listmonk review (2026): is it any good?
Free self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager
listmonk report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 12, 2026
Best for self-hosted mailing lists for people who run servers
listmonk is free, open-source software for newsletters and mailing lists, which you host yourself with a Postgres database and your own SMTP service. That is the catch: you install, host and update it. It sends one-way mail, and the pages read describe no automation journeys.
Who listmonk is for
- 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
Who listmonk is not for
- 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
Why listmonk gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyThe 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.
- BFree plan and trialFree and open source with no subscriber cap on record, but you pay for hosting and an SMTP service yourself.
- CFeaturesLists, segmentation, templates, analytics, transactional messages and access control. The pages read describe no automation journeys or paid subscriptions.
- DEase of useYou self-host it: a server, a Postgres database and an SMTP provider, plus updates. No rating on record.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with no integrations listed on the pages read.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from listmonk's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/listmonk#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/listmonk.svg" alt="listmonk: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where listmonk stands among email marketing and newsletter tools
listmonk's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 7 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 43 of 57) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
listmonk has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 email marketing and newsletter tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. listmonk’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 10 of 57, level with 33
- BFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 57, level with 12
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 57, level with 19
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 57, level with 4
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 57, level with 6
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 50 email marketing and newsletter tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
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
Keep listmonk, or make your own?
Keep it
listmonk is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 41 of the 57 other email marketing and newsletter tools grade higher.
What you could not
- Newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
- Mail servers with a good name among inbox providers.
- An API that other software can build on.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: single sign-on.
What this rests on. listmonk’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.
What is listmonk?
listmonk is a free, open source newsletter and mailing list manager that you run on your own server. It ships as a single binary that works alongside a Postgres database, handles one-way mailing lists, campaigns and transactional messages, and exposes an API for most of its features.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
listmonk pricing
As of Nov 12, 2026, listmonk is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source; you host it yourself and supply your own SMTP service.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | $0 | Free and open source; you host it yourself on a server with a Postgres database. |
Read from listmonk.app on Nov 12, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with listmonk before you buy.
listmonk alternatives
- listmonk vs Mautic
Free plan · from €247.50/mo
- listmonk vs Sendy
From $69 one-time
- listmonk vs Mailcoach
Free trial · from $9.99/mo
- listmonk vs Buttondown
Free plan · from $9/mo
- listmonk vs EmailOctopus
Free plan · from $9/mo
Common questions
Does listmonk have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. listmonk is listed for Web.
Does listmonk have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. listmonk is listed for Web.
Is listmonk open source?
Yes. listmonk is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Does listmonk have an API?
Yes. listmonk offers a public API, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 12, 2026.