Substack vs Beehiiv
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
S
Substack
Start a newsletter. Build a community.
4.3
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.3
vs4.6
Starting Price
Free
vsFree
Pricing Model
free
vsfreemium
Feature
Substack
Beehiiv
Newsletter publishing
Paid subscriptions
Podcast hosting
Notes social feed
Discovery network
iOS/Android apps
Newsletter sending
Referral program
Analytics
Ad network
Segmentation
Substack Pros
- Zero upfront cost — pay only when you earn
- Large built-in discovery network
- Extremely simple setup
- Notes feed drives cross-promotion
- Podcast hosting included
Substack Cons
- 10% revenue cut becomes expensive at scale
- Limited design and customization options
- Less control over subscriber data
- Can't easily move off platform
Beehiiv Pros
- Best monetization tools of any newsletter platform
- Built-in ad network for passive revenue
- Referral system drives organic growth
- Strong analytics and subscriber insights
- No revenue cut on paid subscriptions
Beehiiv Cons
- Free plan limited to 2500 subscribers
- Less established than Mailchimp or ConvertKit
- Scale plan expensive for smaller newsletters