Curious which email platform gives your newsletter the best path to growth without breaking the bank?
You need clear costs and real limits so you can choose fast. Launch is free up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, letting you test email strategy before you commit. Scale starts at $39/month and unlocks automations, premium subscriptions, Boosts, and analytics. Max begins at $99/month with advanced tools, priority support, and verification.
Monetization options include an Ad Network (available from 1,000+ subscribers), Boosts that pay roughly $1–$3 per referred subscriber, and paid subscriptions processed via Stripe (2.9% + $0.30). Paid plans offer a 30-day free trial so you can validate ROI risk-free.
Known limits include form and automation constraints, no native time-zone sends, and possible Gmail clipping on long emails. Refund and money-back terms can change—always check at checkout.
Ready to decide? Start free trial or get discount and have your team live in days, not weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Launch is free to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited newsletter sends—great for early testing.
- Scale ($39/mo) and Max ($99/mo) add monetization, automation, and priority support.
- Ad Network and Boosts let small businesses earn quickly from lists as small as 1,000.
- Built-in site/pages, referral tools, and 3D analytics are core creator-first features.
- Watch known limits (forms, time-zone sends, Gmail clipping) and confirm refund terms at checkout.
- Try the 30-day free trial to validate growth tools before committing to annual billing.
Quick overview: Beehiiv pricing at a glance and who it’s for
This brief overview highlights who benefits most from each pricing tier and why. The free Launch tier gives you breathing room to publish and learn. It caps at 2,500 subscribers, with unlimited sends and basic recommendations. That makes it ideal if you are a beginner or run a small list and want to test content without cost.
Free to start: up to 2,500 subscribers on Launch
If you have a small audience, Launch lets you send email consistently while you validate content-market fit. Import your list, set up pages, and publish in a day. You keep control and avoid upfront spend while building an owned channel for marketing.
Paid plans with 30-day free trial for growth-focused operators
Paid tiers start at $39/month and include a 30-day free trial so you can test automations, analytics, and monetization. Once you hit 1,000+ subscribers, inbound sponsorship opportunities and the Ad Network open up, giving creators quick revenue paths.
- Beginners: Use Launch to learn and grow without risk.
- Small lists: Stay on free until you need monetization or automations.
- Growth-focused teams: Trial Scale/Max to unlock Boosts, premium content, and advanced analytics.
Beehiiv pricing tiers explained
Match your growth stage to the right plan: free for testing, paid for automation and monetization, and advanced for high-volume creators.
Launch — $0: run newsletter email campaigns with unlimited sends and automated recommendations while you grow to 2,500 subscribers. Use this tier to validate content and list fit without monthly cost.
Scale — from $39/month: unlock automations, Boosts, premium subscriptions, and deeper campaign analytics. This tier is built for creators who want to accelerate list growth and start monetizing.
Max — from $99/month: add advanced features, platform verification, and priority support for higher-volume operations and teams that need tighter controls.
“All paid tiers include a 30‑day free trial; confirm annual discounts and refund terms at checkout before you commit.”
- Toggle annual billing at checkout to see exact savings; annual prepay often lowers your effective month cost.
- Premium subscriptions on paid plans carry no platform fee; Stripe processing is 2.9% + $0.30.
- Always capture the refund/money-back terms shown at purchase for your records.
| Tier | Starting Price | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | $0 | Unlimited sends, recommendations, up to 2,500 subs |
| Scale | From $39/month | Automations, Boosts, premium subscriptions, analytics |
| Max | From $99/month | Advanced features, priority support, verification |
What you get on each plan: features that move the needle
Each plan bundles practical features that help you earn, publish, and measure without juggling tools.
Monetize sooner: once you pass 1,000 subscribers you can access the ad network and field inbound sponsorships. Boosts let you pay people to refer readers and typically earn roughly $1–$3 per qualified subscriber.
Monetize faster with ad offers, Boosts, and paid subs
Turn on paid subscriptions with no platform fee from the provider—only Stripe processing applies. That means more revenue stays with your business while you run subscription and sponsorship campaigns.
Built-in site and pages to publish, capture, and convert
Use the hosted site and custom pages to publish content, collect emails, and route readers into offers without another CMS or landing page tool. Managing email campaigns and on-site publishing from one platform reduces tool sprawl and speeds execution.
Growth stack: referrals, Boosts marketplace, and 3D analytics
Referral programs and the Boosts marketplace give you low-friction growth paths. 3D analytics deliver source attribution, engagement, and campaign performance insights you can act on quickly.
“Monetize in weeks, not years—Ad Network access and Boosts open revenue paths as your list grows.”
- Quick wins: inbound ad offers at 1,000+ subs.
- Revenue-friendly: paid subs without platform fees beyond Stripe.
- Actionable insights: 3D analytics for campaigns and acquisition.
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp vs Substack: which fits your goals
You’ll want a platform that protects your list, maximizes subscription revenue, and makes migration painless.
Mailchimp excels as a broad email marketing tool for brands and teams. It offers deep campaign options and integrations. However, it is lighter on creator-first monetization like referral Boosts or an ad marketplace.
Substack targets writers who want simplicity, but it takes a 10% platform fee plus Stripe processing (~3%). That fee reduces your subscriptions revenue, and many followers live in a walled garden rather than as exportable subscribers.
beehiiv focuses on creators and revenue. It charges $0 platform fee on paid subscriptions (you only pay Stripe). You keep ownership of subscribers and content, use custom domains, and export lists for portability.
“Choose the platform that aligns with your growth, ownership, and monetization goals—not just basic send features.”
- Mailchimp: strong legacy marketing features, fewer creator monetization paths.
- Substack: 10% platform fee + Stripe; followers may be non‑exportable.
- beehiiv: no platform fee on paid subscriptions, exportable lists, custom domains, built‑in ads and Boosts.
Bottom line: If you want tight control over content, custom domains, and higher subscription margins as you scale, pick the platform that gives you ownership and built‑in monetization—not just sending tools.
The three biggest Beehiiv benefits for small businesses
For teams building an owned audience, three features stand out for turning email into money and momentum.
Low‑lift monetization with inbound ad opportunities and Boosts
Turn on monetization early: creators report 3–6 inbound sponsorship offers per month after passing 1,000 subscribers. That means real money while your list is still growing.
The platform’s ad network and Boosts let small business owners access sponsorships without heavy outreach.
Faster setup: smooth onboarding, domain warming, and easy forms
Move from signup to send fast. Straightforward onboarding and domain warming protect deliverability from day one.
Your team can build pages and forms quickly so you capture demand without a developer or extra tools.
Data clarity: source tracking and performance insights to scale
See what drives growth. 3D analytics show where subscribers come from and which content performs best.
These insights help you focus on the email topics and channels that compound long‑term growth for your business.
- Quick wins: low‑lift revenue via the ad network and Boosts.
- Operational speed: onboarding and domain warming reduce setup friction for your team.
- Actionable data: clear insights let you prioritize what grows subscriber and revenue metrics.
“Start your free trial to validate time‑to‑value, then decide which tier aligns with your roadmap.”
Known limits to consider before you switch
Plan for a few feature gaps that may require extra time or external tools to resolve.
Automation and form mapping can be rigid. Expect one-form-to-one-automation constraints that force workarounds for complex journeys. That means you may need external services or custom scripts to build multi-step flows.
Personalization options are basic. Dynamic greetings and complex conditional content are limited compared with older email platforms. Keep templates simple if you rely on tailored content.
No time-zone sends and design limits
There’s no native time-zone sending, which can lower opens for global newsletters. Design constraints and HTML bloat can also create issues.
Gmail clipping occurs around ~102KB. Keep content blocks lean and test final sends to avoid clipped messages.
Third-party gaps and support
No built-in Gumroad integration and limited ecommerce automations (Shopify flows are not native). If ecommerce sequences are mission-critical, plan extra work or middleware.
“Support is helpful but can be slower on nuanced issues; build buffer time into launches.”
| Known Limit | Impact | Practical Fix |
|---|---|---|
| One-form → one-automation | Limits complex journeys | Use external automation tools or Zapier |
| No time-zone sends | Lower opens for global lists | Schedule sends by region or segment manually |
| Gmail clipping (~102KB) | Truncated emails, lost CTAs | Trim images/code; test with Gmail |
| No native Gumroad / limited Shopify | Missing ecommerce flows | Connect via API or third-party services |
Weigh these constraints against the platform’s monetization and growth features before you switch. Allow extra time for setup and testing, and confirm support response times for complex work.
How Beehiiv’s monetization works for small lists
A focused approach to ads, Boosts, and paid subs turns engagement into measurable revenue.
Ad Network: CPC/CPM placements start at 1,000 subs
Once you hit 1,000 subscribers, the ad network will surface inbound offers from relevant advertisers. Ads run on CPC or CPM models so you earn money per click or per thousand impressions.
Creators report 3–6 ad requests per month as lists grow. Test placement and frequency to protect engagement and improve RPM.
Boosts: referrals and earn-per-send
Boosts pay roughly $1–$3 per referred subscriber and offer “earn‑per‑send” shoutouts for extra income. Use Boosts to kickstart growth without heavy sales work.
Paid subscriptions: keep more revenue
No platform fee on paid subscriptions — you only pay Stripe (2.9% + $0.30). That means more money lands in your account on each transaction.
- Connect Stripe and verify your account before running promotions.
- Start with one channel, then layer ads, Boosts, and subscriptions.
- Track revenue and source performance in analytics to scale what works.
“Use the trial window to validate which monetization path fits your audience fastest.”
Step-by-step: how to claim Beehiiv discounts or coupons
A short checkout checklist helps you secure coupons and validate trial dates without surprises. Follow these steps to apply partner promos, confirm pricing, and get payouts ready so your first days on the platform run smoothly.
Use a partner/referral link to unlock promo terms
Click a verified partner link to load active promo terms into your account automatically. That partner token often pre-applies discounts so you don’t miss savings when you place your order.
Select annual billing at checkout for added savings
At the billing screen, toggle annual billing to see the total cost and potential savings. Confirm the exact order total before you finalize payment to avoid surprises.
Apply coupon code and confirm trial window
Enter your coupon on the billing page and check the 30‑day free trial dates in writing. Capture a screenshot of the checkout terms and refund/money‑back language for your records.
Verify Stripe for Boosts and payouts
Complete payment, then connect Stripe immediately so Boosts and ad revenue payouts aren’t delayed. If a code fails, contact support before finishing the order to preserve eligibility.
- Keep your invoice to validate the discount.
- Plan the first 7–14 days to test features during the trial.
- Track annual vs. monthly savings for future renewals.
“Ready to save? Get discount via a partner link and activate your trial today.”
Trial and refund policy clarity
Start risk-free: you can run on the free Launch tier or activate a 30‑day free trial on paid plans to test the full feature set.
Use the trial to run real email campaigns and measure impact in live conditions. Send at least two newsletters during the trial so you get reliable engagement baselines. Mark trial start/end dates on your calendar so you don’t miss automatic billing after 30 days.
Review refund terms at checkout
Refund and money‑back rules are set by the company and shown at purchase. Always read the checkout disclosures before you upgrade.
- Confirm trial start and end dates in writing so you know how many days you have to evaluate.
- If policy language is unclear, contact support before you pay to lock in the terms you understand.
- Keep a screenshot or saved copy of the checkout terms for your records.
“Validate the trial with real sends, then choose Scale or Max based on the results you observe.”
| Item | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan / Trial | Run live email tests, publish newsletters | See real user behavior before you pay |
| Refund policy | Read checkout terms and save a copy | Protects you if policies change month to month |
| Support & verification | Contact support for clarifications | Locks in the exact terms the company will honor |
Next step: start your free plan or activate the 30‑day trial now to test monetization, analytics, and deliverability on beehiiv before you commit for a month or longer.
Recommended use case: your small business growth playbook
Start small, validate fast, then layer revenue streams. Use a free plan to prove your content and email cadence before you invest in paid growth. Run short campaigns that test topics, CTAs, and timing so you learn what moves your audience.
Launch, validate content-market fit, and enable referrals
Begin on Launch to validate content-market fit with consistent email sends and simple newsletter workflows. Enable the referral program early to turn readers into advocates and accelerate organic growth.
Build a lead capture page and a basic content hub on your site to convert traffic into lists. Keep forms simple and test one CTA per campaign.
Turn on Boosts and test Ad Network once you pass 1,000 subs
As your lists approach 1,000 subscribers, prepare creative and placements to test the Ad Network. Turn on Boosts to generate incremental revenue—they typically pay about $1–$3 per referred subscriber and help fund paid acquisition.
Layer premium subscriptions when engagement is steady
Run campaigns to benchmark open and click rates. When engagement stabilizes, introduce premium tiers to monetize superfans. Use analytics to find high-performing content and double down with sharper marketing.
- Keep your tool stack lean — the platform covers forms, publishing, monetization, and analytics.
- Review results monthly and iterate the playbook based on data, not assumptions.
- Execute this sequence to compress time-to-growth and create reliable monetization pathways.
“Start free, prove value with real sends, then scale with referrals, Boosts, and paid subs.”
Real-world momentum: what creators are seeing today
Creators are converting modest lists into steady revenue with a mix of referral Boosts and ad placements. This momentum shows up as inbound sponsor interest, measurable earnings, and engagement lifts you can act on right away.
Inbound sponsor offers and Boosts earnings
After you cross 1,000 subscribers many report 3–6 inbound sponsor offers per month via the ad network. Boosts typically pay about $1–$3 per referred subscriber, creating useful income early on.
A real example: one creator earned roughly $940.32 in 2024 from Boosts and ads with a ~1k list. That shows the practical potential for small teams and writers.
Growth, engagement lifts, and platform scale
Several writers saw higher open and click rates after migrating, driven by improved deliverability and clearer workflows. Use analytics to spot what content lifts engagement and double down.
- Platform scale: ~1 billion emails per month across ~20,000 active newsletters signals healthy advertiser demand and partner opportunities.
- Advertisers value targeted audiences; relevant placements can boost RPM and outcomes for your readers.
“There’s a lot of momentum around creator monetization today—results vary by niche, but the opportunity exists if you execute consistently over years.”
How to get started fast on Beehiiv
Speed matters. Follow a tight, practical sequence to launch your first campaign, protect deliverability, and enable monetization within a week.
Create your account, import your list, and set a custom sending domain
Create your account and import contacts via CSV or direct import from Mailchimp or Substack. Verify fields and tags so you avoid rework.
Set a custom sending domain and let domain warming run. Domain warming helps deliverability on early sends.
Build subscribe forms, landing pages, and your first send
Use the built-in form and landing page tools to capture signups where your audience already is. Keep forms simple and embed them on high-traffic pages.
Draft one clear newsletter and publish a web version to start an archive. Send that first campaign to a small test segment and measure opens and clicks.
Connect Stripe to unlock paid subscriptions and payouts
Connect Stripe early so paid subscriptions, Boosts payouts, and ad transfers flow without delay. Verify your account before promoting paid tiers.
- Day 1: import list and verify domain fields.
- Day 2–3: run domain warming, build forms, and send the first campaign.
- Day 4–5: connect Stripe and enable monetization channels.
Use help docs and support videos if anything blocks you. Don’t waste time on solvable setup issues—reach support and keep moving.
| Task | Why | Target day |
|---|---|---|
| List import (CSV/direct) | Prevents field/tag errors | Day 1 |
| Custom sending domain | Protects deliverability | Day 1–2 |
| First campaign test | Get baseline metrics | Day 2–3 |
| Stripe connect | Enable paid services and payouts | Day 4–5 |
“Start now so your next email ships this week, not next quarter.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Ready to turn your list into revenue? beehiiv gives you clear pricing tiers—Launch (free to 2,500), Scale (from $39), and Max (from $99)—so you can plan spend with confidence.
You get practical monetization via an ad network and Boosts, fee‑free paid subscriptions (Stripe fees apply), plus built‑in analytics that show which emails and channels drive growth.
Use the 30‑day trial to validate fit and check refund terms at checkout. Connect Stripe early so subscriptions and payouts flow when your lists monetize.
Next step: start the free trial or get discount via a partner link and ship your next emails this week.
