newsletter platform
beehiiv vs Substack
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, ease of use, integrations, and which tool wins for your business.
beehiiv
The newsletter platform built for growth
9.2
AppAdvize Score /10
Higher ratedSubstack
Start a newsletter, build a paid subscription
7.8
AppAdvize Score /10
Score Comparison
8.5
Ease of UseWinner
9.5
9.5
Value for MoneyWinner
8
8
Support QualityWinner
6.5
7.5
IntegrationsWinner
5
9.5
ScalabilityWinner
7.5
Pricing
Substack
Free
Free — 10% cut on paid subscriptions
Free plan available
beehiiv
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class growth tools (referral program, boosts, recommendations)
- ✓Built-in ad network for monetization
- ✓Generous free tier up to 2,500 subscribers
- ✓Clean writing and editing experience
- ✓Web presence included (newsletter as website)
Cons
- ✗Less mature than ConvertKit for complex automations
- ✗Limited third-party integrations vs Mailchimp
- ✗Paid subscriptions require Scale plan ($99/mo)
Substack
Pros
- ✓Absolute easiest setup — live in minutes
- ✓Built-in paid subscription model
- ✓Discovery through Substack network
- ✓No monthly fees
Cons
- ✗10% revenue cut becomes expensive at scale
- ✗Very limited customization
- ✗No advanced analytics or growth tools
- ✗Hard to migrate subscribers out
Who Should Use Each
Choose beehiiv if…
- • Newsletter-first creators
- • Creators wanting audience monetization built in
- • Anyone coming from Substack wanting more control
Choose Substack if…
- • Writers starting a paid newsletter with minimal tech
- • Creators wanting built-in Substack audience discovery
Bottom Line
beehiiv is our pick for most users.
beehiiv scores higher overall (9.2/10 vs 7.8/10) and leads on Value for Money and Support Quality. It's the stronger choice if you newsletter-first creators.
Choose beehiiv if…
- →Newsletter-first creators
- →Creators wanting audience monetization built in
- →Anyone coming from Substack wanting more control
Choose Substack if…
- →Writers starting a paid newsletter with minimal tech
- →Creators wanting built-in Substack audience discovery