Curated alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Curated: built around link digests rather than long essays, and pricing climbs quickly past the free tier. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Curated, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Buttondown currently ranks first.
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Show all 4 alternativesThe best Curated alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Curated alternative for most people
ButtondownCheaper for small lists, with Markdown writing and RSS-to-email.
Best Curated alternative for a free option
GhostFull website and memberships alongside the newsletter.
Best Curated alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
beehiivLarger free tier and stronger growth tools such as referrals and ads.
Best Curated alternative for self-hosting
GhostFull website and memberships alongside the newsletter.
Best Curated alternative for iPhone and Android
SubstackFree at any size with a reader network, in exchange for a share of paid revenue.
Best Curated alternative for working in the browser
ButtondownCheaper for small lists, with Markdown writing and RSS-to-email.
Curated alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Curated?
Buttondown ranks first right now. Cheaper for small lists, with Markdown writing and RSS-to-email. beehiiv and Substack follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Curated?
Yes. Buttondown (free plan + paid), beehiiv (free plan + paid), Substack (free plan + paid) and Ghost (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Curated?
Yes: Ghost. Ghost can also be self-hosted.
Why do people switch from Curated?
The complaints we hear most: built around link digests rather than long essays; pricing climbs quickly past the free tier; fewer design options than Ghost or beehiiv.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Curated, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.