Overview

Curated is an email newsletter service built for publications that select and explain links. It suits creators, publishers, and marketers who want editorial tools alongside sponsorships and paid subscriptions. It is a focused choice for link-led newsletters, but its subscriber-tier pricing and message cap deserve attention as a publication grows.

Key features

Editors can collect links with a bookmarklet, Chrome extension, or secret email address, then add introductions, summaries, or personal insights. That gives link curation a clear place in the publishing workflow; it is less suited to newsletters centered on original text items. Curated sends customizable email editions and can create a web version with searchable archives, so past issues remain accessible beyond the inbox.

Sponsorship tools handle inquiries, bookings, and scheduling. Paid subscriptions are supported, and Curated says it takes 0% commission. Subscriber-level analytics cover audience growth and what is working, giving publishers data to inform future issues. Publications can use a custom top-level domain or subdomain, with HTTPS enabled after DNS setup.

Zapier support includes four triggers and three actions. The token-authenticated public API uses https://api.curated.co/api/v3, but can collect links only: it cannot collect text items or publish issues. It is therefore useful for link intake, not for running an API-first publishing workflow. The monthly message quota is 31 times the plan’s maximum subscriber count, and unused messages do not roll over; publishers should account for that fixed allowance when planning frequent sends.

Curated says it uses commercially acceptable security procedures but does not guarantee absolute security. Its EU privacy page says servers are in the UK, with hourly backups kept for one week and daily backups for 30 days. Support is available through a support center and support@curated.co.

Pricing

The free plan is free, billed monthly, for 0–1,500 subscribers. It is a substantial starting tier for a small publication, though the message quota remains tied to the plan’s maximum subscriber count.

Paid plans are billed monthly and priced by subscriber band: 39.00 USD per month for 1,501–2,500 subscribers; 69.00 USD per month for 2,501–5,000; 129.00 USD per month for 5,001–10,000; 189.00 USD per month for 10,001–15,000; 299.00 USD per month for 15,001–25,000; and 399.00 USD per month for 25,001–50,000. Each step raises the subscriber ceiling and therefore the monthly message allowance, but the price rises with audience size. More than 50,000 subscribers requires custom pricing; contact support@curated.co.

Platforms

Curated supports web, extension, and API access. The extension supports link collection, while the API’s inability to publish issues limits its role for teams seeking to automate the full editorial process.

Who it's for

Curated is best for creators, publishers, and marketers whose newsletters select outside links and add editorial context, especially those who want searchable archives, sponsorship handling, or paid subscriptions in the same service. It is a weaker fit for text-first publishers or teams that need to publish issues programmatically.

Pros and cons

Editorial link workflow: multiple collection methods and room for commentary suit newsletters that curate rather than simply broadcast.
Built-in monetization: sponsorship coordination and paid subscriptions, with a stated 0% commission, support more than one revenue path.
Useful audience tools: searchable archives and subscriber-level analytics extend the service beyond email delivery.
Constrained automation: the API collects links but cannot handle text items or publish issues.
Capacity-based sending: messages are capped at 31 times the plan’s subscriber maximum, with no rollover, while monthly prices climb across subscriber bands.

Alternatives

For other options, see the Newsletter Platforms list. Choose listmonk if free, open-source software and self-hosting matter more than a managed editorial newsletter service; it requires PostgreSQL. Substack is a free-to-start option for readers who prefer a platform with Android and iOS apps and no platform fees, tiers, or contracts on its stated free plan. Choose Sympa if free server software is the priority and an administrator can manage its mail, database, and web server components. Email Fast may suit senders who value a never-expiring free plan with 2,500 emails per month and unlimited contacts, rather than Curated’s editorial collection workflow. phpList offers a free tier with 300 messages and unlimited subscribers, a different balance for publishers prioritizing subscriber count over message volume. Audienceful has a free plan for 1,000 contacts, one team collaborator, and one automated journey; consider it if those stated limits fit better. Dada Mail is another newsletter option to compare. Mailtrain is a free, self-hosted option with a recommended minimum of 2 vCPU and 4096 MB RAM.

Verdict

Choose Curated for a link-led newsletter that needs editorial commentary, searchable archives, and built-in sponsorship or paid-subscription support. Its strongest reason to buy is the way curation and monetization sit together; look elsewhere if you need API-based issue publishing or want message allowances that carry forward.

	Curated	Mailtrain
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	$39/mo	Free
Platforms	api, extension, Web	api, Linux, self-hosted, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	39 /mo
Free subscriber limit	1,500 subscribers
Newsletter website	Yes	Yes
Custom domain	Yes	Yes
Paid subscriptions	Yes
Email send model	limited
API access	Yes	Yes

Curated vs Mailtrain

Curated

Mailtrain