Beehiiv vs Substack: Newsletter Platforms Compared

Overview

Beehiiv and Substack are both newsletter platforms, but with different philosophies. Beehiiv focuses on growth tools and business features. Substack emphasizes simplicity and network effects. The choice depends on your growth strategy.

The quick answer: serious newsletter businesses should choose Beehiiv. Writers testing ideas or valuing simplicity might prefer Substack.

Key Differences

Pricing Model

Substack is free to use and takes 10% of paid subscription revenue. If you have no paying subscribers, you pay nothing. The risk is low to start.

Beehiiv has free and paid tiers. The free tier includes 2,500 subscribers. Paid tiers ($49-99/mo) unlock growth features. No percentage taken from revenue.

Growth Tools

Beehiiv has built-in referral programs, recommendation networks, and ad monetization. These tools are specifically designed to grow newsletters. The Boost network helps cross-promote with other newsletters.

Substack relies on network effects and recommendations within the Substack ecosystem. Less active growth tooling, but the Substack brand can help discovery.

Customization

Beehiiv offers more customization options. Custom domains, website design, and branding flexibility. Your newsletter can have its own identity.

Substack has limited customization. All Substacks look similar. You are building within their platform rather than your own brand.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Choose What

Choose Beehiiv if:

• You are building a serious newsletter business
• You want active growth tools
• Customization and branding matter
• You prefer flat pricing over revenue share
• You want ad monetization options

Choose Substack if:

• You are testing a newsletter idea
• Simplicity is paramount
• You want zero upfront costs
• Substack network effects benefit your niche
• You value the Substack brand association

For SaaS Startups

If you are building a SaaS product (not a newsletter business), neither Beehiiv nor Substack is appropriate for product email. Use Sequenzy for SaaS email marketing with billing integration. You can run a separate company newsletter on Beehiiv or Substack alongside your product email.

The Bottom Line

For serious newsletter businesses, Beehiiv offers more growth tools and keeps 100% of your revenue at scale. The referral programs and ad network can meaningfully accelerate growth.

For writers testing ideas or preferring simplicity, Substack removes friction. Start free, build an audience, and decide later if the 10% is worth the convenience.