Beehiiv vs Substack: Which Newsletter Platform Fits Your Publication?
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Still deciding between Beehiiv and Substack?
Beehiiv and Substack both let you start a newsletter for free, but they're built around different priorities. Beehiiv's free Launch plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers and includes a custom email builder and API access, with automations, landing pages, and A/B testing unlocked at the $43/month Scale plan. This suits publishers who want to grow past a hobby list and are willing to pay for tiered features like automation workflows or a Send API (Max, $96/month) as they scale team seats and publications. Substack keeps pricing simple: it's free to start with no platform fees or tiers, and its revenue tools include welcome sequences and win-back campaigns out of the box. This fits writers who want a straightforward, low-commitment way to publish and monetize without evaluating multiple pricing tiers. If you need multi-publication management, team seats, or a Send API for transactional email, Beehiiv's paid tiers are built for that. If you want a no-tier, free-to-leave setup with basic automation included, Substack is the simpler starting point.
Compare pricing tiers and automation features side by side before you commit your subscriber list to a platform.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | Substack | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing automation workflows | 4/5 | 4/5 | Beehiiv: automations are unavailable on the free Launch plan but included from the $43/month Scale plan up. Substack: revenue tools include welcome sequences and win-back campaigns, with no tier restriction listed. |
| Free forever plan | 5/5 | 5/5 | Beehiiv's Launch plan is $0/month, free forever, for up to 2,500 subscribers. Substack is free to start with no platform fees, no tiers, and no contracts. |
Frequently asked questions
Does Beehiiv or Substack have a free plan?
Both do. Beehiiv's Launch plan is $0/month, free forever, for up to 2,500 subscribers. Substack is free to start with no platform fees, no tiers, and no contracts, and is described as free to leave as well.
How much do Beehiiv and Substack cost?
Beehiiv has four tiers: Launch (free, up to 2,500 subscribers), Scale ($43/month, up to 100,000 subscribers, 3 publications, 3 team seats), Max ($96/month, up to 100,000 subscribers, 10 publications, unlimited team seats), and custom Enterprise pricing for 100K+ subscribers. Substack lists a Free plan with no platform fees or tiers, plus an Enterprise option with pricing not listed by the vendor.
Does either platform support marketing automation?
Beehiiv's automations feature is not available on the free Launch plan but is included starting with the Scale plan ($43/month) and above. Substack includes revenue tools such as welcome sequences and win-back campaigns, without a stated tier restriction.
Can I switch from Substack to Beehiiv or vice versa?
The provided data doesn't include specific migration tooling or import steps for either platform. Substack is described as free to leave, and Beehiiv's free Launch plan could serve as a starting point for testing before committing to a paid tier; check current vendor documentation for migration specifics not covered here.
Who is Beehiiv best suited for?
Based on the listed features, Beehiiv fits publishers who expect to need automations, landing pages, A/B testing, multiple publications, or a Send API for transactional email, since these require the Scale or Max paid plans.
Who is Substack best suited for?
Substack fits writers who want a free-to-start, no-tier setup with built-in revenue tools like welcome sequences and win-back campaigns, without needing to evaluate multiple pricing plans.