beehiiv
Newsletter platform built for growth and ads.
beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a website, referral programme, recommendations and an ad network built in, aimed at newsletters that want to grow and earn from sponsors.
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Is beehiiv worth it?
beehiiv is worth it for newsletter writers who want to grow quickly and earn from sponsors, since referrals, recommendations, a website and an ad network are built in. The free plan is a real starting point. The catch is that automations are lighter than in email-marketing tools like Kit or ActiveCampaign, and advanced features sit on higher plans.
The short version
- Best for
- Newsletters that plan to grow fast and sell sponsorships.
- Made for
- Newsletter writers, podcasters, YouTubers
- Free plan
- Yes
- How it charges
- Free plan, then monthly plans by subscriber count. Prices change often; check the current plans on beehiiv’s site.
Good at
- Referral programme and recommendations built in
- Ad network for sponsorship revenue
- Newsletter website included
Where Nub hesitates
- Automations less deep than email-marketing tools
- Advanced features on higher plans
Pick beehiiv if
- You want a referral programme and recommendations without plugging in other tools.
- You plan to earn from sponsors and want access to an ad network.
- You want a newsletter website and email in one place, starting on a free plan.
Skip it if
- Your business runs on detailed automations and segments; ActiveCampaign or Kit goes deeper.
- You want an open-source site you can self-host; Ghost fits that.
- You need many advanced features but do not want to move to a higher plan.
How beehiiv helps a newsletter grow and make money
beehiiv is built around one idea: a newsletter is a media business. When you sign up you get an editor, a newsletter website with a public archive, and sign-up forms you can place on that site or embed elsewhere. You write a post, choose whether it goes to email, the web or both, and send. Issues published to the web double as pages, which helps old issues keep finding readers through search and links.
The growth features are what set it apart. A referral programme rewards readers who bring in friends, and a recommendations system lets you suggest other newsletters at sign-up while they suggest yours. For a writer starting from zero, this can matter more than design or automation depth. On the money side, beehiiv runs an ad network that places sponsors in newsletters, so you can earn before you are big enough to sell sponsorships yourself. Eligibility and terms for the ad network can change, so check the current rules.
In a creator stack, beehiiv often replaces both a website and an email tool for writers. YouTubers and podcasters use it as the newsletter that sits next to the show, with a link in every description. If you sell courses with complex funnels, you may still want a dedicated email automation tool alongside it.
Compared with Substack, beehiiv gives you more control over growth and monetisation and does not depend on a reader app for discovery. Compared with Kit, it leans towards publishing and sponsorships, while Kit leans towards automations and selling your own products. Ghost is the pick if you want an open-source site with no revenue share.
beehiiv vs similar tools
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | How it charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| beehiiv | Newsletters that plan to grow fast and sell sponsorships. | Yes | Free plan, then monthly plans by subscriber count |
| Kit | Creators who sell products and want automations. | Yes | Free plan, then monthly plans by subscriber count |
| Substack | Writers starting a paid newsletter with no upfront cost. | Yes | Free; percentage of paid subscription revenue |
| Ghost | Publishers who want a real website and no revenue share. | No | Monthly hosted plans by members, or self-hosted |
| MailerLite | Creators on a budget who want automations. | Yes | Free plan, then monthly plans by subscriber count |
beehiiv FAQ
Is beehiiv free?
Yes. beehiiv has a free plan that lets you publish a newsletter and website up to a subscriber limit. Paid plans, priced by subscriber count, add more growth and monetisation features. Limits change, so check the current pricing page.
Is beehiiv good for YouTubers?
Yes, it works well as the newsletter beside a channel. You get a sign-up page to link from video descriptions and a web archive of every issue. The ad network can also add income from the newsletter itself.
beehiiv vs Substack: what is the difference?
Substack is free to start and takes a share of paid subscription revenue, and its app helps readers discover writers. beehiiv uses monthly plans by subscriber count and focuses on growth tools like referrals, recommendations and an ad network. beehiiv gives more control; Substack gives more built-in discovery.
Can I export my subscribers from beehiiv?
Yes, you can export your subscriber list from beehiiv. Your list belongs to you, which means you can move to another platform if needed. Check the export options in your settings for posts and other data.
Does beehiiv have automations?
Yes, beehiiv supports automations such as welcome sequences. They are less deep than in email-marketing tools built around automation, such as ActiveCampaign. If your funnels are complex, compare carefully before switching.
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Alternatives
- Kit · Creators who sell products and want automations.
- Substack · Writers starting a paid newsletter with no upfront cost.
- Ghost · Publishers who want a real website and no revenue share.
- MailerLite · Creators on a budget who want automations.
- Mailchimp · Creators who also run a shop and want e-commerce integrations.
- GetResponse · Creators who run webinars as part of their marketing.
