- Two philosophies in one paragraph each
- Which kind of newsletter are you building?
- Feature by feature
- Ownership and leaving later
- The questions I'd ask myself first
- Growth: where new readers come from on each platform
- Common mistakes when choosing
- Writing and design experience
- The verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Substack suits writers who want readers to pay them and value discovery inside its network. Beehiiv suits newsletters that plan to earn from advertisers, want their own brand and need growth tools. Decide your money model first, then the platform.
Beehiiv and Substack both promise the same thing: start a newsletter today and grow it into something that pays. Underneath, they take very different views of who owns the audience, how you make money and how much of a business you want to run. I write a weekly newsletter myself, so I care about this choice, but I'm not going to pretend I've run the same list on both side by side. This guide sets out what each one is built for and which kind of newsletter fits which platform.
Two philosophies in one paragraph each
Substack is a publishing network. You write, Substack hosts it, and its app, recommendations and Notes feed help readers discover you. It's free to start, and Substack earns by taking a share when readers pay for your subscription. The upside is reach from inside the network. The trade-off is that your publication lives inside Substack's world, with its look, its rules and its readers.
Beehiiv is a newsletter business platform. You get a website, email, growth tools and ways to earn from advertisers, and you pay a subscription for the higher tiers rather than giving up a share of paid subscriptions. The upside is control and growth tooling. The trade-off is that discovery depends more on you, and you'll spend more time on setup.
Which kind of newsletter are you building?
A paid writer's publication
If your plan is for readers to pay you directly for essays, analysis or fiction, Substack is the path of least resistance. Paid subscriptions are built in from day one, the reading experience is familiar and the network can send new readers your way. You'll give up a share of subscription income, which is the price of that convenience.
A free newsletter funded by advertisers
If you want a large free list and plan to earn from advertisers, beehiiv is built for you. It has an ad network that can match you with advertisers, tools to track performance and growth features designed to push subscriber numbers up. Substack does allow you to sell your own ad space, but it isn't designed around that model.
A business newsletter that supports a company
If your newsletter exists to bring in clients or customers, you'll want your own domain, branding and links into your website. Beehiiv gives you more control over design, landing pages and segmentation. Substack can work, especially for founders who write in public, but your brand sits inside Substack's look. For a wider comparison of options, read my guide to which newsletter platform is best for small businesses.
A community or multi-format show
Substack has leaned into podcasts, video, chat and Notes, so a creator who wants all of that in one place may find it simpler. Beehiiv focuses on the newsletter and website, with fewer social features but more control over the email itself.
Feature by feature
| Area | Beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Free tier, with paid plans for advanced tools | Free to start |
| How the platform earns | Subscription plans for creators | A share of paid subscription income |
| Discovery | Recommendations and Boosts between newsletters | Network recommendations, app and Notes feed |
| Earning from advertisers | Built-in ad network | Possible, but you arrange it yourself |
| Paid subscriptions | Supported | Core feature |
| Custom domain and website | Yes, with a site builder | Custom domain available, with Substack's layout |
| Segmentation and automation | Segments, automations and A/B testing on higher plans | Simpler tools |
| Referral programme | Built in | Limited compared with beehiiv |
Plans and features change on both platforms, so check the current plan pages before you decide. Treat the table as a map of how each one thinks, not a contract.
Ownership and leaving later
Both platforms let you export your subscriber list, which matters more than people realise. If you ever want to move, your list is the business. On Substack, paid subscribers are tied to payment arrangements that need care during a move. On beehiiv, a move means rebuilding your site and automations elsewhere. Neither is a trap, but neither is effortless. If you're already thinking about leaving Substack, see my roundup of Substack alternatives.
The questions I'd ask myself first
- Will readers pay me directly, or will advertisers pay me?
- Do I want readers to find me through a network, or will I bring my own audience?
- How much does my own brand and domain matter?
- Do I need segments and automations, or just a weekly send?
- How much time will I spend on setup and growth tools?
- What would leaving look like if the platform changed its rules?
If most of your answers point to direct reader payments and network discovery, Substack is the simpler choice. If they point to advertisers, branding and growth tools, beehiiv is the better fit.
Growth: where new readers come from on each platform
Most newsletters grow from a mix of the platform's own discovery and the writer's own promotion. How much each platform helps differs.
On Substack
Readers can find you through the Substack app, recommendations from other writers and the Notes feed, which works a little like a social network for newsletter writers. If you post regularly in Notes and build relationships with writers in your niche, recommendations can become a steady source of new readers. The catch is that those readers are also Substack users first, which shapes how they read and pay.
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On beehiiv
Beehiiv gives you tools to grow from your own traffic: a referral programme that rewards readers for sharing, recommendations with other beehiiv newsletters and Boosts, where newsletters can pay each other for recommended subscribers. Landing pages and signup forms help you turn website visitors into readers. You'll do more of the promotion yourself, but you'll have more levers to pull.
Whichever you pick
- Put a signup form on your website and in your social profiles.
- Write a welcome email that tells new readers what to expect and asks them to reply.
- Swap mentions with newsletters your readers would also enjoy.
- Repurpose your best issues as social posts that link back to the signup page.
Common mistakes when choosing
- Picking the platform a favourite writer uses without checking whether their model matches yours.
- Ignoring the cost of giving up a share of subscription income as the list grows.
- Assuming network discovery will do the work, when most growth still comes from your own promotion.
- Overbuilding automations on day one, before you know what readers respond to.
Writing and design experience
Day to day, you'll spend most of your time in the editor, so it's worth trying both before you commit. Substack's editor is simple and distraction free, closer to writing a document than building an email. Beehiiv's editor has more blocks, layouts and design options, which helps branded newsletters but takes a little longer to learn. Draft one real issue in each, send a test to yourself and read it on your phone. The one you'd be happy to open every week is a strong signal.
The verdict
Substack is the better pick for writers who want readers to pay them and who value discovery inside a network. Beehiiv is the better pick for newsletter businesses that plan to earn from advertisers, want their own brand and like growth tools. Decide on your money model first. The platform choice usually follows from it.
Make newsletter or email software? See how to get it featured on this list.
Frequently asked questions
Is beehiiv better than Substack?
Neither is better for everyone. Beehiiv suits newsletters that earn from advertisers and want control and growth tools. Substack suits writers who want paid subscriptions and discovery through its network.
Does Substack take a cut of my earnings?
Substack takes a share of paid subscription income instead of charging a monthly plan. Check its current terms for the exact share and payment processing costs.
Is beehiiv free?
Beehiiv has a free tier with paid plans that add advanced features such as more automation and monetisation tools. Check the current plan page for details.
Can I move my newsletter from Substack to beehiiv?
Yes. You can export your subscriber list from Substack and import it into beehiiv. Paid subscriptions need extra care, so follow both platforms' migration guides.
Which is better for making money from a newsletter?
If readers will pay you directly, Substack makes that simple. If you plan to earn from advertisers, beehiiv's ad network and growth tools are designed for that model.
Can I use my own domain on Substack and beehiiv?
Both support custom domains. Beehiiv also gives you more control over the design of your newsletter website.
Which platform is better for a business newsletter?
Beehiiv usually suits business newsletters better because of custom branding, segmentation and website tools. Substack can work for founders who write in public and want network discovery.
