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Self-hosted newsletter manager · by listmonk (open-source project)

listmonk

Free, open-source (AGPLv3) self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager shipped as a single Go binary with Postgres, known for low resource use at high volume.

Visit listmonk.app ↗ Alternatives Open source Open source Self-hostable EU region
listmonk homepage
§1

Overview

listmonk is a self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager. It is distributed as a single binary (or a Docker image) and stores data in PostgreSQL. It handles single and double opt-in lists with millions of subscribers, segments them with SQL expressions, and reports on opens, clicks, bounces and top links.

Templates use the Go templating language with more than 100 functions, and emails can be written in a drag-and-drop builder, WYSIWYG editor, Markdown, raw HTML or plain text. Sending goes through multi-threaded queues across one or more SMTP servers with rate limiting.

The project highlights performance: a production instance sent a 7-million-email campaign using a fraction of one CPU core and about 57 MB of RAM. A transactional API sends templated messages, and messenger webhooks extend delivery to SMS, WhatsApp or push.

Version 6.2.0 was released on 26 June 2026. The software is free under AGPLv3; your costs are hosting and sending.

§2

Pricing and plans

Free tier · no card

Entirely free and open source under AGPLv3; you pay only for your server, Postgres and SMTP provider

At the limit Not stated The vendor does not say what happens at the limit, or we have not found it yet.

Plan Price What you get
Self-hosted Free Single binary or Docker image; requires Postgres and SMTP

No hosted service from the project; third-party hosting providers are listed on its site without affiliation. Running costs are your server, Postgres database and SMTP sending (for example, Amazon SES). The pages read do not describe a visual automation or drip-sequence builder, so the automations field reflects only the transactional API and messenger webhooks.

Source: listmonk.app/ · prices as published, excluding tax.

§3

What it does

SQL segmentation
Query and segment subscribers with SQL expressions.
Multi-SMTP queues
Multi-threaded sending across several SMTP servers with throughput and sliding-window rate limits.
Go templating
Dynamic templates with logic and 100+ functions, plus visual, WYSIWYG, Markdown and HTML editors.
Transactional API
Send templated messages to subscribers by email, SMS or other channels via messenger webhooks.
Built-in analytics
Campaign performance, bounces and top links.
§4

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • Free and open source with no subscriber limits
  • Very low CPU and memory use at high volume
  • Full API coverage and flexible templating
  • Pairs with low-cost SMTP providers such as Amazon SES

Limitations

  • You run and maintain the server, Postgres and upgrades yourself
  • Deliverability depends on your SMTP provider and setup
  • No drip or visual automation builder described
  • No official hosted version or vendor support
§5

Who it suits

Good for

  • Large newsletters where per-contact pricing would be expensive
  • Developers comfortable with Postgres and SMTP
  • Teams that need data kept on their own servers

Look elsewhere if

  • Non-technical teams without anyone to run servers
  • Complex behaviour-based marketing automation
§6

Alternatives to listmonk

Tool From Free option Stages
Notifuse Open-source email platform
$19/mo Open source
Mailchimp Email marketing platform
$13/mo Free tier
beehiiv Newsletter platform
$49/mo Free tier
Ghost Open-source publishing and newsletter platform
$18/mo Free tier
Resend Email API for developers
$20/mo Free tier
Mailjet Email API, SMTP relay and campaign editor
$9/mo Free tier

All email marketing and newsletters →

§7

Questions

Is listmonk free?

Yes. It is open source under AGPLv3; you pay only for hosting and your email sending provider.

What does listmonk need to run?

The listmonk binary or Docker image, a PostgreSQL database and at least one SMTP server.

Can listmonk send transactional emails?

Yes, through its transactional API using predefined templates.

Sources read for this page