LetterTrader is a marketplace dedicated to buying and selling newsletters and newsletter-related assets, such as a newsletter sold together with a website, a community or a small product. It’s the new name of Duuce, one of the first newsletter marketplaces, which launched in 2020 and rebranded as LetterTrader at the end of 2025. For side hustlers, it’s a way to sell a newsletter you’ve grown, or to buy an audience instead of building one from zero.
At a glance
| What it is | A marketplace for newsletters and related assets |
| How you earn | Selling a newsletter you built, or buying and growing one |
| Seller cost | A listing fee; check current terms before listing |
| Buyer cost | Free to browse listings |
| Who it’s for | Newsletter creators, media buyers and niche entrepreneurs |
| Where it works | Online, worldwide |
How it works
Sellers list a newsletter with its niche, subscriber count, platform, monetisation and revenue, plus an asking price. Buyers browse, contact sellers and make offers. LetterTrader also runs a weekly newsletter that features listings, price drops and acquisition tips, which gives sellers extra exposure. Listings range from small local newsletters with a couple of thousand subscribers to large lists with six-figure audiences.
Fees
LetterTrader charges sellers a listing fee, and its launch offers have included discounts on listings for newsletters valued under $5,000. As Duuce, the marketplace also used a success fee on completed sales. Fees for the rebranded platform aren’t clearly published in what we could check, so confirm the listing fee and any success fee on LetterTrader before you list.
How newsletters are valued
Newsletters usually sell on a multiple of annual profit when they make money, often in the range of two to four times, with list size, engagement, niche and monetisation moving the number. Newsletters with no revenue sell on the value of the audience: an engaged niche list can be worth a lot to a buyer who can monetise it. Buyers look closely at engagement, so a smaller list with readers who open and click is often worth more than a big, quiet one.
What buyers check
Serious buyers ask for active subscriber counts, open and click rates over several months, where subscribers came from, the geographic split and any commitments with sponsors or recommendation partners. They also want to know whether readers follow the writer personally or the content itself, since a newsletter built on one person’s voice is harder to transfer. Screen-share verification of the email platform dashboard is common.
Selling tips
Clean your list before selling: remove inactive subscribers so your numbers are honest. Document how you run the newsletter, including tools, schedule, sponsors and templates. Be clear about what’s included, such as the domain, archive, social accounts and website. Offer a short handover, including an introduction email to readers from you, which reduces unsubscribes after the sale.
Buying tips
Check the niche is one you can write for or hire for. Verify metrics on the platform dashboard, not screenshots. Plan the transition: keep the tone for the first editions, then introduce changes gradually. Make sure the list can be moved to your own sending platform without breaking its rules.
Getting started
If you’re selling, prepare three months of metrics, a revenue history and a description of your audience. If you’re buying, subscribe to LetterTrader’s weekly newsletter to see deal flow and typical asking prices before you make offers.
Owen’s take
Newsletters are one of the few online assets where buying an audience can save years of work. LetterTrader is the specialist place for them, and its weekly deal list is useful even if you’re just watching the market. Verify everything, though, because a list is only worth what its readers actually do.
Who it suits
It suits newsletter creators ready to sell and buyers who want a niche audience to grow or monetise. It suits less well anyone who can’t verify email metrics or doesn’t plan to keep writing for the audience.
Similar options
- Flippa has a newsletter category alongside other online assets.
- Acquire.com also lists newsletter businesses.
- Investors Club is a free marketplace for profitable online businesses.
- Microns lists small online projects, including newsletters.
More options are in Business Marketplaces and Writing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Specialist marketplace for newsletters
- Weekly deal newsletter gives listings extra reach
- Listings across many niches and sizes
Cons
- Current fee terms not clearly published
- Metrics still need careful verification
- Smaller buyer pool than general marketplaces
FAQ
What happened to Duuce?
Duuce rebranded as LetterTrader at the end of 2025.
How much does it cost to sell on LetterTrader?
Sellers pay a listing fee. Check the current listing fee and any success fee on LetterTrader before listing.
How are newsletters valued?
Profitable newsletters often sell at two to four times annual profit; unmonetised ones on audience size and engagement.
Can I sell a newsletter with no revenue?
Yes. Buyers pay for engaged audiences in niches they can monetise.
What metrics should I prepare?
Active subscribers, open and click rates for recent months, traffic sources, geography and any revenue history.
