Curated vs EmailOctopus Comparison 2026
Curated is built specifically for the link-roundup newsletter, where the whole editor exists to collect items through the week and assemble them into an issue. EmailOctopus is a plainer, general email tool that undercuts almost everyone on price. Their free tiers alone make the case: EmailOctopus gives 2,500 subscribers against Curated's 1,500, though EmailOctopus keeps its own branding on every send until you pay.
A link newsletter that stays free to 1,500 readers
Email for lists that outgrew a free plan
At a glance
- EmailOctopus starts cheaper, at $9.
- Both have a genuinely free tier.
Side by side
Curated | EmailOctopus | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (they differ) | From $39 | From $9 |
| Pricing model | Free plan, paid tiers | Free plan, paid tiers |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Monthly or annual | Monthly or annual |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| API | Not stated | Yes |
Curated
A link newsletter that stays free to 1,500 readers
Curated is built for the link-roundup newsletter specifically, so collecting items through the week, writing a line under each and having the issue assemble itself is the main path rather than a workaround. Every feature including sending is on the free tier, which runs to 1,500 subscribers. Pricing then moves in published subscriber bands rather than on a quote. Anybody writing long-form essays rather than curating links will find the whole editor shaped around a job they are not doing.
Our note
Take this over a general newsletter tool only if your format really is curation, because the collection workflow is the product and everything else here is ordinary. The band table is worth reading before you grow: the jump from free to $39 arrives at 1,501 subscribers, which is sooner than most people plan for.
EmailOctopus
Email for lists that outgrew a free plan
EmailOctopus is deliberately plain: lists, campaigns, a drag-and-drop editor and simple automations, at a price that undercuts the platforms with more features than a newsletter needs. The free tier goes to 2,500 subscribers with the company's branding on every send. Reports only go back 30 days until you pay, which is the free plan's real limit rather than the subscriber count.
Why people weigh these two
- EmailOctopus instead of Curated
- EmailOctopus is the budget general option at $9 with its own free plan, built for lists that outgrew a free tier elsewhere.
- Curated instead of EmailOctopus
- Curated is built specifically for link newsletters and stays free to 1,500 readers, a smaller free cap than EmailOctopus' 2,500 but aimed at a narrower format. Paid starts at $39.
Which one should you pick
Pick Curated if your newsletter really is a roundup of links with a line of commentary under each, since the collection workflow is the entire product. The free tier carries every feature including sending to 1,500 subscribers, and the jump to paid arrives sooner than a general tool: $39 a month once you pass that number.
Pick EmailOctopus for a lower bill and a bigger free tier if the newsletter is not specifically a link roundup. Free covers 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails a month, with EmailOctopus branding on every send and reports capped at 30 days. Pro removes both, starting at $9 a month billed yearly, well under Curated's $39, though EmailOctopus asks for the annual commitment to reach that rate.
Common questions
- Which has the bigger free plan, Curated or EmailOctopus?
- EmailOctopus, at 2,500 subscribers against Curated's 1,500, though EmailOctopus keeps its own branding on every send and limits reports to 30 days until you upgrade. Curated's free plan carries every feature including sending, with no branding limitation stated.
- Is EmailOctopus cheaper once I outgrow the free plan?
- Yes on the sticker price: Pro starts at $9 a month, though that rate requires paying yearly. Curated moves to $39 a month, billed monthly with no annual option stated, the moment a list passes 1,500 subscribers.
- Why would I pick Curated over a cheaper general tool like EmailOctopus?
- Because the whole editor is shaped around collecting links through the week and assembling them into an issue automatically. EmailOctopus is a plain campaign and automation tool with no equivalent workflow, so a link roundup becomes a manual layout job there.
- Does either tool help with newsletter sponsorships?
- Curated has sponsorship slots built into the format, matching how most link newsletters actually make money. EmailOctopus is a general campaign tool with no equivalent sponsorship feature, since it is not built around any one newsletter format.
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.