Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TinyLetter VS Mailtrain

Compare TinyLetter VS Mailtrain and see what are their differences

TinyLetter logo TinyLetter

Start writing your own newsletter instantly.

Mailtrain logo Mailtrain

Self-hosted open-source Mailchimp clone
  • TinyLetter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-18
  • Mailtrain Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

TinyLetter features and specs

  • Simplicity
    TinyLetter is very user-friendly and simple to use, making it ideal for beginners who are new to email marketing.
  • Free Service
    TinyLetter is free to use, which makes it an attractive option for individuals or small businesses that have a limited budget.
  • Personal Touch
    The platform allows for a more personal approach to email marketing, as it focuses on direct communication and has a more intimate feel.
  • No Ads
    Emails sent through TinyLetter are free of advertisements, providing a cleaner and more professional appearance.
  • Owned by Mailchimp
    Being owned by Mailchimp offers a guarantee of reliability and a quality backend infrastructure to handle email distributions.

Possible disadvantages of TinyLetter

  • Limited Features
    TinyLetter lacks advanced features such as segmenting, automation, detailed analytics, and advanced integrations, which are available in other email marketing tools.
  • Basic Design Options
    TinyLetter provides limited design customization options, which might not be sufficient for users looking to create highly branded emails.
  • Subscriber Limit
    The service is not suitable for larger email lists as it primarily supports smaller subscriber bases—typically around 5,000 subscribers.
  • No A/B Testing
    TinyLetter does not offer A/B testing capabilities, which can be a significant drawback for those who wish to optimize their email content and send times.
  • No Phone Support
    Customer support is limited to email and articles, with no phone support available, which could be challenging for those needing immediate assistance.

Mailtrain features and specs

  • Open Source
    Mailtrain is open source, meaning the source code is freely available. Users can modify and customize the software according to their needs without any licensing fees.
  • Cost-Effective
    As an open-source solution, Mailtrain can be a cost-effective choice, especially for small businesses and startups, since it does not require subscription fees typically associated with commercial email marketing services.
  • Self-Hosting
    Mailtrain can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their email marketing infrastructure and data, and reducing reliance on third-party services.
  • Feature-Rich
    Mailtrain offers numerous features such as list management, segmentation, custom fields, automation, and analytics, providing a comprehensive solution for email marketing campaigns.
  • Integration Options
    Mailtrain integrates with various services like Amazon SES and others, allowing users to leverage powerful email sending capabilities and improve email deliverability.

Possible disadvantages of Mailtrain

  • Technical Setup
    Setting up and maintaining Mailtrain can require a significant level of technical expertise, including familiarity with Linux servers, databases, and mail servers, which might be a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Users are responsible for maintaining the Mailtrain installation, including updates, security patches, and backups, which can add to the operational burden.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, Mailtrain may have limited formal support compared to commercial email marketing services. Users might need to rely on community support or external consultants for help.
  • User Interface
    While functional, Mailtrain's user interface might not be as polished or user-friendly as those offered by some commercial email marketing platforms, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Scalability Concerns
    Self-hosting Mailtrain might present scalability challenges as the user base or email sending volume increases, requiring more robust infrastructure and more complex management.

Analysis of TinyLetter

Overall verdict

  • If you are looking for a basic, no-frills email newsletter service and have a relatively small subscriber list, TinyLetter is a good option. Its simplicity and focus on content without unnecessary features make it an attractive choice for personal newsletters or small projects.

Why this product is good

  • TinyLetter is considered good because it offers a simple, user-friendly platform for sending newsletters. It is particularly favored for its minimalistic design and straightforward functionality, which makes it easy for users without technical expertise to create and share content with their subscribers. The platform is free to use, which is appealing for users who are just starting out or have modest needs.

Recommended for

  • Individuals or small organizations with a simple newsletter need
  • Users who prioritize ease of use and minimal setup
  • Content creators wanting a direct and personal touch with subscribers
  • People who prefer a free service for smaller-scale email campaigns

Analysis of Mailtrain

Overall verdict

  • Mailtrain is a good choice for those who want a cost-effective and flexible email marketing solution. Its open-source nature allows for a high degree of customization, making it an excellent option for developers and companies with specific needs that differ from conventional SaaS offerings.

Why this product is good

  • Mailtrain is an open-source self-hosted newsletter application that offers robust features for managing email campaigns. It is built on Node.js and uses a MySQL database, providing scalability and efficiency. Features such as support for multiple lists, custom fields, email templates, and advanced automation make it a versatile tool for businesses looking to have full control over their email marketing efforts. Being open-source, it allows for significant customization, which can be appealing to tech-savvy users who prefer to tailor their solutions precisely to their needs.

Recommended for

    Mailtrain is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, developers, and organizations seeking a self-hosted email marketing solution. It is particularly suitable for those who have the technical expertise to manage and customize open-source software or those who want to keep their hosting in-house to ensure data privacy and minimize costs.

TinyLetter videos

REVIEW. Tinyletter (by Mailchimp)

More videos:

Mailtrain videos

Review on the Austrains mailtrain pack

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TinyLetter and Mailtrain)
Email Marketing
70 70%
30% 30
Newsletter Marketing
72 72%
28% 28
Email Marketing Platforms
Email Newsletters
57 57%
43% 43

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TinyLetter and Mailtrain

TinyLetter Reviews

7 Cheaper Mailchimp Alternatives to Consider in 2019
Are just looking for a simple way to stay in touch with fans. For example, TinyLetter is popular with artists and writers. It’s not a good option for businesses, though.
Oh God, It's Raining Newsletters - by Craig Mod
Buttondown is a (somewhat) recently launched NAAS built by a very engaged developer, beautifully designed, that looks like it might be the new TinyLetter. Subscription integrations forthcoming (eating into Substack territory?). This is probably where I’d start if I were starting a public newsletter today.
Source: craigmod.com
The 12 Best Free Email Marketing Apps
If you choose Mailchimp, here are 6 ways to automate your email marketing with Mailchimp. And if you love Mailchimp but just need a super simple, bare-bones option for email newsletters, the brand also offers TinyLetter.
Source: zapier.com
An Alternative for TinyLetter
TinyLetter users were quick to mourn the shutdown of the service. The reactions mostly expressed sadness. TinyLetter’s simplicity and intimacy were strong selling points to the artists, writers and other members of the creative class that relied on it.

Mailtrain Reviews

We have no reviews of Mailtrain yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TinyLetter should be more popular than Mailtrain. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TinyLetter mentions (8)

View more

Mailtrain mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TinyLetter and Mailtrain, you can also consider the following products

MailChimp - MailChimp is the best way to design, send, and share email newsletters.

Listmonk - Send e-mail campaigns from a powerful dashboard. High performance and features packed into one app.

Sendy - Sendy is a self hosted newsletter app that sends emails 100x cheaper via Amazon SES

MailerLite - Affordable Email Marketing Software. Get all features (Segmentation, Automation, A/B testing) for up to 1,000 subscribers & send unlimited emails for free!

Mailman - Mailman is free software for managing electronic mail discussion and e-newsletter lists.

Brevo - Innovative online Email Marketing solution to manage your contacts, create & send your newsletters and track your results. More than 80 000 clients. Best prices and attractive features.