Last updated: October 2026 | Prices checked against beehiiv’s and Kit’s pricing pages and Substack’s help center
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Newsletters have become a real business for writers, consultants and small media brands, and three platforms dominate the conversation. Substack is free to use but takes a share of paid subscriptions. beehiiv charges a monthly fee and focuses on growth and monetization tools. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is an email marketing platform built for creators who sell newsletters, courses and digital products.
beehiiv vs Substack vs Kit at a glance
| beehiiv | Substack | Kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Up to 2,500 subscribers | Free, unlimited subscribers | Up to 10,000 subscribers |
| Paid plans | Lite $49/mo, Pro $95/mo (yearly billing) | None (10% of paid subscription revenue) | Creator $33/mo, Pro $66/mo (1,000 subscribers) |
| Cut of paid subscriptions | 0% (plus Stripe fees) | 10% (plus Stripe fees) | 0% (plus payment fees) |
| Ad network | Yes (paid plans) | No built-in ad network | No |
| Custom domain | Yes | One-time $50 | Yes |
| Automations | Yes (paid plans) | Limited | Unlimited on paid plans |
| Best for | Growth-focused newsletters with ads and paid tiers | Writers who want simplicity and a built-in network | Creators selling products alongside a newsletter |
Pricing in 2026
beehiiv
| Plan | Price (yearly billing) | Subscribers | Monetization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,500 | Limited |
| Lite | $49/mo | Up to 100,000 | Paid subscriptions (0% take rate), ad network |
| Pro | $95/mo | Up to 250,000 | Everything in Lite plus more |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom |
Monthly billing costs up to 20% more. Stripe’s 2.9% + 30¢ applies to paid subscriptions.
Substack
Free to publish with any number of subscribers. On paid subscriptions, Substack keeps 10%, and Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ per payment plus 0.7% for recurring billing. A custom domain is a one-time $50.
Kit
| Plan | Price (1,000 subscribers) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter (Free) | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers; no automations or sequences |
| Creator | $33/mo ($390/yr) | Unlimited automations and sequences, 2 users |
| Pro | $66/mo | Advanced features, unlimited users |
Kit’s prices rise with subscribers.
The break-even point for paid newsletters
Ignoring Stripe fees (which apply on all three), here’s what the platform itself takes from paid subscription revenue:
| Monthly paid revenue | Substack (10%) | beehiiv Lite (flat $49) | Kit Creator (from $33) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $50 | $49 | $33+ |
| $2,000 | $200 | $49 | $33+ (rises with list size) |
| $5,000 | $500 | $49 (or $95 on Pro) | rises with list size |
Once paid revenue passes about $500 a month, Substack’s 10% costs more than beehiiv’s Lite plan. At $5,000 a month, Substack takes $500 a month, or $6,000 a year, against $588 a year for beehiiv Lite.
Features compared
Growth and discovery
Substack’s network and app recommend newsletters to readers, which can bring subscribers you wouldn’t find elsewhere. beehiiv focuses on growth tools such as referral programs and recommendations between newsletters. Kit offers landing pages, forms and a creator network for recommendations.
Monetization
beehiiv has a built-in ad network on paid plans, plus paid subscriptions with no platform cut. Substack offers paid subscriptions with a 10% cut and no ad network. Kit lets you sell paid newsletters and digital products directly.
Ownership and portability
All three let you export your subscriber list. Substack is the most “platform-like,” with your publication inside Substack’s app and brand; beehiiv and Kit feel more like your own site and tools.
Automation
Kit is the strongest for automation, with unlimited visual automations and sequences on paid plans. beehiiv includes automations on paid plans. Substack’s automation is minimal.
Three real-world scenarios
A writer starting a free newsletter. Substack is the simplest start and may bring readers through its network. Kit’s free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers) is also strong if you want automations later.
A niche B2B newsletter with 15,000 readers and sponsors. beehiiv’s ad network and growth tools fit well, at $49 a month.
A consultant selling a $99 course to newsletter readers. Kit combines email sequences and product sales, which beehiiv and Substack don’t focus on.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- Will you charge for subscriptions? Above about $500 a month in paid revenue, Substack’s 10% exceeds beehiiv Lite.
- Will you sell sponsorships or ads? beehiiv’s ad network can help.
- Do you sell products or courses? Kit is built for it.
- How important is discovery? Substack’s network is a real advantage.
- How many free subscribers will you have? Compare free plan limits: beehiiv 2,500, Kit 10,000, Substack unlimited.
What you keep from $5,000 a month in paid subscriptions
Assume 1,000 paid subscribers at $5 a month, paying by card.
| Platform | Platform fee | Approx. Stripe fees (2.9% + 30¢) | You keep (before Stripe Billing fees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | $500 (10%) | $445 | About $4,055 |
| beehiiv Lite | $49 | $445 | About $4,506 |
Substack also lists a 0.7% recurring billing fee from Stripe. Over a year, the difference between the two platforms is roughly $5,400 in this example.
Frequently asked questions
Should I start on Substack and move later?
Many writers do. Substack is the easiest place to start, and you can export your list and move to beehiiv or Kit when platform fees or features start to matter.
Is Substack really free?
Yes, it’s free to publish. Substack makes money by taking 10% of paid subscription revenue.
Does beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
No. beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscription revenue; Stripe’s processing fees still apply.
Can I move my newsletter from Substack to beehiiv or Kit?
Yes. You can export subscribers from Substack and import them. Paid subscribers may need to be migrated through Stripe; check each platform’s migration guide.
Which is best for a free newsletter?
Substack for simplicity and discovery; Kit for a generous free plan with room to add automation later.
The bottom line
Substack is the easiest free start and the best for discovery. beehiiv becomes cheaper once paid revenue passes about $500 a month and adds strong growth and ad tools. Kit is the best choice if your newsletter supports courses or digital products.
Related: Mailchimp vs Kit · Brevo vs Mailchimp