A listmonk alternative with no server and no Postgres
Self-hosted newsletters and campaigns on Cloudflare Workers, D1 and R2, with sending through Cloudflare Email Sending and replies in a real inbox.
Facts checked
The short answer
If you like listmonk but don't want to run a server and a Postgres database, MarkRelay gives you self-hosted newsletters and campaigns on Cloudflare Workers, D1 and R2, with sending built in. listmonk is free and open source (AGPL-3.0, about 24,000 GitHub stars): you run it as a binary or with Docker next to Postgres 12 or later, and connect an SMTP server or sending service. On the smallest setup, one server running Postgres too, listmonk costs less to run; once you add managed Postgres or a mailbox for the replies listmonk does not receive, MarkRelay costs less. MarkRelay is a paid license that installs with a Deploy to Cloudflare button, sends through Cloudflare Email Sending, receives replies through Email Routing into webmail, and updates in one click.
Side by side
| Feature | MarkRelayLicense from $99/yr | listmonkAGPL-3.0 |
|---|---|---|
| How it runs | Cloudflare Workers, D1, R2 and Queues | A binary or Docker on your server, with Postgres 12+ |
| Servers and databases to maintain | None | The server and the Postgres database |
| Sending | Cloudflare Email Sending, built in | An SMTP server or sending service you connect |
| Receiving and replies | Email Routing into webmail; replies matched to the broadcast | No: it sends campaigns only |
| Where subscribers are stored | Your own Cloudflare D1 and R2 | Your own Postgres database |
| License | Paid: $99/yr or $249 once | Free, AGPL-3.0 |
| Updates | One click from the dashboard | You upgrade the binary or container |
| Support | Email, reply within 1 business day | Community |
| Needs | Domains on Cloudflare DNS; Workers Paid to send | A server, Postgres and an SMTP provider |
How it runs
- MarkRelay
- Cloudflare Workers, D1, R2 and Queues
- listmonk
- A binary or Docker on your server, with Postgres 12+
Servers and databases to maintain
- MarkRelay
- None
- listmonk
- The server and the Postgres database
Sending
- MarkRelay
- Cloudflare Email Sending, built in
- listmonk
- An SMTP server or sending service you connect
Receiving and replies
- MarkRelay
- Email Routing into webmail; replies matched to the broadcast
- listmonk
- No: it sends campaigns only
Where subscribers are stored
- MarkRelay
- Your own Cloudflare D1 and R2
- listmonk
- Your own Postgres database
License
- MarkRelay
- Paid: $99/yr or $249 once
- listmonk
- Free, AGPL-3.0
Updates
- MarkRelay
- One click from the dashboard
- listmonk
- You upgrade the binary or container
Support
- MarkRelay
- Email, reply within 1 business day
- listmonk
- Community
Needs
- MarkRelay
- Domains on Cloudflare DNS; Workers Paid to send
- listmonk
- A server, Postgres and an SMTP provider
listmonk facts from its installation and configuration docs and its GitHub repository (license and stars from the GitHub API), checked October 18, 2026. “—” means those pages do not say.
Which one fits you
Choose listmonk if
- You want free, open-source software you can change.
- You already run servers and a Postgres database.
- You want the lowest running cost and are happy to run Postgres on the same server.
- You send very large campaigns through your own SMTP or sending service.
Choose MarkRelay if
- You don't want to run a server, a database or an SMTP setup.
- You also need to receive mail and answer replies in webmail.
- Your domains are already on Cloudflare.
- You want one-click updates and email support.
What a monthly newsletter to 10,000 subscribers costs
| listmonk setup | listmonkFree software on DigitalOcean + Amazon SES | MarkRelayLicense $8.25/mo ($99/yr) + Cloudflare | You savePer month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgres on the same server | $8.20$6 Droplet + $1.20 backups + $1 SES | $15.70$8.25 license + $5 Workers Paid + $2.45 sending | listmonk is $7.50 less |
| Managed Postgres | $23.35$6 Droplet + $1.20 backups + $1 SES + $15.15 Postgres | $15.70$8.25 license + $5 Workers Paid + $2.45 sending | $7.6532% less |
| Managed Postgres, plus a mailbox for replies | $30.35$6 Droplet + $1.20 backups + $1 SES + $15.15 Postgres + $7 Workspace seat | $15.70$8.25 license + $5 Workers Paid + $2.45 sending | $14.6548% less |
Postgres on the same server
listmonk
MarkRelay
Managed Postgres
listmonk
MarkRelay
Managed Postgres, plus a mailbox for replies
listmonk
MarkRelay
MarkRelay: the Annual license ($99/year) spread over 12 months, $8.25 a month whatever the volume, plus the Cloudflare bill: Workers Paid is $5/month with 3,000 sent emails included, then $0.35 per 1,000, and receiving is free. With Lifetime ($249 once), later years cost only the Cloudflare bill. listmonk: a DigitalOcean Basic Droplet (1 GiB, $6/month) with weekly backups (20%), Amazon SES at $0.10 per 1,000 emails, and where noted DigitalOcean's smallest managed PostgreSQL ($15.15/month) and a Google Workspace Business Starter seat ($7/month) to read replies, since listmonk sends campaigns only. Not counted: the time to run the server, upgrade Postgres and listmonk, and set up bounce processing.
How mail flows through your Cloudflare account
Cloudflare receives and sends. MarkRelay is the mailbox in between, running as your own Worker.
Receive
- Senderwrites to support@yourdomain.com
- Email RoutingCloudflare, free on any plan
- MarkRelay Workerfiles it in the mailbox
- Your D1 + R2messages and attachments
Reply
- Webmail or APIa teammate, an app or an agent
- MarkRelay Workerchecks mailbox access
- Email SendingCloudflare, in Workers Paid
- Recipientsees support@yourdomain.com
Common questions
Is there a listmonk alternative that does not need a server or Postgres?
Yes. MarkRelay runs on Cloudflare Workers, D1, R2 and Queues in your own Cloudflare account, so there is no server, container or Postgres database to run. It installs with a Deploy to Cloudflare button.
Is MarkRelay cheaper than listmonk?
It depends on how you host listmonk. For a monthly newsletter to 10,000 subscribers, listmonk on a $6 DigitalOcean Droplet with Postgres on the same server and Amazon SES is about $8.20 a month, less than MarkRelay's $15.70. With managed Postgres it is about $23.35, and with a mailbox to read replies about $30.35. Neither figure counts the time to run the server and upgrades.
Do I need an SMTP server?
No. MarkRelay sends through Cloudflare Email Sending, which is included in Workers Paid ($5/month with 3,000 emails, then $0.35 per 1,000).
Can I move my listmonk subscribers over?
Export your subscribers as a CSV and import them into a broadcast. MarkRelay needs an email column; other columns become variables you can use in the email.
Is MarkRelay open source?
No. It is licensed software: Annual $99/year or Lifetime $249 once. The Source license includes the full source code, which you may modify and deploy for your clients but not distribute.
Keep reading
Own your email stack today
Buy MarkRelay once and run it in your Cloudflare account. MarkRelay adds no per-message or per-seat charge; Cloudflare usage and service limits remain separate.