What is Beehiiv?
Beehiiv launched in 2021, founded by former members of Morning Brew, and has grown rapidly by focusing on everything general email tools miss: growth mechanics, monetisation, and creator-first features. Unlike Mailchimp or ConvertKit, Beehiiv gives every newsletter a web presence optimised for search (so posts can rank on Google), a built-in referral programme to grow subscribers, and direct access to the Beehiiv Ad Network where brands pay to reach your audience without you having to do any outreach. The free plan allows up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends. Paid plans start at $42/month (Scale) and unlock boosts (paid newsletter recommendations), custom domains, and premium subscription tools. Beehiiv's affiliate programme pays 50% of referred revenue for the first 12 months — one of the highest in the email space. For creators building a newsletter side hustle, it's the strongest platform available in 2026.
Pros & Cons
What works well
- Free plan generous — 2,500 subs, unlimited sends
- Built-in ad network (passive revenue without outreach)
- Referral programme to grow subscribers automatically
- SEO-optimised web posts that rank on Google
- Paid subscription tools built-in (no Gumroad needed)
Things to know
- Less mature automation than ConvertKit
- Smaller ecosystem of integrations vs. Mailchimp
- Scale plan required for most monetisation features
What people use Beehiiv for
- Building a newsletter side hustle
- Monetising an audience with ads and paid subs
- Content repurposing from blog to email
- Growing subscribers with referral rewards
- Brand partnerships via the ad network
Pricing
Free up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends. Scale $42/month. Max $84/month. Enterprise custom.
See current pricing