phpList review (2026): is the free plan enough?
Open-source newsletter software, hosted or self-run
Black Friday: is there a phpList sale?
phpList report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for newsletters you can host yourself or pay for by the message
phpList is newsletter software you can run on your own server or rent hosted, with a choice of paying per message or per subscriber. The hosted prices start low, but the free account stops at 300 messages a month, the price climbs with volume, and a few basics sit behind a Plus option. Its own pages also disagree about where the cheapest plan begins.
Who phpList is for
- 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
Who phpList is not for
- 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
Why phpList gets a 2.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- BValue for moneyHosted 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.
- CFree plan and trialThe 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.
- CFeaturesLists, 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.
- CEase of useNo 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.
- CPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with Google Analytics as the one listed integration. No apps for phones or computers.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from phpList's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make phpList? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/phplist#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/phplist.svg" alt="phpList: 2.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where phpList stands among email marketing and newsletter tools
phpList'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 value for money (B, above 81 of 102) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $5 a month, against a middle price of $19 for the category: 2 of the 78 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 3 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. phpList’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 81 of 102, level with 15
- CFree plan and trialAbove 33 of 102, level with 49
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 102, level with 42
- CEase of useAbove 11 of 102, level with 86
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 102, level with 30
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 82 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 phpList, or make your own?
Keep it
To replace phpList 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 $60 a year. phpList is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Reports: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Newsletters sent to thousands of people that still reach the inbox.
What this rests on. phpList’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 phpList?
phpList is open-source software for sending email newsletters, campaigns and announcements, available as a hosted service at phpList.com or to run on your own server. The hosted service is priced either per message or per subscriber, with a small free account. Subscribers are organized into lists and segmented by attributes.
Worth knowing
- 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
- 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.
phpList pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, phpList has a free plan, and paid plans start at $5 per month for up to 2,000 messages, billed monthly.
- Starts at
- $5 per month for up to 2,000 messages, billed monthly
- Free plan
- Trial account: 300 messages a month, free forever.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free account | $0per month for up to 300 messages | Send 300 messages a month at no charge. |
| Pay-per-message | $5per 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 | $8per 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 account | Custom | Quote on request, for higher volumes and dedicated networks. |
| Open source edition | $0 | Software you host yourself, from phpList.org; community support through forums. |
Read from phplist.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with phpList before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discount10% 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.
Stated on phplist.com
Works with
phpList alternatives
- phpList vs Mautic
Free plan · from €247.50/mo
- phpList vs Sendy
From $69 one-time
- phpList vs Mailcoach
Free trial · from $9.99/mo
- phpList vs Keila
Free plan · from €8/mo
Common questions
Does phpList have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. phpList is listed for Web.
Does phpList have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. phpList is listed for Web.
Is phpList open source?
Yes. phpList is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.