Email · Head-to-head
Beehiiv vs Substack
Side-by-side review of Beehiiv and Substack for one-person businesses. Pricing, ratings, pros, cons, and which to pick.
Quick verdict
Pick Beehiiv.
Beehiiv edges ahead in our review (4.5/5 vs 3/5). The right pick for most one-person businesses unless you specifically need Substack's strengths.
Newsletter platform built by ex-Morning Brew folks. Better publishing UX than ConvertKit, more monetisation than Substack, and a generous free tier.
The case for
- Generous free tier: 2,500 subscribers, full sending, basic analytics
- Built-in monetisation: ad marketplace, paid subscriptions, Boosts referrals
- Recommendations engine helps you grow via cross-newsletter referrals
The case against
- Email automations are less powerful than ConvertKit/Kit at the high end
- No native course or product hosting; it is a newsletter, not a creator OS
- Paid subscription tier takes a transaction fee on top of Stripe fees
The easiest way to start a newsletter. Also the most expensive long-term, since they take 10% of every paid subscription forever.
The case for
- Genuinely the simplest way to start: write, hit send, you have a newsletter
- Built-in network: Substack Reader can recommend your work to readers of similar publications
- No upfront cost, no subscriber tiers, just write
The case against
- Takes 10% of every paid subscription, forever, on top of Stripe fees
- Limited customisation: every Substack looks like a Substack
- Lock-in is real: exporting subscribers is allowed but their address book is on Substack servers
At a glance
| Beehiiv | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
| Pricing | Free up to 2,500 subscribers; paid plans from $39/mo | Free to start. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue + Stripe fees |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Solopreneur publishers who want to grow a newsletter and eventually monetise it. | Writers starting a newsletter today who want to publish in 10 minutes and figure the rest out later. |
| Last reviewed | March 15, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
Bottom line
Beehiiv
Solopreneur publishers who want to grow a newsletter and eventually monetise it.
Bottom line
Substack
Writers starting a newsletter today who want to publish in 10 minutes and figure the rest out later.
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