A detailed comparison of Beehiiv and Substack to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Platform for independent writers to publish and monetize newsletters.
| Plan | Beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Up to 2,500 subscribers | ✓ Free (10% of paid subs) |
| Lowest Paid | $39/mo | Free (10% cut) |
| Enterprise | $99/mo | N/A |
| Feature | Beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter editor | ✓ | — |
| Referral program | ✓ | — |
| Monetization | ✓ | — |
| Recommendations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domains | ✓ | ✓ |
| API | ✓ | — |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Website builder | ✓ | — |
| Ad network | ✓ | — |
| Newsletter publishing | — | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | — | ✓ |
| Podcast hosting | — | ✓ |
| Community features | — | ✓ |
| Notes | — | ✓ |
| Mobile app | — | ✓ |
| Archive | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.5 | ⭐ 4.3 |
Choose Beehiiv if: You need newsletter creators focused on growth. Beehiiv excels with its built for newsletters and growth tools included.
Choose Substack if: You need writers wanting to monetize a newsletter. Substack stands out with its free to start and built-in monetization.
Best free option: Both Beehiiv and Substack offer free tiers. Beehiiv offers "Up to 2,500 subscribers" while Substack offers "Free (10% of paid subs)".
It depends on your needs. Beehiiv is better for newsletter creators focused on growth, while Substack is better for writers wanting to monetize a newsletter. Both are excellent tools rated 4.5 and 4.3 respectively.
Beehiiv starts at $39/mo while Substack starts at Free (10% cut). Both offer free tiers.
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Substack's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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