Substack vs Beehiiv: Detailed Comparison for 2026

Last updated: January 2026 • 8 min read

Trying to decide between Substack and Beehiiv? Both are popular tools in the newsletter space, but they serve different needs. This comparison breaks down features, pricing, and use cases to help you make the right choice.

Quick Comparison

Feature Substack Beehiiv
Category Newsletter Newsletter
Starting Price 10% of revenue $49/mo
Best For Writers starting newsletters Newsletter creators
Video Automation ❌ Manual ❌ Manual

Substack Overview

Substack

10% of revenue

Writers starting newsletters.

✓ Pros

  • Free to start
  • Built-in audience
  • Simple

✗ Cons

  • Revenue share
  • Limited customization
  • No video

Beehiiv Overview

Beehiiv

$49/mo

Newsletter creators.

✓ Pros

  • Newsletter-focused
  • Monetization tools
  • Modern interface

✗ Cons

  • Newsletter only
  • No video
  • Limited automation

Pricing Comparison

Substack starts at 10% of revenue, while Beehiiv starts at $49/mo. Consider not just the sticker price but the total cost of ownership — including the time you'll spend using each tool.

If you value your time at $50/hour and spend 5 hours/week on content creation, that's $1,000/month in time cost alone — regardless of which tool you choose.

Which Should You Choose?

Our Verdict

Choose Substack if: You need writers starting newsletters and prefer free to start.

Choose Beehiiv if: You need newsletter creators and value newsletter-focused.

Consider neither if: You want automated video content without ongoing manual effort. Both tools require continuous time investment.

Add Video Marketing to Your Stack

Whether you choose Substack or Beehiiv, consider adding video marketing to amplify your results. Video content gets 1200% more shares than text and images combined.

zSellify automatically converts your website content into YouTube Shorts — no filming, editing, or manual publishing required. At $69-129/month, it's an affordable addition to any marketing stack.

Related Comparisons

Still researching? Check out these related comparisons:

🎬 Skip the Manual Work Entirely

zSellify creates and publishes 2 videos/day from your existing website content. No filming. No editing. No scheduling.

See How It Works →