beehiiv vs Substack (2026)
Newsletter platform built by growth-obsessed media people — against — Publish, charge and grow — zero upfront cost. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.
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Head-to-head
Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.
| beehiiv 🏆 | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: up to 2,500 subscribers | No |
| Paid from | Paid scales with list size (Launch is free; paid tiers typically start around $39/mo) | No monthly fee — revenue share instead |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our score | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
Choose beehiiv if…
- You're primarily creators starting or scaling a newsletter
- Growth tools built in: recommendation network, referral programs, boost marketplace
- You can live with: younger company — fewer third-party integrations than veterans
Choose Substack if…
- You're primarily writers who just want to publish
- Simplest possible start: write and publish in minutes
- You can live with: no automations — email sequences are impossible
beehiiv vs Substack: FAQ
beehiiv or Substack — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching beehiiv's strengths (creators starting or scaling a newsletter), beehiiv is the stronger choice — it scores 4.4/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose beehiiv for creators starting or scaling a newsletter, and Substack for writers who just want to publish.
Is beehiiv cheaper than Substack?
beehiiv has a free plan (Paid scales with list size (Launch is free; paid tiers typically start around $39/mo)), while Substack has no permanent free plan (No monthly fee — revenue share instead). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from beehiiv to Substack (or back)?
Yes. Subscribers export as CSV/JSON from either platform and import into the other. Automation sequences usually need rebuilding — map your tags and forms before migrating.