Business software · Comparison
beehiiv vs Substack
beehiiv starts at $49/mo billed yearly; Substack has a free plan and no paid price captured. Prices checked 9 Oct 2026.
Email and newsletters
Newsletter platform with website, paid subscriptions, ad network and recommendations, priced by subscriber count.
$49/mobilled yearly. Free plan too
Checked Screenshot of the pricing page (opens in a new tab)Visit beehiiv (no commission) (opens in a new tab)Email and newsletters
Newsletter and subscription platform that is free to use and takes a 10% cut of paid subscription revenue.
Freefree plan, no paid price captured
Checked Screenshot of the pricing page (opens in a new tab)Visit Substack (no commission) (opens in a new tab)Side by side
| beehiiv | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan, paid from $49.00/mo (term: 1 year). Price checked . | Free plan available. |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 2,500 subscribers | Yes, publishing is free |
| API | Yes, on every plan including Free | Not captured |
| SSO available on | Enterprise | Not captured |
| Platform fee on sales | 0% take rate on paid subscriptions (paid plans) | 10% of paid subscription revenue, plus card processing fees |
Both are Researched from public pricing and specifications; neither has been hands-on tested.
Fees versus subscriptions
The two charge in opposite ways. Substack is free to use and keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue, on top of card fees. beehiiv charges a monthly subscription. On 9 October 2026 Lite cost $49 a month billed yearly at 1,000 subscribers, and beehiiv lists a 0% take rate on paid subscriptions.
Lite costs $588 a year. Substack's 10% cut costs more than that once paid subscriptions bring in about $5,900 a year. That works out to roughly 98 subscribers at $5 a month.
Read the full reviews: beehiiv review and Substack review.