Beehiiv vs ConvertKit: Which Is Better in 2026?
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform, not a general email marketing tool. ConvertKit, now called Kit, is email marketing for creators: writers, podcasters, course sellers and newsletter operators. Beehiiv’s strength is growing and monetizing a newsletter as a business in itself; ConvertKit’s is growing and selling to an audience without a marketing team.
01Pricing
Beehiiv: paid plans start at $49/mo for 1,000 subscribers. ConvertKit: paid plans start at $33/mo for 1,000 subscribers. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. Beehiiv has a free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers). ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers).
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers; 1 publication; 1 team seat; 1 guest author | |
| Lite | $49 | n/a | 1,000 subscribers at this price; Up to 100,000 subscribers; 3 publications; 2 team seats | Paid subscriptions, 0% take rate; Ad monetization; Automations; Audience polls |
| Pro | $95 | n/a | 1,000 subscribers at this price; Up to 250,000 subscribers; 10 publications; 10 team seats | Remove beehiiv branding; Webinars and coaching; Advanced analytics; Webhooks |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom subscriber and publication limits; Unlimited team seats | SSO/SAML; Dedicated IPs; Customer success manager; Concierge onboarding |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 10,000 subscribers | |
| Creator † | $33 | $39 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Full set of core email marketing tools |
| Pro † | $66 | $79 | 1,000 subscribers at this price | Advanced reporting; Advanced automation, audience and growth features |
Prices are per month on annual billing. † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. Beehiiv pricing and ConvertKit pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
Beehiiv
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform, not a general email marketing tool. It bundles a website, a referral program, recommendations between newsletters, an ad network and paid subscriptions, all aimed at publishers who want to grow and earn from a list. Automation and ecommerce features are minimal because that is not what it is for.
- Best at
- Growing and monetizing a newsletter as a business in itself.
- Falls short
- It is not suited to stores or sales-driven marketing, and the paid plans cost more than basic email tools.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit, now called Kit, is email marketing for creators: writers, podcasters, course sellers and newsletter operators. Subscribers are organized with tags instead of lists, automations are drawn as simple visual flows, and you can sell digital products and paid subscriptions from the same account. Emails are plain and text-first by intent.
- Best at
- Growing and selling to an audience without a marketing team.
- Falls short
- Design options and reporting are limited, and it is not built for stores or sales teams.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for small business. |
| Ecommerce | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for ecommerce. |
| Startups | Either | Beehiiv: For startups whose product is the newsletter, or whose growth runs through one. ConvertKit: Fits founder-led companies that grow through content and a newsletter. |
| Creators | Either | Beehiiv: The strongest option when the newsletter itself is the business. ConvertKit: Made for creators: tagging, simple automations and built-in ways to sell. |
| Agencies | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for agencies. |
04Verdict
Choose Beehiiv if you publish a newsletter and want growth and monetization tools built in. Choose ConvertKit if you are a creator building and monetizing an audience.
05FAQ
Is Beehiiv or ConvertKit cheaper?
Beehiiv starts at $49/mo and ConvertKit at $33/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing.
Do Beehiiv and ConvertKit have free plans?
Beehiiv has a free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers). ConvertKit has a free plan (up to 10,000 subscribers).
Which is easier to learn, Beehiiv or ConvertKit?
There is little between them: both are quick to set up.
Which is better for small business, Beehiiv or ConvertKit?
Neither. Neither is a natural fit for small business.