Beehiiv vs ConvertKit vs Substack: which is best for newsletters?

The Short Version

There's no universal "best"—it depends entirely on your business model. Beehiiv dominates if you're building an audience through growth loops. ConvertKit wins if you're selling digital products or courses. Substack is ideal if you want the simplest setup with built-in monetization for writers.

Detailed Breakdown

Beehiiv: Best for Growth-Focused Creators

Strengths:

• Viral growth mechanics: Built-in referral system that rewards subscribers for sharing (unique to Beehiiv)
• Superior analytics: Detailed engagement metrics, open rates by segment, and subscriber growth tracking
• Content quality tools: AI-powered writing assistant, subject line testing, and send-time optimization
• Monetization options: Paid subscriptions, sponsorships, and affiliate programs
• Automation: Conditional workflows and segmentation for nurturing

Pricing: $25/mo (Starter) to $84/mo (Pro). Free tier available with limited features.

Best for: Newsletter creators focused on rapid audience growth, media companies, and creators who want data-driven optimization.

Limitations: Higher learning curve. Overkill if you just want to email your existing audience.

ConvertKit: Best for Digital Product Creators

Strengths:

• Creator-first design: Built specifically for course creators, coaches, and digital product sellers
• Automation workflows: Sophisticated conditional logic for nurturing sequences
• Tagging system: Granular segmentation based on behavior and interests
• Landing pages: Integrated landing page builder (no separate tool needed)
• Integrations: Deep connections to Gumroad, Teachable, and other course platforms
• Creator community: Strong ecosystem of templates and best practices

Pricing: $29/mo (Creator) to $79/mo (Creator Pro). Free tier for up to 1,000 subscribers.

Best for: Course creators, coaches, digital product sellers, and creators with complex customer journeys.

Limitations: Less emphasis on viral growth mechanics. Pricing can feel high for pure newsletter creators.

Substack: Best for Simplicity and Revenue Sharing

Strengths:

• Zero friction: Fastest setup—publish and start collecting emails immediately
• Revenue sharing model: Substack takes 10% of paid subscriptions (no monthly fee)
• Built-in discovery: Substack's recommendation algorithm can drive organic subscribers
• Minimal features: Clean, distraction-free writing experience
• Community features: Notes and Substack chat for reader engagement

Pricing: Free (with Substack taking 10% of paid subscription revenue). No monthly platform fee.

Best for: Independent writers, journalists, and creators who prioritize simplicity and want Substack to handle monetization.

Limitations: Limited automation and segmentation. No advanced analytics. Difficult to export subscriber data. Less suitable for multi-product businesses.

Head-to-Head Comparison

| Feature | Beehiiv | ConvertKit | Substack |

|---------|---------|-----------|----------|

| Growth Tools | Excellent (referral system) | Good | Limited |

| Automation | Strong | Excellent | Minimal |

| Analytics | Best-in-class | Good | Basic |

| Ease of Use | Moderate | Moderate | Easiest |

| Monetization | Sponsorships, paid tiers | Integrations | Revenue share |

| Pricing | $25-84/mo | $29-79/mo | Free (10% cut) |

| Best for | Growth-focused creators | Digital product sellers | Independent writers |

How to Choose

Choose Beehiiv if:

• You're building an audience from scratch and want growth mechanics built in
• You care deeply about analytics and optimization
• You plan to monetize through sponsorships or premium tiers
• You want AI-powered writing and optimization tools

Choose ConvertKit if:

• You're selling courses, coaching, or digital products
• You need sophisticated automation for customer journeys
• You want to integrate with course platforms or membership sites
• You're part of a creator community and want access to templates

Choose Substack if:

• You want the fastest, simplest setup possible
• You're a solo writer or journalist
• You prefer Substack's revenue-sharing model over monthly fees
• You don't need advanced segmentation or automation
• You want to leverage Substack's discovery algorithm

Implementation Timeline

• Substack: Live in 30 minutes
• Beehiiv: Live in 1-2 hours (more setup, more payoff)
• ConvertKit: Live in 2-3 hours (integrations take time)

Bottom Line

Beehiiv is the most feature-rich for growth-obsessed creators. ConvertKit is the best for selling digital products. Substack is the fastest path to publishing with built-in monetization. Your choice should be driven by your primary business model: Are you building an audience (Beehiiv), selling products (ConvertKit), or writing independently (Substack)? Most CMOs and marketing leaders should evaluate Beehiiv or ConvertKit based on whether they're focused on audience growth or product sales.