Buttondown

Buttondown strips email marketing down to what matters: a clean editor, privacy by default, and no bloat. You write in markdown or use their simple interface, and it sends to your list. The free tier covers up to 100 subscribers with no limitations on features, making it genuinely free rather than feature-limited.

It's built for independent writers, researchers, and small teams who value simplicity and data ownership. If you don't need complex automation or growth tools, Buttondown gets out of your way and lets you focus on content. The $9/month tier covers up to 1,000 subscribers, scaling affordably as you grow.