I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty ruthless about unsubscribing. The last think anyone needs is another daily email promising to “revolutionize your workflow” or “unlock hidden potential.”

But these five newsletters (plus a bonus runner-up) have survived multiple inbox purges because they actually deliver something useful like a genuinely fresh perspective or an entertaining read.

Here are the faves we currently can’t live without:

Marketing Dive
Wide-ranging marketing gold in practically every issue. We especially value the intel on big-brand creative, clever AI usage, activations and video to see how we can apply them on a smaller scale for growing companies.

Austin Kleon
The author’s “10 things worth sharing this week” format is consistently a breath of creative fresh air. Includes ear-worthy playlist recommendations, must-read books and peeks behind the scenes at Kleon’s artistic process, latest inspirations and family life. A testament to the power of authenticity.

SmartBrief on Marketing Innovation
Great tidbits on what’s new in the marketing tech world, fresh tactics, brand collabs and notable content creators. SmartBriefs is a goldmine across a gazillion industries, not just marketing. Go down the rabbit hole here.

Marketing Brew
Touts itself as “marketing news you’ll actually want to read,” which is not an overstatement. Brand strategies, sports marketing, programmatic and more — it’s all here, in a quick-read format that keeps you in the loop without the noise.

Exploding Topics
This Semrush creation puts you way ahead of the competition with recaps of under-the-radar trends worth exploring — new product categories, tech, strategies and sentiments destined for greatness. The free version is fantastic, so imagine the power of the paid version.

Runner Up (of the moment): Pivot 5
This AI-focused gem is a daily quick scan of major players, start-ups and smart use cases to spark your next big idea. The old-school graphics are easy on the eyes and an oddly comforting relief from the usual neon gradients and AI-generated chaos.

The best newsletters aren’t trying to be everything to everyone
They pick a lane, stay consistent and respect your time. These six have earned their inbox real estate. Give ‘em a shot — and if they’re not your thing, the unsubscribe button is a quick fix.

Shameless plug: Our monthly Creative Compost must be doing something right — it’s got a gratifying 56% open rate and pretty impressive click-throughs. Take it for a test drive.