How to start a newsletter in 2026 (step by step, free)
Short answer: Pick one topic for one reader, set up a free signup page, write a welcome email, and ask 100 people you know to subscribe. Then send on a schedule you can keep. You do not need a website or any money to start.
Step 1: Pick one topic and one reader
"Marketing tips" is too wide. "Email marketing for yoga studio owners" is a newsletter. The narrower the reader, the easier it is to write and to grow.
Step 2: Choose a newsletter tool
Start free. What you need on day one: a signup page, a welcome email, and room to grow without a big bill. SendFox is free for 1,000 contacts and 3,000 sends a month. Compare costs at bigger list sizes in email marketing pricing.
Step 3: Make a signup page
You do not need a website. Create a Smart Page in SendFox: one headline that says who it is for and what they get, one email field, one button. Put the link in your social bio and email signature.
Step 4: Write your welcome email
- What they will get and how often.
- Your single best piece of content, right now.
- One question to reply to. Replies also help deliverability.
Step 5: Get your first 100 subscribers
- Email 50 people you know, one by one, and ask them to subscribe.
- Post your signup link where your reader already hangs out.
- Add the link to the end of everything you publish.
Your first 100 are manual. That is normal.
Step 6: Send on a schedule
Weekly is common. Pick a day and time and keep it. If you already publish a blog or podcast, SendFox Smart Campaigns can turn your RSS feed into emails automatically.
Step 7: Grow with referrals
Your readers know people like them. A referral program rewards subscribers for sharing, and SendFox includes one.
Step 8: Decide when to charge
Add a paid tier once readers ask for more. Watch the fees: Substack takes 10% of paid subscriptions and Kit takes 3.5% plus 30¢ per sale. SendFox paid newsletters run on your own Stripe account with no platform fee.
What it costs as you grow
| Subscribers | SendFox |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | Free |
| 5,000 | Lifetime: $29, once |
| 10,000 | Pro 2: $39 / month |
| 25,000 | Pro 3: $79 / month |
| 50,000 | Pro 3: $79 / month |
| 100,000 | Pro 4: $149 / month |
Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, sends his 114,000+ subscriber newsletter with SendFox.
FAQ
How much does it cost to start a newsletter?
It can be free. SendFox is free for 1,000 contacts and 3,000 sends a month, including a signup page. When you grow, SendFox is $29 once for 5,000 contacts.
Do I need a website to start a newsletter?
No. A hosted signup page, like a SendFox Smart Page, gives you a link to share anywhere.
How often should I send my newsletter?
Send on a schedule you can keep. Weekly is common. Consistency matters more than frequency.
Start free. Pay once if you grow.
Free for 1,000 contacts. $29 once for 5,000. Import from Mailchimp, Kit or a CSV in minutes.
Get started!