Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is Newsletter?
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress is a self-hosted email marketing system built directly into your WordPress dashboard. Created by developer Stefano Lissa, this plugin has been actively maintained for 17 years, making it one of the oldest dedicated newsletter tools on the repository. It currently holds 200,000+ active installs with a 4.6 out of 5 star rating from 1,204 reviews. 81% of those ratings are five-star, while only 5% are one-star, indicating strong satisfaction among its user base. The plugin aims to handle list building, campaign creation, sending, and tracking without requiring third-party services.
Version 9.2.7 was last updated on June 4, 2026, confirming ongoing development. It requires WordPress 6.1 or higher and PHP 7.0 or higher. The plugin offers unlimited subscribers and unlimited newsletters with no per-contact fees, which is a clear differentiator from SaaS-based email platforms.
Key Features of Newsletter
- Drag-and-Drop Composer – Build fully responsive emails using a visual editor, with classic and raw HTML modes for experienced users.
- Subscription Forms – Deploy popups, inline post-injected forms, widgets, shortcodes, and raw HTML forms to capture subscribers anywhere on your site.
- Advanced Targeting – Segment audiences using list combinations (all in, at least one, not in), custom fields, and language filters for precise campaign delivery.
- One-Click Unsubscribe – Fully compliant with Google and Yahoo requirements for email deliverability, included by default.
- Delivery Speed Control – Fine-tune sending from 12 emails per hour up to your server’s maximum capacity to avoid spam flags.
- Detailed Statistics – Track opens and clicks for every newsletter sent, with per-campaign reporting visible inside WordPress.
- Multilanguage Ready – Works with Polylang, WPML, and TranslatePress for sites serving audiences in multiple languages.
- Free Addons Ecosystem – Extend functionality with official addons for WP registration, SMTP delivery, archive pages, locked content, and REST API integration.
Who Should Use Newsletter?
Newsletter suits website owners who want direct control over their email data and sending infrastructure. It is ideal for bloggers, small businesses, and membership sites that manage subscriber lists under 200,000 contacts. The plugin requires basic WordPress familiarity for setup but does not demand coding skills for standard use. Users comfortable with SMTP plugins and server configuration will get the most from its delivery speed controls and diagnostic pages.
Given its 200,000+ install base and 17-year history, the plugin serves a broad audience from hobbyists to commercial site operators. It replaces paid services like Mailchimp or ConvertKit for those who prefer a one-time plugin cost and unlimited sending tied to their own server. The free addons for locked content and user registration integration make it especially useful for course creators and community sites.
Installation & Setup
Install the plugin from the WordPress repository like any other plugin. After activation, a setup wizard guides you through basic configuration including sender name, email address, and subscription form placement. The drag-and-drop composer is ready immediately, and you can connect an external SMTP service using the free SMTP Addon for better deliverability.
Support & Community
Support response data from the last two months shows 8 open threads and 2 resolved, giving a 25% resolution rate. This suggests the developer responds to a portion of queries but may have slower turnaround times for less common issues. The 4.6 rating from 1,204 reviews indicates that most users find the plugin stable enough to not require frequent support. The plugin’s 17-year lifespan and active update cycle (version 9.2.7 in June 2026) demonstrate long-term reliability. Documentation is available via the official Newsletter site, and the plugin’s Facebook page provides additional community interaction for troubleshooting and feature requests.
Pros & Cons
- Unlimited subscribers and newsletters are included with no cap, supporting list growth beyond 200,000 active installs.
- Drag-and-drop composer with responsive templates enables quick email creation, backed by a 4.6/5 rating from over 1,200 reviews.
- Detailed open and click tracking per newsletter provides actionable metrics for campaign analysis.
- Built-in GDPR compliance with double opt-in, privacy checkbox, and spam checks via Akismet or captcha reduces legal risk.
- Delivery speed can be fine-tuned from 12 to unlimited emails per hour, adapting to server capacity.
- Only 2 of 8 support threads are resolved (25% rate), indicating limited free support responsiveness.
- Advanced features like A/B testing, automation workflows, and transactional emails require paid add-ons or external services.
- The free version lacks built-in integration with major email service providers (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid), relying on SMTP plugins for delivery.
- No native visual automation builder for autoresponder sequences, limiting complex drip campaigns without coding.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 6.1+
- Requires PHP
- 7.0+
- First Released
- 2009 (17+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 8 threads — 25% resolved
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Newsletter is free and available on WordPress.org. It has been actively maintained since its first release in 2009, with over 200K active installs.
Newsletter has over 200,000 active installs, making it a widely used email marketing solution for WordPress. Its high adoption reflects its reliability and feature set.
Newsletter requires WordPress 6.1 or higher to function properly. This ensures compatibility with modern WordPress features and security standards.
Yes, Newsletter was last updated on June 4, 2026, and has been actively developed since its first release in 2009. The current version is 9.2.7, showing consistent updates over time.
Newsletter requires PHP 7.0 or higher. Most hosting environments meet this requirement, so you can install it without compatibility issues.
Support is available through the Newsletter Forum, though recent statistics show 8 support threads in 2 months with a 25% resolution rate. For best results, consult the official documentation for detailed guidance.
Yes, Newsletter works out of the box and includes drag-and-drop email composer, popup forms, and pre-built templates. You can start building lists and sending emails without technical expertise.
Key features include unlimited subscribers and newsletters, drag-and-drop composer, detailed click and open tracking, double opt-in, GDPR compliance, and advanced targeting with list combinations. It also supports multilingual plugins like Polylang and WPML.