Beehiiv Free Plan

I kept seeing Beehiiv everywhere. Newsletter after newsletter I subscribed to had that little logo at the bottom. Finally clicked on one and — wow. The free plan promised 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends. Which sounds like marketing BS, honestly.

But after digging into it for the past few months, testing it against other platforms, and watching creators actually build audiences on it? It’s legit. Though there are some catches that might surprise you.

What is the Beehiiv Pricing Plan?

Four tiers: Launch (free), Scale, Max, and Enterprise. Simple as that.

Here’s what I like about their approach — you’re not getting nickel-and-dimed per email. Send 100 newsletters or 10,000, doesn’t matter. You pay based on subscriber count, period. Which makes sense when you think about it. Why should engaging your audience more frequently cost you more?

The paid plans start at $49/month for Scale, jumping to $109 for Max. Enterprise is custom pricing once you hit 100,000 subscribers. All come with 30-day trials, so you can actually test the premium features before committing.

A Quick Overview of Beehiiv and Its Features

Morning Brew’s former team built this. You know, the newsletter that hit 4 million subscribers? So they weren’t theorizing about what newsletter creators need — they lived it.

That shows in how Beehiiv works. It’s not an email marketing tool trying to do newsletters. It’s built specifically for people who want to create content, grow an audience, and maybe make money doing it. Newsletter editor, website builder, analytics, monetization tools — all in one place.

The interface feels… right. Like someone who actually runs newsletters designed it. Clean, modern, doesn’t overwhelm you with features you’ll never use.

What Do You Get with the Beehiiv Free Plan?

2,500 subscribers. Unlimited sends. Multiple publications if you want them.

But here’s what caught me off guard — you get a website. Not just email sending, but a proper content hub where all your newsletters live. That’s huge for SEO and subscriber acquisition.

The recommendation network surprised me too. You can cross-promote with other creators, get your newsletter in front of new audiences. Most platforms charge for that kind of growth feature.

Key Features of the Free Plan

Three main areas where the Launch plan actually delivers.

Newsletter Creation and Design Tools

The editor is… clean. Really clean. You’re not fighting with a clunky interface or trying to figure out where basic formatting options are hiding.

You can embed stuff, add polls, customize colors and fonts. The drag-and-drop works without glitching out every few clicks. Templates look professional without screaming “template.” Everything’s mobile-responsive by default, which shouldn’t be remarkable in 2025 but somehow still is.

Live preview shows exactly what subscribers will see. No surprises when you hit send.

Website Builder and Content Management

This is where Beehiiv gets interesting. Your newsletters don’t just disappear into email inboxes — they live on your website too.

Think of it like your newsletter archive, but prettier and actually useful. People can discover your best content, catch up on what they missed, subscribe without jumping through hoops. You can connect a custom domain, make it look like your brand.

And here’s the kicker — Google can find this stuff. Your newsletter content can actually rank and bring in organic traffic. Most email platforms can’t touch that.

Analytics and Growth Tools

Basic analytics show what you’d expect: open rates, clicks, subscriber growth. Nothing revolutionary, but enough to understand what’s working.

The recommendation network though? That’s clever. Cross-promote other newsletters, get promoted back. It’s like a built-in viral loop for newsletter discovery. Doesn’t cost extra, doesn’t require complex setup.

Tagging and segmentation work for basic audience organization. You can group people by interests or behavior, send more targeted content. It’s not sophisticated, but it’s functional.

What’s Missing in the Beehiiv Free Plan?

Money stuff, mostly. And the advanced features that separate casual newsletter writers from serious creators.

Restricted or Limited Features

No monetization. At all. Can’t sell subscriptions, can’t access the ad network, can’t use Boosts for sponsored content. If making money is the goal, you’re upgrading immediately.

Automation is pretty basic. Welcome emails, sure. But complex drip campaigns? Behavioral triggers? Nope. You’re stuck with simple, linear sequences.

A/B testing doesn’t exist on the free plan. Can’t test subject lines, can’t optimize send times, can’t experiment with content variations. You’re basically flying blind on what actually works.

Hidden Costs and Limitations

Beehiiv’s logo shows up on everything. Emails, website, signup forms. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it does scream “I’m using the free version” to anyone paying attention.

Integrations are limited. Want to connect with your CRM? E-commerce platform? Other marketing tools? You’ll probably need Zapier, which adds cost and complexity.

The AI features everyone talks about? Paid plans only. Same with priority support, advanced analytics, and most of the growth tools that make Beehiiv special.

Who’s the Beehiiv Free Plan Perfect For?

Content creators starting out. Writers building an audience. Anyone testing whether newsletters are worth the effort.

If you’re publishing regular content and want to build an email list around it, the Launch plan works well. The website integration means you’re not just collecting email addresses — you’re building a content library that can attract organic traffic.

Solo creators will appreciate unlimited sending. You can email your audience daily without worrying about usage caps. That’s huge when you’re trying to build engagement and habits.

But if you’re already making money from content or have a established audience, the limitations will frustrate you quickly.

How Does the Beehiiv Free Plan Compare to Paid Plans?

The jump from Launch to Scale is significant. We’re talking about the difference between hobby and business.

Feature Comparison

Scale unlocks monetization — paid subscriptions, ad network access, referral programs. The stuff that turns newsletters into revenue streams.

Max removes the Beehiiv branding and adds priority support. That’s when it starts feeling like a proper business tool instead of a free platform you’re borrowing.

When It Makes Sense to Upgrade

You’re hitting 2,500 subscribers. Or close to it. Growth means you need more capacity.

But really? Monetization is the bigger trigger. Once you want to make money from your audience, the free plan becomes useless. The ad network, paid subscriptions, sponsorship tools — that’s where Beehiiv shines.

Professional appearance matters too. If you’re building a brand, having someone else’s logo on your content feels… amateur. Not everyone cares, but established creators usually do.

Advanced analytics help optimize performance. The 3D dashboard shows subscriber acquisition channels, engagement patterns, geographic data. Useful for understanding what’s actually working.

Compare this to Sender’s free plan — they give you 2,500 subscribers but cap monthly sends at 15,000. Beehiiv gives unlimited sends but focuses on newsletter-specific features. Sender is traditional email marketing; Beehiiv is content publishing.

Bottom Line

Different tools for different goals.

The verdict? Beehiiv’s Launch plan is genuinely useful for testing newsletter creation and audience building. Most “free” plans feel like trials designed to push upgrades. This one actually works for small creators who just want to publish content and see what happens.

Just know that if it works — if you start growing and want to monetize — you’ll be upgrading soon enough.