommendation for newsletter sites.

All-in-one publishing platform with built-in newsletters, paid memberships, and a beautiful web archive. The gold standard for independent publishers.

What a Newsletter CMS Needs

Writers, creators, and publishers who want to own their newsletter platform and subscriber list.

Email delivery and subscriber management

Web archive of past newsletters

Subscription and payment handling

Custom domain and branding

RSS feed for syndication

Top 4 Platforms Ranked

Ghost

Modern publishing platform built for professional content creators

TOP PICK

All-in-one publishing platform with built-in newsletters, paid memberships, and a beautiful web archive. The gold standard for independent publishers.

Open SourceNode.jsFree (self-hosted) / $9-199/month (managed)

Strengths

Beautiful, focused writing experience (Markdown + rich editor)
Built-in membership and subscription payment system
Newsletter/email delivery built right into the platform

Trade-offs

Limited to blogs and newsletters — not a general CMS
Small theme ecosystem compared to WordPress

Next.js + Buttondown

React framework for production with SSR, SSG, and API routes

Custom website with Buttondown handling email delivery. Full design control over your web archive. Best for technical creators.

Open SourceJavaScript/TypeScript (React)Free (open-source)

Strengths

Hybrid rendering — SSG, SSR, ISR, and client-side in one app
Most popular React framework with massive community
Built-in image optimization, API routes, and middleware

Trade-offs

React learning curve for non-JavaScript developers
App Router introduced complexity with Server Components

Astro + ConvertKit

Content-focused framework that ships zero JavaScript by default

Fast static archive site with ConvertKit managing subscribers and delivery. Good middle ground between simplicity and customization.

Open SourceJavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)Free (open-source)

Strengths

Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture)
Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework in the same project
Content collections with type-safe Markdown/MDX

Trade-offs

Not ideal for highly interactive apps (designed for content sites)
Smaller ecosystem than Next.js — fewer integrations available

Hugo + Mailchimp

Fastest static site generator, written in Go

Minimal static archive with Mailchimp for email. Cheapest option for small newsletters under 1,000 subscribers.

Open SourceGo (Go templates)Free (open-source)

Strengths

Blazing fast builds — renders 10,000 pages in seconds
Single binary with zero dependencies
Built-in image processing, taxonomies, and i18n

Trade-offs

Go template syntax has a steep learning curve
No JavaScript framework — limits client-side interactivity

How to Decide

Ghost is the clear winner if you want newsletters, memberships, and a website in one platform

If you already have a Next.js site, adding Buttondown or Resend for newsletters is straightforward

Own your subscriber list — avoid platforms that lock in your audience

Paid newsletters on Ghost can replace Substack while keeping your brand and domain

Ready to migrate from WordPress?

WordPress → Ghost WordPress → Next.js WordPress → Astro

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ghost better than Substack?

Ghost gives you full ownership of your content, subscribers, and domain. Substack is simpler but takes a 10% cut of paid subscriptions and owns the relationship with your readers.

How much does Ghost cost?

Self-hosted Ghost is free. Ghost(Pro) managed hosting starts at $9/month. Compare to Substack which is free until you monetize, then takes 10% of revenue.

Can I migrate from Substack?

Yes. Ghost has a built-in Substack importer. Your posts, subscribers, and paid memberships can all be transferred.

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