Update: Due to the shutdown of Revue, we have no choice but to update this page. So, instead of giving you a guide on how to integrate Viral Loops with Revue, we’re making it worth your while by providing Revue Newsletters Alternatives instead. We hope this helps!
When Twitter announced the shutdown of Revue in December 2022, content creators and publishers faced an urgent challenge: finding a new home for their newsletters.
The January 2023 closure forced thousands of writers to quickly migrate their audience members and content to alternative platforms.
Twitter’s decision to shut down the popular newsletter tool Revue left many scrambling for solutions.
As an avid creator who used to send newsletters through Revue, I understand the frustration this sudden shutdown caused.
Revue had become an essential tool for audience building and content monetization, particularly for journalists and independent writers who relied on the service to build customer relationships through regular newsletter content.
Many users were left searching for the best alternatives to continue their email marketing efforts after Revue shutting down.
The tight timeline put pressure on creators to export their email lists before the final shutdown date in January while simultaneously evaluating new options that would maintain their audience connections.
This article examines the top Revue alternatives for different needs and business sizes after Twitter shut down this popular platform.
We’ll compare key features, pricing models, and each option’s unique benefits to help you make an informed decision about which newsletter platform will best replace Revue for your specific needs.
The Rise and Fall of Revue Newsletters
Revue began as an independent newsletter tool that gained popularity for its intuitive interface and seamless audience-building capabilities.
The software quickly became a favorite among writers and content creators who appreciated how easy it was to send beautiful newsletters that strengthened customer relationships.
Twitter acquired the platform in January 2021 as part of its expansion strategy.
The company aimed to diversify revenue streams beyond advertising through paid newsletter subscriptions—a move that initially seemed promising for both Twitter and creators looking to monetize their content through paid newsletter offerings.
The integration allowed writers to easily convert Twitter followers into email subscribers.
Many creators appreciated how the newsletter tool Revue simplified creating visually appealing newsletters without requiring technical expertise.
The service offered flexibility with both free distribution and paid newsletter options that helped establish direct customer relationships.
However, everything changed when Twitter underwent new ownership in late 2022.
Elon Musk’s arrival led to reassessment of many Twitter features and acquisitions, with Revue ultimately landing on the chopping block. The decision to place Revue on the chopping block was part of broader cost-cutting measures at Twitter.
The January announcement about Revue shutting down devastated journalists and creators who had built their audience connections through the platform.
How Twitter Blue Influenced Revue’s Fate
Initially, Twitter Blue subscription service seemed complementary to Revue’s newsletter tools.
The premium offering aimed to enhance user experience while providing additional revenue streams for the company and its creators who wanted to send newsletters directly to their audience.
However, Twitter’s business strategy shifted dramatically under the new management, with long-form content tools becoming less prioritized as the company explored different monetization approaches.
Despite its popularity among writers, Revue lost its strategic position in Twitter’s ecosystem after Elon Musk’s takeover.
Many users speculated about connections between Twitter Blue changes and Revue shutting down.
The focus shifted toward keeping audience engagement within Twitter rather than through external emails, which is a fundamental change in philosophy about content distribution.
As one of the big players in social media, Twitter’s decision to shut down Revue impacted how creators distribute newsletter content.
Twitter Blue evolved to focus on features like verified accounts and reduced ads, leaving email marketing tools outside the company’s core subscription strategy. Many content creators had to quickly find new ways to send newsletters to their followers.
What to Look For in Revue Alternatives
When evaluating Revue alternatives, several key features deserve attention:
- Reader management
How easily can you import, segment, and communicate with your audience?
Look for platforms that offer simple list migration, audience segmentation by engagement levels, and automated tagging to personalize your messaging based on subscriber behavior.
- Monetization options
What revenue models are available (subscriptions, sponsorships, etc.)?
The best alternatives offer flexible options including tiered subscription plans, one-time purchases for premium content, and integrated sponsorship opportunities that don’t require external tools.
- Analytics
What insights will you gain about engagement and reader behavior?
Prioritize platforms that show open rates, click-through performance, subscriber growth trends, and content engagement patterns to help refine your newsletter strategy over time.
- Template options
How customizable and professional are the designs?
Seek out providers with a variety of mobile-responsive templates that maintain consistent branding while allowing easy customization without requiring design skills or coding knowledge.
- Integration capabilities
Does it connect with your existing tools and workflows?
Evaluate how well each platform integrates with your website, social media accounts, payment processors, and other marketing tools to create a seamless ecosystem for your content.
- Pricing
Is there a free tier, and how does pricing scale as your audience grows?
Compare pricing structures carefully, as some platforms charge based on subscriber counts while others focus on email volume or premium features, creating significant cost differences as you scale.
For creators just starting out, free plans are available on most alternative platforms. As your audience grows, pricing typically scales based on list size or email volume.
Social media integration varies across different newsletter providers, so look for solutions that help convert followers to mailing list members through simple sign-up forms.
6 Revue Newsletter Alternatives
With the criteria in mind, let’s explore the most promising alternatives that have emerged since Revue’s shutdown.
The Writer-Focused Alternative: Substack
Substack quickly emerged as one of the best alternatives for writers seeking a new newsletter home after Twitter shut down Revue.
What makes this newsletter platform particularly attractive is its elegant balance of simplicity and monetization potential for paid newsletter creators.
The platform combines email newsletters with straightforward website publishing and subscription features.
Writers keep 90% of subscription earnings while Substack takes a 10% commission—a revenue model that has attracted numerous high-profile journalists and content creators looking for direct income after Revue shutting down.
For those not ready to charge readers, Substack provides free accounts that allow creators to build an audience before implementing paid newsletter tiers.
The setup process takes minutes, and importing your email list from Revue requires just a few clicks through your account dashboard.
Where Substack truly shines is in its focus on written content rather than complex marketing features.
The platform lets you create and send newsletters with clean, minimalist design that puts your writing front and center, which resonates with creators who prioritize newsletter content over flashy visuals.
Many former Revue users appreciate how easily they can create and send beautiful newsletters through Substack.
However, the limited template options might disappoint those seeking highly customized visual experiences for their blog or newsletter content.
Dedicated Newsletter Powerhouses: Beehiiv and Ghost
Beehiiv has rapidly gained traction among former Revue users who need specialized newsletter tools with growth potential.
Founded by former Morning Brew team members, Beehiiv brings expertise in growing newsletter audiences at scale.
What sets Beehiiv apart are its advanced analytics and revenue optimization features. Users can track granular reader behavior and adjust content strategy based on detailed performance metrics.
The platform excels at helping creators monetize through multiple streams—subscriptions, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
Ghost offers a more comprehensive publishing ecosystem beyond newsletters. This open-source platform combines robust blog functionality with email delivery in one integrated system.
Having used Ghost myself for client projects, I’m continually impressed by its flexibility and independence—users own their content and audience data without third-party restrictions.
Both platforms provide flexible pricing models. Ghost charges a flat monthly fee for its managed service (or you can self-host for free if technically inclined), while Beehiiv offers a generous free tier for creators just starting out.
Ghost’s robust API allows for custom integrations with other business tools, making it popular among startups and established publications seeking long-term solutions.
Comprehensive Marketing Tools: Brevo, Mailchimp, and HubSpot
For those seeking broader marketing capabilities beyond what Revue offered, several comprehensive platforms stand out.
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) delivers robust email marketing capabilities alongside SMS, chat, and CRM features.
Its competitive pricing structure bases costs on email volume rather than list size, making it particularly cost-effective for growing audiences with lower engagement rates.
Many publishers choose Brevo specifically because of this pricing advantage.
Mailchimp remains the industry standard with its extensive template library and user-friendly interface.
The service provides detailed engagement analytics and integrates with countless third-party tools.
Free plans allow sending up to 1,000 emails monthly, making it accessible for those just starting their newsletter journey.
Small business owners particularly appreciate Mailchimp’s straightforward interface and reliable delivery.
HubSpot integrates newsletter functionality within its comprehensive marketing automation platform.
While more expensive than dedicated newsletter tools, HubSpot connects your email campaigns with referral marketing,website tracking and sales pipelines—ideal for businesses using newsletters as part of a larger marketing strategy.
Brevo’s generous “Forever Free” plan (300 emails daily without list size limits) makes it popular for transitioning from Revue, while Mailchimp’s reputation for deliverability gives confidence to creators concerned about their emails reaching subscribers’ inboxes.
Leveraging Referral Marketing to Accelerate Newsletter Growth
After migrating from Revue, one of the most effective strategies for rebuilding and expanding your audience is implementing a newsletter referral program.
Referral marketing transforms your existing subscribers into advocates who introduce your newsletter to potential new readers—often resulting in growth rates 2-3 times faster than traditional acquisition methods.
Referral programs work exceptionally well for newsletters because they leverage trust between connections.
When a friend or colleague recommends a newsletter, the recipient is significantly more likely to subscribe and remain engaged compared to finding it through advertising or social media.
The fundamental components of an effective newsletter referral program include:
- Simple sharing mechanisms: One-click sharing options that make it effortless for readers to refer others
- Tracking capabilities: Systems that attribute new subscriptions to specific referrers
- Incentive structures: Rewards that motivate subscribers to participate (exclusive content, early access, recognition, or physical rewards)
- Automated workflows: Processes that handle referral tracking and reward fulfillment without manual intervention
Several tools can help implement referral programs for your newsletter.
Viral Loops is one popular option that integrates with most major newsletter platforms, offering customizable referral campaigns and detailed analytics dashboards.
Its standout features include milestone-based reward systems and pre-built templates specifically designed for newsletter growth.
The integration process varies depending on your chosen newsletter platform:
- Most email marketing tools require API authentication (locating credentials in your account settings)
- Some platforms offer direct integrations through app marketplaces
- For custom setups, webhook connections can enable real-time tracking of referrals
Most of the email marketing/newsletter programs we mentioned above are integrated with Viral Loops. Find our full list of integrations here.
When designing your referral program, consider what truly motivates your audience.
For professional newsletters, exclusive interviews or early access to content might be more effective than discounts.
For community-focused newsletters, public recognition of top referrers often drives significant participation.
A well-executed referral program can help you not only recover the audience lost in the Revue shutdown but potentially grow far beyond your original subscriber base by tapping into the networks of your most engaged readers.
You can quickly regain your publication momentum with a referral program made through Viral Loops. Try it for free today.
How to Migrate Your Newsletter from Revue
Though Revue has now shut down completely, these migration steps remain valuable for anyone transitioning between newsletter platforms:
- Export your audience data by visiting the subscribers section in your account
- Download your CSV file containing your email list (links typically expire within 30 minutes after the request)
- Import to your new service using their import wizard to map data fields correctly
- Recreate your design elements to maintain visual consistency for your readers
- Clean your contact list by removing inactive emails to improve delivery rates and engagement metrics
- Inform your readers about the transition to prevent confusion and maintain continuity
This migration offers a perfect opportunity to refresh your newsletter strategy and potentially clean up your subscriber list. Remember to send a clear announcement to subscribers explaining the change and any new features they might expect.
Moving Forward After Revue
Twitter’s decision to shut down Revue created challenges for writers who relied on the service, but it also opened doors to newsletter platforms with enhanced features and greater stability.
Several excellent alternatives now offer comparable or improved functionality for your email marketing needs after Revue shut down.
Whether you prioritize simplicity (Substack), growth tools (Beehiiv), ownership (Ghost), or comprehensive marketing features (Brevo, Mailchimp, HubSpot), there’s an alternative that aligns with your specific needs and business size.
Many writers have successfully migrated after Revue shutting down in January 2023.
Template variety ensures you can create and send beautiful newsletters that maintain a professional appearance without design expertise.
Most providers offer customizable templates that match different content styles and purposes, helping you maintain the visual identity you established with Revue.
This is particularly important for businesses and publications that relied on Revue’s tools.
Consider how each alternative handles links and accounts to track engagement.
Access to comprehensive analytics helps optimize your newsletter content for better audience response—something that’s crucial for growing your readership over time.
Many platforms offer better tools than what Revue provided to help you understand how subscribers interact with your content.
Remember that the customer relationships you built remain valuable regardless of platform.
The email list you built on Revue can continue to grow on your new platform with consistent quality content and delivery.
Your followers can still receive your content when you send newsletters through a new provider.
Many services now include podcast hosting alongside traditional newsletter functionality.
This integration helps creators expand their content offerings beyond written formats—a powerful way to diversify your audience engagement strategies after Twitter shut down your previous platform.
The newsletter landscape continues to evolve, with the big players constantly improving their features while keeping pricing accessible for creators of all sizes.
Your specific goals and business size will determine which alternative best serves your needs going forward after Twitter’s decision to put Revue on the chopping block.
We hope this guide helps you find the perfect alternative for your newsletter journey after Revue.
The transition may require some adjustment, but the opportunity to enhance your newsletter capabilities and continue to send newsletters to your audience makes the effort worthwhile.
Many journalists and writers have successfully made the switch and found they could better serve their subscribers with these new tools.
