What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about newsletter publishing platforms — measured weekly across 5 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-01 · 70 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 70 AI answers · Window: Jul 4, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (39 answers)
Across 70 sampled AI answers from 5 engines, Substack is recommended most often — appearing in 82.9% of recommendations, followed by Beehiiv (80%) and Ghost (68.6%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 5 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Substack substack.com Best for: AI recommends Substack most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (100% of those answers) | 82.9% 95% CI 72.4–89.9% 58 mentions · avg pos 3.5 first pick 37.9% | — | GROK 100%GEMINI 66.7%CHATGPT 85.7%CLAUDE 85.7%PERPLEXITY 90.5% | Claim |
| 2 | Beehiiv beehiiv.com Best for: AI recommends Beehiiv most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (100% of those answers) | 80% 95% CI 69.2–87.7% 56 mentions · avg pos 3.7 first pick 26.8% | — | GROK 100%GEMINI 76.2%CHATGPT 85.7%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 81% | Claim |
| 3 | Ghost ghost.org Best for: AI recommends Ghost most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (100% of those answers) | 68.6% 95% CI 57–78.2% 48 mentions · avg pos 4.8 first pick 8.3% | — | GROK 85.7%GEMINI 66.7%CHATGPT 85.7%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 57.1% | Claim |
| 4 | Kit kit.com Best for: AI recommends Kit most when buyers ask “best newsletter platforms for independent creators and writers” (91.7% of those answers) | 62.9% 95% CI 51.1–73.2% 44 mentions · avg pos 6.2 first pick 2.3% | — | GROK 71.4%GEMINI 61.9%CHATGPT 57.1%CLAUDE 50%PERPLEXITY 71.4% | Claim |
| 5 | ConvertKit convertkit.com Best for: AI recommends ConvertKit most when buyers ask “best newsletter platforms for independent creators and writers” (100% of those answers) | 58.6% 95% CI 46.9–69.4% 41 mentions · avg pos 5.8 first pick 0% | — | GROK 100%GEMINI 76.2%CHATGPT 71.4%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 33.3% | Claim |
| 6 | MailerLite mailerlite.com Best for: AI recommends MailerLite most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (100% of those answers) | 55.7% 95% CI 44.1–66.8% 39 mentions · avg pos 4.8 first pick 10.3% | — | GROK 57.1%GEMINI 76.2%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 21.4%PERPLEXITY 71.4% | Claim |
| 7 | Mailchimp mailchimp.com Best for: AI recommends Mailchimp most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (100% of those answers) | 28.6% 95% CI 19.3–40.1% 20 mentions · avg pos 6.7 first pick 10% | — | GROK 57.1%GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 21.4%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 8 | Stripe stripe.com Best for: AI recommends Stripe most when buyers ask “best tools for launching a paid newsletter business” (91.7% of those answers) | 27.1% 95% CI 18.1–38.5% 19 mentions · avg pos 5.1 first pick 21.1% | — | GROK 71.4%GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 21.4%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 9 | Buttondown buttondown.email Best for: AI recommends Buttondown most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (83.3% of those answers) | 27.1% 95% CI 18.1–38.5% 19 mentions · avg pos 6.9 first pick 31.6% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 23.8%CHATGPT 42.9%CLAUDE 21.4%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 10 | Brevo brevo.com Best for: AI recommends Brevo most when buyers ask “lightweight alternatives to full-featured newsletter and email tools” (58.3% of those answers) | 20% 95% CI 12.3–30.8% 14 mentions · avg pos 4.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 7.1%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 11 | Flodesk flodesk.com Best for: AI recommends Flodesk most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (50% of those answers) | 20% 95% CI 12.3–30.8% 14 mentions · avg pos 8.6 first pick 0% | — | GROK 42.9%GEMINI 23.8%CLAUDE 7.1%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 12 | GetResponse getresponse.com Best for: AI recommends GetResponse most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (50% of those answers) | 17.1% 95% CI 10.1–27.6% 12 mentions · avg pos 7.6 first pick 8.3% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 33.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 13 | Sender sender.net Best for: AI recommends Sender most when buyers ask “best tools for launching a paid newsletter business” (58.3% of those answers) | 17.1% 95% CI 10.1–27.6% 12 mentions · avg pos 8.6 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 33.3% | Claim |
| 14 | Sendinblue sendinblue.com Best for: AI recommends Sendinblue most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (41.7% of those answers) | 12.9% 95% CI 6.9–22.7% 9 mentions · avg pos 4.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 15 | ActiveCampaign activecampaign.com Best for: AI recommends ActiveCampaign most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (58.3% of those answers) | 11.4% 95% CI 5.9–21% 8 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 12.5% | — | GEMINI 19%CLAUDE 7.1%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 16 | Listmonk listmonk.app Best for: AI recommends Listmonk most when buyers ask “lightweight alternatives to full-featured newsletter and email tools” (33.3% of those answers) | 10% 95% CI 4.9–19.2% 7 mentions · avg pos 7.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 9.5%CHATGPT 28.6%CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 17 | AWeber aweber.com | 8.6% 95% CI 4–17.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 8.2 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 23.8% | Claim |
| 18 | Keila | 8.6% 95% CI 4–17.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 8.4 first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 28.6%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 19 | Patreon patreon.com Best for: AI recommends Patreon most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (41.7% of those answers) | 8.6% 95% CI 4–17.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 8.8 first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 9.5%CLAUDE 7.1%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 20 | WordPress wordpress.com Best for: AI recommends WordPress most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (58.3% of those answers) | 8.6% 95% CI 4–17.5% 6 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 7.1%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 21 | Email Octopus emailoctopus.com Best for: AI recommends Email Octopus most when buyers ask “lightweight alternatives to full-featured newsletter and email tools” (50% of those answers) | 7.1% 95% CI 3.1–15.7% 5 mentions · avg pos 5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 22 | Sequenzy sequenzy.com Best for: AI recommends Sequenzy most when buyers ask “best newsletter platforms for independent creators and writers” (58.3% of those answers) | 7.1% 95% CI 3.1–15.7% 5 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 23 | Skrapp skrapp.io Best for: AI recommends Skrapp most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 24 | TinyLetter tinyletter.com | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 5.3 first pick 25% | — | GROK 14.3%CHATGPT 28.6%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 25 | Moosend moosend.com | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 7.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19% | Claim |
| 26 | Constant Contact constantcontact.com | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 7.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19% | Claim |
| 27 | Mautic mautic.org | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 10.3 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 28.6% | Claim |
| 28 | Postmark postmarkapp.com | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions · avg pos 13 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%CHATGPT 28.6%CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 29 | HubSpot CRM hubspot.com Best for: AI recommends HubSpot CRM most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 30 | Zapier AI zapier.com Best for: AI recommends Zapier AI most when buyers ask “lightweight alternatives to full-featured newsletter and email tools” (50% of those answers) | 5.7% 95% CI 2.2–13.8% 4 mentions first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 31 | Mighty Networks mightynetworks.com Best for: AI recommends Mighty Networks most when buyers ask “which newsletter platform is best for writers who also want a community” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 32 | Notion notion.so Best for: AI recommends Notion most when buyers ask “best tools for launching a paid newsletter business” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 33 | Podia podia.com Best for: AI recommends Podia most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (41.7% of those answers) | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 34 | Canva canva.com | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 9.7 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 35 | Google Analytics analytics.google.com | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 10.3 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 36 | Make make.com | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 10.3 first pick 33.3% | — | GROK 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3%CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 37 | Campaign Monitor campaignmonitor.com Best for: AI recommends Campaign Monitor most when buyers ask “alternatives to the dominant newsletter publishing platforms” (33.3% of those answers) | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 38 | SendPortal sendportal.io | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions · avg pos 12.5 first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 39 | X (Twitter) x.com | 4.3% 95% CI 1.5–11.9% 3 mentions first pick 0% | — | GROK 28.6%GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 40 | Storyflow storyflow.so | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 41 | MailPoet mailpoet.com | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 42 | Audienceful | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 5.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 43 | Circle circle.so | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 5.5 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 44 | Drip drip.com | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 5.5 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 45 | Gumroad gumroad.com | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 46 | Loop | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 47 | Mailjet mailjet.com | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions · avg pos 14.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 48 | SendGrid sendgrid.com | 2.9% 95% CI 0.8–9.8% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3%CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 49 | Fika fika.bar | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 1 first pick 100% | — | GROK 14.3% | Claim |
| 50 | FreshLearn freshlearn.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 1 first pick 100% | — | GROK 14.3% | Claim |
| 51 | Mailcoach mailcoach.app | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 7.1% | Claim |
| 52 | Woodpecker woodpecker.co | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3% | Claim |
| 53 | Airtable airtable.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 6 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 54 | Discord discord.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 6 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3% | Claim |
| 55 | Figma figma.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 56 | Memberful memberful.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 57 | Tally tally.so | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 58 | Typeform typeform.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 59 | Baremetrics baremetrics.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 60 | Plausible plausible.io | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 61 | Wix wix.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | GROK 14.3% | Claim |
| 62 | Calendly calendly.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 63 | Klaviyo klaviyo.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 64 | PayPal paypal.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 65 | PayWhirl paywhirl.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 66 | Recurly recurly.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 67 | Descript descript.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 68 | Riverside.fm riverside.fm | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 12 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 14.3% | Claim |
| 69 | Revue getrevue.co | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions · avg pos 18 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8% | Claim |
| 70 | Behind the Rankings behindrankings.com | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 71 | Loops.so loops.so | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 72 | SourceForge sourceforge.net | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 73 | Zanfia zanfia.com Best for: AI recommends Zanfia most when buyers ask “best newsletter platforms for independent creators and writers” (33.3% of those answers) | 1.4% 95% CI 0.3–7.7% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 70 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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