Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit): Which Fits You?
Let’s face it — picking an email marketing platform isn’t just about blasting out newsletters anymore. It’s about building a real connection with your audience, driving meaningful engagement, and setting yourself up for sustainable growth.
I’ve spent countless hours testing various platforms, and two names keep popping up in conversations with fellow creators: Beehiiv and Kit.
Beehiiv caught my eye with its modern, clean interface and wallet-friendly pricing — it’s clearly built with creators and newsletter-first businesses in mind.
Kit, meanwhile, has earned its reputation for robust automation capabilities, deeper segmentation options, and a wealth of integrations that support more sophisticated marketing approaches.
I’m breaking down everything you need to know about these platforms — from pricing and features to real-world performance — so you can make the right call for your specific needs without wasting time on the wrong platform.
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Quick Comparison
Feature Overview
Beehiiv
Kit
Best For
Newsletter creators, content-driven brands
Creators, coaches, and online businesses
Pricing
Free plan + paid plans from $42/month
Free plan + paid plans from $15/month
Ease of Use
Very beginner-friendly, clean interface
Simple interface with more advanced tools
Value for Money
Excellent for newsletters & audience growth
Great for creators needing automation
Strengths & Weaknesses
Overall Strengths
Overall Weaknesses
Beehiiv
Clean UI, built for newsletters, affordable
Limited automation, fewer integrations
Kit
Powerful automation, creator-focused features
Higher pricing at scale, basic reporting
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Features Comparison
Beehiiv
Kit
Email Campaigns
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Built for newsletters
- Clean content-focused layouts
- Monetization tools (ad network, subscriptions)
- Visual email editor
- Broadcasts & sequences
- Customizable templates
- Creator-specific monetization tools (paid subscriptions, tip jars)
Automation
- Basic automation flows
- Auto newsletters via RSS
- Welcome emails
- Audience segments based on engagement
- Advanced automation builder
- Visual workflow editor
- Trigger-based emails
- Subscriber tagging & sequences
Landing Pages & Forms
- Customizable forms
- Minimal landing pages
- Referral program widget
- Popups and embeds
- Drag-and-drop landing page builder
- Customizable forms
- Inline & popup forms
- Lead magnet delivery
Segmentation & Personalization
- Audience segments by activity
- Custom fields
- Newsletter category preferences
- Limited dynamic content
- Tag-based segmentation
- Conditional content in emails
- Subscriber scoring
- Personalized email sequences
Reporting & Analytics
- Audience growth dashboard
- Revenue tracking
- Newsletter performance metrics
- Referral program analytics
- Email engagement reports
- Automation performance tracking
- Revenue & conversion reports
- Subscriber activity insights
Integrations
- Native integrations (Shopify, Stripe, Twitter)
- API access
- Zapier support
- Fewer third-party apps
- 100+ native integrations
- Zapier & API access
- Ecommerce tools
- Webinar & membership site integrations
Beehiiv
Beehiiv is unapologetically newsletter-first — built for content creators, bloggers, and media brands who prioritize audience growth and monetization. What impressed me was their clean writing interface and monetization options (that Ad Network is pretty sweet, and subscription support is solid).
The built-in referral program is perfect for organic growth, but I was disappointed by the limited automation capabilities, basic personalization, and relatively few third-party integrations. It’s ideal if you’re running a newsletter-driven business with straightforward marketing needs.
Kit
Kit casts a wider net with features that support more complex email strategies. Their automation builder is genuinely impressive, and the conditional content and detailed segmentation tools give you much better control over customer journeys.
Yes, it costs more, but the wide range of integrations makes it worth considering if you’re selling products, running courses, or need more targeted audience segmentation. It’s the better choice if you need automation flexibility and want to engage your audience across multiple channels.
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Pricing Comparison
Subscriber Count
Beehiiv Pricing (Growth Plan)
Kit Pricing (Creator Plan)
Key Differences
1,000
From $42/month
From $29/month
Kit is cheaper at lower tiers; Beehiiv includes referral tools.
2,500
From $66/month
From $49/month
Kit offers advanced automation; Beehiiv focused on newsletters.
5,000
From $83/month
From $79/month
Pricing gap narrows; Beehiiv better for audience monetization.
10,000
From $149/month
From $119/month
Kit has stronger automation; Beehiiv includes built-in ad monetization.
25,000
From $239/month
From $199/month
Beehiiv slightly more expensive; stronger content monetization tools included.
The Bottom Line on Pricing: Beehiiv’s pricing model is newsletter-focused and increases moderately as your audience grows. It’s perfect for content creators who value simplicity, referral growth, and built-in monetization features like paid subscriptions and ad networks.
The plans get pricier with larger subscriber counts, but you’re paying for those audience monetization features.
Kit, meanwhile, offers more affordable entry-level pricing (especially for smaller lists) and scales predictably. You’re getting advanced automation, segmentation, and ecommerce-friendly tools included.
It’s a better fit if you’re managing complex email campaigns, selling products, or running membership programs where you need greater control over automation and customer journeys.
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Free Plan Comparison
Beehiiv Free Plan
Kit Free Plan
Subscribers
Up to 2,500 subscribers
Up to 1,000 subscribers
Emails/Month
Unlimited emails
Unlimited emails
Automation
Basic welcome emails only
Single-step automation only
Landing Pages/Forms
Signup forms & referral program
Landing pages & customizable forms
Branding
Beehiiv branding on emails
Kit branding on emails & pages
Beehiiv’s free plan is surprisingly generous with that 2,500 subscriber limit and unlimited emails — great if you’re focused on growing a newsletter audience. The automation is super limited though (just basic welcome emails).
Kit caps you at 1,000 subscribers but gives you landing pages, customizable forms, and simple single-step automation — better if you want to build basic lead funnels or deliver free content.
Both plans have platform branding and limited support, but Beehiiv wins for newsletter-focused users while Kit’s free plan is better for creators needing basic automation and list-building tools.
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Pros & Cons
Beehiiv
Kit
- Built specifically for newsletter creators
- Monetization tools (ad network, paid subscriptions)
- Clean, minimalistic writing & publishing interface
- Built-in referral program for newsletter growth
- Affordable pricing for growing newsletters
- SEO-friendly public newsletter pages
- Creator-friendly with intuitive automation builder
- Unlimited landing pages & signup forms
- Tag-based contact management for flexible segmentation
- Integrates with major creator tools (Shopify, Teachable)
- Transparent pricing based on subscriber count
- Easy-to-use visual automation & email sequences
- Less advanced email automation
- Few native integrations compared to Kit
- Lacks ecommerce automation tools
- Relatively new platform — evolving feature set
- Reporting is basic for performance tracking
- Less customizable email layouts
- Limited reporting & analytics
- Fewer monetization features (no built-in ad network)
- No built-in referral program
- Email design options are basic
- Less suited for complex ecommerce automation
- Limited native integrations vs larger platforms
Beehiiv
Beehiiv feels like it was built from the ground up for content creators, publishers, and newsletter-driven businesses who value simplicity and direct monetization. Their user interface is refreshingly clean, and features like the built-in ad network and referral program are clearly designed to fuel organic list growth.
It’s perfect if your focus is primarily on email newsletters rather than complex marketing automation. The limited workflow automation, fewer integrations, and higher pricing at scale make it less ideal if you need advanced customer journeys or multi-channel campaigns.
Kit
Kit takes a broader approach with features that support creators needing more sophisticated email tools. Their automation builder, segmentation capabilities, and flexible integrations give you much more control over customer engagement and sales funnels.
It’s the right choice for online creators, course sellers, and digital entrepreneurs managing complex audience journeys or multiple revenue streams. While their free plan is great for getting started, be aware that pricing can climb quickly as your subscriber base grows.
Beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — Ratings & Reviews
Beehiiv consistently earns praise for its clean, minimal interface that puts content creation first. Users love how quickly they can set up a newsletter, build a referral program, and manage audience growth without technical headaches.
Kit also scores well for usability, especially among creators wanting to launch campaigns without coding skills. The visual automation builder and straightforward dashboard make it accessible, though things can get a bit more complex with larger campaigns.
Beehiiv’s learning curve is practically non-existent — perfect for beginners focused on newsletters or content distribution. The flip side is that there’s less to learn because the automation capabilities are more limited.
Kit offers more advanced tools that take a bit more time to master — particularly the automation workflows and tagging system — but they provide plenty of tutorials and templates to help you along.
Beehiiv users frequently mention the platform’s creator-first approach, simplicity, and monetization features like paid newsletters and the referral program. Many reviews highlight responsive customer support and an exciting product roadmap.
Kit testimonials often praise the automation flexibility, helpful community resources, and ease of managing complex subscriber journeys. Some note that pricing increases quickly as lists grow, but overall satisfaction remains high among content creators and online entrepreneurs.
