Campaign Monitor alternatives: 5 open-source picks
Campaign Monitor costs $12/mo — $144 a year. These 5 alternatives replace it for $0, led by listmonk, Keila and Notifuse. All 5 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Campaigns, segments and analytics in one fast compose file; templates favor competence over theatre.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installDocker Compose or a single release binary plus PostgreSQL
dataSubscribers, campaigns, templates, and analytics live in a PostgreSQL database on your server.
the catch vs Campaign Monitorlistmonk is fast and capable, but its utilitarian editor and template workflow are less polished for design-heavy branded campaigns than Campaign Monitor.
setupYou still need a PostgreSQL database and a trustworthy SMTP/API sender with authenticated DNS.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A friendly campaign editor, forms and tracking without contact pricing; delivery is your SMTP provider's job.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installKeila Cloud signup or Docker image plus PostgreSQL
dataSelf-hosted subscribers, campaigns, and job state live in PostgreSQL; uploaded campaign assets live on persistent server storage.
the catch vs Campaign MonitorKeila gives you a friendly campaign editor and tracking, but delivery reputation, SMTP configuration, backups, and upgrades become your responsibility rather than Campaign Monitor's.
setupSelf-hosting requires Docker, PostgreSQL, a public HTTPS domain, and credentials for SMTP, SES, SendGrid, Mailgun, or Postmark.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Visual MJML campaigns, scheduling, A/B tests and analytics; bring PostgreSQL and a sender.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installNotifuse Cloud signup or self-host with Docker
dataSelf-hosted contact, campaign, event, and analytics data lives in PostgreSQL; uploaded assets use S3-compatible storage.
the catch vs Campaign MonitorNotifuse supports visual MJML campaigns, tests, and analytics, but operating the database, storage, and sender is a much steeper price than Campaign Monitor's hosted simplicity.
setupSelf-hosting needs Docker, PostgreSQL, object storage, a public domain, and a separately configured SMTP or email API provider.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Campaigns, segmentation and click tracking from the old guard; the interface remembers when gradients were a feature.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installFree hosted signup or upload the PHP package to a web host
dataSelf-hosted subscribers, preferences, queues, campaigns, and analytics live in a MySQL/MariaDB database; CSV/Excel import and export are built in.
the catch vs Campaign MonitorphpList covers campaigns, segmentation, and click tracking, but its dated interface and weaker modern template workflow are noticeably less pleasant than Campaign Monitor.
setupManual hosting means configuring PHP, MySQL, cron/queue processing, and a sender; the installer is old-school rather than one-click.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Publishing platform with memberships and paid newsletters built in. The self-hosted answer to Substack taking 10% of your revenue.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: listmonk · Keila · Ghost
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
SendPortalStill commonly recommended; the last commit was April 2024 and the Laravel app has not moved since.
how to choose a Campaign Monitor alternative
Most proven
Ghost, with 49,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 5, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Needs real ops to self-host
phpList is capable but expects someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing it.
what you give up by leaving Campaign Monitor
- template editor, deliverability, journeys, agency features, and integrations
- inbox-placement expertise
- advanced automations
- commerce integrations
- recommendation and ad networks
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Campaign Monitor alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| listmonk | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 22,600 | 2026-07 |
| Keila | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 2,179 | 2026-08 |
| Notifuse | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 2,038 | 2026-08 |
| phpList | AGPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 864 | 2026-07 |
| Ghost | MIT | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 49,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Campaign Monitor
People still pay for Campaign Monitor because newsletter operators pay for inbox placement, growth mechanics, and operational confidence on publication day. The recurring cost buys DNS authentication, reputation, bounces, complaints, unsubscribe compliance, templates, queues, analytics, backups, and support, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $144 a year.
questions about switching from Campaign Monitor
Is there an open-source alternative to Campaign Monitor?
Yes: listmonk, Keila, Notifuse and 2 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Campaign Monitor?
Our verdict is YES. Ghost (49k stars), listmonk (23k stars), Keila (2k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Campaign Monitor — self-host with docker and stop paying $12/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/campaign-monitor.
What is the most popular open-source Campaign Monitor alternative?
By GitHub stars, Ghost (49,000). listmonk is next with 22,600.
