EmailOctopus
Low-cost email marketing and newsletters for people who want sending without the suite.
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the email job, so this one still earns its $8/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- AI newsletter writing tools competing for attention while sending remains the hard part. OpenAI, August 6, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 3 of 3 listed replacements have a usable free tier: Buttondown, MailerLite and Resend.
- What the call is worth $96/yr
- $8/mo at the entry paid tier — $96 a year per seat.
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- August 6, 2024
- List price
- $8/mo
- Per year
- $96
The backstory
EmailOctopus keeps prices low by staying focused on list management, campaigns and simple automation. The AI wave changed how newsletters get drafted but not how they get delivered to an inbox. Reputation management, bounce handling and compliance still require a real sending operation. Being the cheap reliable pipe is a defensible place to sit.
Escape hatches
Minimal newsletter tool loved by writers
buttondown.com open_in_newMore automation features at a similar price
mailerlite.com open_in_newAPI-first sending for developer-run newsletters
resend.com open_in_new3 of 3 replacements have a usable free tier.