Beehiiv: what it is, how it works and how it differs from Substack
Create, grow and monetize your newsletter: what it offers and when another tool is a better fit
Beehiiv is a platform for creating, sending and monetizing a newsletter, with its own website, growth tools and an advertising network.
Here’s where it comes from, how it works, what each plan includes, how it differs from Substack and when an email marketing tool is a better fit for you.
What is Beehiiv?
It’s a platform built for creators and media outlets that make a living from their newsletter. The brand is written in lowercase, “beehiiv”, with two i’s.
It was founded by Tyler Denk, Benjamin Hargett and Jake Hurd, three former members of the Morning Brew team.
There, they had built the technology that sent that newsletter to millions of readers. They launched the platform in November 2021 with one idea: to give any creator the tools of a major media outlet.
It grew fast. By April 2024 it was already sending over a billion emails a month and had around 20,000 active newsletters, according to Tubefilter.
Its customers include media outlets such as Time and Newsweek.
How does Beehiiv work?
Getting started is similar to other creator platforms:
- You create a publication and choose its name and domain.
- You write each issue in its editor and send it to your subscribers.
- Each issue is also published on your newsletter’s website.
- To grow and earn money, you turn on its tools: recommendations, ads, paid subscriptions or digital product sales.
What sets it apart is step 4. The platform focuses on growing your list and monetizing it, not just on sending.
Does your list already have more than 2,500 subscribers?
With Mailrelay you can send for free to up to 20,000 contacts and 80,000 emails a month, from your own domain and with human support on every plan.
How much does Beehiiv cost?
It has a free plan and several paid ones. Since October 2026 they are called Free, Lite, Pro and Enterprise, replacing the old Launch, Scale and Max plans.
| Plan | Up to | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 2,500 subscribers | Getting started and trying the platform |
| Lite | 100,000 subscribers | Creators who want to grow and monetize |
| Pro | 250,000 subscribers | Teams with several publications (up to 10) |
| Enterprise | No fixed limit | Large media outlets, with custom pricing |
The price of the paid plans goes up with your number of subscribers. On Lite and Pro it takes no cut of your paid subscriptions, although you do pay the payment processor’s fees.
Check the current prices on its website, as it changed them in October 2026.
Beehiiv or Substack?
Both let you publish a newsletter and charge for it. The difference lies in how they make money and how much control they give you.
| Beehiiv | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| How it makes money | Monthly fee based on your subscribers | Commission on what you charge |
| Design | More design and website options | Almost the same design for everyone |
| Growth | Recommendations, referral program and ads | Recommendation network and reading app |
| Free plan | Up to 2,500 subscribers | No subscriber limit |
| Profile | Creators and media outlets that treat it as a business | Writers and journalists |
If your newsletter is free and small, Substack works out cheaper. If you charge a fair amount or want more control, the fixed fee usually pays off.
Beehiiv pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built-in growth tools | The free plan is capped at 2,500 subscribers |
| Advertising network for monetization | The price rises quickly as your list grows |
| No commission on paid subscriptions on Lite and Pro | On the free plan, your newsletter carries the platform’s branding |
| Website, podcast and community in one place | Built for creators, not for stores or businesses |
| Detailed statistics for each issue | More limited email marketing features than a dedicated tool |
When is an email marketing tool a better fit?
Beehiiv is built for a person or a media outlet to grow an audience. An email marketing tool is built for a business to talk to its customers.
If you sell products or services, you need features that aren’t its priority.
For example, automations such as the welcome email or abandoned cart, segmentation by purchases, A/B testing and transactional emails via SMTP or API.
Volume matters too. With 10,000 contacts you’re already on one of its paid plans. With a tool that has a generous free account, you can keep sending without paying.
How do you move from Beehiiv to Mailrelay?
Your list is yours and you can export it on every plan:
- In your account, go to Settings and open Export Data.
- Choose the full subscriber export and download the CSV.
- In Mailrelay, import the contacts into a new group.
- Set up your sending domain and create a subscription form to keep adding readers.
Keep one thing in mind: Mailrelay doesn’t handle paid subscriptions. If you charge your readers, you’ll need to keep billing on another platform or on your website.
How Mailrelay helps you
With Mailrelay you send your newsletter from your own domain, with your design, automations and open and click statistics.
The free account includes up to 80,000 emails a month and 20,000 contacts. That’s eight times more contacts than Beehiiv’s free plan, and with no commission on what you sell.
You get automatic unsubscribe and bounce handling, double opt-in and human support on every plan. See the details on our pricing page.
Bring your Beehiiv list to Mailrelay
Import your subscribers in minutes and send with human support on every plan.
Frequently asked questions about Beehiiv
Some common questions before choosing the platform.
Is Beehiiv free?
It has a free-forever plan, with a maximum of 2,500 subscribers. The most complete growth and monetization features are on the paid plans.
Is Beehiiv available in Spanish?
Yes, you can write your newsletter in Spanish and your readers will receive it in Spanish. The platform is based in the United States and its prices are in dollars.
Can I export my subscribers?
Yes. From Settings, under Export Data, you can download a CSV with your subscribers on any plan.
Is Beehiiv suitable for businesses?
It works for a media outlet or for a brand’s content newsletter. For selling, with automations and purchase-based segments, an email marketing tool is a better choice.