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beehiiv vs Substack
A detailed comparison to help you choose between beehiiv and Substack.
Last reviewed:
| Feature | beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly Cost (Solo) | $0 | $0 |
| Target Audience | solopreneurs, creators | creators |
| Verified | Yes | No |
| Solo-Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Editorial Rating | 4.4/5 | 4/5 |
| Categories | Email Marketing, Marketing | Email Marketing |
| Key Features | Newsletter editor, Growth tools (referral, recommendations), Monetization (ads, subscriptions), Custom domains, Analytics | Free newsletter publishing, Paid subscription support, Podcast hosting, Community features (Notes, Chat), Custom domains |
| Free Tier Quality | excellent | excellent |
Pricing Breakdown
beehiiv
Launch (Free): 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends. Scale: $49/month (automation, A/B testing). Max: $99/month (advanced analytics). Enterprise: custom.
Substack
Free to use. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30. Custom domains: free.
Integration Overlap
Shared Integrations (1)
Stripe
Only in beehiiv (7)
ZapierMakeWordPressGoogle AnalyticsFacebook PixelAPI accessCustom HTML embeds
Only in Substack (4)
Twitter/XCustom domainsRSS feedsSubstack app
Use Case Fit
beehiiv
- * Newsletter creation and publishing
- * Subscriber growth and referral programs
- * Newsletter monetization (ads, boosts)
- * Audience building and engagement
- * Newsletter business analytics
Substack
- * Newsletter business creation
- * Paid content and subscription publishing
- * Audience building for writers
- * Podcast distribution
- * Community building for creators
beehiiv
Pros
- + Built for newsletter businesses
- + Excellent growth tools
- + Ad network for monetization
- + Generous free tier (2,500 subscribers)
Cons
- - Newsletter-focused (not full email marketing)
- - Fewer automation features than ConvertKit
- - Newer platform
Substack
Pros
- + Completely free to start (Substack takes 10% of paid subs)
- + Built-in audience network and discoverability
- + No technical setup required
- + Mobile reader app drives engagement
Cons
- - 10% revenue cut on paid subscriptions
- - Very limited design customization
- - No advanced email automation
- - You don't fully own your audience data
Editorial Verdict
Both tools are evenly matched on price. beehiiv excels at newsletter creation and publishing, while Substack is stronger for newsletter business creation.
Sarah Chen
Editor-in-Chief