beehiiv vs Substack: pricing compared
Updated 2026-11-11 · listed A to Z, not ranked
beehiiv is a newsletter platform. Official plans: Free at $0 forever; Lite at $49/month on yearly billing, with paid subscriptions at a 0% take rate; Pro at $95/month on yearly billing, which removes beehiiv branding. Yearly billing saves up to 20% compared with month to month. Subscription and digital-product revenue is subject to Stripe’s standard processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Substack’s official going-paid page says writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees, and that you can choose which posts are free or only for paid subscribers. Suggested writer-set prices on that page (for example $5/month) are subscription prices you choose, not Substack’s fee.
Listed A to Z, from beehiiv.com and substack.com. Every figure below is quoted from those pages.
- Plans or pricing model
- Free, Lite, Pro (yearly billing shown)
- Free option
- Free $0 forever, unlimited email sends
- Published prices
- Lite $49/mo on yearly billing, 0% take rate on paid subscriptions; Pro $95/mo on yearly billing. Yearly billing saves up to 20%. Plus Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee.
- Plans or pricing model
- No monthly platform plan table; paid subscriptions for readers, optional for writers
- Free option
- You can publish for free; paid subscriptions are optional
- Published prices
- Writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees. Writer-set examples on the page include $5, $7, $10, $15, $30 and $75 per month.
How we checked: Prices quoted from each official page: beehiiv checked Nov 11, 2026, Substack checked Nov 11, 2026. Taxes, usage overages and promotions can change what you pay; confirm with each provider before you buy.
How they compare
- How they charge. beehiiv sells platform plans (Free, Lite, Pro) and states a 0% take rate on paid subscriptions on Lite, plus Stripe processing. Substack does not list a monthly platform fee on the going-paid page; it keeps 10% of revenue (writers keep 90%) minus credit card fees.
- Free option. beehiiv has a $0 forever free plan with unlimited email sends. Substack lets you publish free posts and turn on paid subscriptions when you want.
We do not pick a winner. Which model costs less depends on paid-subscriber volume and whether you want a platform subscription or a revenue share.
FAQ
How much does beehiiv cost?
Free $0 forever; Lite $49/mo on yearly billing (0% take rate on paid subscriptions); Pro $95/mo on yearly billing. Yearly billing saves up to 20%. Stripe processing 2.9% + $0.30 (checked Nov 11, 2026).
How much does Substack cost?
Writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees (the official going-paid page does not list a monthly platform subscription) (checked Nov 11, 2026).
Do beehiiv and Substack have a free option?
beehiiv: Free plan at $0, free forever, with unlimited email sends. Substack: You can publish free posts; paid subscriptions are optional.
What is the lowest listed paid price for beehiiv or Substack?
Lowest listed paid figures: beehiiv Lite $49/mo on yearly billing; Substack No monthly platform fee listed; writers keep 90% of revenue minus credit card fees (as quoted on each official page). Billing units differ, so compare what each includes.
Which is better, beehiiv or Substack?
We do not pick a winner. The two price and package their products differently; the tables above quote each official pricing page so you can match a plan to your own usage.
Where do these prices come from?
Each vendor's own page: beehiiv.com/pricing and substack.com/going-paid (checked Nov 11, 2026). Prices change; confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
Sources (official pages, read 2026-11-11)
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