listmonk
Free, self-hosted newsletter and mailing list manager, distributed as a single executable: management of millions of subscribers with single or double opt-in, segmentation by SQL expressions, campaigns with statistics (bounces, most-clicked links), templates in Go language, visual editor, rich text editor, Markdown or HTML, multi-SMTP sending queues with rate limiting, transactional API, export or deletion of a subscriber's data, OIDC login, roles, S3-compatible media library. Requires PostgreSQL and an SMTP server. Version 7.0.0 in beta when read. The page names neither the licence (AGPL-3.0 according to the GitHub repository) nor French.
Managing a subscriber list with double confirmation and unsubscribe, composing a letter and sending it in bulk through your own SMTP server is a simple scope, and listmonk does it with a single file to install, which is already lighter than an in-house build. The difficulty is not the software but deliverability: a badly configured sending server (SPF, DKIM, IP reputation) ends up in spam. For a few hundred subscribers, go through a professional sending relay.
What you lose
- The deliverability of a dedicated sending service.
- The commercial offer's visual editor and template library.
- Statistics handled for you.
- Support and hosting.
Existing alternatives to listmonk
- MauticOpen source
Open-source marketing automation with campaigns, segmentation and forms; more complete and heavier than a simple newsletter manager.
What a home-built tool costs once it exists
- Hosting and database: a server cost, and automatic backups you actually test.
- Security and GDPR: dependency updates, an HTTPS certificate, protection of your customers’ data.
- Upkeep time: who fixes the tool on a Saturday night in the middle of service if the server goes down?
The prompt to build it yourself
Build a small newsletter tool for my business, replacing an email-sending subscription. Context: a restaurant with 800 subscribers, one letter a month and a few one-off offers. To do: - A sign-up form with double confirmation by email and a one-click unsubscribe page. - A subscriber database with date and source of consent, and a CSV export. - A letter editor in Markdown with preview and an HTML template in my branding. - Batch sending through my SMTP relay with rate limiting and a test send to one address. - Simple statistics: sent, opens, clicks, unsubscribes. - Permanent deletion of a subscriber on request. Out of scope: advanced segmentation, scenario automation. Stack: web app, PostgreSQL. README: how to run, backup, SPF and DKIM setup of the sending address, a reminder never to write to people without consent.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does listmonk cost, and what do you really pay for?
- Listed price: free. What the subscription covers and is hard to maintain yourself: The deliverability of a dedicated sending service.; The commercial offer's visual editor and template library.; Statistics handled for you.; Support and hosting..
- What free or open-source alternatives to listmonk exist?
- Mautic (open source). Options to compare before committing to a custom build.
- Where do you start to build an equivalent of listmonk?
- Copy this page’s prompt into Claude, Codex or Cursor to get a first prototype. Then plan for hosting, data backups and GDPR compliance: that is what costs the most to maintain over time.
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