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.
Pricing and plans
checked 28 Sept 2026Free tier · no card
Entirely free and open source under AGPLv3; you pay only for your server, Postgres and SMTP provider
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Free | Single binary or Docker image; requires Postgres and SMTP |
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.
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
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
Alternatives to listmonk
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| beehiiv Newsletter platform | $49/mo | Free tier | |
| Brevo Email marketing and transactional platform | $9/mo | Free tier | |
| GetResponse Email marketing and automation | $19/mo | Free tier | |
| Ghost Open-source publishing and newsletter platform | $18/mo | Free tier | |
| Loops Lifecycle email for SaaS | $49/mo | Free tier | |
| Mailchimp Email marketing platform | $13/mo | Free tier |
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.
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