listmonk vs phpList (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, phpList grades higher than listmonk: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
listmonk grades higher on the free plan. phpList grades higher on value for money and ease of use. They get the same grade on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
phpList
Open-source newsletter software, hosted or self-run
Which one is for you
Pick listmonk if
- Fits if you can run a server and want a mailing list you fully control
- Works for developers who want a transactional and newsletter tool without a monthly fee
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want to host and update a server
- Skip it if you want automation journeys, which the pages do not describe
- Watch out: you supply a Postgres database and an SMTP provider, which cost money
- Watch out: the latest release shown is a v7 beta from 10 Nov 2026
- Skip it if you want one-click hosting backed by the project: third-party hosts exist, and the project says it has no affiliation with them
Pick phpList if
- Fits if you would rather run the newsletter software on your own server than rent it
- Works for low-volume senders who want to pay per message, not per list size
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you are staying free: the hosted account stops at 300 messages a month
- Pricey if you send a lot, as pay-per-message reaches $240 a month at 150,000 messages
- Watch out: image storage, extra user accounts and exclude lists are part of the Plus option, which costs more
- Watch out: the features page says basic accounts start at US$1 a month, but the pricing slider's lowest paid step is $5
- Skip it if you want integrations, as the listing names only Google Analytics
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAlistmonkFair | 2.2GPAphpListFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CThe software is free, but you need a server and an SMTP provider for sending, so it is not free in practice. Software that is free only if you host it yourself needs a server, so it sits at an ordinary C. | BHosted plans start at $5 a month for 2,000 messages, or $8 for 500 subscribers, against $10 for the cheaper quarter of email marketing tools. It climbs fast, though: $60 a month at 30,000 messages and $240 at 150,000. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree and open source with no subscriber cap on record, but you pay for hosting and an SMTP service yourself. | CThe hosted free account allows 300 messages a month, which one small list will use up. The open source edition is free, but you have to host it yourself. |
| Features | CLists, segmentation, templates, analytics, transactional messages and access control. The pages read describe no automation journeys or paid subscriptions. | CLists, attributes, templates, scheduling, bounce handling and open and click reports are all there. Image storage, extra user accounts and exclude lists need the Plus option, which costs more. |
| Ease of use | DYou self-host it: a server, a Postgres database and an SMTP provider, plus updates. No rating on record. | CNo store rating on record. The hosted service takes a sign-up and then lists, templates and domain records to set up, and the self-run edition needs a server on top of that. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, with no integrations listed on the pages read. | CWeb only, with Google Analytics as the one listed integration. No apps for phones or computers. |
| Best for | self-hosted mailing lists for people who run servers | newsletters you can host yourself or pay for by the message |
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: listmonk and phpList. How we grade
Price against what you get
listmonk has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. phpList starts at $5 a month and scores 2.0.
phpList scores higher, and starts $5 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other email marketing and newsletter tools on the chart, none scores higher than listmonk for less, and 3 score higher than phpList 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
- listmonk also covers transactional email.
- phpList also covers reports.
At a glance
| listmonk | phpList | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $5 per month for up to 2,000 messages, billed monthly |
| Free plan | Free and open source; you host it yourself and supply your own SMTP service. | Trial account: 300 messages a month, free forever. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Kailash Nadh | phpList Ltd |
| Price read from | listmonk.app | phplist.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
listmonk
- You install, host and update it yourself, and supply a Postgres database and an SMTP provider for sending.
- It is a one-way mailing list tool; the pages read do not describe automation journeys or built-in paid subscriptions.
- The latest release shown is a v7 beta, released 10 Nov 2026.
- Third-party one-click hosting exists, but the project says it has no affiliation with those providers.
phpList
- The free account stops at 300 messages a month.
- Pay-per-message prices climb with volume, to $240 a month at 150,000 messages.
- A Plus option raises the price and adds items such as image storage, multiple user accounts and exclude lists.
- The features page says basic accounts start at US$1 a month, but the pricing slider's lowest paid step is $5.
Key features
listmonk
- Lists and segmentation
- Manage single and double opt-in lists with millions of subscribers, and query and segment subscribers with SQL expressions.
- Templates and editors
- Go-templated emails with logic and 100+ functions, written in a visual drag-and-drop builder, a WYSIWYG editor, Markdown or raw HTML.
- Analytics
- Built-in analytics show campaign performance, bounces and top links across campaigns.
- Transactional messages
- An API sends arbitrary messages from pre-defined templates, and messenger interfaces can send SMS or WhatsApp through HTTP webhooks.
- Access control and privacy
- OIDC single sign-on, granular roles, scoped API tokens, and subscriber data export and deletion on request.
phpList
- Lists, attributes and segments
- Subscribers are organized into lists with attributes such as name, country and language, and exclude lists refine who receives a campaign.
- Personalized campaigns
- Plain text, HTML and templates with placeholders, plus scheduling and repeat sending.
- Analytics
- Opens, clicks and forwards by campaign, link and subscriber, and Google Analytics integration.
- Deliverability handling
- Bounce processing, abuse-complaint handling, DKIM and SPF setup, and sender-score and blacklist monitoring on the hosted service.
- Double opt-in and unsubscribe handling
- Confirmed sign-up, self-service preference updates and a do-not-send list for unsubscribers.
- Open source and hosting choice
- Run your own copy of the software or use the hosted service; the vendor says there is no vendor lock-in.
Plans
listmonk
Self-hosted$0
Free and open source; you host it yourself on a server with a Postgres database.
phpList
Free account$0
per month for up to 300 messages
Send 300 messages a month at no charge.
Pay-per-message$5
per month for up to 2,000 messages, billed monthly
Price rises with volume: $60 a month at 30,000 messages. Billing for 6 months saves 5% and annual billing saves 10%.
Pay-per-subscriber$8
per month for up to 500 subscribers, billed monthly
Covers up to 1 million messages a month. $45 a month at 10,000 subscribers; 5% off for 6 months, 10% off annually.
Pro marketer accountCustom
Quote on request, for higher volumes and dedicated networks.
Open source edition$0
Software you host yourself, from phpList.org; community support through forums.
Ways to pay less
listmonk
No public discounts listed.
phpList
- Annual discount
10% off annual billing, 5% off 6 months
The pricing slider offers a discount of 5% when paying for 6 months and 10% when paying annually.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, listmonk or phpList?
As of Nov 13, 2026, listmonk is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $5 a month for phpList. listmonk is free, and phpList starts at $5 per month for up to 2,000 messages, billed monthly.
Which has a free plan, listmonk or phpList?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both listmonk and phpList 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.