Overview

Released under the AGPLv3 license, listmonk brings list management, campaign sending and analytics into a self-hosted application. Single- and double-opt-in options accommodate different signup workflows, while SQL expressions let operators define subscriber segments with precision. The project says it can manage millions of subscribers, which makes it relevant to large lists as well as teams with more specialized segmentation needs.

That flexibility comes with operational responsibility. You provide the PostgreSQL database and manage the deployment, so listmonk is a poor fit for organizations seeking a hosted service that handles infrastructure for them.

Key features

Campaign analytics cover performance, bounces and top links. These give operators useful feedback on delivery and engagement, though listmonk remains a tool for managing campaigns rather than a substitute for the infrastructure that sends them.

Sending uses multithreaded email queues across multiple SMTP connections, with throughput controls and sliding-window rate limits. This gives operators ways to tune delivery pace across connections, but also means delivery depends on the SMTP services they configure and maintain.

Template options range from Go expressions and functions to a drag-and-drop builder, WYSIWYG editor, Markdown, HTML and plain text. The breadth serves both custom, logic-driven messages and visual editing workflows. The API exposes dashboard features through JSON over REST-like HTTP endpoints, using BasicAuth or authorization tokens. It can also send transactional messages from predefined templates, including through email, SMS and WhatsApp messenger interfaces. Messenger web services can receive campaign messages as JSON for delivery through services such as SMS or FCM.

OIDC single sign-on and granular user and list roles help teams control access. The combination is useful where multiple people operate lists, although deployment and administration remain the user's responsibility.

Pricing

listmonk's self-hosted plan is free. It includes free, open-source software, but requires a PostgreSQL database; the price does not remove the work of providing and operating the deployment. There are no paid tiers or seat, subscriber or sending quotas stated for this plan. The project says it can manage millions of subscribers, but that is not a promise of infrastructure capacity supplied with the software.

There is no hosted plan in the stated offering. Choose listmonk when avoiding software fees and retaining deployment control matter more than having a provider run the service; choose a hosted alternative if you want a service with a defined free subscriber or sending allowance instead.

Platforms

The product is available as a web application and supports API use, with self-hosted deployment across Linux, macOS and Windows among the stated platforms. Its download page also offers 64-bit binaries for Darwin, FreeBSD, Linux, NetBSD, OpenBSD and Windows, plus a Docker image. PostgreSQL 12 or later is required, so platform compatibility does not remove the need to provision and maintain a database.

Who it's for

listmonk is best for technically capable operators who want to run their own newsletter system, need SQL-defined subscriber segments, or want to integrate campaigns and transactional messages through APIs. Its roles and OIDC support also make it a plausible option for teams that need differentiated access.

It is not the right choice for a reader who wants a managed mailing service, turnkey infrastructure or a simple setup without database administration. The software is free; the operational commitment is not.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free, AGPLv3-licensed software combines subscriber management, campaign analytics and API access without a stated subscriber cap.
Pros: SQL-expression segmentation and support for millions of subscribers suit large or finely segmented lists.
Pros: Flexible templates, SMTP queue controls and transactional messaging support a range of sending workflows.
Cons: Self-hosting and PostgreSQL 12 or later put deployment, database and maintenance work on the operator.
Cons: Sending controls do not supply SMTP service; operators must configure the connections and delivery infrastructure themselves.

Alternatives

Curated is worth considering for readers who prefer a hosted tool with a free allowance of 1,500 subscribers and a paid monthly tier for 1,501–2,500 subscribers at 39.00 USD per month. Substack is a different option for readers who want a free-to-start newsletter platform with no platform fees, tiers or contracts, rather than self-hosted software.

Sympa is another free, self-hosted choice, but its setup calls for administrator-managed mail, database and web-server components. Email Fast may suit readers who want a hosted free plan that never expires, with 2,500 emails per month, unlimited contacts and subscribers, and one sending domain; its free messages include “Sent with Email Fast.”

phpList offers a Forever Free plan with 300 messages and unlimited subscribers, making its stated allowance more explicit for readers comparing free sending limits. Audienceful is a hosted alternative with a free plan for 1,000 contacts, one team collaborator and one automated journey; its Essentials plan costs 29.00 USD per month billed yearly.

Dada Mail is another option for readers considering a self-hosted mailing-list tool. Mailtrain is also free and self-hosted, with a recommended minimum of 2 vCPU and 4096 MB RAM for its v2 plan.

For broader comparisons, see Newsletter Platforms and Email Marketing Software.

Verdict

Choose listmonk if you want a free, open-source system you can operate yourself and value SQL segmentation, flexible messaging and API control. Its defining advantage is the breadth of capability without a software fee; its defining cost is the PostgreSQL-backed deployment you must manage. If that responsibility is a deal-breaker, choose a hosted alternative instead.

	listmonk	ListShine
Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Newsletter website	Yes
API access	Yes
Email automation		Yes
Native integrations		7 integrations

listmonk vs ListShine

listmonk

ListShine