I created a podcast about the research to come up with the best Newsletter Platform for 2025. A platform I can use for Hout.com
YouTube Video: Hout’s Guide: Using AI to Evaluate the Best Newsletter Platform for 2025
I leveraged OpenAI ChatGPT, Grok 3, and DeepSeek to come up with the best recommendations.
Prompt:
You are a business analyst with many years of experience. You know how to properly evaluate solutions and make recommendations to your clients.
A client asked you for the best newsletter platform.
Compare at least 10 platforms (including Ghost, Substack, Mailchimp, and others) and help your client choose the best newsletter platform for Hout.com
Compare based on pricing, popularity, magic quadrant gartner if available, forrester if available, popularity, wordpress integration, Teachable integration, different options, automations, ai capabilities, then act like the expert business analyst and give your recommendation based on a points system that you came up with this.
Now I’ll share with you the summary for each AI recommendation.
One thing I noticed though, is that the exact pricing seems off for some reason, so do double check pricing.
OpenAI ChatGPT Analysis
What We Looked For
We evaluated each platform across these 8 key areas:
- Pricing & Scalability – Free to start, affordable as we grow.
- Popularity & Reputation – Is the platform trusted and reliable?
- Industry Recognition – Appearances in Gartner/Forrester or general analyst credibility.
- WordPress Integration – Can we easily embed signup forms or publish posts via our blog?
- Teachable Integration – Can we connect to our course students?
- Automation Features – Can we build workflows, sequences, and segment contacts?
- AI Capabilities – Built-in writing assistants, send-time optimization, smart targeting.
- Extra Features – Monetization tools, sponsor networks, landing pages, etc.
We also prioritized platforms that let subscribers choose their interests on signup, like ticking checkboxes for “IT Consulting Tips,” “Tech Reviews,” or “AI News.”
Platform-by-Platform Comparison
1. ConvertKit (Kit)
- Free for up to 1,000 subscribers
- Deep Teachable + WordPress integration
- Visual automation builder with tagging, triggers
- Multi-interest opt-in forms supported
- AI writing tools in beta
- Sell products or subscriptions directly (0.6% fee)
- Sponsor network access for monetizing newsletters
Best for: Creators who want tight integration, clean automation, and room to grow.
2. MailerLite
- Free for up to 1,000 subs / 12,000 emails per month
- Easy to use, very affordable paid tiers
- Direct Teachable + WordPress support
- Multi-interest checkboxes supported (paid plans)
- AI tools: subject lines, send-time optimization
- Built-in landing pages and product sales
Best for: Those looking for an affordable yet powerful all-rounder.
3. ActiveCampaign
- No free plan (starts ~$9/month for 500 contacts)
- Advanced automations, CRM, tagging, lead scoring
- Full Teachable + WordPress support
- AI-powered automation builder and content tools
- Predictive send-time and content features
Best for: Scaling businesses or course sellers needing advanced automation.
4. Beehiiv
- Free up to 2,500 subscribers
- Newsletter-focused (no blog or course integration)
- Referral program, ad network, sponsorships
- Strong built-in AI tools for content and images
- No native Teachable or form checkbox support
Best for: Newsletter creators focused on growth and monetization.
5. Mailchimp
- Free for 500 contacts (very limited)
- Extensive integrations, including WordPress + Teachable
- Robust automation builder
- Intuit Assist AI tools
- No interest checkbox forms without custom work
Best for: General small business marketing (not creator-focused).
6. Brevo (Sendinblue)
- Free forever for 300 emails/day
- Unlimited contacts, low-cost scaling
- Direct WordPress plugin
- No native Teachable, but Zapier-supported
- AI content suggestions, SMS/WhatsApp automation
Best for: Cost-conscious marketers needing multi-channel campaigns.
7. GetResponse
- Free for 500 contacts, then mid-range pricing
- Advanced automation builder
- AI tools for email content and send-time
- Teachable via Zapier, full WordPress support
- Webinar tools + simple course creator feature
Best for: One-stop-shop for email + webinars + basic course sales.
8. Ghost
- No free hosted plan (starts ~$25/month)
- All-in-one CMS + newsletter system
- Great for SEO and full site control
- No Teachable or checkbox-based segmentation
Best for: Replacing your website and newsletter with a single tool.
9. Substack
- 100% free, but 10% fee on paid subscriptions
- No integrations
- No automations or checkboxes
- Focused on simplicity
Best for: Writers who want to monetize a basic email list quickly.
10. Moosend
- No free plan, but super affordable paid options
- Advanced automation and AI features
- No direct Teachable integration (Zapier required)
Best for: Power users on a tight budget.
Which Platforms Support Interest-Based Opt-Ins (Checkboxes)?
| Platform | Supports Multi-Interest Signup Forms? |
|---|---|
| ConvertKit | ✅ Yes |
| ActiveCampaign | ✅ Yes |
| MailerLite | ✅ Yes (paid plans) |
| GetResponse | ✅ Yes |
| Moosend | ✅ Yes |
| Brevo | ✅ Yes |
| Mailchimp | 🟡 Sort of (requires groups setup) |
| Beehiiv | ❌ No |
| Substack | ❌ No |
| Ghost | ❌ No |
Our Recommendation for Hout.com
After scoring each platform based on the above, ConvertKit is our top choice for Hout.com:
- Free up to 1,000 subscribers
- Seamless WordPress + Teachable integration
- Easy setup of interest checkboxes
- Creator-focused features: automations, product sales, sponsorships
- Minimal fees and excellent deliverability
For more advanced automation or CRM later on, ActiveCampaign is a strong upgrade path. And if budget is tight, MailerLite gives 90% of the value at a fraction of the cost.
TL;DR: Start with ConvertKit. Grow your list with segmented interest checkboxes. Monetize with courses, content, and reviews. Scale when you need more firepower.
Grok 3 Analysis
Platform Comparison
I analyzed Ghost, Substack, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, AWeber, GetResponse, MailerLite, Constant Contact, Sendinblue (Brevo), Active Campaign, Zoho Campaigns, and Campaign Monitor. Key highlights:
- Pricing: Mailchimp starts at $13/month for 500 contacts, balancing cost and features. ConvertKit ($9/month) and MailerLite ($10/month) are budget-friendly, while Active Campaign ($29/month) targets premium users.
- Popularity: Mailchimp leads with over 14 million users, followed by GetResponse and Active Campaign. Ghost and Substack shine in niche creator spaces.
- Features: Mailchimp, GetResponse, and Active Campaign excel in automation, AI tools, and options like landing pages (scoring 9-10 in my points system). Ghost and Substack focus more on publishing (5-7).
- Integrations: Most platforms integrate with WordPress, but Teachable support is limited. Mailchimp offers broad compatibility.
Using a weighted points system (e.g., Automations: 9, AI: 8), Mailchimp scored 55, Active Campaign 49, and GetResponse 48, making them top contenders.
Custom Domain Support
Can you use news.hout.com? Yes, with nuances:
- Landing Pages & Email: Most platforms (Mailchimp, Substack, GetResponse, etc.) let you host landing pages or send emails from custom domains like news.hout.com. Setup involves DNS tweaks for branding and deliverability.
- Full Platform: Only Ghost, when self-hosted, allows the entire platform (admin included) on your domain. This requires technical expertise, unlike managed solutions.
CRM Integrations
Mailchimp integrates with numerous CRMs, enhancing its marketing power:
- Big Players: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM—sync contacts and track campaigns.
- Small Business: Pipedrive, Capsule, Copper—export lists and log activity.
- Enterprise: Microsoft Dynamics, SugarCRM (via tools like Zapier). Its built-in CRM is basic, but integrations unlock advanced sales features.
Opt-In Forms with Interest Selection
Want users to pick interests like “IT consulting tips” or “AI tips”? Most platforms deliver:
- Mailchimp: Customizable forms with checkboxes, linked to segments for tailored content.
- ConvertKit, GetResponse, Active Campaign: Similar flexibility, with automation tied to selections.
- Substack, Ghost: Basic opt-ins; advanced checkboxes need extra tools or coding. These forms can live on news.hout.com, boosting engagement.
Recommendation
For Hout.com, Mailchimp is the winner. It offers competitive pricing, massive popularity, strong automation, and AI capabilities, plus custom domain support for landing pages (e.g., news.hout.com). Its CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot) and opt-in forms with interest checkboxes make it versatile. If advanced automation or CRM depth is key, Active Campaign is a close second. For full domain control, self-hosted Ghost works but demands tech skills.
Takeaway
Mailchimp balances ease, power, and branding for Hout.com. Check their site for the latest details—features evolve fast. This AI-assisted analysis proves: the right platform can transform your newsletter game.
DeepSeek Analysis
If you want to grow an engaged email list by letting subscribers choose their interests (e.g., “Tech News,” “AI Tips,” or “IT Consulting”), you need a newsletter platform that supports customizable opt-in forms with checkboxes, tags, and segmentation.
After evaluating 10+ platforms, here are the best options for interest-based newsletter signups:
Top 5 Newsletter Platforms for Interest-Based Opt-Ins
1. ConvertKit (Best for Creators & Simple Segmentation)
✅ Checkbox opt-ins (tag subscribers by interests)
✅ Visual automation (send content based on selections)
✅ Free plan (up to 1,000 subscribers)
🔹 Best for: Bloggers, course creators, and small businesses
2. Beehiiv (Best for Monetized Newsletters)
✅ Audience segmentation (group by interests)
✅ Paid subscriptions & ads (built-in revenue options)
✅ Free plan (up to 2,500 subs)
🔹 Best for: Paid newsletters, niche audiences
3. Mailchimp (Best for Automation & Scalability)
✅ Advanced segmentation (interest-based workflows)
✅ AI-powered recommendations
✅ Free plan (500 subs)
🔹 Best for: Growing businesses, e-commerce
4. ActiveCampaign (Best for Hyper-Targeted Emails)
✅ Predictive AI (suggests content based on interests)
✅ Behavior-based automation
✅ Starts at $15/month
🔹 Best for: B2B, SaaS, and marketing teams
5. GetResponse (Best for A/B Testing & Funnels)
✅ Customizable forms with checkboxes
✅ Landing page builder
✅ Starts at $19/month
🔹 Best for: Lead generation & sales funnels
Honorable Mentions
- MailerLite (Budget-friendly, free tier)
- Omnisend (E-commerce focus)
- Ghost (Self-hosted, membership tiers)
Key Takeaways
✔ For creators & simple segmentation → ConvertKit
✔ For monetization & paid newsletters → Beehiiv
✔ For automation & scalability → Mailchimp
✔ For hyper-targeted B2B emails → ActiveCampaign
✔ For lead gen & A/B testing → GetResponse
HOUT TAKEAWAY
I ended up going to ConverterKit (Kit) as a solution that met most of my needs!