beehiiv vs Substack (2026): Flat Fee or 10% Cut for Your Paid Newsletter?
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Quick verdict
Best for newsletters that plan to earn serious revenue: beehiiv. Its Lite plan costs a flat $49/mo (billed yearly, shown for 1,000 subscribers) and takes 0% of your paid subscriptions, so you keep more as revenue grows.
Best for writers who want to start paid subscriptions with no upfront cost: Substack. Substack says writers keep 90% of revenue minus credit card fees, so you pay nothing until you earn.
The break-even point is easy to find: above about $490/mo in paid subscription revenue, Substack's 10% cut costs more than beehiiv's Lite plan at 1,000 subscribers.
How we compared
We compared the two platforms using beehiiv's pricing page (checked October 6, 2026) and Substack's pages on paid subscriptions and custom domains (checked September 28, 2026). We signed up for beehiiv's 14-day trial on October 6 to see what each plan includes, but we haven't run a newsletter on either platform, so this is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on review. We don't give star ratings. beehiiv renamed its plans in 2026, so check the official pricing page before you decide.
Comparison table
| beehiiv | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly plans (free plan available) | Revenue share on paid subscriptions |
| Free to publish | Free plan: up to 2,500 subscribers | Free to publish, with no subscriber limit on free newsletters |
| Cut of paid subscriptions | 0% on Lite and Pro | 10%, plus credit card fees |
| Paid subscriptions available | Lite and above | Yes |
| Entry paid plan | Lite: $49/mo billed yearly, shown for 1,000 subscribers | No plan fee listed on the page we checked |
| Subscriber limit | 2,500 on Free; up to 100,000 on Lite; up to 250,000 on Pro | No limit on free subscribers |
| Ad network | Lite and above | Not covered on the page we checked |
| Custom domain | Not on Free; included on Pro (we couldn't confirm Lite) | One-time $50 fee |
| Best for | Newsletters treated as a business | Writers testing paid subscriptions |
beehiiv: flat pricing with growth tools
beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a website, an ad network, paid subscriptions, and growth tools. It charges a monthly plan fee instead of a revenue share.
Pricing
The prices below are the ones beehiiv's pricing page shows for 1,000 subscribers with yearly billing selected. The page has a subscriber slider, so your price rises as your list grows.
- Free — $0. Up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited email sends, landing pages, a website, and the recommendation network. It doesn't include paid subscriptions, the ad network, or a custom domain.
- Lite — $49/mo. Up to 100,000 subscribers, paid subscriptions with a 0% take rate, ad monetization, email automations, AI credits, and 2 team seats.
- Pro — $95/mo. Up to 250,000 subscribers. Adds a custom domain, removal of beehiiv branding, advanced analytics, webhooks, dynamic content, 24/7 priority support, and 10 team seats.
- Enterprise — custom pricing. Adds SSO, dedicated IP addresses, and a customer success manager.
beehiiv also offers a 14-day trial with no credit card required. When the trial ends, you move to the Free plan.
Pros
- 0% take rate on paid subscriptions. Your plan fee stays the same whether you earn $500 or $5,000 a month.
- A free plan with room to grow. Up to 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends cost nothing.
- Built-in ad network. On paid plans, you can earn from sponsors, not just subscribers.
- Room for a team. Lite includes 2 seats, and Pro includes 10.
Cons
- No paid subscriptions or custom domain on the free plan. You need a paid plan to charge readers or use your own domain.
- Fixed cost before revenue. If your paid newsletter earns little at first, the $49 fee can be more than Substack's 10%.
- Price grows with your list. The plan price depends on subscriber count, so a bigger list costs more even when revenue stays flat.
Pricing gotchas
- The headline prices assume yearly billing. The pricing page defaults to "Yearly (and save)" and has a Monthly toggle. We couldn't capture the monthly prices, so check that toggle if you plan to pay monthly.
- Payment processing is separate. A 0% take rate covers beehiiv's cut. Card processing fees are not included in that number.
Substack: pay only when you earn
Substack is a publishing platform for newsletters. Its model for paid newsletters is a revenue share instead of a plan fee.
Pricing
- Paid subscriptions: Substack's page says, "Writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees." In other words, Substack takes 10%, and card processing is deducted separately.
- Free newsletters: Substack is free to publish, with no monthly fee and no limit on free subscribers.
- Custom domain: A one-time $50 fee unlocks custom domains.
Pros
- No upfront cost for paid subscriptions. You pay a share only when readers pay you.
- Low risk for testing. If a paid tier doesn't take off, you won't have paid any monthly fees.
- Simple setup. You don't need to choose a plan tier before launching.
Cons
- The 10% cut grows with you. At $2,000/mo in paid revenue, Substack takes $200/mo, which is more than beehiiv's Pro plan at 1,000 subscribers.
- Card fees on top. The 10% doesn't include credit card processing.
- Less visible feature detail. The page we checked covers revenue terms, not features like automations or ads, so compare those before you commit.
Pricing gotchas
- The effective cost is 10% plus processing. Budget for both when you set subscription prices.
Head-to-head
Cost at low revenue
Winner: Substack. Below about $490/mo in paid revenue, 10% costs less than beehiiv Lite's $49/mo (yearly billing, 1,000 subscribers).
Cost at higher revenue
Winner: beehiiv. Above that point, beehiiv Lite is cheaper, and the gap widens as you grow. Remember that beehiiv's price also rises with your subscriber count.
Free plan
Winner: Substack. It has no limit on free subscribers, while beehiiv's free plan stops at 2,500. A custom domain costs a one-time $50 on Substack, while on beehiiv it needs a paid plan.
Extra income beyond subscriptions
Winner: beehiiv. Its ad network (Lite and above) adds a second income stream.
Getting started
Winner: Substack. There's no plan to choose and nothing to pay until you earn.
Cost scenarios
These examples compare only the platform's cut or plan fee, using beehiiv's yearly price at 1,000 subscribers. Your beehiiv price will be higher with a bigger list, and card processing fees apply on both platforms and aren't included.
Scenario 1: $200/mo in paid subscriptions
- beehiiv Lite: $49/mo.
- Substack: 10% of $200 = $20/mo.
Substack costs less.
Scenario 2: $1,000/mo in paid subscriptions
- beehiiv Lite: $49/mo.
- Substack: 10% of $1,000 = $100/mo.
beehiiv saves you $51 a month, or $612 a year.
Scenario 3: $5,000/mo in paid subscriptions
- beehiiv Lite: $49/mo (or Pro at $95/mo for a custom domain and no beehiiv branding).
- Substack: 10% of $5,000 = $500/mo.
beehiiv saves you at least $405 a month on these prices.
Who should choose which
Choose beehiiv if…
- You expect paid revenue above about $490/mo.
- You want to earn from ads as well as subscriptions.
- You work with a team.
- You're happy to pay a plan fee that grows with your list.
Choose Substack if…
- You want to test a paid newsletter with no monthly fee.
- Your paid revenue is small, or you're not sure it will grow.
- You want an unlimited free list and a simple setup with no plan decisions.
FAQ
Is beehiiv free?
Yes. beehiiv's free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends. It doesn't include paid subscriptions, the ad network, or a custom domain, and there's also a 14-day trial with no credit card required.
How much does Substack take?
Substack says writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees, so Substack takes 10%.
When is beehiiv cheaper than Substack?
When your paid subscription revenue is above about $490/mo, beehiiv Lite's $49/mo price (yearly billing, 1,000 subscribers) is less than Substack's 10% cut. The break-even moves up if your beehiiv price rises with a bigger list or if you pay monthly.
Can I earn from ads on beehiiv?
Yes. The ad network is part of the paid plans, starting with Lite.
Does beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
No. beehiiv lists a 0% take rate on paid subscriptions for Lite and Pro. Card processing fees still apply.
Sources & last updated
Last updated: October 6, 2026.
- beehiiv pricing: https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Substack paid subscriptions: https://substack.com/going-paid (accessed 2026-09-28)
- Substack custom domains: https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051222571-How-do-I-set-up-my-custom-domain-on-Substack (accessed 2026-09-28)
- Substack FAQ on paid subscriptions: https://faq.substack.com/p/how-do-paid-subscriptions-on-substack (accessed 2026-09-28)
Prices and features change. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.