Last updated: 2026-08-19
In November 2025, Beehiiv added a no-code AI website builder and the option to sell standalone digital products, expanding beyond its core AI newsletter platform for independent creators. It combines a newsletter builder, AI writing and image tools, and paid subscriptions in one product, charging zero commission on reader-paid subscriptions unlike Substack and ConvertKit, which each take a cut.
About Beehiiv
Beehiiv launched in 2021 and has raised more than $200 million in funding. What started as a newsletter-only platform has since grown into a broader creator business: in November 2025 it added support for standalone digital products alongside its existing newsletter and subscription tools, moving it into more direct competition with all-in-one creator platforms rather than newsletter specialists like Substack. The product itself pairs an AI newsletter generator and AI image tools with automatic translation for international subscribers, so a single creator can draft, illustrate, and publish an issue without a separate design or localization step.
Pricing
Free: unlimited newsletter sends and core tools, with a capped subscriber count (see the free-tier FAQ). Scale costs $49/month and unlocks monetization, reader surveys, and split testing. Max costs $96/month and up, removing the subscriber cap and adding dynamic content, priority support, and white-label options. Paid subscriptions carry zero commission at every tier.
Key Features
- AI Newsletter Generator: Describe what you want, set tone and length, and the AI creates a draft you can refine in the editor.
- AI Image Generation: Generate header images, dividers, and featured sections with AI that match your newsletter's fonts and layout.
- AI Website Builder: Build a website without writing code; AI generates the layout and copy, adding a full site builder to what was previously a newsletter-only product.
- Zero-Commission Paid Subscriptions: Beehiiv takes zero commission on reader-paid subscriptions; Substack and ConvertKit both take a cut of that revenue.
- Content Translation: Automatically translate newsletters for international subscribers without a separate localization workflow.
Pros
- Zero-commission paid subscriptions, versus a 10% cut for Substack and ConvertKit, improve creator revenue once a newsletter has meaningful paid membership income.
- The free tier is more generous than Mailchimp's 250-contact limit, reducing friction for creators who want to test the platform before paying.
- The website builder and digital-product support broaden Beehiiv into an all-in-one creator platform rather than a newsletter-only tool.
Cons
- AI writing quality lags behind dedicated AI writing tools like Claude or ChatGPT; users often need substantial edits.
- Pricing jumps straight from the free plan to the paid Scale tier, with no low-cost middle option for small newsletter creators.
- Limited native integrations compared to Mailchimp, requiring Zapier for connecting to CRMs or e-commerce platforms.
Data Handling
- Compliance
- GDPR · CCPA
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you pay for Beehiiv?
Beehiiv has three tiers: Free (unlimited newsletter sends, capped subscriber count), Scale at $49/month (adds monetization, surveys, and A/B testing), and Max at $96/month and up (removes the subscriber cap and adds white-label options). Every tier keeps the zero-commission model on paid subscriptions.
What do you get on Beehiiv's free tier?
The Free plan includes unlimited newsletter sends plus Beehiiv's core AI writing and editing tools for up to 2,500 subscribers. Past that subscriber count, upgrading to a paid tier is required, though there's no overage billing on the Free plan itself.
What should you use instead of Beehiiv?
Substack is a better fit if you want built-in reader discovery and don't mind giving up a cut of paid-subscription revenue. ConvertKit suits creators who need more advanced email-automation sequences than Beehiiv currently offers. Mailchimp works better if you need broad native CRM and e-commerce integrations beyond what Beehiiv's Zapier-based setup covers.
Is Beehiiv better than Substack?
Substack takes a 10% cut of paid-subscription revenue while Beehiiv takes none, a bigger difference once a newsletter earns meaningful membership income. Substack has stronger built-in audience discovery through its network. Beehiiv counters with a broader toolset: AI writing help, a no-code website builder, and the ability to sell digital products alongside the newsletter itself.
How do you set up Beehiiv?
Create a free Beehiiv account, which includes unlimited sends up to the plan's subscriber cap. Use the AI newsletter generator to draft your first issue from a short description of your topic and tone, then customize the layout before publishing. Upgrade to Scale or Max later for monetization, surveys, or the website builder.
HokAI guides covering Beehiiv
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