Which tool should you choose for a paid newsletter in 2020?

I know that paid newsletters aren't very common, especially in France, but I'm not going to explain here why I made this choice and will instead focus on the comparison of available tools.

Before launching my newsletter JAW, I tried to find the best tool that would let me do everything at once, simply:

• Writing content / adding media
• Managing subscribers
• Payment by credit card

The first two features can obviously be handled with Mailchimp, or any other newsletter service, but none of them include a subscription system "out-of-the-box".

After some research, I found two platforms that met my needs: Substack (which you may have already heard of), and Revue, much less well known.

Both tools are more than enough to get started and have many things in common:

• Importing email addresses (be careful about consent)
• Free plan
• Monthly payment handled by Stripe
• Paid and public newsletter
• Dashboards only available in English

There are, however, significant differences between the two, each having its own advantages and disadvantages, which we're going to explore.

Substack

Pros:

• Free forever (excluding commission)
• Better known, which gives subscribers more confidence
• Possibility of appearing in the list of all Substacks
• Possibility of creating an annual subscription

Cons:

• No template choice for emails
• The minimum subscription for members is €5 per month or €30 per year

It's this last major drawback that made me decide not to choose Substack, since I didn't want to impose too high a subscription price (€2 per month maximum).

Try Substack

Revue

Pros:

• No minimum price for the subscription
• Customizable domain name
• Two different email templates
• Affordable pro plan

Cons:

• The difference between the paid and free newsletter isn't very clear
• The payment form doesn't inspire much confidence

Try Revue:

Conclusion

If the minimum subscription amount drawback doesn't bother you, I'd recommend Substack. If that's an important criterion for you, Revue will clearly do the trick!

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