When should I use Substack?

Use Substack for: Writers starting their first newsletter, Creators wanting zero upfront cost, Writers who value the Substack network, Simple paid newsletter operations.

When should I use Beehiiv?

Use Beehiiv for: Newsletters earning $1,000+/month, Growth-focused newsletter operators, Publishers wanting ad revenue, Creators wanting full control and branding.

Comparison

Substack vs Beehiiv

Newsletter Platforms: Revenue Share vs Flat Fee

Quick Verdict

Substack is simpler and free until you earn, making it ideal for beginners. Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee but takes 0% of your revenue and offers more growth tools.

Substack

Newsletter publishing platform with built-in paid subscriptions, notes, podcasts, and a reader network — takes 10% of revenue

Beehiiv

Growth-focused newsletter platform with referral programs, ad network, SEO-optimized websites, and 0% revenue share on paid plans

Feature Comparison

Feature	Substack	Beehiiv
Revenue share	10% of paid subscriptions	0% on paid subscriptions
Monthly platform fee	$0 (free forever)	Free–$109/month
Built-in network	Substack network (Notes, Recommendations)	Beehiiv Recommendations + Ad Network
Ad monetization	No built-in ad network	Beehiiv Ad Network
Referral program	No	Yes (built-in)
Custom domain	Yes (paid publications)	Yes (all plans)
SEO tools	Limited	Full SEO optimization
Email automations	Basic (welcome emails)	Advanced automations (Scale plan)

When to Use Each

Use Substack for:

•Writers starting their first newsletter
•Creators wanting zero upfront cost
•Writers who value the Substack network
•Simple paid newsletter operations

Use Beehiiv for:

•Newsletters earning $1,000+/month
•Growth-focused newsletter operators
•Publishers wanting ad revenue
•Creators wanting full control and branding

Pricing Comparison

Substack Pricing

Free: Free (10% on paid subs + Stripe fees)

View Substack pricing

Beehiiv Pricing

Free: Free (2,500 subs)
Starter: $49/month (Scale)
Pro: $109/month (Max)

View Beehiiv pricing

Pricing last verified: 2026-09

Pros & Cons

Substack

Pros

+ Zero upfront cost
+ Built-in reader network and discovery
+ Simple, writing-focused interface
+ Community features (Notes, Chat)

Cons

− 10% revenue share adds up fast
− Limited customization
− No referral program
− No ad network for monetization

Beehiiv

Pros

+ 0% revenue share on paid newsletters
+ Built-in ad network and referrals
+ Better SEO and website tools
+ More growth and analytics features

Cons

− Monthly fee regardless of revenue
− Smaller reader network than Substack
− More complex to set up
− Newer platform

Our Recommendation

Choose Substack if you are just starting and want zero upfront costs. Choose Beehiiv if you earn significant revenue and want to keep 100% with better growth tools.

Try Substack Try Beehiiv

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Substack and Beehiiv?

Substack: Newsletter publishing platform with built-in paid subscriptions, notes, podcasts, and a reader network — takes 10% of revenue. Beehiiv: Growth-focused newsletter platform with referral programs, ad network, SEO-optimized websites, and 0% revenue share on paid plans.

Which is better: Substack or Beehiiv?

Substack is simpler and free until you earn, making it ideal for beginners. Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee but takes 0% of your revenue and offers more growth tools.

Try Our Related Tool

Convert between Substack and Beehiiv with our free online tool.

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Feature Comparison

Feature	Substack	Beehiiv
Revenue share	10% of paid subscriptions	0% on paid subscriptions
Monthly platform fee	$0 (free forever)	Free–$109/month
Built-in network	Substack network (Notes, Recommendations)	Beehiiv Recommendations + Ad Network
Ad monetization	No built-in ad network	Beehiiv Ad Network
Referral program	No	Yes (built-in)
Custom domain	Yes (paid publications)	Yes (all plans)
SEO tools	Limited	Full SEO optimization
Email automations	Basic (welcome emails)	Advanced automations (Scale plan)

When to Use Each

Use Substack for:

•Writers starting their first newsletter
•Creators wanting zero upfront cost
•Writers who value the Substack network
•Simple paid newsletter operations

Use Beehiiv for:

•Newsletters earning $1,000+/month
•Growth-focused newsletter operators
•Publishers wanting ad revenue
•Creators wanting full control and branding

Pros & Cons

Substack

Pros

+ Zero upfront cost
+ Built-in reader network and discovery
+ Simple, writing-focused interface
+ Community features (Notes, Chat)

Cons

− 10% revenue share adds up fast
− Limited customization
− No referral program
− No ad network for monetization

Beehiiv

Pros

+ 0% revenue share on paid newsletters
+ Built-in ad network and referrals
+ Better SEO and website tools
+ More growth and analytics features

Cons

− Monthly fee regardless of revenue
− Smaller reader network than Substack
− More complex to set up
− Newer platform

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Substack and Beehiiv?

Which is better: Substack or Beehiiv?

Substack is simpler and free until you earn, making it ideal for beginners. Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee but takes 0% of your revenue and offers more growth tools.