Comparing Beehiiv vs Substack for serious newsletter growth
For most creators building a newsletter as a business, Beehiiv is the stronger pick in 2026 thanks to its growth tools, referral program, and ad network, while Substack still wins for writers who want the simplest possible publishing and a built-in reader network. Substack takes a 10% cut of paid subscriptions; Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee and lets you keep 100% of your revenue. Your choice comes down to whether you want maximum control and growth features or minimum friction.
Beehiiv
Beehiiv was built by former Morning Brew operators, and it shows in the growth and monetization tooling: a native referral program, a recommendation network, and an ad network that pays you to run vetted sponsorships. You keep 100% of subscription revenue on paid plans, which adds up fast against Substack's cut. The main drawback is that the cheapest paid tiers gate features like the ad network and remove Beehiiv branding only higher up.
Try Beehiiv free →| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beehiiv | Creators building a newsletter business | Up to 2,500 subscribers | ~$39/mo (Scale ~$99/mo) | Try free |
| 2 | Substack | Writers who want zero setup | Free until you charge readers | Free (10% of paid subscriptions) | Try free |
| 3 | Kit | Creators selling digital products | Up to 10,000 subscribers | ~$25/mo | Try free |
| 4 | MailerLite | Budget-conscious creators | Up to 1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/mo | ~$10/mo | Try free |
| 5 | AWeber | Small businesses and local lists | Up to 500 subscribers | ~$15/mo | Try free |
| 6 | Ghost | Publishers who want to self-host | None (self-host is free to run) | ~$9/mo (managed Ghost Pro) | Try free |
Beehiiv
Creators building a newsletter businessBeehiiv was built by former Morning Brew operators, and it shows in the growth and monetization tooling: a native referral program, a recommendation network, and an ad network that pays you to run vetted sponsorships. You keep 100% of subscription revenue on paid plans, which adds up fast against Substack's cut. The main drawback is that the cheapest paid tiers gate features like the ad network and remove Beehiiv branding only higher up.
Pros
- Keep 100% of paid subscription revenue, no per-sale cut
- Built-in referral program, recommendations, and paid ad network
- Generous 2,500-subscriber free tier to start
Cons
- Key monetization features are locked to higher paid tiers
- Email design editor is less flexible than dedicated ESPs
Substack
Writers who want zero setupSubstack is the fastest way to start publishing and get paid, with nothing to configure and a reader network that can send real discovery traffic through recommendations and Notes. The catch is the 10% platform fee on every paid subscription, on top of Stripe fees, which becomes expensive as you scale. It also gives you little control over deliverability, design, or automation.
Pros
- Truly free until you start charging readers
- Discovery through Notes, recommendations, and the app
- No technical setup to send your first issue
Cons
- 10% cut of all paid subscriptions on top of payment fees
- Minimal automation, segmentation, and design control
Kit
Creators selling digital productsKit (formerly ConvertKit) is built for creators who sell courses, ebooks, or memberships and need automation to do it. Its visual automation builder, tagging, and commerce features go well beyond what Substack or Beehiiv offer for selling. The free plan is roomy at 10,000 subscribers, though automations and some features stay locked until you upgrade to a paid plan.
Pros
- Powerful visual automations and subscriber tagging
- Sell digital products and paid subscriptions natively
- 10,000-subscriber free plan is unusually generous
Cons
- Automations are limited or off on the free plan
- Email templates look plain out of the box
MailerLite
Budget-conscious creatorsMailerLite offers a clean drag-and-drop editor, automations, landing pages, and a paid-newsletter option at a price that undercuts almost everyone. It is a strong middle ground if you want more control than Substack without Beehiiv's higher entry price. Support on the free tier is limited, and the newer AI and advanced automation features cost extra.
Pros
- Among the lowest paid pricing at ~$10/mo
- Clean editor with automations and landing pages included
- Approval process keeps deliverability reputation strong
Cons
- Manual account approval can delay your first send
- Live chat and phone support reserved for paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is Beehiiv or Substack cheaper?
It depends on your revenue. Substack is free to start but takes 10% of every paid subscription plus Stripe fees, so a paid newsletter costs more as it grows. Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee (around $39/mo to start as of 2026) and takes no cut, so it becomes cheaper once your paid revenue is meaningful. For a free newsletter under 2,500 subscribers, both cost nothing.
Do Beehiiv and Substack have free plans?
Yes to both, with different limits. Beehiiv's free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with core sending and basic features. Substack is free indefinitely and only charges when you start collecting paid subscriptions, at which point it takes 10%. Neither charges you to send a free newsletter to a modest list.
Can I migrate my newsletter from Substack to Beehiiv?
Yes, and Beehiiv has a guided importer built specifically for Substack migrations that moves your subscribers, posts, and paid subscribers. You export your subscriber list and content from Substack, then import through Beehiiv's tool. Paid subscribers usually need to be transferred through Stripe, so plan for a short overlap and communicate the switch to readers.
Which is better for making money from a newsletter?
Beehiiv, for most people building a business, because you keep 100% of subscription revenue and can earn through its ad network and referral program. Substack is fine if you only want paid subscriptions and prefer simplicity, but its 10% cut eats into earnings at scale. If you sell courses or products, Kit's automation and commerce tools beat both.
Which should a beginner with no audience choose?
If you want the absolute least friction and some built-in discovery, start on Substack, since it is free and needs no setup. If you plan to grow deliberately with referrals and want to avoid switching later, Beehiiv's free 2,500-subscriber tier is a better long-term home. Both let you start today without paying anything.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Beehiiv if you are treating your newsletter as a business and want referral growth, monetization, and no revenue cut on paid plans. Choose Substack if you write for a living, want zero setup, and value discovery through its recommendation network more than advanced tooling. If you also sell products or run a small business alongside your list, AWeber or MailerLite will serve you better than either.
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