The Curated Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Curated in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Curated
The Insider’s Guide
Newsletter platform for link-based, editorial issues
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email marketing and newsletter tools, read from Curated’s own pages.
Made by Curated · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Curated’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Curated’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 42 of the 102 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade
Curated is a newsletter platform built around collecting links and adding commentary to assemble each issue. It also offers an optional public site with searchable back issues, sponsorship handling and paid subscriptions. Pricing follows the total subscriber count across all of a customer's publications.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Curated, taken from its own pages and our grades.
A web app where you build issues yourself.
- 1
Best for link-based editorial newsletters
Curated is a newsletter tool built around collecting links and assembling issues, free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature.
- 2
Paid plans start at $39 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature included, including sending. A card is added before the first issue is sent.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Link collection
Save links with a bookmarklet or by emailing them to a private address, with team members able to contribute.
- 6
Issue assembly
Import saved links into the next scheduled issue and add an intro, summaries and commentary.
- 7
Web archive
An optional publication site with searchable back issues, usable on your own domain at no extra fee.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 42 of 102
That is against the other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Curated you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Curated at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Curated
- Category
- Email Marketing & Newsletters
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for link-based editorial newsletters
Curated is a newsletter tool built around collecting links and assembling issues, free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature. A card is needed before the first send, the next step is $39 a month for 2,500, and above 50,000 there's no published price.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature, sending included, though a card is added before the first issue. |
| Features | C | Link collection, issue assembly, archive, sponsorships, paid subscriptions and analytics. It does that one job fully, which is a smaller job than general email. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A web app where you build issues yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web with Stripe for payments. No other integrations are listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Curated is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Curators who write a newsletter built from links they gather during the week
- Teams where several people collect and edit content, since extra users are not charged for
- People running more than one publication under a single subscriber-based price
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$39
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Curated has a free plan. Paid plans start at $39 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers, billed monthly.
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.
The free plan
Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature included, including sending. A card is added before the first issue is sent.
Read from curated.co on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Newsletter platform for link-based, editorial issues. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, email campaigns, paid newsletters.
Link collection, issue assembly, archive, sponsorships, paid subscriptions and analytics.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
Curated is made by Curated.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
42/102
Other email marketing and newsletter tools it is graded above
Curated's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 42 of the 102 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, and level with 24.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 83 of 102) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $39 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 53 of the 78 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 47 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 103 email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Curated’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 21 of 102
- BFree plan and trialAbove 83 of 102
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 102
- CEase of useAbove 11 of 102
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 102
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 82 email marketing and newsletter tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Curated is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Curated you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $468 a year.
What you could make
- Paid newsletters and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
What this rests on. Curated’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Substack, beehiiv, Buttondown, Kit and Ghost
The 5 tools Curated is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Substack
Free
Newsletter, podcast and video publishing with paid subscriptions.
- Only Substack lists iOS and Android apps.
- Curated also covers reports.
- Substack also covers community.
- 2.4GPA
beehiiv
Free plan · from $49/mo
Newsletter platform with paid subscriptions, ads, website and podcast.
- Curated also covers reports.
- beehiiv also covers marketing automation and forms.
- 2.4GPA
Buttondown
Free plan · from $9/mo
Newsletter software priced by active subscribers, with add-ons.
- Curated also covers reports.
- Buttondown also covers marketing automation.
- 2.6GPA
Kit
Free plan · from $33/mo
Email marketing and paid newsletters for creators.
- Curated also covers reports.
- Kit also covers marketing automation and forms.
- 2.2GPA
Ghost
Free trial · from $15/mo
Open source publishing with newsletters and paid memberships.
- Curated has a free plan. Ghost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Ghost is open source, according to its own site.
- Curated also covers reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Curated free?
Curated has a free plan. Free up to 1,500 subscribers with every feature included, including sending.
How much does Curated cost?
Curated lists 3 plans. Free: $0 per month for up to 1,500 subscribers.
What platforms does Curated work on?
Curated is available on Web.
Does Curated have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Curated is listed for Web.
Does Curated have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Curated is listed for Web.
Is Curated open source?
Curated is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Curated integrate with?
Curated's listing names Stripe. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Curated?
Curated is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Curated?
The closest alternatives to Curated in our directory are Substack, beehiiv, Buttondown, Kit and Ghost.
How does Curated compare with other email marketing and newsletter tools?
Curated's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 42 of the 102 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, and level with 24.
Is Curated good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Curated C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $39 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 53 of the 78 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Curated?
To replace Curated you would be making newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Curated’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Curated's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Curated. Prices change, so check curated.co before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Curated, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/curated
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Curated: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/curated
Know someone choosing between email marketing and newsletter tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/curated/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded email marketing and newsletter tools after Curated, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Email Marketing & Newsletters Insider's GuideEvery one of the 103 email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, compared
- Substack Insider's GuideNewsletter, podcast and video publishing with paid subscriptions3.2 GPA
- Mailrelay Insider's GuideEmail marketing with a large free plan and SMS and WhatsApp add-ons3.0 GPA
- SendFox Insider's GuideEmail newsletters and list building for creators on a budget3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Curated’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Curated is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Curated. Prices and plans change: check curated.co before you buy.