Beehiiv pricing in 2026 runs from a Free Launch tier to a $199/mo Max plan plus Custom Enterprise. The pricing model is the cleanest in the newsletter space: subscriber-based, transparent, and add-ons billed per workspace not per send.

After running Beehiiv newsletters across 6 GROU client accounts and migrating 3 of them from Substack and ConvertKit, this is the operator breakdown: every tier, what teams actually pay at 2,500 to 100k subscribers, and where Beehiiv beats Substack on monetization math.

TL;DR

Beehiiv free Launch tier covers up to 2,500 subscribers, which is enough to validate a newsletter without paying. Scale at $39/mo unlocks custom domain and monetization. Grow at $99/mo lifts the cap to 100k subscribers. Max at $199/mo adds premium support and unlimited newsletters.

The real win versus Substack is the monetization stack. Substack takes 10% of subscription revenue forever. Beehiiv takes 0% on Scale and above. Past $4,700 newsletter ARR, the math flips to Beehiiv even before factoring in the Boosts ad network.

The 5 Beehiiv tiers

Beehiiv splits across 5 tiers: Launch (free), Scale, Grow, Max, and Enterprise. Subscriber count is the gating metric. Each tier adds to the previous on features.

Numbers above are monthly billing prices verified from Beehiiv's pricing page in June 2026. Annual billing saves 20%, which makes Scale effectively $31/mo and Grow $79/mo.

Launch (free) covers up to 2,500 subscribers with 1 newsletter and Beehiiv branding in the footer. Fine for testing the platform or running a personal newsletter. Skip it for any B2B newsletter where the branding hurts open-rate trust.

Scale ($39/mo) unlocks custom domain, monetization (Boosts ads, paid subscriptions), email automations, and removes Beehiiv branding. This is what most B2B operators should buy.

Grow ($99/mo) lifts the cap to 100,000 subscribers and adds 3 newsletters under one workspace. Worth the upgrade once you have more than 10,000 subscribers and want a portfolio of newsletters.

Max ($199/mo) removes the newsletter cap, adds premium support with dedicated account manager, and includes advanced segmentation. Mostly for newsletter media businesses past 50k subscribers.

Enterprise (custom) is for newsletters above 100k subscribers or media companies running 10+ properties. Custom contracts, SLAs, and white-glove migration.

What Beehiiv actually costs (real client newsletters)

The 6 GROU client newsletters running on Beehiiv range from 1,200 subscribers (founder content) to 47,000 subscribers (media property). Real annual cost below, including the add-ons most operators buy in the first 90 days.

The 10k-25k subscriber band lands at $948/yr (Scale annual with extra volume). The same newsletter on Substack would cost $0 in platform fees but take 10% of paid subscription revenue forever. Once newsletter paid-sub revenue passes $4,700/yr, Beehiiv's $948 flat fee beats Substack's variable cut.

The other reason teams switch is the Boosts ad network. Beehiiv runs an internal ad marketplace where newsletter operators can monetize by recommending other newsletters. Median revenue contribution is $0.04-$0.08 per subscriber per month. A 10k-subscriber newsletter generates $400-$800/mo from Boosts alone, which is 10x the platform fee.

The third reason is email automations. Substack does not support sequences. Beehiiv does. For B2B newsletter operators running lead-gen flows or welcome series, this is non-negotiable.

Beehiiv vs Substack vs ConvertKit

Newsletter platform choice in 2026 is a 3-way conversation between Beehiiv, Substack, and ConvertKit (rebranded as Kit). Each wins for a different operator profile.

Beehiiv wins on the monetization stack. Custom domain on Scale, built-in paid subscriptions with 0% take rate, Boosts ad network, and email sequences. This is the right pick for any newsletter that will exceed 10k subscribers with paid-sub or ad revenue ambitions.

Substack wins on time-to-launch and discovery. The platform is opinionated, simpler to set up, and includes a built-in recommendation network that lifts organic subscriber growth 20-40% in the first 6 months. The 10% revenue cut is the price you pay. Substack's own metrics cite over 35 million subscriptions on the platform.

ConvertKit (Kit) wins on funnel integration. If you run paid courses, gated content, or lead magnets, ConvertKit's tagging and segmentation beats Beehiiv. Pricing starts at $25/mo for 1,000 subscribers and scales to $666/mo at 100k subscribers, making it more expensive than Beehiiv for newsletter-only operators.

For B2B newsletter operators, Beehiiv at $39/mo is the right buy in almost every case. The exceptions are pure-content writers who value Substack simplicity, or course creators who need ConvertKit's funnel tagging.

The hidden costs nobody mentions

Three costs surprise newsletter operators switching from another platform.

The first is custom domain setup. Beehiiv requires Scale tier ($39/mo) for custom domains. If you launch on Launch free, every subscribe link routes through beehiiv.com first. That kills referral attribution and trust on B2B audiences. Skip Launch unless you plan to upgrade within 30 days.

The second is migration time. Beehiiv's import tool handles Substack and ConvertKit lists at up to 50k subscribers in one pass. Above that, you split into batches. For 6 GROU migrations averaging 12k subscribers each, total switch time ran 3-5 hours including DNS, custom domain, and email-deliverability warm-up.

The third is deliverability re-warm. Switching newsletter platforms changes the sending IP and domain reputation. Even with a clean list, expect 2-3 weeks of slightly lower open rates while inbox providers re-calibrate. Beehiiv's warm-up documentation recommends sending to your top 25% engaged subscribers first for 14 days.

Beehiiv vs ActiveCampaign for B2B newsletter

A separate comparison comes up often: should B2B teams run their newsletter in Beehiiv or in a marketing automation tool like ActiveCampaign?

The split is clear. Beehiiv is purpose-built for the newsletter motion: subscribe, send, monetize, grow. ActiveCampaign at $19-$259/mo is built for marketing automation: scoring, segmentation, multi-channel campaigns, CRM sync.

If your newsletter is a standalone product (content, ads, paid subscriptions), Beehiiv wins. If your newsletter is a top-of-funnel for a B2B SaaS product where you need lead scoring, CRM sync, and multi-step automation, ActiveCampaign wins.

Who should buy Beehiiv

Match 3 of these 4 criteria and Beehiiv is the right buy: you are building a standalone newsletter (not just an email list), your audience will exceed 5,000 subscribers within 12 months, you plan to monetize through paid subs or ad placements, and you want a custom domain and zero platform branding.

Beehiiv is the cheapest scaled monetization platform in the newsletter space. For any newsletter that will earn $5,000+/yr from paid subs or Boosts, Beehiiv at $468/yr (Scale annual) is cheaper than every alternative.

Who should skip Beehiiv

Skip Beehiiv if you run a pure marketing email list with no monetization ambition (ActiveCampaign or Mailchimp wins), if you want the maximum-discovery Substack network for organic growth (the 10% take rate is the cost), or if your audience is under 500 subscribers and you need the simplest possible workflow (Substack wins on time-to-launch).

For B2B SaaS teams with sales cadences and lead-gen flows, run ActiveCampaign for the automation stack and use Beehiiv only if you spin out a standalone newsletter as a separate brand.

FAQ

How much does Beehiiv cost per month?

Beehiiv starts at $0/mo on the free Launch tier (up to 2,500 subscribers with Beehiiv branding). Paid tiers run $39/mo (Scale, up to 10k subs), $99/mo (Grow, up to 100k subs), $199/mo (Max, unlimited subs). Annual billing saves 20%, making Scale effectively $31/mo and Grow $79/mo.

Is Beehiiv free really free?

Yes, the Launch tier is free with no time limit. Limits: 2,500 subscribers, 1 newsletter, Beehiiv branding in the footer. No custom domain. Most newsletter operators outgrow Launch within 60-90 days because subscriber growth or branding requirements force an upgrade to Scale.

Beehiiv vs Substack: which is cheaper?

Beehiiv has a fixed monthly fee ($39 to $199). Substack is free but takes 10% of paid subscription revenue. Math flips at $4,700/yr newsletter revenue: above that, Beehiiv's $468/yr fee beats Substack's 10% cut. Below that, Substack is cheaper (and simpler to launch).

Does Beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?

No. Beehiiv charges only the platform fee. 100% of paid subscription revenue goes to the newsletter operator (minus Stripe's 2.9% + 30c processing fee). Beehiiv's monetization documentation confirms this. Substack takes 10%. ConvertKit takes 0% on paid plans but charges higher monthly fees.

What is the Beehiiv Boosts network?

Beehiiv Boosts is an internal ad marketplace where newsletter operators monetize by recommending other newsletters. Median revenue is $0.04-$0.08 per subscriber per month. A 10k-subscriber newsletter generates $400-$800/mo from Boosts alone. The network is unique to Beehiiv and a major reason operators switch from Substack or ConvertKit.

How long does it take to migrate to Beehiiv?

For lists under 50,000 subscribers, the Beehiiv import tool handles the migration in one pass. Typical migration time including DNS, custom domain setup, and deliverability warm-up runs 3-5 hours. Larger lists split into batches.

Does Beehiiv have email sequences and automations?

Yes, starting on the Scale tier ($39/mo). Email sequences include welcome flows, drip campaigns, and segmented sends based on subscriber behavior. Substack does not support sequences, which is the most common migration reason from Substack to Beehiiv.

Is Beehiiv good for B2B SaaS newsletters?

Yes for B2B SaaS teams running newsletters as a standalone audience or content engine. For B2B SaaS teams that need newsletter + CRM sync + lead scoring, ActiveCampaign at $19-$259/mo is a better fit because the marketing automation depth beats Beehiiv. The two tools serve different jobs.

Bottom line

Beehiiv's published pricing is honest. Scale at $39/mo unlocks custom domain and monetization for newsletters up to 10k subscribers. Grow at $99/mo handles the next 90k subscribers. The Boosts ad network is unique and meaningful: a 10k-subscriber newsletter clears $400-$800/mo in Boosts revenue alone.

For B2B newsletter operators building a standalone audience or content engine, Beehiiv at Scale annual ($468/yr) is the cheapest scaled monetization platform in the market. Substack still wins on time-to-launch and discovery. ConvertKit still wins on funnel integration.

Need help evaluating Beehiiv vs Substack vs ConvertKit for your specific newsletter motion? Book a call with GROU. We have migrated 3 GROU client newsletters across these platforms and can compress your evaluation into one session.

GROU is a B2B outbound and revenue operations agency. We run Beehiiv newsletters across 6 active GROU client accounts ranging from founder content to 47,000-subscriber media properties. Pricing data above is from public Beehiiv pricing pages and 6 live client deployments running 2025-2026.

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