# Is beehiiv worth paying for in 2026?

> Start free; pay the moment you want income. beehiiv's free plan carries a full publication to 2,500 readers, and Lite unlocks paid subscriptions at 0%, ads and automations. Through https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv, the first three paid months are 20% off after a 14-day trial.

Last checked: 2026-10-03. Page: https://topreferrals.co.uk/compare/is-beehiiv-worth-it

## Key takeaways
- https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv: 14-day trial, then 20% off Lite or Pro for 3 months. No code.
- Free: up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends, website and podcast included.
- Lite $49, Pro $95 a month on yearly billing for up to 1,000 subscribers.
- 0% of subscription revenue, against Substack's 10%.

## Compared offers
- **[beehiiv](https://topreferrals.co.uk/referrals/beehiiv)** — you get 20% off for 3 months (14-day trial, then 20% off for 3 months).
  - Link: https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv

Short version: [beehiiv](/referrals/beehiiv) is worth paying for as soon as your newsletter is meant to make money, and free until then. Through https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv you get 14 days to test the paid tools and 20% off your first three months.

## Free carries you a long way

The free plan is not time-limited. It holds up to 2,500 subscribers and includes the editor, a website, a podcast feed, custom domains, unlimited sends and the recommendation network, so a new writer can publish for months before spending anything.

## What $49 a month buys

Lite, at $49 a month on yearly billing for up to 1,000 subscribers, is the earning plan. It adds paid subscriptions with beehiiv taking nothing, the Ad Network, paid recommendations, digital products, automations and two team seats. Pro, at $95, removes beehiiv's branding and suits publishers with several titles.

## The Substack test

Most people weighing beehiiv are weighing Substack. Substack keeps 10% of paid subscriptions; beehiiv keeps none. beehiiv's own calculator puts the gap at $11,652 a year for 2,000 readers paying $5 a month.

## Verdict

Free for building, Lite for earning, Pro for running a media business. Prices and plan contents were read on beehiiv's own pricing page on 2 October 2026.

## Side by side

|  | Free | Lite | Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Price (yearly, to 1,000 subscribers) | $0 | $49 a month | $95 a month |
| Subscriber limit | 2,500 | 100,000 | 250,000 |
| Paid subscriptions and Ad Network | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remove beehiiv branding | No | No | Yes |
| Through the link | Free anyway | 14-day trial, then 20% off 3 months | 14-day trial, then 20% off 3 months |

## FAQ

### Should I pay for beehiiv?
Pay when you want the newsletter to earn: Lite switches on paid subscriptions, the Ad Network and automations. Below 2,500 readers and with no income plans, the free plan is enough.

### How much does the discount save?
20% for three months: Lite at $59 a month on monthly billing drops to $47.20 for those months, Pro at $109 to $87.20.

### Is there a beehiiv code?
No. The trial and discount are attached to https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv.

### Is beehiiv better than Substack for paid newsletters?
On revenue, yes: beehiiv keeps 0% of subscriptions and Substack 10%.