# Mailing List Software (2026)

> Mailing list software compared: discussion list managers like GNU Mailman, Sympa and Google Groups, and announcement or newsletter list software like Listmonk, Broadcast and Mailchimp. Which kind you need, and the self-hosted options for each.

Source: https://sendbroadcast.net/mailing-list-software

"Mailing list software" means two different things, and picking the wrong kind is the most common mistake.

- **Discussion lists.** Members email the list and everyone receives it, like a group conversation by email. Replies go to the whole list. Think open-source project lists or a club's members list.
- **Announcement lists.** One sender, many readers. You write a newsletter or an update and send it to subscribers, who can unsubscribe but don't reply to everyone. This is what most businesses mean.

## Discussion list software

| Tool | Hosting | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GNU Mailman 3 | Self-hosted, free | The standard for open-source projects. Web archives, moderation, digests. Needs a mail server you run. |
| Sympa | Self-hosted, free | Common at universities. Strong on large numbers of lists and permissions. |
| Google Groups | Hosted, free | The easiest start. Works as an email list and a web forum. |
| Groups.io | Hosted, free and paid | A modern hosted list service with calendars, files and wikis. |

If members need to talk to each other by email, use one of these. Newsletter tools don't relay replies to the whole list.

## Announcement and newsletter list software

| Tool | Hosting | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Listmonk](https://sendbroadcast.net/compare/broadcast-vs-listmonk) | Self-hosted, free | A fast, lean mailing list manager. Lists, templates and campaigns, no automations. |
| [Sendy](https://sendbroadcast.net/compare/broadcast-vs-sendy) | Self-hosted, about $69 once | Sends only through Amazon SES. |
| Broadcast | Self-hosted, $250 once | Lists, segments, sequences with branching, double opt-in, an API. Sends through SES, Postmark, Mailgun or any SMTP. |
| [MailerLite](https://sendbroadcast.net/compare/mailerlite-pricing) | Hosted, monthly | Inexpensive, with a website builder. |
| [Mailchimp](https://sendbroadcast.net/compare/mailchimp-pricing) | Hosted, monthly | The best-known, with a large integration directory. Priced by contact. |

We make Broadcast, so weigh that row accordingly.

## What to look for in announcement list software

**Double opt-in and clean unsubscribes.** Confirmed sign-ups protect your sender reputation, and Gmail and Yahoo require one-click unsubscribe on bulk mail.

**Bounce and complaint handling.** The software should stop mailing addresses that bounce or complain, automatically. Otherwise your sending gets paused.

**Choice of sending service.** Self-hosted tools send through a provider like Amazon SES. Being able to switch providers keeps you in control of cost and deliverability.

**Segments and automation.** Plain lists are enough for one newsletter. Once you want welcome sequences or to email only part of a list, you need segments and automations.

**Your own data.** Hosted tools keep your list on their servers. Self-hosted tools keep it in your database.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free mailing list software?

For discussion lists, GNU Mailman or Google Groups. For newsletters and announcements, Listmonk if you can run a server, or Kit's free plan if you want it hosted.

### Can I run a mailing list on my own server?

Yes. Mailman and Sympa run discussion lists. Listmonk, Sendy and Broadcast run announcement lists and send through a service like Amazon SES, so you don't have to run your own mail server for delivery.

### Do I need my own mail server for self-hosted mailing list software?

For discussion lists like Mailman, you usually do, because the list has to receive mail. For announcement lists, no: the software sends through a provider such as Amazon SES or Postmark.

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## Related

- [7 best self-hosted email marketing tools](/self-hosted/email-marketing-software)
- [The cheapest email marketing platforms](/cheapest-email-marketing)
- [Double opt-in, explained](/blog/double-opt-in-email-marketing)
- [How to run several newsletters](/how-to/run-multiple-newsletters)