beehiiv vs Substack: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for beehiiv and Substack side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, beehiiv leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
beehiiv
Newsletter platform for growth
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
Substack
Newsletter platform for writers
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free to start
| At a Glance | beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $43/mo, billed monthly Scale plan | Free plan |
Category | Email Marketing Newsletter Tools | Writing & Content Membership Sites |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.4 56 reviews | 2.4/5 Trustpilot 1.3 · G2 4.3 179 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Stripe payment processing fees (approx. 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) |
Choose beehiiv or Substack?
Choose beehiiv if
- You want generous free tier
- You want great growth features
- You work in email marketing, not writing & content
Choose Substack if
- You want completely free to start
- You want built-in payments
- You work in writing & content, not email marketing
In-Depth Analysis
beehiiv
Newsletter platform for growth
beehiiv's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust free 'Launch' tier supporting up to 2,500 subscribers.
Strengths
- Pro: Generous free tier
- Pro: Great growth features
- Pro: Built-in monetization
- Pro: Modern interface
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Some features need higher tiers
- Con: Limited customization on free
Key features
Substack
Newsletter platform for writers
Substack's pricing is incredibly generous, offering a full-featured free tier and only taking a 10% cut of revenue for paid newsletters.
Watch out
Stripe payment processing fees (approx. 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free to start
- Pro: Built-in payments
- Pro: Simple to use
- Pro: Large network
Weaknesses
- Con: 10% revenue cut
- Con: Limited customization
- Con: Basic features
Key features
Plans and prices: beehiiv vs Substack
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| beehiiv |
| beehiiv.com/pricing |
| Substack |
| substack.com read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on beehiiv pricing and Substack pricing.
Key Takeaways
beehiiv
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 2.4/5
Substack
- Choose if you want newsletter platform for writers
What the data shows
On the data below, beehiiv leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- beehiiv has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 56 reviews for beehiiv, 2.4/5 from 179 reviews for Substack).
- beehiiv starts at $43/mo, billed monthly; Substack has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do beehiiv and Substack compare in 2026?
On the data below, beehiiv leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. beehiiv has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 56 reviews for beehiiv, 2.4/5 from 179 reviews for Substack). beehiiv starts at $43/mo, billed monthly; Substack has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are beehiiv and Substack used for?
beehiiv: Newsletter platform for growth. Substack: Newsletter platform for writers.
What does beehiiv cost vs Substack?
beehiiv's cheapest paid plan is Scale at $43/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Substack has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between beehiiv and Substack?
beehiiv's main strength: generous free tier. Substack's main strength: completely free to start.