Substack makes it simple for a writer to start an email newsletter. It’s free and you can add paid subscriptions whenever you want. Just sign up, connect your bank account, and get to work.

Substack gives you a website, an email newsletter, and a home for your podcast. Also included: welcome page, home page, archive, about page, community features, leaderboards, customer support, mailing list, payments, monthly and annual subscriptions, group subscriptions, gift subscriptions, complimentary subscriptions, coupons, rich media, and analytics.

Remember: all this is free. We only make money when you make money, by taking a cut of subscription revenue once you decide to turn on payments. It’s win-win.