Best Drip Email Tools for Newsletters in 2026

Newsletter-Specific Email Needs

Newsletters have unique requirements that differ from typical marketing email:

• Content delivery: The newsletter IS the product, not just marketing
• Reader engagement: Keeping subscribers opening consistently
• Growth: Viral sharing, referral programs, discovery
• Monetization: Sponsorships, paid tiers, products
• Deliverability: Reputation is everything for regular senders

Key Features for Newsletter Publishers

Publishing Experience

• Great writing editor (not just marketing templates)
• Easy formatting for long-form content
• Scheduling and queue management
• Draft collaboration

Subscriber Growth

• Embeddable signup forms
• Landing pages
• Referral programs
• Social sharing features

Monetization Support

• Paid subscription tiers
• Sponsorship management
• Product sales
• Membership features

Reader Analytics

• Open and click tracking
• Engagement over time
• Subscriber lifecycle
• Content performance

Top Tools for Newsletter Publishers

#1 Beehiiv - Purpose-Built for Newsletters

Free up to 2,500 subs / $49/month for growth features

Beehiiv was built specifically for newsletter publishers:

• Newsletter-first design: Writing editor, not marketing templates
• Built-in referral program: Grow through reader recommendations
• Ad network: Monetize with Beehiiv's sponsor network
• Recommendations: Cross-promote with other newsletters
• Premium subscriptions: Built-in paid tier support

Best for: Serious newsletter publishers focused on growth and monetization.

#2 Substack - Simplest Newsletter Platform

Free (10% of paid subscriptions)

Substack prioritizes simplicity:

• Zero cost to start (pay only on paid subs)
• Simple, clean writing experience
• Built-in paid subscriptions
• Substack network for discovery
• Notes feature for short-form

Best for: Writers who want the simplest possible setup.

#3 ConvertKit - Creator All-in-One

Starting at $29/month

ConvertKit serves newsletter publishers who also sell products:

• Newsletter + drip automation together
• Paid newsletter feature
• Creator network
• Commerce for selling products
• Strong automation for funnels

Best for: Creators with newsletters AND other products/courses.

#4 Ghost - Self-Hosted Power

$11/month hosted / Free self-hosted

Ghost offers publication-grade features:

• Beautiful publication design
• Built-in website
• Native membership tiers
• Open-source and self-hostable
• No platform lock-in

Best for: Publishers who want a full publication, not just email.

#5 Mailchimp - Established Accessible Option

Starting at $13/month

Mailchimp works for basic newsletter needs:

• Familiar interface
• Easy to use
• Wide integration ecosystem
• Content studio for assets

Best for: Newsletters with simpler needs, especially tied to other marketing.

Drip Sequences for Newsletters

New Subscriber Welcome

Introduce new readers to your newsletter:

• Welcome + what to expect
• Your best/most popular issues
• How to make sure you land in inbox
• Invitation to reply/engage
• Introduce premium tier (if applicable)

Re-Engagement Sequence

For subscribers who stopped opening:

• "Miss you" personal note
• Your recent best content
• Survey about preferences
• Final "stay or go" (clean your list)

Free to Paid Conversion

Upgrade free subscribers to paid:

• Preview of premium content
• Benefits of paid tier
• Reader testimonials
• Limited-time offer

Referral Program

Encourage sharing:

• Introduce referral program
• Progress updates ("2 more to reach reward!")
• Reward delivery
• Thank you and next tier preview

Growth Strategies

Viral Loops

• Referral programs with meaningful rewards
• Shareable content within emails
• "Share this with a friend" prompts
• Cross-promotion with other newsletters

Content Upgrades

• Exclusive content for subscribers
• Downloadable resources
• Early access to content

Discovery Platforms

• Beehiiv Recommendations
• Substack Network
• Newsletter directories
• Social media presence

Monetization Options

Paid Subscriptions

Direct reader support through premium tiers. Works best with engaged, niche audiences willing to pay for expertise.

Sponsorships

Sell ad placements to relevant brands. Requires consistent audience and engagement metrics.

Products

Sell courses, templates, consulting. Newsletter builds audience; products monetize it.

Affiliate

Recommend products for commission. Works best with natural product mentions.

Our Recommendation

For dedicated newsletter publishers: Beehiiv offers the best combination of features specifically designed for newsletter growth and monetization.

For simplicity-first writers: Substack is the easiest way to start with zero cost until you monetize.

For creators with products: ConvertKit combines newsletter capability with the automation and commerce features you need for selling courses, coaching, etc.

For paid membership newsletters with subscription revenue, consider Sequenzy for its native billing integration - it handles the subscription lifecycle better than newsletter-focused tools.