Choosing between Mailjet and Substack is a common decision for email marketing buyers in 2026. Mailjet has been in the market since 2010, giving it a 7-year head start over Substack (founded 2017). Mailjet serves 150K+ users while Substack has 35M+ readers users globally. Mailjet differentiates with collaborative email editor and transactional api, while Substack leads with newsletter publishing and podcast hosting. In this head-to-head comparison, Substack earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.
AI Verdict
After comparing Mailjet and Substack across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Substack takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Mailjet's 86/100. Substack's key advantages include "free to start, no upfront cost" and "large built-in discovery network". That said, Mailjet has its own strengths — particularly "real-time email collaboration" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.
Both Mailjet and Substack offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. Mailjet's paid plans start at $15/mo while Substack begins at 10% of revenue. Evaluate which paid features — Segmentation, A/B testing (Mailjet) vs Paid subscriptions, Comments (Substack) — justify upgrading for your team.
Bottom line: Choose Mailjet if you need marketing teams needing collaborative email design with transactional delivery. Go with Substack if your priority is writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Both are strong email marketing tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.
CHOOSE MAILJET IF:
Marketing teams needing collaborative email design with transactional delivery.
CHOOSE SUBSTACK IF:
Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailjet better than Substack in 2026?
Substack scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Mailjet's 86/100. Mailjet stands out for "real-time email collaboration" and is best for Marketing teams needing collaborative email design with transactional delivery. Substack is known for "free to start, no upfront cost" and suits Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Mailjet and Substack?
Both offer free plans. Mailjet starts at $15/mo and Substack at 10% of revenue. When comparing value, consider that Mailjet (founded 2010, 150K+ users) includes features like Collaborative email editor, Transactional API, Segmentation. Substack (founded 2017, 35M+ readers users) offers Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Mailjet and Substack?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Mailjet excels at Collaborative email editor, Transactional API, Segmentation, while Substack focuses on Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions. Mailjet's main advantage is "real-time email collaboration", though some users note "automation less powerful than rivals". Substack's strength is "free to start, no upfront cost", but "10% cut of revenue" can be a drawback. Both serve the Email Marketing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Mailjet to Substack?
Switching between Mailjet and Substack is possible since both operate in the Email Marketing space. Before migrating, export your data from Mailjet and check Substack's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Collaborative email editor, Transactional API, Segmentation (Mailjet) vs Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions (Substack). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Mailjet or Substack?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. Mailjet is ideal for Marketing teams needing collaborative email design with transactional delivery, while Substack fits Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.