How to use the Email Stack Scorecard

DraftLane companion guide · October 2026

The Email Stack Scorecard is a one-page PDF (US$49) that answers a narrow question: should you stay on your current email/newsletter tool, or switch — and if so, to which of two options?

This page explains what to prepare, what you receive, and how to use the recommendation without turning it into another research rabbit hole. It is the product companion to our free comparisons — not a substitute for verifying live vendor pricing.

What the Scorecard is (and isn’t)

Sometimes the honest answer is stay. That is a successful Scorecard.

Before you order — send three facts

When you buy the Scorecard, include:

1. Current ESP — e.g. Mailchimp, Substack, Kit, beehiiv, MailerLite, GetResponse, other.
2. Approx list size — active subscribers/contacts you actually email (not vanity CRM total if you know it).
3. Primary job — pick one: newsletter as product, courses/coaching sequences, or cheap reliable email.

Optional but useful: monthly ESP bill today, whether you sell paid subscriptions or digital products, and any hard constraint (must have webinars, must stay free N months, etc.).

What’s on the one-page PDF

1. Score (0–10)

Four dimensions, plus an overall:

• Cost fit — plan vs your size and next milestone
• Deliverability risk — practical flags (domain auth, dusty lists), not a magic inbox score
• Growth / monetization fit — does the tool match newsletter vs courses vs promo list?
• Ease for solopreneur — UI tax for a one-person operator

2. Stay vs switch

One of: stay / switch within ~30 days / switch when list > N — plus a one-line reason.

3. Top 2 tools

Option A and B with price band at your size, why it fits, and one watch-out. We draw from the same landscape as our public guides: Kit, beehiiv, MailerLite, GetResponse, Mailchimp, Substack — only the ones that fit your job.

4. Three decision criteria

The three factors that matter most for you, so you can re-check if a vendor changes pricing next quarter.

5. Next step

A concrete action: what to export, what to authenticate, or what to stop researching.

How to act on the result

If the call is stay

• Archive inactive contacts if your bill counts them.
• Fix SPF/DKIM/DMARC if flagged.
• Rebuild one automation that actually makes money — ignore feature FOMO.

If the call is switch

1. Export CSV with consent/status; segment engaged readers.
2. Authenticate the new sending domain before large sends.
3. Rebuild one critical journey and your main form first.
4. Warm engaged segments; keep the old account read-only 30–60 days.
5. Only then cancel overlapping SaaS.

Use free guides for deep dives after the call — e.g. Kit vs MailerLite, beehiiv vs Substack, 2026 buying guide — without reopening the whole decision.

Why $49 (honest framing)

A wrong Lite/Creator/Essentials plan for twelve months usually costs more than $49. The Scorecard compresses research into a single recommendation for your numbers. It is not therapy, legal advice, or a promise that opens will rise.

We may earn affiliate commissions if you later buy a tool we mention — that does not change the stay recommendation when staying is rational. Disclosure.

FAQ

How fast do I get the PDF?
Typically within a few business days after payment and a clear brief. Complex stacks may need one clarifying email.

Can I get a Scorecard for an agency client?
Yes — send their ESP, size, and job. One Scorecard = one primary stack.

Do you implement the switch?
Not in the $49 product. The PDF tells you what to do; migration labor is yours (or a hire).

What if I disagree?
Use the three criteria and price bands to pressure-test. You’re the operator — the Scorecard is a decision aid.