beehiiv
All-in-one newsletter, website, podcast & monetization platform
8.8
⭐ Editor: 8.8
Last updated: June 2026Freemium
What is beehiiv?
beehiiv has rapidly become the go-to platform for creators, publishers, and brands who want to build and monetize a newsletter-first audience. Founded in 2021 by former Morning Brew employees, this all-in-one SaaS replaces the need for separate email marketing, website building, podcast hosting, and monetization tools. At its core, beehiiv...
How to Use beehiiv
Getting started with beehiiv is straightforward and requires no technical experience. Whether you're launching a new newsletter or migrating an existing one, the platform guides you through setup, design, publishing, and monetization in just a few clicks.
1
Create your account and choose a plan
Sign up at beehiiv.com with your email address. Start with the free Launch plan to explore the platform, or choose a paid plan to unlock advanced features like the ad network and automation. All paid plans include a free trial period so you can test before committing.
2
Configure your publication settings
Set up your publication name, custom domain, and branding. Use the AI-assisted website builder to create a professional landing page and link-in-bio site. Configure your subscription options, welcome email sequence, and audience preferences from the settings dashboard.
3
Design and send your first newsletter
Use the WYSIWYG drag-and-drop editor to create your first email campaign. Choose from pre-built templates or design from scratch. Add dynamic content blocks, embed images, and preview how your newsletter will look on desktop and mobile before sending to your subscribers.
4
Grow and monetize your audience
Leverage the Recommendation Network to cross-promote with other publications and gain organic subscribers. Enable paid subscriptions, join the Ad Network to earn from brand advertisers, or sell digital products through the marketplace. Use analytics to track performance and optimize your strategy over time.
beehiiv Core Features
WYSIWYG newsletter editor with drag-and-drop functionality and customizable email templates
No-code AI-assisted website builder with custom domains and link-in-bio pages
Built-in podcast hosting to publish audio newsletters alongside written content
Ad network marketplace connecting creators with global brand advertisers automatically
Subscription engine with zero percent platform transaction fee on paid subscriptions
Comprehensive analytics dashboard tracking open rates, click-through, and audience growth
Automated email sequences and drip campaigns for subscriber engagement and onboarding
Recommendation network for cross-promotion and organic audience growth between publications
Digital products marketplace for selling appointments, courses, and downloadable content
Team collaboration with role-based permissions and shared workspace for multiple contributors
beehiiv Use Cases
- 1Independent creators can build newsletter-first audiences, monetize via subscriptions or ads, and cross-promote through the recommendation network for organic subscriber growth.
- 2Media brands and publishers can launch multiple niche newsletters with dedicated websites and leverage the ad marketplace to generate revenue from global advertisers.
- 3SaaS and e-commerce companies can run content-driven lead generation newsletters with embedded product offers and automated drip sequences to nurture prospects.
- 4Podcasters and audio creators can publish audio newsletters, embed episodes directly in emails, and distribute through podcast directories from a single dashboard.
- 5Educational professionals and coaches can sell digital courses, book appointments, and offer downloadable content directly through the platform's marketplace.
Pros and Cons of beehiiv
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform combining newsletters, websites, podcasts, ads, and commerce eliminates the need for multiple separate tools and integrations.
- Free entry tier with no credit card required allows creators to start building their audience without any upfront investment or financial commitment.
- Built-in recommendation network and ad marketplace provide organic growth and monetization opportunities not available in standalone email marketing tools.
- Robust analytics, automation workflows, and API access give power users granular control over campaigns and seamless data integration with other platforms.
✕ Cons
- Pricing escalates quickly as subscriber counts grow, with advanced features like ad network access and branding removal locked behind higher-tier plans.
- Design flexibility is limited compared to dedicated website builders or email design tools, with functional but not highly customizable templates.
- API limitations on lower tiers restrict access to Send API and webhook capabilities, requiring custom development for advanced CRM integration.
beehiiv vs Top Alternatives
| Feature | Substack | ConvertKit | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-One Platform | Newsletter with basic website features; no podcast hosting | Newsletter and landing pages; no podcast hosting | Email marketing with basic landing pages; no podcast hosting |
| Built-in Monetization | Paid subscriptions and content recommendations | Paid subscriptions, commerce, and digital products | Limited monetization; e-commerce on higher-tier plans |
| Free Tier Limit | Unlimited free subscribers | Up to 1,000 subscribers on free plan | Up to 500 contacts on free plan |
| Platform Transaction Fee | 10% platform fee on all paid subscriptions | No transaction fee; subscription-based pricing model | Transaction fees with payment integrations on Standard plan |
beehiiv Pricing
Free tier available — no credit card required
Launch
$0/month
- Newsletter builder with WYSIWYG editor
- No-code website builder with AI assistance
- Podcast hosting
- Unlimited email sends
- Recommendation network access
- Custom domain support
- API access (no Send API)
- beehiiv MCP integration
- Up to 1,000 subscribers
Scale
$43/month
- All Launch features
- Ad Network access
- Boosts Network
- 0% transaction fee on paid subscriptions
- Digital products marketplace
- Email automations and workflows
- Surveys and polls
- Advanced website analytics
- Webhooks support
- 3 team seats
- Slack community access
- Human support
- Up to 10,000 subscribers
Max
$96/month
- All Scale features
- Remove beehiiv branding
- Sponsorship storefront
- Audio newsletters
- RSS-to-Send automation
- Up to 10 publications
- Unlimited team seats
- Priority support
- Getty Image credits
- Dynamic content blocks
- Up to 50,000 subscribers
Enterprise
Custom/month
- All Max features
- Concierge onboarding
- Dedicated account manager
- Dedicated IP addresses
- Send API access
- Custom publication limits
- Invite-only CEO webinars
- VIP support
- SSO integration
- Up to 50,000+ subscribers
beehiiv FAQ
What is beehiiv and how does it work?+
beehiiv is an all-in-one SaaS platform for creating, publishing, and monetizing newsletters. It combines a drag-and-drop newsletter editor, a no-code website builder, podcast hosting, a built-in ad network, subscription management, and audience analytics into a single dashboard. You write your content, grow your subscriber list, and choose how to monetize — through paid subscriptions, advertising, or digital products.
Is beehiiv free to use?+
Yes, beehiiv offers a free Launch plan that supports up to 1,000 subscribers with access to the newsletter builder, website builder, podcast hosting, unlimited email sends, and the recommendation network. Paid plans start at $43 per month (Scale) and include advanced features like the ad network, automation, and zero percent transaction fees on subscriptions. All paid plans come with a free trial.
How does beehiiv's ad network work?+
The beehiiv Ad Network is a built-in marketplace that connects newsletter creators with global brand advertisers. beehiiv sells ad inventory on behalf of creators, matching relevant advertisers to their audience. Creators earn revenue from these placements without having to source advertisers themselves. This feature is available on the Scale plan and above.
Can I use my own domain with beehiiv?+
Yes, beehiiv supports custom domains on all plans including the free Launch tier. You can connect your own domain for both your newsletter and website, giving your publication a professional, branded presence without a beehiiv subdomain.
Does beehiiv offer podcast hosting?+
Yes, beehiiv includes built-in podcast hosting that lets you publish audio newsletters and podcast episodes directly from the same dashboard. You can embed audio content within email newsletters and distribute episodes to major podcast directories. Audio newsletters are available on the Max plan and above.
What is the beehiiv Recommendation Network?+
The Recommendation Network is a cross-promotion system that helps grow your subscriber base organically. Your newsletter gets recommended to readers of other beehiiv publications, and you can recommend other newsletters to your audience. It's essentially a built-in growth engine that standalone email tools cannot replicate.
How does beehiiv compare to Substack?+
Both platforms serve newsletter creators, but beehiiv offers a more comprehensive feature set. While Substack focuses primarily on paid newsletters with a 10% transaction fee, beehiiv provides a website builder, podcast hosting, an ad network, and zero percent transaction fees on higher-tier plans. beehiiv also offers a free plan with more features, while Substack's free tier is more limited. However, Substack has a larger established network of readers and a simpler, more focused user experience.
beehiiv Review — Editor's Score
Who Should Use beehiiv?
Independent creators, media publishers, podcasters, and businesses who want to build and monetize an audience through email newsletters. It's ideal for those who need an all-in-one solution and plan to grow beyond a hobby into a serious media business.
8.8
Overall Score
Functionality
9
Ease of Use
8.5
Value for Money
9
Support
7.5
beehiiv delivers an impressive all-in-one platform that combines newsletter creation, website building, podcast hosting, and monetization tools in a single, well-designed package. Its built-in ad network and recommendation engine provide growth and revenue opportunities that standalone email tools simply can't match. While pricing escalates quickly and design flexibility is limited, the platform remains the best choice for creators and media brands building a newsletter-first business.
- All-in-one platform combining newsletters, websites, podcasts, and commerce
- Built-in ad network and recommendation engine for organic audience growth
- Zero percent platform fee on paid subscriptions for Scale plan and above
- Trusted by major media brands including TIME, TechCrunch, and VICE
Review by BuzzWithAI Editorial Team • 2026-06-05T14:52:22.126Z
📺 beehiiv Tutorials & Introduction
How to Use AI for Newsletter Ads, Growth, and Writing - YouTube
AI Tools - beehiiv 101 (tutorial) - YouTube
beehiiv Tutorial: From Setup to 5 Million Impressions (Complete)
Keywords:
#newsletter platform#email marketing#website builder#podcast hosting#ad network#creator monetization#audience growth#subscription management#content creator tools#newsletter monetization#email automation#digital products