Beehiiv vs Substack: Side-by-Side Comparison (2025)

Choosing between Beehiiv and Substack comes down to your specific use case. Both are legitimate email marketing platforms, but they serve different audiences. Beehiiv is built for newsletter publishers and media operators, while Substack targets writers monetising directly from subscribers. This comparison covers the key differences so you can decide quickly.

Quick Verdict

Overall winner
Beehiiv
Better pricing
Substack
More features
Beehiiv
For beginners
Beehiiv
E-commerce
Beehiiv

Feature Comparison

FeatureBeehiivSubstack
Starting price$39/mo$0/mo
Free planYesYes
Best forNewsletter Publishers And Media OperatorsWriters Monetising Directly From Subscribers
Free subscriber limit2500-1
G2 rating4.74.0

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Beehiiv if...

  • You are primarily focused on newsletter publishers and media operators
  • You value newsletter monetisation
  • You prefer freemium pricing
Try Beehiiv โ†’

Choose Substack if...

  • You are primarily focused on writers monetising directly from subscribers
  • You value paid subscriptions
  • You prefer revenue-share pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beehiiv better than Substack?

It depends on your use case. Beehiiv wins for newsletter publishers and media operators, while Substack is stronger for writers monetising directly from subscribers. Neither is objectively better โ€” the right choice depends on your specific needs.

Which is cheaper, Beehiiv or Substack?

Substack starts at a lower price point ($0/mo vs $39/mo). However, pricing scales with subscriber count, so the total cost depends on your list size.

Can I switch from Substack to Beehiiv?

Yes, switching from Substack to Beehiiv is possible. Most platforms support CSV import/export for subscriber lists. Plan for some time to recreate automations and templates, as these rarely transfer directly between platforms.