beehiiv

beehiiv

The newsletter platform built for growth — create, grow, and monetize your email audience without code.

Visit Website
What is beehiiv?
beehiiv is a newsletter platform created by early Morning Brew team members, designed around one goal: growing and monetizing an email audience. Writers get a modern editor, customizable templates, and a built-in website builder, so a publication can live entirely on beehiiv without separate hosting. Its growth toolkit is the standout — a referral program, Boosts for paid cross-promotion between newsletters, recommendations, subscribe forms, pop-ups, and A/B testing are all native features rather than third-party add-ons. Monetization options include beehiiv's ad network that connects publishers with brand sponsors, paid subscriptions, and direct sponsorships. Detailed analytics cover audience growth, engagement, and revenue. A free Launch plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers, making beehiiv a popular Substack alternative for creators who want to own their growth levers.
Key Features

Modern newsletter editor with templates, polls, and audio posts

Built-in website builder for a full publication home, no coding needed

Native growth tools: referral program, Boosts, recommendations, and pop-ups

Monetization via ad network, paid subscriptions, and direct sponsorships

Analytics with A/B testing, verified clicks, segmentation, and an API

Use Cases
  • Launching and scaling an independent paid newsletter
  • Migrating a publication off Substack or Mailchimp for better growth tools
  • Monetizing an audience through sponsorships and the beehiiv ad network
  • Running referral programs and cross-promotions to accelerate list growth
How to Use beehiiv
  1. 1Sign up free and set up your publication branding and custom domain
  2. 2Import existing subscribers or start collecting them with forms and pop-ups
  3. 3Write and schedule posts in the editor, publishing to email and web at once
  4. 4Turn on growth features like referrals and Boosts, then track analytics
Best For
Newsletter creators and independent journalistsMedia brands and newsrooms scaling email-first publicationsStartups using newsletters for audience building
FAQ

Is beehiiv free?

Yes. The Launch plan is free for up to 2,500 subscribers and includes the editor, website, and core analytics. Paid plans starting around $39/month unlock the referral program, Boosts, and advanced features.

How does beehiiv compare to Substack?

Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue and offers limited growth tooling, while beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee, keeps your paid revenue, and ships native referral, cross-promotion, and ad-network features.

Can I make money with beehiiv?

Yes. You can sell paid subscriptions, earn from beehiiv's ad network, take direct sponsorships, and get paid through Boosts for recommending other newsletters.

Does beehiiv have an API?

Yes. beehiiv offers an API and integrations for managing subscribers, automations, and publication data programmatically.

Looking for beehiiv alternatives?

Compare 3 hand-picked alternatives by pricing, free plans, and open-source availability.

View Alternatives

Compare beehiiv side by side

In-depth, editor-written comparisons with a clear verdict.

Related Tools

More active tools in Email Marketing.

View Email Marketing

Sender

Email marketing that sells without the hassle — email and SMS with a generous free plan.

FreemiumEmail MarketingAutomation+1
AWeber

AWeber

Connect, automate, and sell your vision — veteran small-business email marketing with a free plan.

FreemiumEmail MarketingAutomation+1

Klaviyo

The autonomous B2C CRM — unify customer data and run AI-powered email, SMS, and service across channels.

FreemiumEmail MarketingCRM+1
Emma

Emma

Email marketing built for your ecosystem — email, SMS, and automation with brand governance, by Marigold.

PaidEmail MarketingAutomation
Substack

Substack

The home for independent voices — publish a newsletter, podcast, or community and get paid by subscribers.

FreeEmail MarketingContent Marketing
Mailchimp

Mailchimp

Deal

The best-known email marketing platform — campaigns, automations, and a marketing CRM for small business.

FreemiumEmail MarketingAutomation+1