beehiiv vs Substack
beehiiv and Substack are both email marketing tools. beehiiv is aimed at creators and small businesses, while Substack is aimed at creators. Both have a free plan.
Newsletter platform with growth tools and ad network
Newsletters, podcasts and paid subscriptions
| Pricing | Freemium · $59 | Free |
| Starting price | $59/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators, Small businesses | Creators |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2021 | US · 2017 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose beehiiv if
Newsletter publishers and media operators who want growth and ad monetization in one platform.
- Best-in-class growth features for newsletters
- Monetization through ads, boosts and paid tiers built in
- Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers
Look elsewhere if: Course creators selling products (Kit), SaaS lifecycle email (Customer.io), or stores (Klaviyo).
Choose Substack if
Writers starting out who value discovery and simplicity over control.
- Zero upfront cost; discovery network
- Simple, writer-focused
- Payments and hosting handled
Look elsewhere if: Publications with revenue that want to keep 100% and own SEO (Ghost, beehiiv).
beehiiv vs Substack pricing
beehiiv
- Free$0Up to 2,500 subscribers, no credit card
- Lite$59/mo$49/mo billed annually; price at 1,000 subs, scales with list
- Pro$109/mo$95/mo billed annually; at 1,000 subs; removes beehiiv branding
- EnterpriseCustom
Substack
- Free$0Free publishing, no monthly fee
- Paid subscriptions10%/of revenuePlus credit card processing fees
beehiiv · Key features
- Referral program and Boosts to grow subscribers
- Ad Network connecting sponsors with publications
- Hosted website with archive, custom domain and SEO controls
- Polls, surveys and segmentation
- Paid subscriptions and premium tiers via Stripe
- Automations, A/B subject tests and 3D analytics
Cons
- Paid plans needed for most growth and monetization features
- Not an e-commerce or lifecycle marketing tool
- Fewer integrations than mature email platforms
Substack · Key features
- Newsletter, podcast and video publishing
- Paid subscriptions with free and paid tiers
- Recommendations network, Notes and Chat
- Hosted site with custom domain
- Mobile app for readers
- Basic analytics and import tools
Cons
- 10% revenue share
- Limited design and SEO control
- Platform dependence
beehiiv vs Substack: FAQ
Do beehiiv and Substack have a free plan?
Yes, both beehiiv and Substack have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, beehiiv or Substack?
beehiiv lists small businesses as a core audience, while Substack is aimed more at creators.