beehiiv vs Substack(2026)
beehiiv is better for teams that need best growth tools (referrals + boosts). Substack is the stronger choice if zero upfront cost. beehiiv is freemium (from $39/mo) and Substack is freemium (from $0).
Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.
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beehiiv
beehiiv is a newsletter platform built by the team behind Morning Brew, designed specifically for growth with referral programs, ad network, paid subscriptions, and advanced analytics.
Starting at $39/mo
Visit beehiivSubstack
Substack is the leading newsletter platform where writers publish for free and earn from paid subscriptions. With a built-in network effect and discovery features, it drives organic subscriber growth.
Starting at $0
Visit SubstackHow Do beehiiv and Substack Compare on Features?
| Feature | beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting price | $39/mo | $0 |
| Referral program | ✓ | — |
| Ad network | ✓ | — |
| Paid subscriptions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web hosting | ✓ | — |
| Advanced segmentation | ✓ | — |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Boosts (paid growth) | ✓ | — |
| Free newsletter hosting | — | ✓ |
| Podcast hosting | — | ✓ |
| Network/discovery | — | ✓ |
| Notes (social feed) | — | ✓ |
| Web publication | — | ✓ |
| Referrals | — | ✓ |
beehiiv Pros and Cons vs Substack
beehiiv
Substack
Should You Use beehiiv or Substack?
Choose beehiiv if…
- •Best growth tools (referrals + boosts)
- •Built-in monetization
- •Great analytics
Choose Substack if…
- •Zero upfront cost
- •Built-in discovery network
- •Simple setup