Beehiiv Review 2025: Is It Right for Creators?
Newsletter platforms are everywhere these days. But most feel like they were built for corporate marketing teams, not creators who just want to write something people actually want to read. Beehiiv is different—it was literally built by the people who grew Morning Brew to 4 million subscribers, so they know what actually moves the needle.
Here’s what makes it interesting: Beehiiv doesn’t just help you send emails. It’s designed to help you build a real business around your newsletter, with tools for growth, monetization, and everything in between.
What is Beehiiv?
Think of Beehiiv as the Swiss Army knife for newsletter creators. It’s an all-in-one platform where you can write, publish, and grow your newsletter without juggling five different tools. The founders saw how fragmented the creator ecosystem had become and decided to fix it.
What sets it apart? Most email platforms treat newsletters like fancy marketing campaigns. Beehiiv treats them like what they are—a publishing business. You get website building, SEO optimization, subscriber growth tools, and multiple ways to make money, all in one place.
The platform was born from real experience scaling newsletters, not theoretical marketing best practices. That shows in features like their referral program, ad network, and analytics—they’re all designed around what actually helps newsletters grow.
Beehiiv Key Features
The email editor is refreshingly simple. No overwhelming toolbar with 47 font options—just clean, drag-and-drop components that help you focus on writing instead of wrestling with design. You can embed polls, add images, and create interactive content without any coding.
Here’s what I like: unlimited sending on all plans. Most platforms nickel-and-dime you on email volume, but Beehiiv lets you send as much as you want. They also include A/B testing for subject lines, which is huge for growing open rates.
The AI writing assistant (on paid plans) actually helps when you’re staring at a blank page. It’s not going to write your newsletter for you, but it can help you get unstuck or polish rough drafts.
The template library isn’t massive, but that’s probably good. Too many choices lead to decision paralysis. Beehiiv focuses on templates that actually work for newsletters—clean, readable designs that look professional without being flashy.
Customization is straightforward. You can adjust colors, fonts, and spacing to match your brand without needing a design degree. Everything’s mobile-responsive by default, which saves you from the headache of testing across devices.
You can also save custom templates and create reusable content blocks. So if you have a standard newsletter format, you’re not starting from scratch every week.
Let’s be honest—Beehiiv’s automation isn’t as sophisticated as ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign. You get welcome emails, basic triggered responses, and simple workflows. That’s about it.
But here’s the thing: most newsletter creators don’t need complex automation anyway. If you’re publishing weekly content and building an audience, the basics cover 90% of what you need.
The automation builder is clean and simple. No confusing flowcharts or conditional logic to figure out. You set up a welcome sequence, maybe a thank-you email, and you’re done.
The subscriber dashboard gives you everything you need to understand your audience. You can segment by engagement, subscription source, and behavior. The analytics show exactly where subscribers are coming from, which helps you double down on what’s working.
Importing existing lists is painless, and the platform handles GDPR compliance automatically. The unsubscribe process is clean, and you can see why people are leaving (if they tell you).
One nice touch: individual subscriber engagement scores. You can see who your most engaged readers are and adjust your strategy accordingly.
This is where Beehiiv shines. You get a full website builder with your own custom domain, all included. Your newsletter becomes a proper publication with an archive, about page, and subscriber sign-up forms.
The Magic Links feature is clever—you can create special URLs that subscribe people directly without them filling out a form. Great for partnerships and cross-promotion with other creators.
Form customization is solid. Pop-ups, embedded forms, dedicated landing pages—all the basics are covered. The conversion optimization could be better, but it gets the job done.
The analytics focus on what matters for newsletters: subscriber growth, engagement rates, and content performance. You can see which posts drove the most subscriptions and which ones had people hitting unsubscribe.
Revenue tracking is built-in if you’re monetizing through paid subscriptions or their ad network. The subscriber acquisition data is particularly useful—you can see exactly which channels are bringing in your best readers.
The reporting isn’t as detailed as specialized analytics tools, but it covers the essentials without overwhelming you with data you’ll never use.
Here’s where Beehiiv shows its age. The native integration library is pretty thin compared to established platforms. You get API access (which is nice), but connecting to most third-party tools requires Zapier.
This means extra costs and complexity if you’re running a sophisticated tech stack. For most newsletter creators, though, the built-in features cover what you need.
The API documentation is solid if you’re technical enough to build custom integrations. But most people will probably stick with the native features.
Support is tiered by plan level. Free users get email support, paid users get priority help, and Max plan subscribers get live support. No phone support, which might frustrate some people.
The support team actually knows newsletters, which is refreshing. They’re not just reading from scripts—they understand creator challenges and can give relevant advice.
The knowledge base is comprehensive, and there’s an active community. Most questions get answered quickly through these channels.
Beehiiv Pricing Plans and Value
Price
Subscribers
Key Features
Launch (Free)
$0/month
Up to 2,500
Unlimited emails, 3 publications, custom domain, API access, basic analytics
Scale
$39/month*
1,000 (tiered up to 100k)
Monetization tools, referral program, A/B testing, polls, AI writing assistant
Max
$99/month*
1,000 (tiered up to 100k)
Remove branding, 10 publications, priority support, NewsletterXP course
Enterprise
Custom
100k+
Custom limits, dedicated IP, account manager, advanced integrations
*Pricing scales with subscriber count. Annual plans get significant discounts.
The free plan is genuinely generous—2,500 subscribers with unlimited sending beats most competitors. That’s enough to test the platform and start building an audience without spending anything.
The jump to $39/month for the Scale plan feels steep, but you’re getting monetization tools that can pay for themselves. The Max plan at $99/month is harder to justify unless you really need multiple publications or priority support.
Beehiiv Pros and Cons
- Creator-focused features that actually work
- Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
- Multiple monetization options built-in
- Website builder included
- Zero platform fees on revenue
- Excellent growth tools
- Limited automation compared to email marketing tools
- Big price jump from free to paid
- Fewer integrations than established platforms
- No phone support
- Learning curve for complex features
- Template library could be bigger
Pros
The monetization ecosystem is what sets Beehiiv apart. You can run paid subscriptions with zero platform fees, join their ad network for sponsorship opportunities, and earn money through their Boosts referral program. Some creators report making $1-3 per referred subscriber just through Boosts.
The growth features actually work. The built-in referral program, recommendation network, and subscriber acquisition tracking help you scale without relying on social media algorithms. Plus, the website builder with SEO optimization means you’re not just building an email list—you’re building a searchable content archive.
Cons
The automation limitations are real. If you’re coming from ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign, you’ll miss the sophisticated workflows and behavioral triggers. Beehiiv covers the basics, but that’s about it.
The pricing jump from free to $39/month catches some people off guard. While the Scale plan includes valuable features, it’s pricier than comparable tiers from MailerLite or Sender. You’re paying for the creator-specific features, but budget-conscious creators might struggle with the jump.
Should You Choose Beehiiv?
Best For
Not Recommended For
Newsletter creators and publishers
E-commerce businesses
Creators focused on monetization
Complex automation needs
Building audience-driven businesses
Tight budget constraints
Content creators wanting growth tools
Advanced CRM requirements
Who Beehiiv is Perfect For
Content creators who want to turn their newsletter into a real business. If you’re a blogger, journalist, or industry expert looking to monetize your expertise, Beehiiv’s feature set aligns perfectly with those goals.
The platform shines for creators focused on growth. The referral tools, recommendation network, and built-in monetization create a system that rewards quality content with sustainable revenue. Solo creators and small teams especially benefit from having everything in one place.
It’s also great for people who want to own their platform. Unlike writing on Medium or Substack, you get your own branded website and complete control over your subscriber relationships.
Who Should Consider an Alternative
E-commerce businesses and traditional marketers will probably find Beehiiv limiting. The platform is built for content publishing, not product marketing or complex customer journeys.
If you need sophisticated automation or have a tight budget, look elsewhere. Platforms like Sender or MailerLite offer similar basic functionality at lower prices. And if you’re already invested in a complex tech stack, Beehiiv’s limited integrations might cause headaches.
Complex automation needs are probably the biggest dealbreaker. If your business relies on intricate email sequences and behavioral triggers, stick with dedicated email marketing platforms.
Beehiiv User Experience and Reputation
G2 users love how Beehiiv consolidates multiple tools into one platform. The recurring theme is simplicity—instead of managing separate newsletter, website, and analytics tools, everything lives in one dashboard.
Users consistently praise the creator-focused approach. As one reviewer put it, “the platform is easy to use and intuitive, but that’s table stakes. What I truly value is that beehiiv is made by industry experts” who actually understand newsletter challenges.
The main criticism? Pricing can feel steep for smaller newsletters, especially if you’re not sending frequently. Some users wish there were more intermediate pricing options.
Capterra reviewers appreciate the transition from “fragmented legacy infrastructure” to a modern, integrated platform. The customer support gets high marks—users feel heard when they request features or need help.
Long-term users are particularly satisfied. One verified user said: “Beehiiv is super simple and easy to use, making it perfect for creating a side business while having fun. The platform is constantly releasing new features at a blistering pace.”
The monetization features get consistent praise, though some users mention the interface can feel busy and confusing when you’re getting started.
Trustpilot shows more mixed feedback. New creators love the immediate impact on their newsletter success, with many saying they saw growth right away.
However, there are some concerning reports about customer service issues and spam complaints. These seem to be isolated incidents, but they highlight the importance of following email best practices and maintaining clean lists.
Most reviews are positive, but the platform isn’t perfect. Like any tool, success depends on how you use it.
Beehiiv Compared to Top Alternatives
Sender wins on price and automation sophistication. Their free plan includes advanced segmentation and automation features that Beehiiv locks behind paid tiers. If budget is your main concern, Sender offers more bang for your buck.
But Beehiiv’s creator-specific features are hard to replicate. The built-in ad network, Boosts referral program, and website builder create opportunities that pure email marketing tools can’t match. You’re not just sending emails—you’re building a publishing business.
The choice comes down to priorities: Sender for email marketing on a budget, Beehiiv for building a newsletter business.
ConvertKit dominates on automation and creator commerce. Their tagging system, complex workflows, and digital product integrations are more sophisticated than anything Beehiiv offers. If you’re selling courses or building complex funnels, ConvertKit is probably better.
But Beehiiv offers better value at scale. At 100,000 subscribers, ConvertKit costs about $679/month while Beehiiv runs around $329/month. Plus, Beehiiv’s website builder and SEO tools create a more complete publishing platform.
It depends on your focus: ConvertKit for email marketing and product sales, Beehiiv for newsletter publishing and audience building.
Substack is simpler and has a built-in discovery network of 20+ million readers. If you just want to write and don’t care about customization, Substack’s simplicity is appealing.
Beehiiv gives you more control and better economics. While Substack takes 10% of subscription revenue, Beehiiv charges zero platform fees. You also get better branding control, analytics, and growth tools.
The trade-off: Substack for simplicity and built-in discovery, Beehiiv for control and better monetization.
Bottom Line
Beehiiv succeeds because it was built by people who actually scaled newsletters, not just email marketers theorizing about what creators need. The result is a platform that feels purpose-built for newsletter businesses.
Real creators are making real money—one user reported earning over $940 from Beehiiv’s monetization features with just 1,000 subscribers. The platform’s growth tools, zero-fee monetization, and integrated website builder create genuine opportunities for building sustainable newsletter businesses.
The downsides are real though. Limited automation, steep pricing jumps, and fewer integrations might be dealbreakers depending on your needs. This isn’t a general-purpose email marketing tool—it’s specifically designed for newsletter publishing.
My take: Choose Beehiiv if you’re serious about building a newsletter business with multiple revenue streams. Skip it if you need complex automation, have budget constraints, or just want basic email marketing features. The platform rewards creators who commit to the newsletter publishing model, but it’s not for everyone.
