Curated vs SparkLoop (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Curated grades higher than SparkLoop: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Curated grades higher on value for money and features. SparkLoop grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Curated
Newsletter platform for link-based, editorial issues
SparkLoop
Newsletter growth through recommendations and referrals
Which one is for you
Pick Curated if
- Fits if your newsletter is a weekly set of links with notes
- Works for publishers with under 1,500 subscribers who want every feature free
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a card-free start, as a card is added before the first send
- Pricey if you grow, with $189 at 15,000 and $399 at 50,000 subscribers
- Too light for automation or ordinary marketing email, since it's built for editorial issues
- Watch out: above 50,000 subscribers there is no published price, and invoices need a $1,000 minimum
Pick SparkLoop if
- Fits if you already send a newsletter and want more subscribers
- Works for publishers happy to run on an existing platform like beehiiv or Kit
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need a tool to send email, as it doesn't
- Pricey if your list is small, since referral programs are a $2,000-a-year add-on
- Watch out: the price of subscribers bought through partner programs isn't on the pricing page
How we grade them
| 2.2GPACuratedFair | 2.0GPASparkLoopFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$39 a month for 2,500 subscribers, $69 for 5,000 and $129 for 10,000. Ordinary at first, and in the dearer quarter from 5,000. | DThe referral program is $2,000 a year, about $167 a month, which is above the $149 where the dearest tenth starts. Free recommendations carry no fee. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature, sending included, though a card is added before the first issue. | BPaid recommendations, partner programs and free recommendations are included free. Partner programs charge per subscriber, at a rate not on the page. |
| Features | CLink collection, issue assembly, archive, sponsorships, paid subscriptions and analytics. It does that one job fully, which is a smaller job than general email. | DIt does newsletter growth only and doesn't send email, so it is no use without another email platform. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A web app where you build issues yourself. | CNo store rating on record. You connect your email platform and set up programs. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb with Stripe for payments. No other integrations are listed. | BWeb with beehiiv, Kit, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Brevo and HubSpot integrations. |
| Best for | link-based editorial newsletters | growing a newsletter through recommendations |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Curated and SparkLoop. How we grade
Price against what you get
Curated starts at $39 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. SparkLoop starts at $166.67 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0.
They score the same, and Curated starts $127.67 a month lower. Of the other email marketing and newsletter tools on the chart, 47 score higher than Curated for less, and 60 score higher than SparkLoop for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Curated also covers email campaigns and paid newsletters.
- SparkLoop also covers partner payouts.
At a glance
| Curated | SparkLoop | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly | $2,000 per year for the Newsletter Referral Programs add-on |
| Free plan | Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature included, including sending. A card is added before the first issue is sent. | Paid recommendations, partner programs and free recommendations are listed as included free. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Curated | SparkLoop LLC |
| Price read from | curated.co | sparkloop.app |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Curated
- Price is set by subscriber count across all publications, and the page lists a $399 a month tier at up to 50,000 subscribers.
- Above 50,000 subscribers there is no published price; you contact the vendor.
- Monthly email quota is 31 times the plan's subscriber limit.
- Paying by invoice requires a minimum commitment of $1,000.
SparkLoop
- It does not send email; you need an existing email platform to send your newsletter.
- The referral program is a $2,000 a year add-on, so it is a sizable cost for small lists.
- The price of subscribers bought through partner programs is not shown on the pricing page.
Key features
Curated
- Link collection
- Save links with a bookmarklet or by emailing them to a private address, with team members able to contribute.
- Issue assembly
- Import saved links into the next scheduled issue and add an intro, summaries and commentary.
- Web archive
- An optional publication site with searchable back issues, usable on your own domain at no extra fee.
- Sponsorships
- Handles sponsorship inquiries and a bookings calendar for the publication.
- Paid subscriptions
- Paid newsletters through a connected Stripe account; Curated says it takes 0% commission.
- Analytics
- Subscriber-level stats and per-issue reports on who read what and which links were clicked.
SparkLoop
- Paid recommendations
- Earn money by recommending other newsletters to your readers, in emails or through a post-opt-in widget on your site.
- Partner programs
- Get recommended by other newsletters and pay only for subscribers who meet quality criteria you set.
- Free recommendations
- Swap recommendations with similar newsletters at no cost.
- Referral programs
- Reward readers for sharing; rewards are fulfilled automatically and shown in an in-email referral section.
- Email platform integrations
- Two-click, no-code connections to more than 25 email platforms.
- Fraud protection and analytics
- The vendor lists anti-fraud protection and an analytics section among its features.
Plans
Curated
Free$0
per month for up to 1,500 subscribers
All features included. You add a card before sending your first issue but are not charged while at or under 1,500 subscribers.
Up to 2,500 subscribers$39
per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly
Price rises with the list: $69 up to 5,000, $129 up to 10,000 subscribers, and $189 up to 15,000.
Up to 25,000 subscribers$299
per month for up to 25,000 subscribers, billed monthly
Steps continue at $399 for 25,001 to 50,000 subscribers; above 50,000 the vendor asks you to get in touch.
SparkLoop
Free$0
Includes paid recommendations, partner programs and free recommendations. Partner programs charge per quality subscriber, with the rate not stated on the page.
Newsletter Referral Programs$2,000
per year, add-on
Referral program with in-email referral section, automatic fulfilment of digital and physical rewards, and a two-click email platform integration.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Curated or SparkLoop?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Curated is cheaper to start with: $39 a month, against $166.67 a month when paid by the year for SparkLoop. Curated starts at $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly, and SparkLoop starts at $2,000 per year for the Newsletter Referral Programs add-on.
Which has a free plan, Curated or SparkLoop?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Curated and SparkLoop have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.