Our take
Pick beehiiv if writers who will stay on Free at $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends) while they open a first Compose canvas, then Lite at $49/month yearly ($59 monthly at 1,000) when they need automations and 0% take-rate — not Pro $95 yearly unless they need remove-branding / 10 publications. Pick Substack if writers who will stay on free publishing (no Substack seat $) while they open a first Posts list,
Best for
beehiiv A newsletter canvas you start at a public $
Substack A posts list you start at a public $
Free plan
beehiiv $0 · up to 2,500 subscribers. Unlimited email sends. 1 seat. 1 publication. Newsletters, Website, and Podcast. API (excluding Send API). beehiiv MCP / Agent read access. No card (FAQ)
Substack $0 · iDEAL 80¢; Bancontact 1.4% + 30¢; Sofort 1.4% + 30¢; SEPA Direct 0.8% + 30¢ capped at $6.00; failed / disputed SEPA $10.00
Lowest paid
beehiiv Lite $59/mo
Substack Stripe card processing (US cards) $0.30
Next step up
beehiiv Higher list tiers from $79
Substack Custom domain (optional) $50
Coding agent
beehiiv Agent + Tab inside the editor
Substack
Runs where
beehiiv Hosted
Substack Hosted
Watch out
beehiiv Automations and 0% take-rate print on Lite
Substack There is no public Substack Pro seat $
Last checked
beehiiv 2026-10-23 · beehiiv.com/pricing.md
Substack 2026-10-23 · support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles
writers who will stay on Free at $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends) while they open a first Compose canvas, then Lite at $49/month yearly ($59 monthly at 1,000) when they need automations and 0% take-rate — not Pro $95 yearly unless they need remove-branding / 10 publications.
Read the beehiiv pagewriters who will stay on free publishing (no Substack seat $) while they open a first Posts list, then turn on paid subscriptions when they accept Substack’s 10% of each payment plus Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 — not a $20 chat seat.
Read the Substack page