Newsletters are different from other marketing emails. They're longer, content-focused, and sent on a regular schedule. You need an email builder that handles multi-section layouts gracefully, makes text readable, and supports a sustainable publishing workflow.

This guide covers the best HTML email builders specifically for newsletter creation, whether you're sending a weekly roundup, monthly digest, or daily update.

For general recommendations, see my complete guide to HTML email builders. If you're a creator monetizing through newsletters, you might also want to explore platforms like Beehiiv or Substack that combine building and monetization.

What Newsletter Builders Need

Newsletter requirements differ from promotional email:

Long-form content support with good typography, readable line lengths, and proper spacing between sections.

Multi-section layouts that organize diverse content (articles, links, updates, promotions) into scannable sections.

Consistent templates for sustainable publishing. You shouldn't redesign your newsletter every issue.

Reader experience focus prioritizing readability over flash. Subscribers read newsletters; they don't just glance at them.

Best Email Builders for Newsletters

1. Stripo - Best Template Variety for Newsletters

Price: Free tier, paid from $15/month

Stripo's template library includes hundreds of newsletter-specific designs. Curated content, roundups, digests, and editorial layouts are all covered. Find something close to your vision and customize.

The editor handles long-form content well. You can build multi-section newsletters with clear visual hierarchy. Text styling options are comprehensive: custom fonts, adjustable line height, and good control over spacing.

The "Modules" feature is particularly useful for newsletters. Save your standard sections (header, footer, social links, sponsor spots) as reusable modules. Each issue, you assemble these modules with new content rather than rebuilding from scratch.

Export works smoothly to major newsletter platforms and ESPs. The HTML is clean and renders well across email clients.

Best for: Newsletters that need variety or serve different content types

Limitations: Free tier limited to 4 exports/month

2. Bee Free - Fastest Newsletter Building

Price: Free with branding, paid from $15/month

Bee Free's speed makes it excellent for sustainable newsletter publishing. When you're sending weekly or even daily, every minute saved matters.

The interface is clean and fast. Building a newsletter issue takes minutes once you have a template established. Drag in content blocks, add your text and images, and export.

Newsletter templates in the library focus on readability. Clean layouts, sensible typography defaults, and logical content organization. You can customize extensively, but the defaults are already newsletter-appropriate.

The free tier works for newsletter creators willing to accept "Built with BEE" branding. For more on free options, see my guide to free HTML email builders.

Best for: High-frequency newsletter publishers

Limitations: Free tier includes branding

3. Sequenzy - Best for SaaS Newsletters

Price: Free tier, paid from $19/month

Sequenzy combines newsletter building with automation, which is valuable for product update newsletters and company announcements.

The visual builder produces clean, professional newsletter layouts. Pre-designed blocks for common newsletter elements (article previews, link roundups, featured content) save time.

For SaaS companies, the integration with product data is useful. You can automatically include usage stats, feature updates, or personalized content based on subscriber data.

The AI content generation helps when you're stuck. Describe your newsletter section, and it drafts content you can refine. For weekly publishing schedules, this assistance adds up.

Best for: SaaS companies and product newsletters

Limitations: Smaller template library than Stripo

4. Postcards - Best Looking Newsletters

Price: Free tier, paid from $17/month

Postcards produces the most visually polished newsletters. If design quality differentiates your newsletter, the extra control Postcards provides is valuable.

Typography settings are comprehensive. You can fine-tune fonts, sizes, line heights, and letter spacing to achieve optimal readability. For text-heavy newsletters, these details matter.

Layout flexibility lets you create distinctive newsletter designs rather than generic templates. Multi-column sections, varied block widths, and precise spacing control enable sophisticated layouts.

The trade-off is complexity. Postcards has more options than simpler builders, requiring more time to master. For design-focused creators, this is worthwhile. For those prioritizing speed, simpler tools work better.

Best for: Design-focused newsletters where visual quality matters

Limitations: Steeper learning curve

5. Buttondown - Best for Simple Newsletters

Price: Free up to 100 subscribers, paid from $9/month

Buttondown takes a minimalist approach. You write in Markdown or plain text, and Buttondown handles the formatting. The result is clean, readable newsletters without design complexity.

This approach works well for text-focused newsletters. If your content is primarily writing rather than curated links or visual content, Buttondown's simplicity is a feature.

The analytics are straightforward, the subscriber management is adequate, and the pricing is reasonable. It's not the most powerful option, but it removes friction from publishing.

Best for: Writers who want simplicity over design control

Limitations: Limited design customization

6. Mailchimp - Best All-in-One Newsletter Solution

Price: Free up to 500 contacts, paid from $13/month

Mailchimp's email builder is part of a complete newsletter platform. You get building, sending, analytics, and subscriber management in one place.

The builder handles newsletter layouts well. Templates specifically designed for newsletters provide good starting points. The drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and the Content Studio keeps assets organized.

For newsletter creators who want everything in one platform without integrating separate tools, Mailchimp works. The trade-off is being locked into their ecosystem.

Best for: Creators wanting an all-in-one platform

Limitations: Locked to Mailchimp, expensive at scale

Newsletter Design Best Practices

Optimize for Reading

Newsletters are meant to be read, not just glanced at. Design for readability:

Line length: 50-75 characters per line is optimal. Wider lines are harder to read.
Font size: 16px minimum for body text. Larger is often better.
Line height: 1.5-1.6x the font size for comfortable reading.
Contrast: Dark text on light backgrounds. Avoid light gray text.

Create Visual Hierarchy

Readers scan before they read. Help them find what matters:

Clear section headers that describe content
Consistent formatting for similar content types
White space between sections
Featured content that stands out visually

Design for Mobile

Most newsletters are read on phones. Ensure:

Single column layouts that reflow naturally
Large tap targets for links
Readable font sizes without zooming
Images that scale appropriately

Build Sustainable Templates

You'll use your newsletter template repeatedly. Invest time in getting it right:

Save your template once you're happy with it
Document your process so future issues are consistent
Create a content structure you can fill in quickly

Newsletter Workflow Tips

Batch Content Creation

Don't build newsletters at the last minute. Collect content throughout the week/month in a document. When it's time to build, you're assembling rather than creating.

Use a Consistent Schedule

Templates with consistent layouts help readers know what to expect. Keep major sections in the same positions issue to issue.

Reuse What Works

Analyze which content performs best. Double down on formats and sections that drive engagement.

Test Occasionally

While you don't need to test every issue, periodic cross-client testing catches rendering issues before your subscribers do.

Best HTML Email Builders for Newsletters in 2026