You finally launched. The product is live. You have a handful of users. Now you need to talk to them. For years, the default answer was Mailchimp. It was the friendly chimp in the room that everyone knew.
But the email landscape has shifted. Pricing models have changed. Features have evolved. For a bootstrapped founder or indie hacker in 2026, the "default" choice might not be the smart choice.
You need a tool that matches your specific business model. If you are building a SaaS, you have different needs than someone running a paid newsletter.
Let's look at three powerful alternatives that respect your runway: Loops, Beehiiv and Kit.
The quick breakdown
- Loops: Best for SaaS founders and product teams.
- Beehiiv: Best for newsletter-first businesses and media brands.
- Kit: Best for creators selling digital products or courses.
Loops: The modern choice for SaaS
If you are building software, you usually have two headaches. You need to send marketing blasts. You also need to send transactional emails like password resets.
Historically, you had to use two different tools. You might use Mailchimp for the newsletter and SendGrid for the transactional stuff. That means two bills and two dashboards.
Loops solves this. It combines both into one clean interface.
Why founders love it
The editor feels like Notion. If you can write a doc, you can design an email. It removes the friction of complex drag-and-drop builders that often break on mobile.
It creates a unified view of your user. You can see when a user signed up, what plan they are on and what emails they have opened.
"Loops will feel like a breath of fresh air if you are a lean SaaS team who cares more about speed and API access than visual fluff." — SaaS Founder Review
The cost
Loops offers a simple pricing model based on volume.
- Free Tier: Up to 1,000 contacts and 2,000 sends per month.
- Paid: Starts around $49/month.
Beehiiv: The growth engine for newsletters
Maybe your product is the content.
If you are building a media company or a daily digest, you need growth tools. You need a way to turn readers into revenue.
Beehiiv was built by early employees of Morning Brew. They understand the newsletter game better than anyone.
Why publishers love it
It treats your newsletter like a website. Every email you send lives on an SEO-optimized web page. This helps you rank on Google without extra work.
The recommendation network is the real game-changer. You can cross-promote with other newsletters to grow your list faster.
They also have a built-in ad network. You can start monetizing your audience without hunting for sponsors yourself.
The cost
Beehiiv is aggressive about helping you scale for free.
- Free Tier: Up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends.
- Paid: Starts around $49/month for the Scale plan.
Kit: The automation powerhouse for creators
You might know this tool by its former name, ConvertKit.
Kit is for the creator who sells things. If you are an indie hacker selling an ebook, a course or a coaching program, this is your best bet.
Why creators love it
The visual automation builder is top-tier. You can build complex paths for your subscribers.
For example, if a subscriber clicks a link about "SEO," you can tag them as "Interested in SEO." Then, you can automatically send them a pitch for your SEO course three days later.
It integrates seamlessly with almost every payment platform. You can even sell digital products directly through their commerce tools.
The cost
Kit creates a low barrier to entry for building a list.
- Free Tier: Up to 10,000 subscribers. This is massive. However, advanced automation features are locked behind the paid wall.
- Paid: Starts around $29/month.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Loops | Beehiiv | Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | SaaS / Software | Newsletters / Media | Creators / Educators |
| Free Limit | 1,000 contacts | 2,500 subscribers | 10,000 subscribers |
| Editor Style | Notion-like minimal | Blog-style writer | Text-focused clean |
| Key Strength | Transactional + Marketing | Growth Network | Visual Automation |
| Monetization | N/A | Ad Network | Digital Products |
Final verdict
Your choice depends on your goal.
Choose Loops if: You are building an app. You want your transactional emails and marketing emails to live in the same house. You value clean design over complex layouts.
Choose Beehiiv if: You want to grow a massive audience. You care about SEO. You want built-in ways to make money from ads and subscriptions.
Choose Kit if: You sell knowledge. You need robust tagging and segmentation to funnel people toward your paid products.
Stop overthinking the tool. Pick the one that matches your business model and send that first email.
